Becoming a bestseller is not an exact science. Sometimes Oprah will mention a book and sales skyrocket. Or an adaptation causes a surge. But what about a book published decades before that sells well throughout each and every year? Not bestseller well, but well enough to require reprints fairly often. You know the books I’m talking about. Classics widely read in classrooms all over the country.
It turns out that current events can also cause a book to jump off shelves if people believe it may have some resemblance to what’s going on in the real world. Enter 1984. It’s the top selling book on Amazon right now because many believe we might be entering a world not much different from what Orwell describes in the book.
I’ve read it. But I think a reread may be in order. Perhaps I’ll take a page from Kellyanne Conway and start using alternative facts to describe things.
Have you read Orwell’s 20th century Classic? See any resemblance to what’s happening right now?
Johnny Reads 
1984 is an excellent work of science fiction, whether you think we are in times much like it or not. A good complimentary book to read soon after is Brave New World. The settings of the worlds are drastically different, yet they have a startling amount of things in common
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I’ve read them both. Didn’t find either to be anything memorable.
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1984 is one of my favorites. A very grim read that can be challenging at times. So amazing that something written in 1949 is now so relevant. I posted an article on my FB page today discussing this very topic and how sales are up in light of some of Trump’s recent “moves” 🙂
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I read it a couple of years ago. Didn’t really enjoy it. But current events may warrant a reread.
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They most definitely do. I find the recent blocks that are being implemented in social media to make this an even more relevant read. I hope maybe if you make the second attempt, you will connect more. Or maybe I should hope not.. my what troublesome times.
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This was the first real video I ever did. The editing is probably terrible, but my thoughts are my thoughts. I imagine I’d think pretty similarly today. https://youtu.be/iguPU_KNKi8
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Checking it out now! Thanks 🙂
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Well I understand your thoughts. I always feel like a lot of readers I discuss this title with cannot fully connect because of the bleak atmosphere and incredibly slow pacing.
For myself, that is exactly what made the title so successful. Those very elements helped really paint how dismal a true dystopia could be. They amped my ability to connect with the fear and sorrow.
I hope your next read is a splendid one!
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