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

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.

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.

Julia's point of view

Julia's poignant reflections during the joint interview she and Winston have with O'Brien are brilliant. Gotta see for yourself.

A very worthy sequel 

I have read 1984 multiple times, and she does an absolutely glorious job of keeping Orwell’s world alive and expanding it. This is far better than I had hoped for. 

i would give it 6 stars if I could

A must read for any true lover of 1984. A wonderfully different perspective of shared events from the original novel with amazing twists and turns of the new perspective. Just read it.

excellent recreation of a classic

An honest look at what it could have been like for Julia in Orwell dystopian future. If you enjoy 1984 then this is a must read or listen

Nice to get the female perspective

I started by rereading 1984 by George Orwell before diving into this new version and new perspective, and I'm glad that I did. It was interesting to compare the experience of Julia with the experience of Winston Smith in the previous book, and the idea of the difference between the experience of men and women in this fictional world of Big Brother. The ending was an interesting surprise! I applaud Sandra Newman for this depiction and a story that kept me reading!