Well there was nothing subtle about this one. It was a satire and commentary on how well intended revolutions can quickly escalate into something so much worse than what the people had before ala Soviet Russia, the Nazis and the Taliban. Overall I didn't think this book was all too great on its own but when matched with the historical allegories, it was entertaining.
The book started with a meeting of all the animals on the farm got together and an old boar told them the idea of a revolution, of a world without humans running them where there would be no whips and chains and all the food they could want. Of course the animals didn't really understand why but they believed him. Then the boar dies and new younger pigs take over the idea and go through with it. By the end of the book, all the things they fought against and vowed not to let happen became the norm again with the pigs taking tyrannical power worse than the humans.
The story reminded me a lot of how the Taliban rose to power in The kite Runner, the book I just read. The Taliban rose up as a help to the people and overthrew a corrupt government and protected the people. Then once in power, they changed the rules and started to enjoy the spoils that power breeds. The books was published in 1946 so I'm guessing it was more a look at Stalinism or the rise of Hitler more than anything else but still is a nice little look at how those with little power should be careful how they use it because before you know it, you may have none at all.
Like I said, it is a great book in context and not horrible on its own. I found it kind of confusing at the beginning with what animal was named what and even what species of animal they even were. And even for such a short book I found it to be a slow read for some reason, maybe I'm getting dumber in 2011, I don't know. But I can understand why it is revered the way it is.
NEXT UP: #31 Moby Dick by Herman Melville
