Reviews with content warning for Animal death - Animal Farm

What to say….
This book is a perfect example of power and corruption specifically during the Russian revolution. I think it does an amazing job at showing a totalitarian government as well as the role of propaganda. To fully appreciate the novel it is important to realize that the characters represent characters around the Russian revolution and communism itself. How even when trying to create a utopia and equal society with corrupt people in power it can lead to an unjust society. As well as how the working class are manipulated and hurt while believing “the leaders know best”. The book is disturbing because of how true it is. Orwell does an amazing job at revealing the injustices within society in a unique way. One of my favorites

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izzygreads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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eggfartz's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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gray's review against another edition

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dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I think people need to read this book while they are young and once again when they are older. I loved the use of animals to portray society, and it's almost like a Fable where the lessons are hidden throughout the book.
There's the kindhearted horse Boxer, who is pure-hearted but whose strength and unquestioning nature are abused by the pigs. There's the old and apathetic character in Benjamin, who has learned to just go with the flow as he's already lost hope. There's also Mollie, who is the opposite of everyone and craves the attention of humans, and as long as she is treated well, she's willing to go with them.
Of course, there are the pigs who have taken over the farm as the leaders, and even the power struggle within their own group is evident as Napoleon drives Snowball away from the farm.
Unfortunately, it seems like despite earlier warnings in works such as these, it seems like our society isn't able to heed the warnings and history keeps repeating itself over and over again.

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amaranth_wytch's review against another edition

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fast-paced

3.75

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luxxltyd's review against another edition

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dark reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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woolgathering_jane's review against another edition

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dark informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

A true work of genius. This is a story about how a totalitarian regime forms, in the simplest, purest form. And it is in the simplicity that the power of this story lies, I think. Because anyone, regardless of historical or geographical context, can read this story and see many world leaders behave just as the pigs do. It's easy to read, easy to understand and easy to see in the real world. And it's accurate. This is such an important story, I think everyone should read it.

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niles_reads's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The whole review

Genuinely one of the best books I’ve ever read (besides Bijeli klaun, which I’ve read years ago and it still impacts me today).

For a while I couldn’t understand what Communism was and, even though they don’t outright say it is, I’ve finally learned (Excuse my ignorance, we’ve only brushed through it in class).

Through a fable story perspective, it was easy to digest. I easily followed along even with such a deep topic.

All the animals wanted was freedom, which they thought for the longest time was right there, until the very end. From how the pigs at the started added milk and apples to their meals, “not because of selfishness”, but because, “Milk and apples (This has been proven by Science, comrades) contains substances absolutely necessary for the wellbeing of a pig”, adding with clear fear mongering, “do you know what would happen if we pigs failed our duty? Jones would come back!”, all the way to where the same pigs who “tried to do better for the animals” end up breaking “The Seven Commandments” and becoming the very thing they hated the most; a Man.

The fear mongering happened constantly: Snowball stole Napoleon’s idea and ruined the windmill, he was working for the men the whole time, constantly switching between farms he was hiding in to which Napoleon wasn’t on good terms with… How they switched the rules to fit their narratives/benefit themselves until it ultimately led to them devolving back into what they fought against at the start, how they treated people who basically gave their lives to them till the very end and how they brutally murdered any animal who spoke against them, made me think more of the modern world we live in. And even though this is a fictional story, it is based on real life events, have we changed?

This book was a 5 star read, I’ll recommend it to everyone, no matter what they’re into.

Knowledge is power!

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