Surprisingly, I was never given this book as an assignment for a class. I took it upon myself to read it because it is a book that is found on every "must read" book list. I'm glad I read it, even though it did not do a lot for me. When I read Fahrenheit 451, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and On the Road, I immediately understood why these books are considered classics and on "must read" book lists. They intrigued me and stayed with me long after I put them down. Will 1984 have that same impact? Probably not. I am glad I read it and I did enjoy the freaky parallels between Orwell's dystopian future and our present. But, for some reason, the story didn't move me the way I anticipated. It felt like a chore to read and I was secretly pleased I'd never had to read it for a class. I was even more pleased that I didn't have to write a paper on it! :)