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.

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.

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

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.

As good as the original

I taught 1984 at high school for over 10 years; it was one of my all time favorite reads. I am shocked that Julia was just as good. The author stayed true to the original but provided the reader with an alternate point of view which provided greater insight not only to Julia but to Winston, O’Brien and the rest. It should also be noted that the narration was superb.