NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR (George Orwell) - August 11/11

Ah, now I remember when I stopped reading this about halfway through over a decade ago. (I should also mention that I basically skimmed over the entire manifesto from the Brotherhood, which takes up an absurd and unreasonable 30 pages. What a bore!) I honestly can't understand why this book is considered a classic; it's deathly dull for much of its existence and Orwell describes and explains the hell out of everything. There are a few mildly engaging stretches, but for the most part, it was a real struggle getting through this nigh interminable novel. *1/2 out of ****