Journal Entry 1 by ekranda from Northampton, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Saturday, September 17, 2011

Amazon.co.uk Review
Since its publication in 1946, George Orwell's fable of a workers' revolution gone wrong has been recognized as a classic of modern political satire. Fuelled by Orwell's intense disillusionment with Soviet Communism, Animal Farm is a nearly perfect piece of writing--both an engaging story and an allegory that actually works. When the downtrodden beasts of Manor Farm oust their drunken human master and take over management of the land, all are awash in collectivist zeal. Everyone willingly works overtime, productivity soars and for one brief, glorious season, every belly is full. The animals' Seven Commandment credo is painted in big white letters on the barn. All animals are equal. No animal shall drink alcohol, wear clothes, sleep in a bed or kill a fellow four-footed creature. Those that go upon four legs or wings are friends and the two-legged are, by definition, the enemy. Too soon, however, the pigs, who have styled themselves leaders by virtue of their intelligence, succumb to the temptations of privilege and power. "We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organisation of the farm depend on us. Day and night, we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples." While this swinish brotherhood sells out the revolution, cynically editing the Seven Commandments to excuse their violence and greed, the common animals are once again left hungry and exhausted, no better off than in the days when humans ran the farm. Satire Animal Farm may be, but it's a stony reader who remains unmoved when the stalwart workhorse, Boxer, having given his all to his comrades, is sold to the glue factory to buy booze for the pigs. Orwell's view of Communism is bleak indeed, but given the history of the Russian people since 1917, his pessimism has an air of prophecy. --Joyce Thompson

It is the book for everyone and Everyman, its brightness undimmed after fifty years (Ruth Rendell )

'Animal Farm is a timeless satire on the central tragi-comedy of all politics—that is, the tragi-comedy of corruption by power' Timothy Garton Ash

Animal Farm has seen off all the opposition. It's as valid today as it was fifty years ago (Ralph Steadman )

Remains our great satire of the darker face of modern history (Malcolm Bradbury ) 

Journal Entry 2 by ekranda at Northampton, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Saturday, September 17, 2011

I studied this book for GCSE English a long long time ago and have also re-read it since. I found it to be a very powerful read and feel that everyone should read it within their life time! 

Journal Entry 3 by ekranda at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Saturday, September 17, 2011

Released 8 mos ago (9/24/2011 UTC) at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

A RBCK for a fellow UK uncon go-er!! 

Journal Entry 4 by safrolistics at Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Northumberland United Kingdom on Saturday, September 24, 2011

Picked up at the UnCon 

Journal Entry 5 by safrolistics at Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Northumberland United Kingdom on Friday, October 07, 2011

So glad that I read this again, haven't read it since I was at school (a very long time ago).
I had remembered that Boxer had died, but just not how... and yes, it did bring a tear to my eye. I'd also forgotten the ending.... which is sort of disapointing, the way it just leaves things, with the poor animals being worked to death even worse than under the humans.....very sad that so far communism hasn't worked on the large scale, there is just too much greed.
Thankyou so much for sharing this book with me, I'm tempted to save a copy for when my son grows up, who knows what he will be reading at school? 

Journal Entry 6 by safrolistics at Newbiggin Maritime Centre in Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Northumberland United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Released 1 mo ago (4/18/2012 UTC) at Newbiggin Maritime Centre in Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Northumberland United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

To be left on the bookshelf just inside the cafe. 

Journal Entry 7 by Lukerik at Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Northumberland United Kingdom on Monday, May 07, 2012

Journal Entry 8 by Lukerik at Heaton, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

I wanted to sit out in the sunny back yard on Sunday and read but had one of those upsetting half hours where I kept going back to my bookcase and finding myself uninspired. Then I saw this. Loved it.

Yes Ekranda, everyone should read it; and Saffers, you should buy your son a copy, though hopefully he'll be reading it for pleasure.

I can't say I agree it's sad that communism hasn't worked. I think it's a shame that it was ever tried. I'll not criticise an innocent attempt to make a better world (preferably with free books in it) but it strikes me that communism at core feeds on greed, envy & snobbishness and it's leaders, like all leaders, feed on power & attention.

Loved the idea that the pigs and humans can't be distinguished by the end. Communists will steal your possessions and then murder you. Nazis murder you and then steal you possessions.

A very though-provoking book! and literally not a word wasted. If anything I could have done with an extra scene showing the drunken antics inside the farmhouse.

I'll leave this somewhere nice next time I go on a trip. Thanks guys :)