The FBG Top 300 Books of All Time (fiction edition) | #16 Animal Farm by George Orwell | Running list in posts #3 and #4 (33 Viewers)

[Psychopav]

Lord of the Flies is a fine horror/adventure book, but its central premise--that people will revert to barbarism and human sacrifice--is false and dumb and sucks ****.


I think in Golding's case he's projecting his own bleak view of humanity on to a bunch of kids he made up, and appealing to the internalized authority of Imperial England who until very recently spent centuries traveling around the globe using violence to "enlighten" various people they determined to be "savages". It is a parent beating a child "for their own good"--ultimately an appeal to authoritarianism.


Also, in 1965 a bunch of actual boarding-school kids were actual castaways on an uninhabited South Pacific island and they lived there for months and didnt murder one another and in fact functioned quite cooperatively for 15 months.

Tongan castaways - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Bro, do you even watch Yellowjackets?

 

[Oliver Humanzee]

I do not! Haven't even heard of it!

 

[Eephus]

I do not! Haven't even heard of it!

They're Smooth Jazz--right up your alley. You'll love them.

 

[Eephus]

18

Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy

Don Quixote, Oliver Humanzee, Dr_Zaius, Eephus, Psychopav

It's been almost 40 rounds since one of my books came up in the countdown.

I doubt there will be more.

 

[Don Quixote]

I don’t have much to add on Dr Zaius’s write-up of Anna Karenina. War and Peace took me right away, but I did have to put Anna Karenina down and try again later. I was not feeling it a couple hundred pages in the first time. I may have not been in the right spirit — maybe I tried too soon after War and Peace initially, and needed a break from Tolstoy. But it worked for me the second time, and came to appreciate why it is one of the greatest.

 

[kupcho1]

It's been almost 40 rounds since one of my books came up in the countdown.

Yep, your last one was #57!

I doubt there will be more.

 

[kupcho1]

We all float down here!

17

It

Stephen King

timschochet, turnjose7, Dr. Octopus, Frostillicus, Psychopav, shuke

17. It by Stephen King
shuke: #7
Frostillicus: #11
Dr. Octopus: #12
timschochet: #13
Psychopav: #31
turnjose7: #48
Total points: 431
Average: 71.8

Only one vote in the top 10, but three that were just outside of it puts Stephen King on the board for the ... checks tabulation page ... 15th time!!! Congratulations Mr. King, that's an impressive showing. It's no surprise It is his most popular book given the recent attention paid. Split into two movies with great critical and commercial reception. And the upcoming Welcome to Derry prequel. Well deserved.

 

[Dr_Zaius]

Lord of the Flies is a fine horror/adventure book, but its central premise--that people will revert to barbarism and human sacrifice--is false and dumb and sucks ****.

Even though I enjoy the book and ranked it, I actually agree with you in that I largely reject its main premise. The best I can grant it is that if you took a bunch of random groups of boarding school kids and ran the experiment over and over, I think eventually you'd get at least one of the groups reverting to barbarism.

 

[guru_007]

It is King's most popular book? I'm kind of surprised about that one.

Lord of the Flies, I read it when I was a teenager and I liked it very much. It's stuck with me throughout the years. I think the reason I liked it so much is because my teacher was pretty passionate about explaining the themes and the symbolism of the books. Parts like raping of the sow, the the idea of the conch and as a young reader it made me appreciate that much more how one thing or one passage can mean much more. In reading about Golding a bit, it is easier to understand his premise for the book. Also it was written in the '50s, a much different time then.

 

[Barry2]

I dnf War and peace but I'll try Anna Karenina. A ranking of 18 plus Rory Gilmore loved it, she even mentioned it in her fantastic graduation speech.

11/22/63 is the only King I've read and it was great. I'm looking forward to It.

 

[Psychopav]

If you liked the setting and era of 11/22/63 I think you'll like Hearts in Atlantis. YWIA

 

[shuke]

And the upcoming Welcome to Derry prequel.

OMG what?

 

[shuke]

It's no surprise It is his most popular book

If you mean in the context of this thread, as in this is his top ranked, I'd be shocked.

 

[shuke]

In turnjose's Stephen King countdown, I noted that I was underwhelmed by The Green Mile and assumed people's admiration of the book was biased based on how good the movie may have been (I haven't seen it). I may be a little guilty of this myself when it comes to It. I saw the made-for-TV miniseries before reading the book, and I think Tim Curry's Pennywise may be the most horrifying villain to ever be on screen. I think that portrayal made the book that much more scary and enjoyable for me. And I'm as sucker for coming of age tales.

As much as I love It, I still haven't seen the second installment of the new movies. My love of Curry's portrayal is so great that I couldn't get over how unscary the new Pennywise.

 

[kupcho1]

And the upcoming Welcome to Derry prequel.

OMG what?

IT: Welcome to Derry (TV Series 2025– ) | Horror

IT: Welcome to Derry: Created by Jason ***hs, Brad Kane. With Joshua Odjick, Bill Skarsgård, Jovan Adepo, Miles Ekhardt. It will follow the events in the 1960s, the time leading up to the events of the first film in the Stephen King It series.

www.imdb.com

 

[krista4]

It's no surprise It is his most popular book

If you mean in the context of this thread, as in this is his top ranked, I'd be shocked.

Yeah, his "big" one (in more ways than one) hasn't been revealed yet.

 

[Don Quixote]

It's no surprise It is his most popular book

If you mean in the context of this thread, as in this is his top ranked, I'd be shocked.

Yeah, his "big" one (in more ways than one) hasn't been revealed yet.

I’m reading the reference to it as being his “most popular” based on number of people ranking it. Score-wise, probably something else.

 

[kupcho1]

Yeah, his "big" one (in more ways than one) hasn't been revealed yet.

I’m reading the reference to it as being his “most popular” based on number of people ranking it. Score-wise, probably something else.

I tried to throw you guys off, but you're all just too smart.

 

[Eephus]

Yeah, his "big" one (in more ways than one) hasn't been revealed yet.

I’m reading the reference to it as being his “most popular” based on number of people ranking it. Score-wise, probably something else.

I tried to throw you guys off, but you're all just too smart.

It's still a complete mystery to me

 

[scoobus]

Starting to think I might not have 6 left.

 

[Chaos34]

It's still a complete mystery to me

Me too. Oh well. I avoided King because I dunno. I read The Green Mile as it was released one section at a time. I liked it. I should have ranked it. But that's it. No idea what this big one is.

 

[kupcho1]

Starting to think I might not have 6 left.

That's cuz you don't.

 

[scoobus]

Starting to think I might not have 6 left.

That's cuz you don't.

Spoilers!

 

[scoobus]

Kinda surprised whichever one(s) didn’t make the top 300.

 

[Dr_Zaius]

I'm still waiting for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Didn't expect it to be this high!

 

[kupcho1]

Kinda surprised whichever one(s) didn’t make the top 300.

I never said how many you had left other than it isn't 6.

 

[scoobus]

Kinda surprised whichever one(s) didn’t make the top 300.

I never said how many you had left other than it isn't 6.

?!

 

[shuke]

And the upcoming Welcome to Derry prequel.

OMG what?

IT: Welcome to Derry (TV Series 2025– ) | Horror

IT: Welcome to Derry: Created by Jason ***hs, Brad Kane. With Joshua Odjick, Bill Skarsgård, Jovan Adepo, Miles Ekhardt. It will follow the events in the 1960s, the time leading up to the events of the first film in the Stephen King It series.

www.imdb.com

Thanks.

I'm not only thoroughly confused, but a little irritated. The early part of the book and original miniseries took place in the early 60's. Those characters grew up and reunited in the 80s.

I forgot that the new film placed the early part of the plot in the 80's, so this is a prequel to the reboot. But it occurs at the same time as the original plot of the book.

I'm out.

 

[kupcho1]

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

16

Animal Farm

George Orwell

kupcho1, timschochet, guru_007, Dr. Octopus, scoobus, ilov80s, Frostillicus, KeithR, Dr_Zaius, rockaction

16. Animal Farm by George Orwell
KeithR: #1
Dr_Zaius: #17
rockaction: #27
scoobus: #28
ilov80s: #36
timschochet: #37
Frostillicus: #38
Dr. Octopus: #39
guru_007: #50
kupcho1: #63
Total points: 457
Average: 45.7

Coming in at #16 is our first book appearing on 10 lists, and the #1 overall from @Keith R

Orwell on the novella: "Animal Farm was the first book in which I tried, with full consciousness of what I was doing, to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole."

If you weren't already aware, this book was written during WWII when Russia was an ally. Initially not well received (and even delayed in being published), it was the first indication this Orwell fella might know things well in advance of others.

 

[kupcho1]

I forgot that the new film placed the early part of the plot in the 80's, so this is a prequel to the reboot.

I had absolutely forgotten this as, with the exception of Tim Curry, the reboot movie cast was far superior so I had that top of mind. King's characters rarely call for gifted physical comedians.

 

[Ilov80s]

Now Animal Farm is a book I enjoy teaching though it’s much more challenging than Lord of the Flies. The kids all get Lord of the Flies. No matter how explicitly I explain Animal Farm there’s always like 25% of the kids who don’t get it. They can’t see it as anything but a book about talking animals. The whole some animals are more equal than others doesn’t register with them and they don’t see any relevance to the book. It’s not quite as bad as reading Swift’s Modest Proposal where he suggests society eat poor children so that instead of being a burden on society they provide a benefit. It’s so hyperbolic that it’s clear satire but like half the kids in class can’t wrap their brains around it and get genuinely angry, call him Swift a monster, etc. Even after I’ve explained repeatedly what satire is and what Swift is actually trying to say. It’s fascinating to see how some people are not capable of seeing deeper meaning or making those kinds of connections. It makes me wonder who in society those kids go on to be.

 

[shuke]

Now Animal Farm is a book I enjoy teaching though it’s much more challenging than Lord of the Flies. The kids all get Lord of the Flies. No matter how explicitly I explain Animal Farm there’s always like 25% of the kids who don’t get it. They can’t see it as anything but a book about talking animals. The whole some animals are more equal than others doesn’t register with them and they don’t see any relevance to the book. It’s not quite as bad as reading Swift’s Modest Proposal where he suggests society eat poor children so that instead of being a burden on society they provide a benefit. It’s so hyperbolic that it’s clear satire but like half the kids in class can’t wrap their brains around it and get genuinely angry, call him Swift a monster, etc. Even after I’ve explained repeatedly what satire is and what Swift is actually trying to say. It’s fascinating to see how some people are not capable of seeing deeper meaning or making those kinds of connections. It makes me wonder who in society those kids go on to be.

Interesting. What grade? Is this normal college prep level class?

 

[Ilov80s]

Now Animal Farm is a book I enjoy teaching though it’s much more challenging than Lord of the Flies. The kids all get Lord of the Flies. No matter how explicitly I explain Animal Farm there’s always like 25% of the kids who don’t get it. They can’t see it as anything but a book about talking animals. The whole some animals are more equal than others doesn’t register with them and they don’t see any relevance to the book. It’s not quite as bad as reading Swift’s Modest Proposal where he suggests society eat poor children so that instead of being a burden on society they provide a benefit. It’s so hyperbolic that it’s clear satire but like half the kids in class can’t wrap their brains around it and get genuinely angry, call him Swift a monster, etc. Even after I’ve explained repeatedly what satire is and what Swift is actually trying to say. It’s fascinating to see how some people are not capable of seeing deeper meaning or making those kinds of connections. It makes me wonder who in society those kids go on to be.

Interesting. What grade? Is this normal college prep level class?

Seniors in just a normal 12th grade ELA course. Not honors but not drop level or anything remedial. Many of the kids who don’t get it have perfectly good grades. They just can’t see past eating babies is horrible.

 

[kupcho1]

They can’t see it as anything but a book about talking animals.

Orwell could have avoided this problem by simply not naming the farmer Doolittle.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Now Animal Farm is a book I enjoy teaching though it’s much more challenging than Lord of the Flies. The kids all get Lord of the Flies. No matter how explicitly I explain Animal Farm there’s always like 25% of the kids who don’t get it. They can’t see it as anything but a book about talking animals. The whole some animals are more equal than others doesn’t register with them and they don’t see any relevance to the book. It’s not quite as bad as reading Swift’s Modest Proposal where he suggests society eat poor children so that instead of being a burden on society they provide a benefit. It’s so hyperbolic that it’s clear satire but like half the kids in class can’t wrap their brains around it and get genuinely angry, call him Swift a monster, etc. Even after I’ve explained repeatedly what satire is and what Swift is actually trying to say. It’s fascinating to see how some people are not capable of seeing deeper meaning or making those kinds of connections. It makes me wonder who in society those kids go on to be.

Animal Farm is an allegory, not a satire IMO.

I read it in High School (can't recall if it was assigned reading or if I chose it on my own). I didn't like it at all. I can chalk a lot of that up to me being young, stupid, and callow. I can also chalk some of it up to the book being boring as hell.

 

[Ilov80s]

Now Animal Farm is a book I enjoy teaching though it’s much more challenging than Lord of the Flies. The kids all get Lord of the Flies. No matter how explicitly I explain Animal Farm there’s always like 25% of the kids who don’t get it. They can’t see it as anything but a book about talking animals. The whole some animals are more equal than others doesn’t register with them and they don’t see any relevance to the book. It’s not quite as bad as reading Swift’s Modest Proposal where he suggests society eat poor children so that instead of being a burden on society they provide a benefit. It’s so hyperbolic that it’s clear satire but like half the kids in class can’t wrap their brains around it and get genuinely angry, call him Swift a monster, etc. Even after I’ve explained repeatedly what satire is and what Swift is actually trying to say. It’s fascinating to see how some people are not capable of seeing deeper meaning or making those kinds of connections. It makes me wonder who in society those kids go on to be.

Animal Farm is an allegory, not a satire IMO.

I read it in High School (can't recall if it was assigned reading or if I chose it on my own). I didn't like it at all. I can chalk a lot of that up to me being young, stupid, and callow. I can also chalk some of it up to the book being boring as hell.

Totally opposite for me. I read it on my own freshman year of college and thought it was fantastic and a total page turner for me. Flew through it a single night I think. The enjoyment was entirely from the allegory behind it and what it was really saying. The story of the animals themselves normally wouldn’t appeal to me.

 

[Frostillicus]

Now Animal Farm is a book I enjoy teaching though it’s much more challenging than Lord of the Flies. The kids all get Lord of the Flies. No matter how explicitly I explain Animal Farm there’s always like 25% of the kids who don’t get it. They can’t see it as anything but a book about talking animals. The whole some animals are more equal than others doesn’t register with them and they don’t see any relevance to the book. It’s not quite as bad as reading Swift’s Modest Proposal where he suggests society eat poor children so that instead of being a burden on society they provide a benefit. It’s so hyperbolic that it’s clear satire but like half the kids in class can’t wrap their brains around it and get genuinely angry, call him Swift a monster, etc. Even after I’ve explained repeatedly what satire is and what Swift is actually trying to say. It’s fascinating to see how some people are not capable of seeing deeper meaning or making those kinds of connections. It makes me wonder who in society those kids go on to be.

Sounds like Shuke.

 

[Keith R]

Animal Farm is my #1, which I never read for school. Despite not being the most well-versed on Russian history, I was captivated by the political interplay between the pigs and how they used the other animals to their advantage, overworking some breeds, using the dogs for muscle, the sheep as sycophants and so on. The disappearance and ultimate reappearance of the raven was very moving to me. The sad realization that whether men or pigs were in charge, the lower classes would continue to get exploited was the disheartening reality amplified in this fantasy world. Probably the only "sad" novel I have read more than once.

 

[Dr_Zaius]

I read it on my own freshman year of college and thought it was fantastic and a total page turner for me.

That's one of the amazing things about Orwell. The ability to write books that are so approachable and readable despite being chock full of deep insights is a rare gift indeed.