A blog for young adult book lovers

Animal Farm by George Orwell


Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 141
I actually didn't read this book, I listened to it on audio book and it was one of the first books in a really long time that I've listened to and it was great! The way the reader did a different voice for the characters and added a more sombre theme to the story that gave a really great tone to the story that probably couldn't be achieved if I had read it myself.
The story itself was amazing. I had heard about how great this book was but wow, no one has really done it justice. Animal Farm shows the best example of communism within a fictioinal book that I've ever seen.
The story starts out with the animals on Manor Farm whom feel unhappy with the current conditions they are living in and feel that they are slaves to the men who run the farm, mainly Jones, the owner of the farm. So, one day one of the oldest pigs Old Major paints a picture of an ideal world where animals run the farm and are treated equally without human interference. A few days later when Old Major dies, the animals on the farm finally begin to rebel against the humans and when they succeed in expelling Jones and his men they decree Manor Farm as Animal Farm and set up commandments that state all animsals will be treated equally, will not act like humans, dress like humans, etc.
The pigs, mainly Snowball and Napolean, act as leaders and organziers on the farm and set up the commandments and tell the other animals what to do and organize the work on the farm. This is when the first signs of communism start to appear; all of the animals must work harder than the pigs, yet the pigs reap more of the benefits. The pigs also tell the other animals what do, and when the animals protest, they use brainwashing tactics to make sure the other animals do not uprise and do what they are told.
Wow, what a great novel. Honestly, one of the best books I've ever read (or listened to?) and I can't wait to read 1984 by George Orwell as well, because I've heard it's even better. No wonder this is a classic because it is really a great thought provoking book with tons of symbolism. I strongly encourage everyone to read this, it really makes you appreciate the democracy we live in, and how much freedom we really have (yes, it's ficitional, but the communism is what really goes on in parts of the world). Just something to think about.
See you soon!
Paige
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Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

book cover of 

Slice of Cherry 

by

Dia Reeves
Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 505
I had really high hopes for this book and I REALLY wanted to like it, but it thoroughly disappointed me. I actually thought it was going to have more of a horror element (I mean look at that gorgeous, yet creepy, cover). However, it actually took on more of a...underdeveloped theme. Let's make a list of what was underdeveloped: the characters, the plot, the setting, the conversations between the characters, the back story...everything? 
I felt that the back story was described WAY too quickly and I barely understood who the main characters were. The main characters themselves were so infuriating and I couldn't connect with them at all. The plot could have been way scarier, or have more of a horror theme and the setting was so under described that 150 pages in, I still couldn't tell you where they lived or what their house looked like. 
I will admit that I tried my best to push through and make an attempt to finish this book but I could only go 150 pages before I finally called it quits. Normally I really try to finish a book even if it's pretty bad, but I just couldn't do it.
I may try again in the next few months, but trying to get out of a reading slump and this is the first thing you read? Not exactly a great idea. 
Anyways, sorry for the short review, still trying to get back into the swing of things.
See you soon!
Paige
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