1984

George Orwell

I've just finished my second time through 1984. The first time I read it donkey's years ago, I found it a bit slow and unreal (for want of a better word, but I know what I mean). This time round, though, with a wee bit (well, quite a lot) more life experience under my belt, I found it an absolute gripper, what I refer to as that rarest of breeds - a literate page-turner. It was as though the mists had rolled away and I could see clearly, see that in every walk of life there is a Big Brother with all his acolytes and rules of correct thought, double standards etc. etc.. It dawned on me that 1984 isn't about some mythical totalitarian state, it's about a state of mind in which we all (or many of us anyway) have to live our lives. Great, nay, absolutely brilliant stuff. Definitely one of the great novels. And Orwell is such a d*mn fine writer.