1984

I just finished reading 1984. Wow. Talk about depressing. This isn't my first foray into the works of Mr. Orwell, so maybe I shouldn't be so surpised at his political cynicism (Animal Farm practically made me cry....ok, not practically, literally), but damn that's a sad book. I realize its supposed to frighten you, that its supposed to make you question and examine your government so that sort of thing never happens. But jesus, coulnd'nt there have been something? The answer, of course, is no. That would diminish the impact of the warning. In order for the message to really sink into the reader, there can be no way out for the hero. The result is frigtening of course, but that's the point, isn't it?

I just hate feeling frightened and disturbed after finishing a book. I know that not all books are going to be rosy endings and ride-off-into-the-sunset-for-another-adventure types of reads. I don't think that they should be either. Literature reminds us of things that we forget in the daily drudge of life. But I feel frightened and disturbed enough in my daily life already...its as though Mr. Orwell is imposing the same dominating fear on me in order to be effective that the Party imposes on all its members. And I don't like the feeling. Again, I suppose that's the point of 1984, to show what a heinous thing government can turn into and realize and cherish what we have already. So now I'm going to read something more uplifting and optimistic.

Crime and Punishment, here I come!