There is nothing like a bit of light-hearted reading to start the summer. I had not read this book since I was in 9th grade and I remember loving it. I also remember telling my students that you walk away with something new each time you read a book. This definitely rings true with this one.
George Orwell's classic tale that tore apart both communism and capitalism still rings in my ears with its accurate depiction of the human condition and the eternal struggle between those who believe there should be as little government as possible and those who believe it should be omnipresent in our lives.
I am sure Orwell never imagined how the images of the pigs at the end would parallel the transformation of communism in countries such as China and Vietnam in today's modern world.
I also immediately thought of the Arab Spring that has just occurred and what the results of these "revolutions" will be. I wonder if life for the Arab world will be better or worse than when "Jones" was there.
More than anything else, this book made me think about how we all treat each other. Whether we live in a free country or under a despot, kindness and compassion go a long way towards a life worth living.
