In 1949, George Orwell published the book, 1984, following the life of Winston Smith, an employee at the Ministry of Truth, part of the totalitarian government Oceania. However, as the story progresses, Winston begins to run afoul of the mandates of the government and the book describes his struggles and conflicts with the government.
According to Winston, many things that we think are frightening are actually real. The existence of the idea of "Big Brother", with someone always watching you, and the "Thought Police" that punishes treacherous thoughts against the Party. The reader feels the inevitability of doom that pervades the book many times, in phrases like "Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you".
Day by day, Winston begins to realize that the state in which he lived in is not right, and that change is needed. We accompany him in his attempt at subversion, and are unwilling witnesses of what that attempt brings about. This book is marked by hopelessness, but at the same time it is the type of book that can not be put down. I see this as not only one of George Orwell's best novels, but also one of the best books ever written, by anyone. It is a classic, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading in the least bit. Although it is a book that is often assigned to students to read in high school, it is definitely not just a boring book with many talking points.
