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Animal Farm is a timeless classic with a timeless lesson, one that can be applied even today. The chain of events that follow the takeover of the farm can be seen as a cautionary tale of how power corrupts, how following blindly never ends well and, unfortunately, how easily the new can mold itself to the old, until the two are no longer distinguishable from each other. Excellent book, recommended for all.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
First off, the book looked nothing like the picture. The pages were torn a little bit, and the cover was really messed up. wasn't impressed. not good condition like it said. i feel like i was lied to a little bit.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is a book that I always considered more of a junior high level read, though I have just read it (I am 29). On the surface the story is entertaining and enjoyable. However, as with similar books (e.g. 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Darkness at Noon, etc) once one gets past the story, which was composed to carry the deeper message, you begin to think critically about what the author is really trying to communicate. I have read historical works regarding the Soviet Union and to see the near exact same events and methodologies evolving/being presented in such an otherwise entertaining way is really interesting. To me, this would be an excellent introductory text to Soviet history, just to the the students' feet wet, so to speak. After reading this book I began to wonder. Orwell was an avid socialist, though he wrote Animal Farm and 1984 as a form of protest against dictatorship, communism, and totalitarianism. I began to wonder if this story was not only Orwell's jab at Soviet totalitarianism, but also against capitalism. Traditionally capitalists are represented by pigs, and in Animal Farm the pigs run the newly acquired farm in a manner reminiscent of some factory owners of the late 19th and early 20th century. For me, this book made me really contrast the totalitarian oppression of the Soviet Union and the capitalistic oppression of extreme capitalism (exploiting workers for the benefit of the owner). I won't make a statement on how appropriate or valid such a comparison is, but I will say that I have begun to see things in a slightly different light after reading this story. This is the type of book that allows the reader to experience something new and gives him/her just enough guidance and information to critically think about the implications of what happens in the story and how it may or may not apply to our current situations. This was a short read, and not a very deep read, but what it lacks in presented depth it makes up for by how it catapults the reader into thoughts of different possibilities.Read full review
Animal Farm by George Orwell is an extremely rewarding book for readers about twelve and older, in accordance with some violent parts in the novel. The wording of Animal Farm makes it seem like a children's story (the full title reads Animal Farm: a Fairy Story) when in fact it is a cryptic warning about the dangers of communism. The book seems like an unfinished fairy tale: one where good does not triumph over evil in the end. A fairy tale without a moral. And that is, in itself, Orwell's warning: he ends the book openly, letting the reader think of all possible circumstances that could happen at Manor Farm. The novel is incredibly thought provoking, and many of the thoughts that are brought about relate to humanitarian concerns; thoughts of moral ethics, of rights and wrongs in a human society. I found the George Orwell's novel Animal Farm: A Fairy Story an entrancing and memorable short story of which I know the words and messages will remain with me throughout my life. Although this novel cannot amount for many words, what it lacks in volume (as is the case in many pint-sized books) is certainly made up in content. The content of this book will interest most readers immensely and cause them to more deeply consider their own ethics. I highly recommend Animal Farm to any reader above the age of eleven who enjoys a captivating story.Read full review
Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945) Cover of "Animal Farm: Centennial Edition... Cover of Animal Farm: Centennial Edition The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which. One-sentence summary: The animals on a farm rise up in revolution against the farmer but their socialist ideals are corrupted in this satirical critique of Stalinism. My rating: When read: October 2008 Why read: My husband had a copy, and one of my blog readers recommended it to me. It is such a short book and quick read, I’m surprised I had’t read it earlier. Impressions: This classic allegory of revolution and the corruption of power does not disappoint. The animals who take over Animal Farm each represent groups or types of people in the social structure, such as the elite (the pigs), the bourgeoisie (Millie, the horse), the working class (Boxer, the horse) and the silent cynics (the donkey, my favorite character). Even though I knew it was allegorical, I had to laugh at the mental image of pigs milking cows. Current status: I kidnapped my husband’s copy for my classic fiction collection. If you liked this book, then you might also like: 1984 by George Orwell Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Lord of the Flies by William Golding The Metamorphosis by Franz KafkaRead full review
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