1984 (1-1) The Diary

The thing that he was about to do was to open a diary.... if detected it was reasonably certain that it would be punished by death, or at least by twenty-five years in a forced-labor camp. Winston fitted a nib into the penholder and sucked it to get the grease off. The pen was an archaic instrument, seldom used even for signatures, and he had procured one, furtively and with some difficulty, simply because of a feeling that the beautiful creamy paper deserved to be written on with a real nib instead of being scratched with an ink pencil. Actually he was not used to writing by hand. Apart from very short notes, it was usual to dictate everything into the speakwrite, which was of course impossible for his present purpose. He dipped the pen into the ink and then faltered for just a second. A tremor had gone through his bowels. To mark the paper was the decisive act. In small clumsy letters he wrote: April 4th, 1984.

-- “1984” by George Orwell

Although it was a long time ago, I am certain that Orwell sealed the deal with this reader when he romanticized this private, spiritual act of keeping a diary. Even in the so-called free world, there is something forbidden and delicious about betraying your innermost thoughts to your notebook. So much of our lives is about playing roles and putting up an act, not to mention trying to keep from running too far afoul of political correctness, that it can feel a little criminal to express your true thoughts and feelings on paper. That Orwell should make Winston’s diary the center of his political subversion, the consummation of his thoughtcrime, is simply a winning move with me.

Orwell also uses this diary-writing session to introduce to us three other main figures in the novel, each deserving his or her own respective post.

1984 (1-1) The Diary

The thing that he was about to do was to open a diary.... if detected it was reasonably certain that it would be punished by death, or at least by twenty-five years in a forced-labor camp. Winston fitted a nib into the penholder and sucked it to get the grease off. The pen was an archaic instrument, seldom used even for signatures, and he had procured one, furtively and with some difficulty, simply because of a feeling that the beautiful creamy paper deserved to be written on with a real nib instead of being scratched with an ink pencil. Actually he was not used to writing by hand. Apart from very short notes, it was usual to dictate everything into the speakwrite, which was of course impossible for his present purpose. He dipped the pen into the ink and then faltered for just a second. A tremor had gone through his bowels. To mark the paper was the decisive act. In small clumsy letters he wrote: April 4th, 1984.

-- “1984” by George Orwell

Although it was a long time ago, I am certain that Orwell sealed the deal with this reader when he romanticized this private, spiritual act of keeping a diary. Even in the so-called free world, there is something forbidden and delicious about betraying your innermost thoughts to your notebook. So much of our lives is about playing roles and putting up an act, not to mention trying to keep from running too far afoul of political correctness, that it can feel a little criminal to express your true thoughts and feelings on paper. That Orwell should make Winston’s diary the center of his political subversion, the consummation of his thoughtcrime, is simply a winning move with me.

Orwell also uses this diary-writing session to introduce to us three other main figures in the novel, each deserving his or her own respective post.

Writer's Block: Taking it on the road

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That would have to be the big trip from South Dakota to Texas, leaving the family nest to start college. Since I was going alone I was pretty busy driving. But I was caught up in the happy thoughts about all that coed sex I was going to be having and getting ready to be my own man in the world. Ha ha, the big joke was on me. Yeah, that was a funny one.

Writer's Block: Taking it on the road

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That would have to be the big trip from South Dakota to Texas, leaving the family nest to start college. Since I was going alone I was pretty busy driving. But I was caught up in the happy thoughts about all that coed sex I was going to be having and getting ready to be my own man in the world. Ha ha, the big joke was on me. Yeah, that was a funny one.

Sarah Does Look Good

The only hint of a policy beyond trumpeting American supremacy? "Big tax cuts" - as we face record deficits. The obvious theme: she is championing a "Fundamental Restoration of America" versus what she will call a "Fundamental Transformation of America" under Obama. That's all she really needs for a purely cultural campaign to eject the anomalous black Muslim Kenyan from the White House. And the kind of dedication and fanaticism from the Palin base can be seen everywhere.

-- Andrew Sullivan



(Former U.S. Vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin rides on a motorcycle before participating in 'Rolling Thunder' rally May 29, 2011 in Arlington, Virginia. Although not an official guest, former U.S. Vice presidential candidate and Alaska governor Sarah Palin is expected to participate in today's motorcycle parade from the Pentagon to the National Mall. By Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.)

Sarah Does Look Good

The only hint of a policy beyond trumpeting American supremacy? "Big tax cuts" - as we face record deficits. The obvious theme: she is championing a "Fundamental Restoration of America" versus what she will call a "Fundamental Transformation of America" under Obama. That's all she really needs for a purely cultural campaign to eject the anomalous black Muslim Kenyan from the White House. And the kind of dedication and fanaticism from the Palin base can be seen everywhere.

-- Andrew Sullivan



(Former U.S. Vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin rides on a motorcycle before participating in 'Rolling Thunder' rally May 29, 2011 in Arlington, Virginia. Although not an official guest, former U.S. Vice presidential candidate and Alaska governor Sarah Palin is expected to participate in today's motorcycle parade from the Pentagon to the National Mall. By Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.)