So I read this book for school because we're learning about utopias/dystopias in English (pretty cool, right?). But I decided to write a review for it anyway.
My goodness. This book was very messed up. Deliberately, obviously, but still. It just kept getting worse and worse. It was kinda cool, though, to read read an older "dystopian" book because most dystopian fiction I've read is from the 21st century.
I was really interested and horrified at the fact that whenever the pigs did something terrible, unjust or changed something, all the other animals were completely oblivious to the fact that it was wrong. And I don't mean that they were like, "oh it's fine they know what they're doing". They were literally saying things like "oh, they changed one of the commandments? I probably just read it wrong the first time". That was very disturbing because it was so accurate. So many people are so loyal to their government/leader/etc. that they think they remembered stuff wrong before being willing to accept that the people in power are wrong and corrupt.
The ending of the book was so so disturbing. I won't spoil it but it just ended so abruptly yet with a sense of finality. It was disturbing because of the things that happened, and also because of the way it was written.
I think that using animals as an allegory for the events in Russia was a really good idea. The whole story was just so accurate and smart. Animal Farm (and the whole utopia/dystopia unit in English class) helped me to realise that dystopias come from utopias. I had previously thought that they were opposites, but I've now realised that they are very similar and connected to one another.
Also I feel bad for Mollie. I, too, like ribbons a bit too much. Also Boxer. :(
This book was so different from anything I've read (I feel like I say that too much but I actually mean it this time, I don't think that many books about communist farm animals exist) and I am definitely gonna read 1984. I looked up the synopsis/actually had to give a plot summary and it also seems very messed up. It also seems very plot-twisty. Unfortunately I have spoiled the entire plot for myself (I do that a lot, being a Marvel fan and not having yet seen No Way Home is t o r t u r o u s) but I will still read it. Eventually. Animal Farm had actually been on my TBR for a while and studying it for school was a very good opportunity to read it.
Animal Farm by George Orwell, 13+* ★★★★
*This age recommendation is only my opinion. Some younger people might feel comfortable reading this book, and some older people might not. That's fine, either way. Warning for enraging pigs. Literally. The enraging pigs brutally murder other animals. And drink alcohol.
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