Friday, January 16, 2009

Book Review Contest: Animal Farm (Reviewed by Ngonidzashe Hove)


George Orwell’s real name was Eric Blair the latter used to protect his name at a time of writing in the Russian revolution, born on 25 June 1903 Motihari, he started writing comics at an early age, it was only after he left Paris that the real venture grew first editions of animal farm was published in 1941 after many struggles and soon became a bestseller. Orwell died in 1950 in London exhausted by his work and disease.

Animal farm is about a group of animals that bring out a revolution on a farm owned by a local farmer Mr. Jones, because of the harsh working conditions and unfair treatment they soon stir an uprising, soon they take charge of the farm with the pigs taking over as leaders Napoleon being the Pig boss. As their sources of food supplies run out and living conditions stifles, they begin to learn the hands on and reality of living. Orwell takes through a twist showing the consequences of power and the road at the top, the twists and the untold rules to be learnt in the game of wonder.

Animal Farm is undoubtedly a package in one from a comic that can be read by school children to a book that fitted for older man and women. Its bringing life into reality, Orwell contrasts and seems to be picking up on reality of the obsession of power comparing the Russian revolution’s rulers like Stalin.
Animal farm tells about a revolution one may think Orwell is likely compelling the consequences of obsession of power to the suffering of those at the lower end of the food chain. Power makes men greedy and showing that some men in power will do anything it takes to get and stay at the top like Napoleon .

The food chain of ruling those at the bottom work the hardest and get little rewards while the rich get rich and keep getting richer, if you are at the bottom once your services are no-longer required an able ruthless replacement is sought for. Animal farm showcases that power may be gained and rules may be changed to suite the ruling power like the rules changed from “all animals are equal to some animals are more equal than others”.

Definitely a book on dictatorship Orwell masses and beautifully potrays the Russian revolution with those of animal’s with “two headed horns like the devil” Orwell brings out this in a satire and comical way image comparing animals to the form of humans giving the pigs to superiority over all the animals. If you don’t find humor in this then certainly the kids may suited almost to be acted as a children’s comic it’s a good fable to the little children a villain’s plot to the mature mind.

Orwell keeps you turning pages his writing style is a humble style surprisingly addictive tone but gaining momentum by every paragraph, fitted that one may expect to know what may happen but it’s always a surprise when you finally read it.
What may be most catching is the pigs are so able to take the human form easily that it keeps the reader debating whether the pigs will be outdone or outdo the human power.

The tone of the book is a happy one more like a fairy tale fable before animals existed, a lullaby that puts young ones to sleep but that haunts the older and torments the dead.

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