Matthew's Reviews > Animal Farm
Animal Farm
by
by
Matthew's review
bookshelves: favorites, classic, required-reading-high-school, 2020, completist-book-club, read-more-than-once
Jan 08, 2013
bookshelves: favorites, classic, required-reading-high-school, 2020, completist-book-club, read-more-than-once
Read 2 times. Last read February 16, 2020 to February 18, 2020.
Update after my February 2020 Re-read
A lot has happened in the world since I read this in high school in the mid-1990s. The book is as interesting and powerful as I remember. However, I think having an adult perspective on life, government, laws, taxes, rights, etc. makes this a much more powerful for me now than it was when I was a teenager.
One of the great things about this book, too, is that it is not very long. I think that morality tales with political undertones can be daunting if you know you are dealing with a 300-page book. This tells a strong tale in 125 pages or so that is easy to read but difficult to swallow. An allegory that is a must read for all!
I will also say that this book has an ending that I remember as being “wow, but not super shocking” as a teenager. Now, it is absolutely terrifying – it gave me chills!
Original review
One of the best - no doubt! So much symbolism and meaning crammed into such a small book. Also, a great use of anthropomorphism (I just wanted to use a big, fancy sounding word!)
Review wise, that is about all I need to say - it is great, read it!
But, I will add this anecdote . . .
I read this when I was in High School as required reading. Most required reading books were long and not all that exciting (I am looking at you, Jane Eyre!) But, this one was so good that I couldn't put it down. And, since it is so short, I read it in one night. Well, the teacher had assigned chapters and asked us not to read ahead. Still hard to believe I got in trouble for reading too much of a required reading book!
A lot has happened in the world since I read this in high school in the mid-1990s. The book is as interesting and powerful as I remember. However, I think having an adult perspective on life, government, laws, taxes, rights, etc. makes this a much more powerful for me now than it was when I was a teenager.
One of the great things about this book, too, is that it is not very long. I think that morality tales with political undertones can be daunting if you know you are dealing with a 300-page book. This tells a strong tale in 125 pages or so that is easy to read but difficult to swallow. An allegory that is a must read for all!
I will also say that this book has an ending that I remember as being “wow, but not super shocking” as a teenager. Now, it is absolutely terrifying – it gave me chills!
Original review
One of the best - no doubt! So much symbolism and meaning crammed into such a small book. Also, a great use of anthropomorphism (I just wanted to use a big, fancy sounding word!)
Review wise, that is about all I need to say - it is great, read it!
But, I will add this anecdote . . .
I read this when I was in High School as required reading. Most required reading books were long and not all that exciting (I am looking at you, Jane Eyre!) But, this one was so good that I couldn't put it down. And, since it is so short, I read it in one night. Well, the teacher had assigned chapters and asked us not to read ahead. Still hard to believe I got in trouble for reading too much of a required reading book!
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Animal Farm.
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Quotes Matthew Liked
Reading Progress
Finished Reading
January 8, 2013
– Shelved
March 6, 2014
– Shelved as:
favorites
March 6, 2014
– Shelved as:
classic
February 21, 2015
– Shelved as:
required-reading-high-school
February 16, 2020
–
Started Reading
February 16, 2020
– Shelved as:
2020
February 16, 2020
– Shelved as:
completist-book-club
February 16, 2020
– Shelved as:
read-more-than-once
February 18, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-44 of 44 (44 new)
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Sud666
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rated it 4 stars
Jul 20, 2016 09:18PM
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Aw come on... both are really good Dostoyevsky novels..some of his best work...I really liked them.
I was remarking on their lenght, not quality! LOL
I still remember that as 14 years old I had some trouble remebering all the names!!!! O_o
Yeah..I read a lot of Russian Lit and the names and the nicknames (Grigori Illyich) for characters was tedious but got better over time :)
It's just a matter of getting used to them! Still not easy for young ones. IMHO these books are better appreciated by a more mature audience!
Animal House is a much better choice for youngers!
I can understand that
Another very good book for school reading! Together with Oliver Twist! ;)
I was a crazy teenager and I read some really strage stuff like Hermann Hesse's books and Aldous Huxley Brave New World... Not exactly what a teenager should read... LOL
I liked very much Steppenwolf too!
I need to get to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ASAP! Also, maybe a re-read of the others.
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7942...
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7942......"
I have that quote in my likes!
Guess this current political climate is good for literature!
Matt wrote: "I love Orwell! Way ahead of his time."
Indeed! Orwell was a genius!
Animal Farm is worth it and a quick read!
Agreed! :D
Yes - this and 1984 are two of my favorites. I feel like they are more widely applicable cautionary tales that people can connect with no matter their political beliefs.
This one, too! Orwell is good with his last lines!
Thank you, Maricarmen! :D
Oh, yeah! That one has stuck with me for years!
Thank you, James! :)
I was not a fan of The Scarlet Letter - still planning to try again someday!
This made me LOL!
I bet you will enjoy this one!
Yup - sounds about right!
Definitely - it grabs you right away and then sticks with you forever. I am glad you enjoyed it, Sarah!