Book Review: Animal Farm

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Cover of 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell featuring a silhouette of a pig and the text, 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others', against a red background.

Animal Farm by George Orwell was one of my first classics, and is one of my favorite pieces of literature. It is a dystopian novella that, despite having complex ideas and themes, is quite easy to understand, making it a great read for beginners. However, it should be noted that this story contains mature themes, such as violence.

Taking place in a mid-20th century English farm named Manor Farm, the book follows farm animals that overthrow their abusive human farmer, Mr. Jones; the animals hope to establish an equal society within the farm. However, the pigs, led by Napolean, take control and tyrannically oppress the other animals.

The plot is interesting, keeping readers engaged the entire time. Orwell’s writing style and language is a bit challenging, but still understandable. The slow build up to the pigs’ corruption is thrilling yet terrifying; the reader slowly begins to understand that the pigs are no better than the humans. Despite being published in 1975, Animal Farm‘s themes are still significant to society today. It criticizes totalitarianism, revealing how power corrupts.

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” This quote by George Orwell is ironic, satirizing tyrannic leaders. It means that ideals of equality can be destroyed by unchecked power. The corrupt pigs of the farm demonstrate this danger.

Perhaps I am a bit biased because it is one of my favorite books, but I cannot provide any criticism when it comes to The Animal Farm. To me, it is an amazing book that challenges readers to contemplate society and its flaws. This novella is powerful, despite its seemingly simple story.

Change is Your Friend

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Whether you like it or not, change is a regular part of life. As a teenager, you’re very likely to experience a variety of changes – hobbies, friendships, new schools, family life, and even your identity. It’s very normal to feel apprehensive or even scared to face change, but instead of fearing it, view it as an opportunity for a new adventure.

Change can easily feel overwhelming, especially if it’s abrupt and without warning. However, change always leads to one essential truth – change leads to growth. This is because change forces you to step outside of your comfort zone, allowing you to evolve into a stronger and more resilient version of yourself.

Tips for Navigating Change

  1. Stay Positive: Focus your mind on the positive aspects of your life and how the change will potentially bring positive outcomes. It’s a known fact that your outlook (positive or negative) can significantly impact your experience with transitions.
  2. Find a Support System: Whether it’s friends or family, surround yourself with people that you love and trust. Sharing your feelings with others can make a transition less stress-inducing. 
  3. Accept That It’s Okay to Feel Lost: If you feel out of place or have many emotions, that’s totally normal. The best thing to do is accept that these feelings are temporary; it will bring peace to your mind.

In all, embracing change is not only an essential mark of growth but an important tool for shaping your identity, each change that you go through presents a unique opportunity to learn and adapt. As you transition into adulthood, keep in mind the main idea that change isn’t something to fear– it is an essential part of life that at first may lead you through struggle, but you will ultimately come out stronger on the other side.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

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The first impression I got from watching the quirky, animated stop-motion film “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is that it’s a fun, lighthearted film about clever animals and the angry, vengeful farmers who seek to harm them. The film follows Mr. Fox, an ex-thief, who cannot help himself from returning to his old ways of stealing food, despite the promises made to his wife that he would try to live a safer, more quiet life. When Mr. Fox does finally give in to his wild nature again, his actions put his family and friends at risk and causes chaos to erupt. Even though the film has many laughs and is action-packed, it also is a thoughtful and emotional film, especially concerning family, identity and growing-up.

One of the most powerful elements of the film is the relationship between Ash and his father. Ash spends most of the film wanting to prove to his father that he can live up to his idea of exceptional. However, Ash continually feels like he is being over-looked by his father, especially with the arrival of Kristofferson. Kristofferson is naturally talented and appears to be perfect, everything Ash believes he is not. The comparisons of Ash and Kristofferson cause Ash to feel insecure and believe he will never be good enough in the eyes of his father.

This dynamic of comparing oneself to another person that appears to be superior is particularly relevant to teenagers today. With so many avenues to compare ourselves to others , it is easy to fall into the trap of believing you are inferior. Ash’s frustrations aren’t simply jealousy, it is the fear of never being able to measure up to his father in whatever way he sees fit. His struggles reflect the common pressures teenagers deal with daily, which include figuring out who they are while being compared to everyone around them.

What makes the film “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, so powerful is that it does not suggest that the pursuit of perfection is the ultimate goal. Ash does not become Kristofferson, nor do I think he needs to. Instead, Ash begins to realize that the things that make him different (even the awkward and messy aspects), are the things that provide him with confidence and strength. At the same time, Mr. Fox begins to understand that being “fantastic”, is not necessarily about standing out above all others, but rather about providing for those who depend on you.

Ultimately, the film presents that growing-up is not about finding someone new to become, but instead finding your own sense of self and accepting yourself for who you already are. For teenagers dealing with the pressure of expectations, comparisons, and complex relationships with their parents, “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, provides a gentle reminder that one’s identity is not something earned, but rather something that grows as you mature.

Slow Down

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When was the last time you stopped doing what you were doing to take a deep breath? Many people can be as busy as a bee, with almost no time to live, as the days seem to fly by quickly. Whether you are a teen tackling the challenges of high school and the future ahead of you, a young adult trying to figure out life as you enter adulthood, or an adult tired of the same constant cycle of sleep, eat, and repeat, many people can agree that life can be so busy sometimes that we forget to stop and slow down. It is often said, “Stop and Smell the Roses,” meaning slow down, enjoy life, and savor the world around you, but I feel like people forget to do this all the time nowadays. People are too focused on getting that promotion, getting those grades, doing well in life, and dreading the future, that they don’t focus on the now. As a high school student nearing the end of my high school life, I also find myself focusing solely on the future too much. The school work has gotten busier tenfold, and I haven’t been able to balance between my school life, my friends, my hobbies, and taking care of myself, so it’s gotten really stressful. I’ve been so focused on good grades, new friends, finding a job, and becoming the best version of myself, and trying to do this and that, that I forget how to slow down sometimes. The song “Slow Down” by Laufey embodies this message, and I recommend listening to it if you ever feel like life is too stressful as a reminder to stop and slow down. The song highlights the narrator’s young adult life and how she’s grown now and is living life independently, and everything happened in the blink of an eye. I found that stopping to breathe in the middle of studying, doing homework, or doing chores, even for a short moment, can help ease the stress. Yes, getting those grades is important. Yes, getting that promotion is important. Yes, doing well in life is important, but your health is also important. It’s okay to put everything aside for a little bit and take a nap, do something you like, hang out with your loved ones, or even do nothing. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, so take a moment to stop and take a deep breath.

Why Do Birds Flock Together At Sunset?

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Birds of a feather flock together. Though this phrase might not always apply to people, this applies very well to birds. When you are outside during the evening, as the sun sets, you might notice a swarm of birds chirping and gathering as they migrate in the sky. Adding to the nostalgic atmosphere as the sun sets and the day comes to an end, this swarm of birds, also known as a murmuration, occurs when a large group of birds, such as starlings, crows, and pigeons etc, gather together when the sun sets. The reason for their gathering together in these flocks, especially during the evening when the sun begins to set, is due to various reasons. One reason for this is due to the birds’ ways of living. In comparison to nocturnal animals such as bats, raccoons, beavers, etc, most birds are diurnal, meaning they are active in the day and sleep during the night. In the morning, most birds leave their nests and migrate in order to do their daily living activities, such as hunting, for example, and when the sun sets, the birds migrate back to their nests. When the sun sets, it’s a signal to the birds that it’s about to turn night and there will be no more daylight. For birds, this means the day is coming to an end, so they gather with other birds and flock back to their nests to rest for the day. They often do this in a large swarm, ranging from small groups of about 30 birds to large groups of about 100+ birds.  They gather together due to mainly due to one reason. Predators. When a bird is by itself flying back to its nest, it makes it easier for predators to target them and attack them; however, when birds are together in a swarm, it creates this black shadowed figure in the sunset sky, which makes them appear to be a large predator, deterring predators. In the winter, however, birds gather in flocks due to the cold. In the winter, the cooler temperatures decrease the temperature in birds. In order to stay warm, the birds typically gather in flocks.  In addition to this, the bird calls, which can be heard during sunset time, are the birds communicating with each other, communicating with each other that it’s time to go home. Thus, next time you see a bunch of birds flocking together during the evening, you’ll know the reason why!

Why Is Eating Breakfast Important?

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Life can be busy and chaotic, especially in the mornings, when the alarm goes off and there are so many things to do that it’s overwhelming, it’s really common for people just to skip breakfast. However, this is not a healthy habit. Eating breakfast is the most important meal of the day for a reason. According to Eric Romm, a professor in the departments of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard, when a person skips breakfast, their calories are evenly spread out throughout the day during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, when a person skips eating breakfast, there’s going to be an uneven distribution of calorie intake throughout the day because when a person skips breakfast, the calories not eaten during breakfast will cause a person to eat more of those calories during lunch and dinner. This causes a spike in glucose and insulin levels, which increases the chances of obesity or type 2 diabetes. According to studies by Harvard, males who skip breakfast have a 20% increased likelihood of having a heart attack, while females who skip breakfast have a 20% increased likelihood of getting Type 2 diabetes. Not skipping breakfast is an example of a healthy habit that can create a healthier lifestyle. 

Not only does eating breakfast lower the risks of health complications in the future, but it also helps with present problems that people face all the time. A study from the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, states that when a person consumes breakfast, it improves cognitive performance through improved memory performance and attention, and alertness. This can be very beneficial in many ways. Imagine having to take a school test or having a report to do for work. With an increased cognitive performance, it could make it less difficult to do those tasks. Studies show that students who incorporate breakfast into their daily routine tend to have a higher boost in academics compared to those who skip breakfast. As well, consuming breakfast improves mood and behavior, which may seem small, but has a big difference. If consuming breakfast improves mood behavior, a bad start to your day can change into a less stressful one. 

However, while eating breakfast has many benefits, if done wrong, it could have completely opposite effects. It is important to balance your breakfast composition so that you consume the right amount of nutrients in order to have the positive effects. Not skipping breakfast doesn’t mean eating chocolate every day in the morning. Breakfast should be eaten with fulfilling foods that give you energy, such as a breakfast with a mix of foods that contain protein, fiber, etc.

Tortang Talong

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If there’s one thing I love most about the Philippines other than the joyful and hardworking attributes and their passion for karaoke, is the food. This might be biased coming from a Filipino but there’s nothing that can beat the taste of Filipino dishes. There are various foods out there but here is my favorite! 

This dish is a Filipino dish that translates to “eggplant omelette,” and it only requires eggplants, eggs, salt, and anywhere to fry it. Even if you’re not a big fan of eggplants, this might change your perspective on eggplants. The steps to making it is without a doubt really simple! First of all, you need eggplants, obviously. Any type of eggplants work, but the preferred one is Japanese eggplant! Poke holes on the eggplant so your kitchen doesn’t end up a mess.  Next step: fry it. This is typically done over a grill, but you can use a stove, or an airfyer even. Fry them evenly on both sides and once it is grilled, the skin of the eggplant should come off easily by prying it off with a fork or with your hands! Make sure not to take off the stem!! After the eggplant is skinned, beat 2 eggs and you should use the stem as a handle for the eggplant, and smash the eggplant in the beaten eggs. Once that’s that, fry it in a pan with oil and once it’s fully cooked, you’re done! Personally, it’s tastes best with rice and banana ketchup with it. If you haven’t give this a go you should definitely try it! 

How To Pass Your Permit Test

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Turning 16 years old can be a checkpoint or a milestone in some people’s lives. After all, many changes come along with turning 16. For example, permit life. It’s a time when many teens are working hard to get their license by driving with instructors, parents, etc. If you’re 16-17 years old, it is guaranteed that you have heard people in your grade begin talking about getting their permit/license or practicing for their license. However, before getting a license, it is required to get a permit first by passing a permit test. Some people may be confident in taking the permit test, and some people may not. When I took my permit test, I was extremely anxious and worried that I had waited all that time in line for nothing, but don’t worry. Here are some tips that I can give as a teen who passed the permit test on the first try with 45/47 correct. 

Study the Handbook

This is the most important thing you need to pass your permit test. This is your study guide—your golden ticket. If you just study the handbook, it’s almost certain that you’re going to pass. This is because the handbook is basically what you’re being tested on for the permit test. The handbook covers the basic rules of driving and the things you need to know before driving really well. If you study the handbook well, you don’t need to do anything else, and you can do well. You can find the handbook on the DMV website and download it as a PDF. You can also find audio readings online that you can listen to as you are reading.

Practice Quizzes/Tests

Take as many practice quizzes as you can. When I was studying for my permit test, I did lots of practice quizzes and practice permit tests, and these helped a lot. Before I started studying, I took a practice test to see where I was at and took note of what I got right and wrong. Then each time I studied, I did practice tests and quizzes along with it. There are many of these online. Just search up “DMV Practice Test/Quiz,” and just take as many tests as necessary. You can even download apps from the App Store. For me, I used this app called “DMV Practice Test” with a green logo and a car. The app also had the handbook, which I thought was useful. Then it had a section of practice quizzes and a section of practice tests. These were so helpful, and they helped me pass the permit test. 

Although these tips are useful, it is also crucial to get good sleep and eat well before the permit test, especially if you are really waiting in line. It is hard to focus when you are tired, and it makes it way easier for your brain to work during the test. But remember, even if you fail the permit test, you can always try again, and you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself. Trust me, don’t stress too much; you’ll be fine. Good luck!

Why Journaling Matters

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You see journals everywhere. People post it all over social media, and your therapist might even recommend it! Even the most historically significant individuals, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Frida Kahlo, Marie Curie, and Albert Einstein, kept journals. The reason behind this isn’t just because it’s trendy – it’s because journaling is a powerful tool used for improving well-being, self-growth, and creativity. 

  1. Journaling Helps Clear Your Head

Imagine after a long day, you’re feeling all sorts of emotions: anger, sadness, anxiety,  and you have no one to talk to or just don’t have the energy to talk to anyone. Journaling can help with that. Especially at this time in the world right now, things can get very chaotic and overwhelming, and this can take a toll on your health. Life is already full of surprises, and it’s extremely easy to feel all sorts of emotions. Journaling helps you navigate those emotions. When you just want to express your feelings or vent, you can do that in a journal. Bottling your emotions can be harmful  – think of a balloon. A balloon can’t expand forever, and eventually it can’t take too much and it’ll burst. That’s the same case for us. We can’t hold onto things forever. We can’t just store all our emotions in our heads because it’ll end up building up, and eventually, we’ll explode. Journaling helps release stress and anxiety, and it’s fantastic for improving mental health. 

  1. Journals Help You Express Yourself

When you’re journaling, you’re taking your thoughts and feelings and writing them down in your journal.  You’re not doing it to impress anyone or anything, so it shows your true self and a real you. Your journal is your canvas, and you can write anything in your journal. You don’t always have to write about your day if you don’t want to. You can just write a letter to yourself or make a page just about you. A journal is about expression. It can even help you discover yourself. Every time you journal, it encourages you to reflect on your thoughts, which can help you discover things about yourself that you didn’t think about previously. For example, let’s say you journal after you got into an argument with someone dear to you. Journaling encourages reflection, so maybe as you’re journaling, you start to realize, “Was I too harsh?” or “Maybe I overreacted.” This allows you to think differently and helps you navigate your problems because it gives you a new perspective. You can think about how to handle things differently. When you’re journaling, you’re being vulnerable, and this pushes you to learn about parts of yourself that you might not have noticed before. 

  1. Journals Are Like Time Capsules

If you start journaling now and get into this consistent habit of journaling, you’ll have so many journal entries to look back on when you’re older. You can read back on your old journal entries and reflect on how far you’ve come and grown as a person. Your journey might be sad or happy, but it shows how things have changed or stayed the same throughout your life. Maybe you’ll become a completely different person, and your journal is a reflection of that. Your journal is living proof of your growth as you navigate through your life’s triumphs and challenges. 

So, how do you start? Well, it’s simple, really. All you need is somewhere to write on. You can use your notes app on your phone, an app for journaling, a notebook, or pieces of paper, and you can even use Google Docs. Anywhere you want, as long as you can write on it. Next, try to be consistent. Personally, I am not consistent with journaling because I find it difficult to stay consistent. However, if you want to try to stay consistent, it is suggested that you set a schedule for journaling. It can be when you wake up every day or before you sleep, and it doesn’t matter if it’s 5 minutes or 30 minutes, there’s no limit. It’s okay if you’re not consistent with journaling. Just write whenever and whatever to your heart’s content.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

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Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart follows a wealthy and respected warrior, Okonkwo, living in a late 1800’s Nigerian tribe. Haunted by the actions that led his father, Unoka, into exile, Okonkwo leads his life by rejecting his father’s feeble and “feminine” demeanor. To fully denounce his father’s scarred reputation, Okonkwo embodies, what he feels, is an ideal warrior to a great extreme. While Okonkwo hopes to gain the respect of his clan, his actions that reflect this warrior construct are interpreted differently by his fellow clansmen.

Achebe immerses readers in pages of pure Igbo culture, bringing readers into a full understanding of the societal customs and government of the Igbo people in Nigeria at this moment in time. However, the end of the novel is met with the growing and consuming influence of British colonial expansion. Through tactics of pacification and outward violence, the colonial missionaries successfully break apart Okonkwo’s tribe. When Okonkwo attempts to resist these abrupt changes, his clan responds indifferently to his ambition. Through this rejection, Okonkwo meets his tragic downfall as a result of his weak collective identity.

Achebe concludes in the novel with a jarring transition into the perspective of a colonial missionary, in which the missionary decides to write a novel, titled The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger, that encapsulates Okonkwo’s tragic and complex life into a single paragraph. The demeaning language used in this title, as well as the arrogance and indifference highlighted in the missionary’s brief inclusion of Okonkwo, struck me the hardest. I felt that the most significant moment of the novel occurred at the end, in which Achebe illuminates a major global issue: outsider perspectives, such as that of the missionary, diminish and flatten the depth of insider perspectives.

While insider perspectives show depth and reality, outsider perspectives can misrepresent, simplify, or erase the lived reality of underprivileged groups. The insensitivity of an outsider can strip the dignity and traditions of an insider, creating a contrast between what readers know and what an outsider records. Ultimately, Achebe’s novel presents readers with a universal message: perspective directs our knowledge and only those with first-hand knowledge and experience should have the privilege of telling their story.