Animal Farm
Book: Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 10/10
As you probably know, I like pigs. A lot. When I was in second grade, I was quite obsessive over them and said that they were the best species in the world, etc., etc. So, my mom, being a twisted lady, gave me "Animal Farm" when I was in second grade. And I read it. I became convinced that the pigs were quite evil, so my new motto was, "Pigs are the best, except the pigs in 'Animal Farm.'"
Did I mention I was a strange kid?
I didn't really think much of it at the time. I loved Boxer and I thought the pigs were evil. Oh, and windmills were bad ideas. That was what I got.
Anyway, when I was about 14, I realized that I had read it about 7 years ago and decided I needed to read it again. So I did.
It's creepy.
At first, it seems like everything is fine. The Old Major makes a speech, and it really is a good speech. It's about equality and togetherness, and though the writing is rather bare (it was purposely written like that) it is quite evident that the animals need this unity. After all, Farmer Jones is a drunk who doesn't care about them at all. So when they get the chance, using their force together, they kick Farmer Jones out. And then, lo! They are free!
Instantly the pigs set up command. After all, they are the intelligent ones and they can think quickly. They decide on a socialist system where each animal does the best he can. At first, everything is fine. The harvest is more, the animals are happy (they are free!) and everything is fine. But then there's the windmill.
And everything falls apart.
It's quite a tragic book, and I'm afraid to say I never quite finished reading it (mostly because I was in tears and threw the book down at the most emotional part of the book). But it is good. Very good. Written in a bare style, it is easily accessible, and even for those who are no aware of the historical aspects of the time, it is a good story and will leave you thinking.
But it's very sad...