JJ's AP English blog

So... 1984. I've really been... enjoying? Is that really a word that can be applied to a dystopian novel? Whatever. I've been enjoying the novel. I've finished the first "book", in which we are introduced to Winston Smith, our protagonist, and the world of 1984 : divided into 3 megacountries, the world is in a constant state of war. Oceania, the country our story is set in, is ruled by The Party, headed by Big Brother and kept in a constant state of poverty and total government control. Winston Smith is a low-level official of the party, responsible for editing speeches and newspaper articles to retroactively make them fit the narrative of the all-powerful Party.  I'll be honest; I already know where the plot is headed. Months before ever deciding to read 1984, I had watched the video linked in my previous blog post which exposits the interesting, suspenseful, but ultimately bleak and sad plot. Nevertheless, actually reading 1984  has been very interesting...

Alrighty then, we're here now. AP English's monthly outside reading. Fun.  October is for "Contemporary" literature, or literature published after WWII. Because 70-year-old books are still contemporary, guys! I promise! This month I'm choosing to read 1984 , by George Orwell. Why you ask? Because I'm a masochist who wants to hurt myself with depressing literature and All Quiet on the Western Front  was written before WWII and thus ineligible. In all honesty, though, 1984 is a book I've wanted to read for a while as it's a dystopian classic that has been highly influential on society. There's a reason "Big Brother" is a household term for overreaching government surveillance. It paints a bleak and powerful picture of the possible outcome of totalitarianism, a warning that more people should heed. I'll read it with whoever else is willing to subject themselves to this pain. If no one else is interested, Fahrenhe...