Modern Classics Keep the Aspidistra Flying (Penguin Modern Classics)

I’ve read most of Orwell’s works and, as others point out, the punchline is that he is most remembered for 1984 and Animal Farm. I guess stale Summer Reading lists and English Lit 101 courses will make legends out of certain books and writers. For me, it is his other books that allow the reader to really penetrate Orwell’s big brain and understand his day-to-day thinking, philosophies and experiences. One can juxtapose the different periods in his short life against each other as well as the – often negative – events transpiring in the world he inhabited. Even more fascinating is reading these stories in the Twenty-first century and how the core society structures, challenges, problems and overall bleakness that exist today are pretty much the same at the time of the publication of the works. Oh my, how the smarties – Politicians, Corporate Leaders, “THEM”, so to speak – have really done a great job changing the world for the better! Aspidistra is always dark, often whimsical and frustratingly hilarious – we enter a tough world and then we die.
Aspidistra and Burmese Days stand out as powerful works where the reader (or at least this reviewer) strongly bonds with the characters. Orwell is a beautiful writer; I envy his choice of words – often simple and melancholy, dreamlike, impactful and strong – a master who keeps his stories moving and the reader engaged from start to finish. Let the other reviewers spoil the plotline, retell the story… if you enjoy Orwell you have probably already read this book and are just humouring yourself by comparing these reviews against your own. If you are on the fence as to reading Orwell or deciding which Orwell book to read next, hopefully I’ve made it clear that you should pick up Aspidistra and start devouring.

This book makes Darwin smile in his grave. As usual, reproduction triumphs!

I love Orwell's work, and this was my third reading of 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying'. It's a gritty, earthy and very human novel, and I see in the protagonist - Gordon - a man whose sole dream is even greater than his multitudes of pain. He can be selfish, and even unlikable at times, but is also a character that for better or worse I can truly identify with; such is the strength of Orwell's writing.

Evocative too, is the extraordinary picture Orwell paints of living in poverty in the 1930s. This is a story which really comes to life in your head as you read. I don't hesitate in giving it five stars, and it won't be too many years before I revisit this wonderfully written, but sometimes under-rated, work again.