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Julia

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Julia

By: Sandra Newman
Narrated by: Louise Brearley
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About this listen

London, chief city of Airstrip One, the third most populous province of Oceania. It's 1984 and Julia Worthing works as a mechanic fixing the novel-writing machines in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. Under the ideology of IngSoc and the rule of the Party and its leader Big Brother, Julia is a model citizen - cheerfully cynical, believing in nothing and caring not at all about politics. She routinely breaks the rules but also collaborates with the regime whenever necessary. Everyone likes Julia. A diligent member of the Junior Anti-Sex League (though she is secretly promiscuous) she knows how to survive in a world of constant surveillance, Thought Police, Newspeak, Doublethink, child spies and the black markets of the prole neighbourhoods. She's very good at staying alive.

But Julia becomes intrigued by a colleague from the Records Department - a mid-level worker of the Outer Party called Winston Smith - when she sees him locking eyes with a superior from the Inner Party at the Two Minutes Hate. And when one day, finding herself walking toward Winston, she impulsively hands him a note - a potentially suicidal gesture - she comes to realise that she's losing her grip and can no longer safely navigate her world.

Seventy-five years after Orwell finished writing his iconic novel, Sandra Newman has tackled the world of Big Brother in a truly convincing way, offering a dramatically different, feminist narrative that is true to and stands alongside the original. For the millions of readers who have been brought up with Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, here, finally, is a provocative, vital and utterly satisfying companion novel.

©2023 Sandra Newman (P)2023 Sandra Newman
Classics Dystopian Fiction Literary Fiction Science Fiction Scary Thought-Provoking Emotionally Gripping
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What listeners say about Julia

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    3 out of 5 stars

Very smart

Over cooked at the end but well written and a genuinely interesting add on to the original

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3 people found this helpful

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Powerful and fascinating

Excellent parallel to an iconic book, I heard Sandra Newman discussing Julia recently which inspired me to listen, I was not disappointed, I hear the criticism of feminist literature but I wonder what Orwell would have written on the double speak, fake news and duplicity of our times, oh for essayists of his calibre today. Now off to re-read 1984.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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1984. Totally chilling.

Superbly written and executed and I’m glad I made it to the end. A thought provoking yet horribly chilling listen.
looking forward now to listening something heartwarming and hopeful.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An outstanding story

Written fully in the first person this is an outstanding story. I listened to the book and the narrator is first class.
Now for the radical comment; allowing that the background history is taken from the original 1984 this is a better story.
Sandra Newman has produced a masterpiece.
Very well done, thank you.

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4 people found this helpful

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Can't believe I'm writing this, but... Better than the original!

I've always loved Nineteen Eighty-four, it's been my favourite book since I read it in my teens and many more times over the next thirty years. But Julia hit in ways that Nineteen Eighty-four simply doesn't. The woman's perspective and insight, the detail, the modern take - just perfection. Perfect narration too. Loved it.

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3 people found this helpful

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Great start, but graphic torture content

I was very interested in the concept of this book. The retelling of 1984 from Julia’s perspective was well presented and certainly conveyed the bleakness of the original book, however I had to stop listening towards the end as the description of torture was so awful that I could not sleep. That is a real shame as the rest of the book was well executed.

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4 people found this helpful

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A great addition to the Orwellian narrative

A lot darker in places than 1984 with some fantastic twists and unexpected story lines that blend fantastically with the original a must listen for the fans of Orwell, not sure if I would listen again unlike Orwell’s 1984 but that is a very tough act to follow.

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2 people found this helpful

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Satisfyingly familiar yet totally original

Seeing the same story from Julia’s point of view adds extra dimensions and nuance, making for an even more chilling telling of the classic 1984. A rare feat well accomplished and read.

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2 people found this helpful

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Cracking story but could ruin 1984

Really good story and extended the world quite a bit. Harsh on Winston and has potential to annoy you if you love 1984

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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A great companion piece

Whist the majority of people draw to this are already well aware of the story and its outcome, this incredible work sheds more light on Julia and explores her personality and her personal experiences.

Also gives a great insight into O’Brien and the creepily enigmatic Martin.

Overall, this is a long and at times harrowing book.

Expertly narrated by Louise Brearly who’s superbly clear diction subtly brings the characters to life.

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