Julia

A Novel

By: Sandra Newman

Narrated by: Louise Brealey

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

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.

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.

great book

this is an awesome book and I how there is a sequel I would love to listen to it

Not my cuppa

The reader was terrific. I read 1984 immediately prior to listening to this book to refresh the story in my mind. Julia follows the 1984 story and timeline pretty well, but I didn’t like the character of Julia. Her personality was all over the place. There were 21st century sensibilities that did not fit into the story well.

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.

excellent

Fantastic writing, funny and ruthless, better than the original. Would buy copies for all my friends.

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.

Amazing Expansion on the iconic 1984 Universe

This was extremely well written to tie-in and expound on the original novel. Written from the first person perspective of Julia instead of Winston, it opens a completely different viewpoint and perspective of what occurred in George Orwell's imagined future. I've read 1984 a couople of times and listened to it almost once a month, and this was a refreshing addition to the original. I was scared to listen to this originally, because I thought it might taint my future reading experience with the original, but I was mistaken. It completely blew my expectations out of the water. To someone reading 1984 when it was first published, Julia would seem to be written by Orwell himself. The prose and keeping to the original style was expertly executed, especially for a book written nearly 75 years after the original.