Nineteen Eight-Four by George Orwell

Hidden away in the Record Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth. Winston Smith skilfully rewrites the past to suit the needs of the Party. Yet he inwardly rebels against the totalitarian world he lives in, which demands absolute obedience and controls him through the all-seeing telescreens and the watchful eye of Big Brother, symbolic head of the Party. In his longing for the truth and liberty, Smith begins a secret love affair with a fellow-worker, Julia, but soon discovers the true price of freedom is betrayal.

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Nineteen Eighty-Four is an amazing book of dystopian fiction. Winston Smith is a man living within a world which makes him feel like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. Everyone he lives and works with are devoted members of the Party. While Winston sits and ponders the difference between truth and lies, the other members blindly follow and obey every instruction given by Big Brother. Everything in Winston's life is controlled by the Party, his work, social life and even the food he eats are dictated to him. Anyone who goes against the wishes of the Party vanishes without a trace and their very existence is removed from history. Even disloyal thoughts are punishable and children are raised to watch and turn in their own parents. It is a cold and harsh world and a scary view of a controlled state. 

This book was frightening, not in a scary movie kind of way but in a way that shows the true strength of propaganda and powerful governments. It reminded me very much of North Korea and the current control that the state demands there. I believe they even have telescreens, similar to the ones mentioned in this book, in the homes of citizens there. It opened my eyes to the fact that if a government controls all information available to the public then anything is possible. A mind may be a sponge especially in the young but if everything they soak up is strictly monitored to adhere with party ideologies then it is natural for them to follow without question as they grow up. 

Winston was a complicated character, he was old enough to have vague memories of life before the Party took hold. These memories lead him to see cracks in the perfect image provided by the Party and question not only their policies but also the motivation behind them. it starts out as a private and personal journey of self discovery with its origins even taking him by surprise. However it soon snowballs and he gains a sense of freedom which makes him bolder as the story continues. The more Winston rebels he comes more fearful while strangely he also becomes happier. As I said before, Winston is a complicated man.  I loved how he thought although I doubt I would have been as brave or anywhere near strong enough to rebel in his situation. I expect I myself would have been a sheep and followed the party due to the lifetime of conditioning I'd received. 

It's a thrilling book which really keeps you on the edge of your seat. I loved it and found Winston to be a very interesting and complex character that really kept me guessing. I liked his inner voice and really felt his confusion and struggles to find the truth.  The story pulls you in and I found it a very believable situation. A frightening prospect but any Government with to much power and long enough in office could in theory achieve this level of control. After finishing this book you continue to debate it and its resemblance to real life, the story and characters linger with you. You have to read it to really understand the meaning of my parting words which are that...
the ending left me literally torn in half. I didn't know whether I should be happy or sad. I still don't know!

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

I really liked it and I'm still left debating the ending, whether I am happy or sad about the outcome may be something I never decide on. Its a wonderful book and I highly recommend it. Gritty, frightening, tender and shocking this book keeps you guessing until the last page.