1984

George Orwell's mastery of language and oppositional ideas captivated me even when I was younger and had to run to the dictionary to decipher the text. In reading 1984, I began to understand that stories weren't required to solve their complexities. When O'Brien tortures Winston, forcing him to believe that 2+2 = 5, the whole story implodes on itself. Winston's plight for a revolution crumbles. The book ends where it begins. It was the first time I realized how influential an author could be, that with decisive prose and passion you can lead readers to invest in characters and plot, build trust, and still have no obligation to deliver the desired outcome. I discovered that an author's commitment is to the story and the truth of the story, not to its happy ending.

@Danceinsilence fantastic writing challenge. I enjoyed rediscovering this book through your prompt.