A Breath Of Fresh Literature (Coming Up For Air - George Orwell)

Member Name:

Product:	Coming Up For Air - George Orwell
Date:	26/06/02 (526 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Introspective Thought Patterns, Well Written, The Literature Flows

Disadvantages: None

I feel that the youth today are reading far too many fictitious books about horror or even characters that express regions of the imagination unknown to the realistic world. This is why I say George Orwell's pre-war tale Coming Up For Air is a tale that will get any literature lover back into classic literature and literature that not only entertains but also invigorates.


George Orwell is undoubtedly known for the brilliant works that he did in his two most famous and well-appreciated novels, Animal Farm and 1984. The problem with these novels was that they were novels which if read by a young reader, they would not be able to capture the full relevance of the novel, however, Coming Up For Air is novel in which Orwell provides book which can be read and understand; this is uncommon for most George Orwell literatures and any previous reader of his novel's will be surprised at the simplicity of understanding this novel. But don't misunderstand, this is a novel that contains complex thought patterns and without giving the plot away will have you gasping for air.


We first are acquainted with the protagonist early on in the novel; George (Tubby) Bowling is found shaving in his bathroom. Already we note the monotony of his life, the lack of difference between himself and those around him.


The protagonist. Bowling is a character that anyone will be able to relate to. His red face and over worn skin make for an abrasive character; but the fact that Orwell joins him early on in the bathroom, pleased that he has beaten his children to the bathroom, exuberates the fact that Bowling's life is both meaningless and pointless.


Living a life of quiet desperation is one, which intrigues the reader about the complex character of Bowling. However, after fighting in WW1 we see that like other existentialists, Bowling is separated from his wife and kids. In this life, Bowling has time to reflect of the monotony a
nd worthlessness of his life. This is a brilliant chapter in the novel in which Orwell even entices the reader into reflecting upon his/her own life. A technique, which has puzzled me ever since I read Coming UP For Air.


The reader will see a relationship between Coming Up For Air and 1984 in a certain chapter. After Bowling returns from this time of reflection, he is not surprised nor shocked to note that the world is once again equipping for war; and in a famous anti-fascist speech we see the enlightened Bowling closing his eyes and as he listens to the propaganda echoing throughout, a shocking image reminiscent of 1984 Big Brother hate sessions is painted.


"I saw the vision that he was seeing...What he's saying is merely that Hitler's after us and we must all get together and have a good hate. Doesn't go into details. Leaves it all respectable. But what he's seeing is something quite different. It's a picture of himself smashing people's faces in with a spanner. Fascist faces, of course. I know that's what he was seeing. It was what I saw myself for the second or two that I was inside him."


Throughout the novel, Bowling reflects nostalgically upon his life and the life he once had as a youth. This is a time for reflection for Bowling and surprisingly the images that are portrayed are not only interesting but also invigorating. Something hard to find in descriptions of today's literature.


"It was a voice that sounded as if it could go on for a fortnight without stopping. It's a ghastly thing, really, to have a sort of human barrel-organ shooting propaganda at you by the hour. The same thing over and over again. Hate, hate, hate. Let's all get together and have a good hate. Over and over. It gives you the feeling that something has got inside your skull and is hammering down on your brain. But for a moment, with my eyes shut, I managed to turn the tabl
es on him. I got inside his skull. It was a peculiar sensation. For about a second I was inside him, you might almost say I was him...."


It is unbelievable to see that even after 60 years Orwell's novel still manage to capture the imagination of today's society. 1984 is an example of how Orwell's classics are truly timeless. Nonetheless, Coming Up For Air is a powerful piece of literature, it seeks both to shock and expand the mind of the reader, it will certainly be appreciated by lovers of Classic literature but for those alien to George Orwell, I recommend this novel as a starting point rather than his more famous and preached about novels simply because this is on for all peoples and one which all peoples can appreciate, it requires no knowledge of satires, only knowledge of yourself. So go on, better yourself.

Summary: