Animal Farm by George Orwell Book Talk
Title: Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell
Pages: 128 Pages
Published: August 17, 1945
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Summary:
Animal Farm is told from the perspectives of animals on The Manor Farm as they rebel against their human farmer. This political novella centers around the idea of communism. This story has been adapted to both the stage and screen.
My Thoughts:
Since Animal Farm is a novella, it is a book you can sit down and read in one sitting. This was a book that was on my reading list in my high school Dystopian Fiction class, but we never got around to reading it then. When I found a copy in a box of books, I dropped everything to read it.
This story reminds me of a dystopian Charlotte’s Web. On the surface, it is a fun story about farm animals rebelling against humans. The further I got into the story, the more it started to remind me of a more serious Back at the Barnyard (a television show that aired on Nickelodeon in 2007, now streaming on Paramount+.)
This story is specifically based on the Bolshevik revolution, which was not something I had previously learned about. If you research the Bolshevik revolution ahead of time, you will likely appreciate the details in this story.
This book deals with power and corruption like George Orwell’s other popular novel, 1984. Unlike 1984, this story does not go into as many vivid details in the violent scenes, making it an easier book to digest.
Overall I enjoyed this novella. I appreciate that Orwell left it at 128 pages. This length was plenty to tell this story without dragging out the scenes. It kept the plot moving at a good pace that makes it impossible to put down.
I think Animal Farm is appropriate for anybody in middle school or above due to the violence.
Have you read Animal Farm? Comment your thoughts!
ashleyohare 