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Top reviews from Canada

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Ian T
5.0 out of 5 stars Soul crushing
Reviewed in Canada on April 9, 2018
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This is such a powerful book. Written in the 1944, Orwell perfectly describes the world that is to come. We may be a few decades late from 1984, but his words are becoming reality, and it’s scary.
Did you know, in Canada, there are now laws governing compelled speech, and it’s possible for you to go to prison for using the wrong words?? Well, the same is true in Orwell’s 1984.

If you read this book, you will look at our world differently. Maybe it will inspire you to create change, or maybe it will pummel you into submission just like so many people in Orwell’s novel.
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mike nike
5.0 out of 5 stars This classic will always remain a classic. It remains ...
Reviewed in Canada on June 20, 2017
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This classic will always remain a classic. It remains a eye opener more then ever!
I felt a sense of realism while reading this book since it reminded me of the actual power of manipulators who lie openly, narcissistically, on fictitious news to engage nations in a destructive track. The reader is made aware of the subtle tools, for instance political shows, that rely on the short memory of people to make up a false reality. A reality that profits to a very small minority.
The invention of new and simplistic words reminded me of certains religiously read twits! Orwell shows how meaningless words are a sign of our inability to develop a critical mind.
History demonstrates what dangers surround democracy. This book makes the reader reflect on what happens when powerful entertainers play with the memory of people. A false sense of security so to hide long-term goals ...
Most of all we become more conscious of how the manipulation of information is a real and profound threat to the world and the environnement who sustains us.
This book should be read by people who really care about their children. I mean... not only for their material confort, but for their freedom and... their future. Because the threat imagined in George Orwell's novel may become the REALity.
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Adib
5.0 out of 5 stars We Are Descending into Orwell's Nightmare
Reviewed in Canada on July 11, 2017
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An intelligent and insightful novel that is extremely relevant today.

How could a book written almost 70 years ago be so picture perfect about the world today?

1984 shows how being censored can lead to self-censorship, and in time, censorship of the mind.

A novel that may have seemed hyperbolic when written is being realized today.

Highly recommend this book.
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Kirk Warren
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive dystopian novel and commentary on totalitarianism
Reviewed in Canada on October 3, 2018
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Book is a cheap copy with a nice cover. Newsprint quality paper, but gets the job done. Relatively cheap for Canadian prices of books and I'd wanted to re-read this (hate reading epub/pdfs). Did the job. Nothing I can really add that hasn't been said about this classic. Much of it is still applicable to today's world - double speak and newspeak are abound. Diversity is our Strength is practically IngSoc's War is Peace mottos. History is being rewritten making our ancestors racists and statues torn down. Wars wage in Middle East against countries that had nothing to do with 9/11 (most were Saudia Arabians). Fake WMDs used as pretense. Lies spun in media. War continues indefinitely. Yemen being destroyed, Arab Spring, Israel mass murdering Palestinians and stealing land and now Syria with false flag gas attacks every time America is ready to pull out - all to continue wars and no one knows who they are fighting or why anymore. Just perpetual war and party backing to fund it. Theyre even sending people to get psych evaluations (LePenn in France for being right leaning) when there is wrongthink.
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Raheel
5.0 out of 5 stars Glad I still got to read this in book format. ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE.
Reviewed in Canada on April 8, 2020
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This is one of those books which EVERYONE knows because everyone has mentioned / come across it at some point in some conversation or another but no one is truly ready for what to expect.

This will blow your mind, and I am so glad I was able to read it while I had the chance. I will keep my copy forever.

I got chills, and sort of regret reading this book as it further validated all the reasons I was running away from it....well...you'll have to read it and find out for yourself :)
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Andrei Mazanik
2.0 out of 5 stars Depressing novel
Reviewed in Canada on July 11, 2019
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I enjoy reading science fiction, especially Clifford Simak and Isaac Asimov. They wrote exciting novels, adventures that made me dream.

This book is difficult to read. The author occasionally describes action and romance, but spends much more time hammering totalitarian ideas and describing a dark future. George Orwell spent several pages detailing torture! Why?

He wanted to scare us -- I'm scared. He warned of a possible dystopia if we don't change, but did not offer a solution. Orwell repeated the core ideas several times without much purpose, which made reading boring.

Every character in this story feels miserable. I reached the end and still found no relief or resolution of the protagonist's troubles. Winston Smith did not learn anything from his terrible life; he was not rewarded for suffering.

"Nineteen eighty four" is far from enjoyable to read. I am giving ** out of ***** for some world-building and fantastic crime scenes. Overall, though, this made me feel depressed, which is not the goal of a literary piece of entertainment.
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Virginia
4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
Reviewed in Canada on May 26, 2019
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Most people read this in highschool. I read this in my late 30’s, which I think is a better age to understand the view point of the main character.
At times I found the writing a little boring, but the main story line was always fascinating.
In todays age of “fake news” and what-not I thought this book hit a little too close to home. It’s amazing to think that this book was written In 1949!
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Alex Bangasan
5.0 out of 5 stars I like it
Reviewed in Canada on April 15, 2020
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I received the book 3 days after purchase, which is pretty good considering the pandemic situation.
It's a soft cover as expected and the quality of the print and the overall look is pretty good. I borrowed this book from the library and really enjoyed it so i bought a copy. I can't wait to read it again! Definitely a smart purchase!!
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5.0 out of 5 stars I like it
By Alex Bangasan on April 15, 2020
I received the book 3 days after purchase, which is pretty good considering the pandemic situation.
It's a soft cover as expected and the quality of the print and the overall look is pretty good. I borrowed this book from the library and really enjoyed it so i bought a copy. I can't wait to read it again! Definitely a smart purchase!!
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Top reviews from other countries

Truth Seeker
5.0 out of 5 stars A Message To Young Readers Who Have Been Assigned This Book
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2018
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This is one of the first books I have read more than once. I first read "1984" in 1985 and now for the second time in 2018. The book has remained the same, but both the world and I have not. I cannot begin to convey how genuinely frightening this book is. I am a lover of popular science fiction and am astounded by Orwell's ability to be more compelling, entertaining and engrossing than authors with the benefit of light sabers, phasers and teleportation.

To every young person who has been assigned this book, know that you are reading a literary work of art. Many of you will understand and appreciate it, but if you love literature, please make a mental note to read this again when you are older. Youth brings with it eternal hope, boundless optimism and of course, hormones, so you will find yourself rebelling against the pessimism of the book itself - you will effectively be Winston raging against the machine, hoping, searching, questing for a way out. In short, you will cheat.

But when you get older, have a family, lose loved ones and see some of your dreams unfulfilled - when you witness entire nations and races of peoples born, live and die in brutal squalor - when you reflect on the technological advances made over the decades and gaze, with mouth agape, at how a people can be less advanced, less informed and less enlightened, not despite these innovations, but BECAUSE of them, then you will read 1984 as it was meant to be read...not as a dark, dystopian world you enter when you open the book, but a beautifully brutal warning that, even as you read it, is prophetically coming true around you.
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Rakesh Agrawal
5.0 out of 5 stars Beware, He (not he)! is watching us!
Reviewed in India on September 8, 2018
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A Bihari angarez, Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his penname, George Orwell, wrote this book in 1949, supposedly A satirical description of A totalitarian state. Little did he realize that it will describe India, A so-called democratic state of 2018, so vividly!
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Liz Benn
5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely important & relevant!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2020
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Over 70 years ago Orwell predicted exactly what is happening in the USA today. His brilliant instincts for our future were uncanny. Our country is under assault right now (& has been) by “Big Brother” - ie. communism. Every thought is controlled from all media to removal of our history & heritage to absolute destruction of our laws & erasing of our real history. This was required reading when I was in HS in 1968 & it should be again today. Do yourself a favor & read this before Amazon takes it off their list of books. I doubt they’ll publish this review. Let’s see.
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Megha
2.0 out of 5 stars Not content with the copy
Reviewed in India on June 7, 2018
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1984 by George Orwell is no doubt, a mind blowing and must read book.
But I'll be rating specifically with regard to the Rupa Classics edition of this book which i bought.
On many pages, text printed on the other side is visible. The initial pages seems to come out of the binding. The dimensions of the book are quite small. Its quality is not impressive.
I really wish if I would have bought from some other publisher of this book.
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2.0 out of 5 stars Not content with the copy
Reviewed in India on June 7, 2018
1984 by George Orwell is no doubt, a mind blowing and must read book.
But I'll be rating specifically with regard to the Rupa Classics edition of this book which i bought.
On many pages, text printed on the other side is visible. The initial pages seems to come out of the binding. The dimensions of the book are quite small. Its quality is not impressive.
I really wish if I would have bought from some other publisher of this book.
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Dave Maule
1.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2020
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The kindle edition is full of poor editing, spelling and grammatical mistakes and ridiculous page layouts. The proof reader for this edition must have been blind. There are so many mistakes that it definitely impacts on the readers ability to enjoy the original text, in fact it makes it practically unreadable. Buy another format rather than wasting your money on this kindle edition.
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