Animal Farm

Part of a buddy read. I am so happy to come back to George's reading. I don't know why exactly I call him by his first name. It's just George :). I put off this book for years because I thought it would be violent and hard to read. About the violent part, I think it is going to come very soon. And it's actually easy to read. I am excited to finish it!

Update: I just finished Animal Farm. I liked it. It was successful at being a political and social satire of power and hierarchical societies. Very deep critic of populist movements, among them communism. The lower class wants to become the middle class, which wants to become the higher class. And once the power has been seized, to reinforce signs of divide (power, schedule, rations, appearances, political decisions, housing, titles...). And the manipulation of history, the manipulation of their memories, the use of ‘self-scapegoating' leading to death, the use of lingering fear by announcing that spies live among them... Everything went down after the milk was first stolen. After the pigs were first self-proclaimed more intelligent, after the populist vision was proclaimed and followed. It was an exercise well executed by George Orwell. It was a sad story.

Chapter 5: Of course the pigs would seize all power, including the extra milk and apples, and use the excuse of needing to stay in good health to prevent Jones from coming back. I have a feeling that they are going to leverage this fear of Jones' return anytime they need to shut down a debate to their advantage.

Chapter 5: ““One false step, and our enemies will be upon us. Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?”” Aaarrg this manipulation! It's going to turn for the worst, especially now that Napoleon succeeded at his coup to evict Snowball and reign with terror and violence. And of course, the decisions are now made only between the pigs... It's not going to end well...

Chapter 7: omg it has become so sad