Julia

A Novel

By: Sandra Newman

Narrated by: Louise Brealey

Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

A PEOPLE Magazine Must-Read Book for Fall 2023 | An Esquire Best Book of Fall 2023 | A Guardian Biggest New Book of 2023 | A LitHub Most Anticipated Book of 2023

An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.

Julia Worthing is a mechanic, working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. It’s 1984, and Britain (now called Airstrip One) has long been absorbed into the larger trans-Atlantic nation of Oceania. Oceania has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and is ruled by an ultra-totalitarian Party, whose leader is a quasi-mythical figure called Big Brother. In short, everything about this world is as it is in Orwell’s 1984.

All her life, Julia has known only Oceania, and, until she meets Winston Smith, she has never imagined anything else. She is an ideal citizen: cheerfully cynical, always ready with a bribe, piously repeating every political slogan while believing in nothing. She routinely breaks the rules, but also collaborates with the regime when necessary. Everyone likes Julia.

Then one day she finds herself walking toward Winston Smith in a corridor and impulsively slips him a note, setting in motion the devastating, unforgettable events of the classic story. Julia takes us on a surprising journey through Orwell’s now-iconic dystopia, with twists that reveal unexpected sides not only to Julia, but to other familiar figures in the 1984 universe. This unique perspective lays bare our own world in haunting and provocative ways, just as the original did almost seventy-five years ago.

©2023 Sandra Newman (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Expanding on the World of 1984

Ever since reading 1984 for the first time twenty some odd years ago I’ve wanted to learn more about the world of Oceania and life under Ingsoc.

This retelling from the perspective of Julia offers so many new insights into this world and the people who live in it. It’s a fantastic and riveting story.

Captivating

It is remarkable how this book seems like the true novel and what was released as 1984 was a more limited view. I suspect that Orwell’s satire didn’t really have the aim of fully developed novel as is the case with Julia.

Interesting

Very well done. I read 1984 every few years, and this definitely takes an interesting turn. Controversial for fans, for sure, but I think it is a convincing interpretation of the mystery that is Julia from Orwell’s novel.

Interesting addition to the original

To measure this book against the original would be foolish. It doesn't even compare. 1984 Julia is good enough in its own right. It takes us to places we have often wondered when reading the original. It takes what we think we know, and turns it on its head. The book expands on the ending. At first, I thought it was ruining 1984 by going past that moment the original ended. But, again, it was a nice twist. Give it time to sink in and absorb the message. Definitely worth taking the time to expand the world of 1984.

Great take on a classic story

I loved the transformation of 1984 into a story with a woman's sensibility at its core. Well done until the ver last word.

The story dove tails 1984 nicely!

This is a sad tale of a young woman. Very relatable to todays cancel culture and political climate. Listen with an open mind.

Almost...

When I first read about it, I was intrigued, although I thought the premise was a little gimmicky. It is a revisiting of the world and events of 1984, but from the perspective not of Winston Smith, but of Julia, the women with whom he becomes involved.

In general, I thought Julia was quite well-written and overall successful in echoing Orwell's voice. And it was fascinating to experience the familiar events of 1984 from a very different perspective.

The book goes into much more detail about the day-to-day realities of life in Airstrip One. And through Julia's backstory, we get a more complete and plausible explanation of how the world of 1984 came to be. The book also continues the action beyond where 1984 ends.

But in the end, it is a novel that is like the moon: It doesn't shine by its own light, it only reflects, If you liked 1984, this is an interesting if not essential read. If you have never read 1984, I can't think of a single reason why you would read Julia.

A must read for 1984 lovers

A fantastic retelling of an amazing classic! I love the ending and the way the whole thing lines up to society.

What a masterpiece!

I have read it the reviews that this one feels like an original work and Orwell's only part of this universe. I thought it unpleasant thought and unprobable. But this is really an amazing experience to dive into the engsoc universe resembling of stories from North Korea, the persona cult from Soviet Union, comming from Slovakia I particularly liked the parts of thought police resembling of ŠtB from Czechoslovakia. Even some parts resemble eugenics from Nazi times. What an amazing excurse through totalitarian regimes across globe put into a marvelous orwelian novel! Thank you for that.

Outstanding narration

The performance by Louise Brealey was impeccable from start to finish. I liked the detail provided in the descriptions of the ministries; however, found the conclusion, from Julie’s escape from London to her arrival at the Crystal Palace, somewhat tedious. I thought the ironic ending was an improvement on the original novel.