Animal farm: By George Orwell

by Robert W. Menchhofer

Genres: Fiction, Classics

59 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Javaeria Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a well-written piece of fiction that hooks the readers. I enjoyed this novel a lot, especially the storyline which revolves around Manor Farm which was named Animal Farm after the revolution in this farm. This was the revolution that was launched and designed by the Animals on that farm. They were overworked and always tired but got little food from their human master Mr.Jones. So an old white boar saw a dream of equality and animal rule instead of their surveillance of human master. Eventually, after a great struggle, planning, and passion for equality and freedom, the animals of Manor Farm kicked out their human master and established their rule based on "Animalism" which was strictly based on equality. Pigs 🐖 became the new ruling class and the time passed, the animals of Animal Farm realized that there was not a major difference between Mr. Jones and their current pig master Napoleon, neither equality could be achieved nor the living condition of animals got better. Even the commandments of Animalism got changed in the past years and one of them is worth mentioning, first, it was said that All animals are equal but as the pig's authoritarian regime got established they changed it to "ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS"
No doubt, the storyline is worth captivating, capitalists always come up with the best arguments and phenomenal writers. But what does this book suggest? Shouldn't we even resist to present regime or even thought about the revolution because it's sure that the upcoming rules would be the same as the existing ones? The most abominable thing in this book is the use of the word "comrade", we know how this word actually denotes and lead revolutions around the world but here in this book, whenever one is explaining something to the stupid audience, they will use the word "Comrade" lol. George Orwell actually assumes that Human nature is evil, so whenever they will come into power, they would all be the same that's why there's no need to struggle for the regime change because there wouldn't be any difference. But I wonder, when these powerful humans rule in the capitalistic system, how they become so soft and tender that they established humanitarian aid, world banks, IMF, UN, and all these kinds of shit institutions which are based on the notion of humanity and kindness. George Orwell is known as an anti-imperialist but I also wonder why he's anti-imperialist. Is there any major difference between the imperial past of former colonies and their existing humanitarian conditions?
I don't agree with the background concept of this book, because if there's a probability of having the same shit leader after the regime change as the former one then there's also a probability of getting a better one also just like Boxer, Snowball, and Benjamin. But if we even don't resist the present regime, then there's zero probability of any change.

[Ryan E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: Animal Farm

This book is an allegory to the Russian Revolution. Mr. Jones owns animal farm. The animals are mistreated by Mr. Jones. There is the workhorse of the farm. That is Boxer. Boxer represents the working class of the Russian Revolution. The animals are tired of how they are treated, so they kick Mr. Jones off the farm. The animals have Sunday meeting, so they can vote on decisions for the farm. Napoleon and Snowball end up fighting over power. There first plan for the farm, after Mr. Jones was kicked off the farm; was that every animal would be created equally. Until the fight for power every animal was created equally, then Napoleon and Snowball were fighting for power. Napoleon was starting a school for dogs, in order to take over the farm. Napoleon had the dogs kill Snowball, so he could take over the farm. After Napoleon took over, the animals had to work harder than they did with Mr. Jones as ruler.
Napoleon’s rule of the farm meant that the animals had to work a lot harder. Napoleon had Squealer (the persuasive pig that could get anyone convinced) conceive the other animals that Napoleon is always right. There new leader did many bad things for the farm, and many good things for himself. Napoleon was a very self centered pig. I do not like how the animals have no idea of how bad they are being treated, while Napoleon is in control. Napoleon is a control freak and he ends up taking over the farm and starts to become human like.
This book is about the Russian Revolution, but does not talk about it specifically because this book is an allegory. The book has animals running a farm, for they kicked their owner of the farm. Then two pigs go for the power of running the farm because they want to be leaders of the farm. One takes power and runs the farm. He does not want to become like a human leader, but ends up being just like a human running the farm.
I thought the book was okay. If I had to read it outside of school I would not read it. I thought the book was difficult to stay with since it was an allegory. It would of been more interesting if I had more background information on the Russian Revolution. I think there would be better and more interesting book out there to read. I thought the book was okay, but not the greatest.

[Gloria M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Animal Farm is a novel based on the Russian Revolution. This story contains talking animals which take the place of some of the Russian leaders such as Lenin, Trotsky, Czar Nicholas II, Marx and Stalin. These leaders were put into a novel disguised as animals and theses animals took over the farm which represented Russia itself. If you are a person who likes talking animals and likes history then this would be a great book to read. This book is like a jigsaw puzzle because some animals act like more then one Russian leader but they all represent one specific.

[Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

four and a half stars...

[Olivia Padgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I even think about teaching this book, I’d have to teach my students about communism and the Soviet Union, including and why modern day Russia is the way it is. I myself, as I began to read this, noticed themes that reminded me of Russia/Soviet Union, but I had to look up information so I could understand the context of this story a bit more. Depending on the atmosphere of the United States when I begin teaching, I’m almost afraid this book will be too much for the classroom. It seems like a silly fear, considering I am someone who wants my students to talk about difficult things because life is full of difficult things. However, words spoken in a classroom, especially in secondary school, can be twisted very fast like it’s a game of telephone with a curly cord. My concern is that a parent would hear of this book’s themes out of context and come for everyone’s throat. I’ve seen it happen, and though the parent lost their fight, the circumstances surrounding it left a bad taste in the community’s mouth.

My younger brother read this book in his 8th grade English class and I don’t feel like that was a wise decision. I think this book is much more appropriate for a 10th grade English class or a standard 11th grade class because of the complex history surrounding the Soviet Union Bolshevik revolution. What I did like is that this book is very clear about the message. Students enjoy books most when they don’t have to do too much digging, so if I did teach this, this would be a quick read. I also wouldn’t want to spend too much time doing lessons on this one because the allegory is so clear, at least from my perspective as a young 21 year old female.

I’d like it if my students did a historical project of some sort of Russia/Soviet Union so they can understand the leadership powers that are represented in this novel a bit more. I would like an activity like this to be done as part of the background portion of the lesson.

Overall, this book has terrible relevance. I say terrible because I can think of some people in the United States who are/were elected officials, business people, powerful people, etc., who this story could be related to. As I said before, this kind of story in the current atmosphere is honestly dicey. I’m sure this book has been banned in N.C. before and if it’s not currently banned, I can see it becoming banned again. Whether it’s specific schools, an entire county, or an entire state, Animal Farm’s message is so clear, yet there will be people who will fight and argue that this book is pro-communist and that a future educator like me will try and corrupt their child with political ideas. The hard truth is that everything is political. History is political; deciding who gets to live or die is political; books are political. Education is controlled by politics and because this book is so important, it’s bound to disappear from classrooms again.

[Jeremy Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, the limitations of Goodreads, owned by Amazon, no wonder there is just too much difficulty in identifying the edition. They don't really care about bibliographic cred, do they?

So, I re-read the "Bridge Series" edition here, which I THINK was the actual edition I myself read in high school 30+ years back.

This series is a language-level approach for ESL students - glossed/modified vocabulary, perhaps some minor cuts (per the annotation for the series itself).

I'm not sure there were many changes. Good luck finding out here on Amareads.

I had been looking forward to robust discussions around different historical approaches to language learners tackling great lit.... yeah, no. Not the point of Amasales.

But great lit it is. In fact, I'd forgotten just how genuinely moving this brief "fairy story" remains. Boxer was one of the great tragic figures in my high school literary career (teen, not pro).

I wanted to go out and gift a copy of this to my vegan ex, who would've loved it when the animals rose up against cruel farmer Jones.

This book was my intro to communism, and Orwell, who I grew to love as an adult. I trace my high school teaching career back to this novel study, tbh, the first time I ever surprised an adult with an observation about a novel.

Tragic, prescient, eerily relevant. You absolutely can write political literature for children. Just don't use dogma, or propaganda, amirite Ibram Candi X?

Read it in an afternoon and remember all over again how good it feels to hear the truth about injustice as a young person.

Some are more equal than others.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐷I just want to say, read this book and see in which category you belong. Because this is what happens in a society, you are been categorized. This book is universal which holds the satirical core of every human society.

🐷It's a fairy story in a style of Aesop's fables, it uses animals on an English farm to tell the history of society communism. It explains how stalinism betrayed the ideal of the Soviet socialist revolution.

🐥But this book can be read as a fable that shows a simple story of animals who can talk. It's a fun reading for children. But again it has some ill features like war, death and bloodshed.

🐀When I first read I read it as a wonderful story. But when I re- read it I came to know what it is actually.

🐷The story- Humans are derived away by the animals in Manor farm as it is considered that animals are being ill- treated by the humans. As time passes by, some animals who considers themselves as Superior like pigs to others take control of the whole farm. In the name of freedom they are tortured by the pigs. The rebellion of the animals, led by the two pigs, gives way to corrupt practices that lead to unthinkable consequences.

🐷But this book not only describes the situation of the past revolution but also the present. There are many parts in the story that exactly describes how power and politics works.
Some points from book that are true-
1️⃣Histories are re-created by the dominators. They mould the history in their way. The way nepoleon changes what has been written in the past in the book.
2️⃣Hardworks of the lower classes are taken away by them and pays with nothing. Like nepoleon had taken away the best things saying they need them because they have to guide them.
3️⃣In the name of freedom they are been fooling around. Like nepoleon said they are not under humans control, they are free to do hard work for themselves which actually lead by him.
4️⃣At last pigs starts to behave like humans and make human friends whom once they considered their foe. Like our leaders tells us they are different but after getting power they behave the same as the other corruptors.
💠".. 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."
And this ending lines hit the target right.

[Koduvayur Harikrishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely, said Lord Acton. He is yet to be disproved. And, drawing on the events leading up to the Russian Revolution and its aftermath, the genius George Orwell, drove home this idea of corruption by power with this timeless classic. The storyline and the writing style are very likely to appeal to modern day bibliophiles as much as it did to people in my generation. Reason: almost every country, every government, is showing signs of going the way of Animal Farm: starting with good intentions, but getting addicted to power after a variable period of time in office. The suspense merely involves who gets to be Napolean and who gets relegated to being Snowball. Talk of predicting the future! A chillingly realistic book, but a must read for those who care about society - in the true sense.

(This review is based on rereading the book many times over since my teen years)

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not required reading in the 80’s when I was in high school in Oklahoma. Even if it was, I don’t think it would have had the same affect on me then as it does now. I can see how the pigs manipulated the other animals because I can see people falling for the same lies now. I won’t voice which political party I see using the same tactics. I had planned on reading 1984 next but I need a break from doom and gloom before I start that one.

[Tiernan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sooo I definitely have a bias opinion of this book solely because I was forced to read it for school which kind of made me despise it due to the fact that I have to take quizzes and tests over it. It wasn’t an awful book but I think I definitely would’ve liked it a lot better if I had found it and read it in my own.

[Mystery Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Animal Farm" is a short, powerful allegory about power, corruption, and society. The story is easy to read, but the message is deep and thought-provoking. I appreciated the clever symbolism and the way Orwell conveys important lessons about leadership and human nature. It’s a must-read classic that’s both educational and engaging.

[Serenity Kelczewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody should have to read this book at some point. It breaks down the sneaky, manipulative destruction of a society that is then given to the unequally of Communism in perfect allegory. Very good read.

[Aadya · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I tell you that this defined what Capitalism meant for me, I am not lying. This book is the best book to read when you're like, 12 and wondering how someone can spend 1000 on jewelry right next to a man begging for pennies to afford food.

[Nikita T Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is now relevant to pretty much every political situation in the world.

This line stood out for me, "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."

[Tactical_Glizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too shabby, it was an easy read and to the point. The parallels between Animal Farm characters and politicians from Soviet Russia were well done and on the nose.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is an interesting and at the same time difficult book. Shows the evolution from revolution against tyranny to totalitarianism is just as terrible.

[Martynas · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book that everyone should read

[Famisoke Olatunbosun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice allegory of the political and societal situation. Comedic and satire as well as objective. A nice, short and easy to read piece of writing with wise and deep meaning.

[Patrick Lacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great description of the Modern Democratic Party in action

[Elissa Weinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant allegory on power and corruption through the lens of farm animals.

[Maryanne Zasadil · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting concept but I didn't like how it ended. It just left the reader hanging.

[Shashwat Ratna Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animal Farm by George Orwell is one of the smartest, most powerful pieces of fiction I’ve ever read. Written as an allegory, this book uses the story of animals on a farm to portray the harsh truths of the Russian Revolution and the rise (and fall) of communism. And the way Orwell pulls it off, it’s absolutely brilliant.

What I loved the most is how simple the language is, but how deep the meaning goes. Every character, every event, and even the smallest of changes in the story hold a much larger message about power, manipulation, leadership, and betrayal. Orwell doesn’t just tell a story, he exposes systems and human nature in the most creative way possible.

He’s one of my favorite writers for a reason. The way he blends fiction with brutal political and social commentary is unmatched. Animal Farm may look like a simple story about animals, but it’s actually a mirror to the real world, how revolutions start with hope and equality and slowly get twisted by greed and control.

It’s a short read, super engaging, and packed with meaning. I’d highly recommend this book to absolutely everyone, especially to those who love reading between the lines. Truly one of the best works of fiction of all time :)

[Franklyn C · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review of this book is that it does a good job in describing the positions in power during the Russian Revolution, which es expressed through out the characters. For example Napoleon is just like Stalin which at the time was the dictator of Russia and in this book Napoleon is the one who makes all the decisions in the farm. Napoleon was a pig in the book, and pigs were the ones who had more rights than the other animals. Meaning that the pigs had the most power in this book and all of the other animals fell under them. Also it has a theme of power, because the animals managed to overthrow the humans to take over the farm which gave a chance to Napoleon to be the leader of the farm. The other characters represent the people from russia who wanted to have a democracy and not have one person making all of the decisions without consulting with anyone.

[Laura Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in 1945, so relevant today. Through simple story telling, George Orwell cleverly crafts this brilliant story about mankind. This is a satire about power, absolute power and corruption. A revolution that went wrong. Terribly wrong. "Human nature and diversity prevent people from being equal and equally happy." This inequality prevents a balance in nature.

Giving the opportunity to create a utopia, first all are comrades, all are equal. Then the stronger become leaders, then dictators, and the power infests them. They evolve. The weak (uneducated workers)remain oppressed through rules, propaganda, brainwashing and terrorism. This is a warning to all mankind.

"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."

[Latarshia Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

FIRST REACTION
I listened on audiobook. Yet fear that I did not enjoy it due to lack of knowledge about the story's history.

At first, I thought it was about slavery, until I did a bit of research. Apparently, it's about Soviet Russia. Which I know nothing about!

SECOND REACTION
Having mental health issues I struggle with racial slurs.... Especially being mixed race.

P*ki? N*gg*r? Pig? Or Ch*nk?

Was my coping mechanism for being buliied.

Evolution is real. Well, at least, that's my beliefs.

[Isabella Marino · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book wasn't quite a book that fit my reading style, I didn't like this book from the start. Overall this book was a political metaphor about the government and about the changing of society. This book shows that society always goes back to the way it was. Society won't change, it doesn't matter what rules are put in place because they will always find a way to go back to fit the needs of the government and people's needs.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was required to read this book for school. It is a cool book, so I recommend you read it too. I found it enjoyable from the first page to the last. I was hooked. It gave me an interesting take on how history can be reenacted in the most imaginative ways. If you haven't had the chance to check it out, make sure you add this to your reading list. :D

[Brady Starkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book was OK. I thought that this book was also kind of boring because the pigs cant really talk and that would never be the case in a real farm. Also i did not like some parts in the book because i felt like it just shouldn't of been in the book, for example "Boxer." Over all I thought that this book was OK in some spots but not in others.

[Arabela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not the edition of the book that I've read, but it had less than 100 pages.

I finished it in one day. I liked it. The message it sends out to the reader and the importance that it has it's meaningful.

The thing I love about this book is that it can be applied to anything and anyone in life, not just history.

Hope you enjoy it!😌

[Becca Fassler]

The book was ok. I wish it would have been with humans though, cause then I would have under stood it better. I liked the fact that it brought out a lot of things that really did happen in real life. I really like books like that.