Sandra Newman: Julia (2023, HarperCollins Publishers)
English language
Published Oct. 21, 2023 by HarperCollins Publishers.
A good book for our time. What does freedom really mean, and how do we live free lives in a politicized environment?
Julia is cool. Winston Smith, not so much. Anyway, you don't need to have read 1984 to appreciate "Julia." It's excellent. Frightening, but not (entirely) hopeless. A bit queer, in the best sense. Both in that queer people are present, and in that Julia's interest in sex for pleasure renders her suspect in the eyes of the regime. Definitely worth reading in these times of repression and spreading fascism.
If you read 1984 and thought, “wow, Orwell did Julia dirty,” this book is for you. If you read 1984 and thought, “wow, I wish this was more of a story and less of a treatise,” then this book is also for you.
I reread 1984 just a few months ago not even knowing this book was coming out. I definitely think it adds to the experience to have the original fresh in your mind.
I knew that Orwell wanted me think of Julia as shallow and dumb in 1984, but I liked her anyway. When she fell asleep while Orwell read Goldstein’s book, I was like yep, girl, same. I feel like Newman kept some of that air-headed feel to Julia but basically didn’t fault her for it.
There are a few memorable icky bits of dialogue with Winston from 1984 replayed here from Julia’s perspective. Newman creates motivation …
If you read 1984 and thought, “wow, Orwell did Julia dirty,” this book is for you. If you read 1984 and thought, “wow, I wish this was more of a story and less of a treatise,” then this book is also for you.
I reread 1984 just a few months ago not even knowing this book was coming out. I definitely think it adds to the experience to have the original fresh in your mind.
I knew that Orwell wanted me think of Julia as shallow and dumb in 1984, but I liked her anyway. When she fell asleep while Orwell read Goldstein’s book, I was like yep, girl, same. I feel like Newman kept some of that air-headed feel to Julia but basically didn’t fault her for it.
There are a few memorable icky bits of dialogue with Winston from 1984 replayed here from Julia’s perspective. Newman creates motivation for Julia to say what she says, which is mainly that she wants to placate Winston so they can get to the sex. Can he PLEASE shut up? Hahaha.
Newman explores the lives of women in this system, including pregnancy, birth control, and queerness. She also gives Julia a much more complicated role.
I enjoyed the last bit of the book a lot. It felt like it had the same spirit as the ending of 1984, which is one of the best parts of the original to me.
I’m baffled as to how this got published with Orwell’s estate’s approval, but I’ll take it!
Would give this 6 stars if I could. What a book.
Not just a retelling but a complete recasting of 1984. It's helpful to consider this as a separate work: a response to 1984, in a way, rather than a layering on top or a direct sequel. It's a criticism, an extension, a modernization, and a deep appreciation for the ideas all in one - and I was hooked. There's so much I want to write about here, but I don't want to spoil it. The ending, in particular, is perfect.
