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Mischenko's Reviews > Animal Farm
Animal Farm
by
by
Mischenko's review
bookshelves: classics
Jan 07, 2018
bookshelves: classics
Read 2 times. Last read January 1, 2018 to January 3, 2018.
This book is featured on Shabby Sunday @ https://readrantrockandroll.com/2018/...
I read Animal Farm when I was in college and it was one of those reads where you think it’s going to be boring, but it turns out to be a favorite. It’s an allegorical tale representing the Russian Revolution where the characters in the book represent people during this time.
I won’t go into the plot too much, but in a nutshell, this story is about a group of farm animals who rise up against the evil farmer who cares for them. They basically take over the farm by cause of Old Major (Marx/Lenen), the pig all about change. He get’s all the animals together into an uprising against Mr. Jones, the farmer (Tsar Nicholas II). The animal characters then run the farm themselves and develop their own hierarchy being lead by Snowball (Trotsky) and Napoleon (Stalin). In a way, the story reminds me of an Aesop’s Fable because the animal characters in the book have human characteristics and there are morals and messages that are quite obvious. Young readers can read it and they won’t pick up on the meaning–they’ll just think it’s a story about a group of rebellious farm animals against humans, but I believe the message that Orwell wanted to express is that power corrupts. Also that people need to think for themselves, educate yourself and make your own decisions. Don’t let others think for you.
Someone recently asked me who my favorite character was in the book which is a really difficult question to ask, in my opinion. I liked a handful of the characters including Boxer, Snowball, Benjamin, and Clover, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would have to be Snowball. Snowball’s ideas were in the best interests of the animals and he was always fair. He wanted to educate the other animals and make life easier for them. He was intelligent, brave, and stood up for his beliefs which is why he’s my favorite character in the book.
I’m not sure exactly how old my edition of Animal Farm is because no publication date is given, however, Goodreads seems to have this Signet Classic published in 1956. This thin paperback is in great shape for it’s age with clean, crisp pages.
My rating on this one is 5*****
I read Animal Farm when I was in college and it was one of those reads where you think it’s going to be boring, but it turns out to be a favorite. It’s an allegorical tale representing the Russian Revolution where the characters in the book represent people during this time.
I won’t go into the plot too much, but in a nutshell, this story is about a group of farm animals who rise up against the evil farmer who cares for them. They basically take over the farm by cause of Old Major (Marx/Lenen), the pig all about change. He get’s all the animals together into an uprising against Mr. Jones, the farmer (Tsar Nicholas II). The animal characters then run the farm themselves and develop their own hierarchy being lead by Snowball (Trotsky) and Napoleon (Stalin). In a way, the story reminds me of an Aesop’s Fable because the animal characters in the book have human characteristics and there are morals and messages that are quite obvious. Young readers can read it and they won’t pick up on the meaning–they’ll just think it’s a story about a group of rebellious farm animals against humans, but I believe the message that Orwell wanted to express is that power corrupts. Also that people need to think for themselves, educate yourself and make your own decisions. Don’t let others think for you.
Someone recently asked me who my favorite character was in the book which is a really difficult question to ask, in my opinion. I liked a handful of the characters including Boxer, Snowball, Benjamin, and Clover, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would have to be Snowball. Snowball’s ideas were in the best interests of the animals and he was always fair. He wanted to educate the other animals and make life easier for them. He was intelligent, brave, and stood up for his beliefs which is why he’s my favorite character in the book.
I’m not sure exactly how old my edition of Animal Farm is because no publication date is given, however, Goodreads seems to have this Signet Classic published in 1956. This thin paperback is in great shape for it’s age with clean, crisp pages.
My rating on this one is 5*****
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Quotes Mischenko Liked
“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.”
― Animal Farm
― Animal Farm
Reading Progress
Started Reading
2003
–
Finished Reading
January 1, 2018
–
Started Reading
January 3, 2018
–
Finished Reading
January 7, 2018
– Shelved
July 14, 2020
– Shelved as:
classics
Comments Showing 1-38 of 38 (38 new)
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Jules
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Jan 07, 2018 08:39AM
I'm almost 40 and still not read this! 😉
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It's worth a read, Jules! 💖 I've been talking about rereading this for some time and glad I did. Hope you enjoy. :)
Fab review Mischenko! Makes me want to re-read this! :)
Great review Mischenko. Did you know that there's a movie of this book? Me daughters love it. I don't think they've quite caught on to all the meanings behind the talking animals. Lol.
Susanne wrote: "Fab review Mischenko! Makes me want to re-read this! :)"❤ Thank you, Susanne! Hope you enjoy if you do.
Julie wrote: "Great review Mischenko. Did you know that there's a movie of this book? Me daughters love it. I don't think they've quite caught on to all the meanings behind the talking animals. Lol."😉 Hey, Julie! I saw that there was a movie, but I haven't seen it. It's a cartoon, right? Lol. I'll check into it! Thank you. 💗❤💗
We never read it at our school, so I missed out reading it when I was a teenager. I'm pretty sure my husband read it at school though. I saw the really old animated film when I was very young, and I believe I watched a film with real animals in it much later, but don't remember that as much, as I watched the old animated one a few times as a little girl. I'm sure I'll read the book eventually :-)
I read this in high school but after reading your review I want to re-read it - great review!
Gret review! It is a very long time since I read it and I enjoyed reading you review. There are some bits that really stick in you mind for ever.
Jules wrote: "We never read it at our school, so I missed out reading it when I was a teenager. I'm pretty sure my husband read it at school though. I saw the really old animated film when I was very young, and ..."I have to watch the movie now for sure! <3
JanB wrote: "I read this in high school but after reading your review I want to re-read it - great review!"Thanks, Jan! Hope you enjoy it again. <3
Josephine (Jo) wrote: "Gret review! It is a very long time since I read it and I enjoyed reading you review. There are some bits that really stick in you mind for ever."Thank you, Jo! That's for sure. It's one I won't forget. Thank you for your thoughts. <3
deleted user wrote: "Great review."Thanks! :D
I read this for the first time a couple of months ago and I loved it! What stuck with me was the sheep and how repetition lead them and how they didn't notice at all when the message changed as long as it was repeated over and over again. So frickin' prescient or is it that people haven't changed much?
Monica wrote: "I read this for the first time a couple of months ago and I loved it! What stuck with me was the sheep and how repetition lead them and how they didn't notice at all when the message changed as lon..."Exactly, Monica! I was like, wow! If you ask me, I'd say this book is very relevant today just as it was back then. It's my first eye-opener of the year. ;)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. <3
I don't like this book. I cry about the horse, I feel with the dog. I hat this book! But: it is necessary. And important! Human should read it, should think about it. Should feel what the horse felt. Should cry on that human do with animals - and with mankind. This book so true, so everlasting.
I love horse and dog!
Thanks for the review. Goodreads are the only reviews I follow. This is one of those classics I heard about years ago but never read. Now I will make it a point to check it out one of these days.
Thanks, Suzanne. Sorry you hate the book! I understand where your coming from with your thoughts. It is an important book, I agree. 💖 Take care...
I read this book many years ago Mischenko but I am prompted by your excellent review to re-read once more. You are right it is an important book. I am not sure I like the idea of it being made into a cartoon but on the other hand perhaps it might draw young people into thinking about its message. Thank you for sharing.
Leila wrote: "I read this book many years ago Mischenko but I am prompted by your excellent review to re-read once more. You are right it is an important book. I am not sure I like the idea of it being made into..."Thanks, Leila! I think it's worth a reread. I ended up rereading it so I could use it for Shabby Sunday. Sorry I just found your comment! 😬😉❤
Terrific review!!! :)
Deanna wrote: "Terrific review!!! :)"Thanks, Deanna!
Thanks for the synopsis. I read this when I was too young, in a junior high school class. I have to read it again!
Dmitri wrote: "Thanks for the synopsis. I read this when I was too young, in a junior high school class. I have to read it again!"It was different for me reading it as an adult for sure! Hope you still enjoy it. ☺️
I read this as a child and probably just thought it was a tale of rebellious animals. Your review is making me thing I need to reread. It would be like reading a new story. 😄
Dopey fact: I have found this book shelved in the children's section of Barnes & Noble.
Fine review, Mischenko. It's one of my all time favorite books. Your review also reminds me of some of my own reading memories associated with the book.
Deborah wrote: "I read this as a child and probably just thought it was a tale of rebellious animals. Your review is making me thing I need to reread. It would be like reading a new story. 😄"I hope you enjoy it if you do, Deb! Thank you.
Michael wrote: "Dopey fact: I have found this book shelved in the children's section of Barnes & Noble."Interesting!
Gaurav wrote: "Fine review, Mischenko. It's one of my all time favorite books. Your review also reminds me of some of my own reading memories associated with the book."Thank you! ☺️
Wonderful review about a wonderful book, Mischenko! ❤️❤️
Shruti wrote: "Wonderful review about a wonderful book, Mischenko! ❤️❤️"Thanks, Shruti! ☺️♥️
Thank you for this insightful review! If you're ever in Mexico City, you may want to visit the Coyoacan area of the city; there, one can see the house where Trotsky lived in exile from 1937 until 1939, shortly before his assassination by the KGB in 1940. The house provides a good sense of the personality of the man who was part of the inspiration for Orwell's "Snowball."
Paul wrote: "Thank you for this insightful review! If you're ever in Mexico City, you may want to visit the Coyoacan area of the city; there, one can see the house where Trotsky lived in exile from 1937 until 1..."That’s interesting, Paul! Thank you for sharing. ☺️
Greta wrote: "Animal Farm is just a classic and a weird and strong little political dystopia and satire!"Thanks for sharing, Greta. 😉
