Tag Archives: 1984

“I knew that I had a facility with words and a power of facing unpleasant facts.” — George Orwell

Posted on June 25, 2025 by sheila

Orwell was born on this day. When Animal Farm was released in a new edition, Christopher Hitchens wrote specifically about the quote from Orwell shown in the title above. Very few people can “face unpleasant facts”. Hitchens: A commissar who … Continue reading →

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Orwell’s “nightmare world”

Posted on October 31, 2024 by sheila

From George Orwell’s essential essay “Looking Back on the Spanish War”, where he reflects on all the lies and falsifications of that essential conflict, the rehearsal for Hitler-Stalin and all the monstrousness that followed. (It is the Spanish civil war … Continue reading →

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Understanding Propaganda and Newspeak: Book Recommendation

Posted on June 19, 2020 by sheila

J.P. Stern’s Hitler: The Führer and the people was published in 1974 but remains unmatched in breaking down and laying out the reasons behind the hold Hitler had, the psychological and emotional hold he had on his people. It’s a … Continue reading →

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Thoughtcrime and 2+2=5: This is how it’s done

Posted on June 1, 2020 by sheila

Symes’ monologue to Winston Smith, in George Orwell’s 1984: “Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words … Continue reading →

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2017 Books Read

Posted on December 31, 2017 by sheila

I got into a good rhythm with reading this year. I did a lot of re-reading, going back to books I haven’t read in 20 years or whatever. It was fun, like a reunion with an old friend. Much of … Continue reading →

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Beware Perfect Language

Posted on February 1, 2017 by sheila

“Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. Every concept that can … Continue reading →

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Recommended Books: Fiction

Posted on July 26, 2015 by sheila

I’ve added to this list. I still want to do a Non-Fiction one, eventually, but … you know … time permitting. Some authors are represented multiple times here. Other authors aren’t represented at all. For no real reason. Don’t read … Continue reading →

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2014 Books Read

Posted on December 31, 2014 by sheila

2014 was a good reading year. I re-read a lot of favorites, including Rebecca West’s 1200 page Black Lamb and Grey Falcon. There was a fun mix of re-reads and new stuff, of fiction and non-fiction. My year of being … Continue reading →

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2+2=5

Posted on May 11, 2014 by sheila

I know I’m reading a lot of totalitarian literature when I see the following gigantic billboard of Ray Liotta on the corner of 42nd and 8th and immediately think: I love Big Brother.

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The Books: A Collection of Essays, ‘Such, Such Were the Joys …’, by George Orwell

Posted on February 4, 2013 by sheila

On the essays shelf: A Collection of Essays, by George Orwell While I admire and love both 1984 and Animal Farm (and have done so, really, since I was first introduced them, in junior high and high school), it was … Continue reading →

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