This book is a hard book to review. I thought the concept of it to be brilliant and thought-provoking. It is written well and easy to read. But it is not a light read, despite the talking animals and simple prose. It is a parable, and as always in parables there is a lesson. 
 I'm sure the political background of this book has been talked to death by people who have far more insightful things to say, so I won't break into a discussion of comparisons between this story and what it was based on. To me, it showed people's natural handling of power. The animals wanting to break free from the hardships and injustice of the human farmer, so they rebel. All is well with new leadership, until there is disagreement and suddenly the pigs turn on one another. Power becomes the ultimate prize, and propaganda and lies and other forms of manipulation trick a blind and stupid barnyard into following without question. The few who know better keep their mouths shut to avoid stirring up trouble. And even the hardest working and more devoted animal in the barnyard falls victim to the leadership, loyalty meaning nothing. 
 This could be many governments in many countries. I sort of see parallels to what is happening in my own, with empty promises and blind followers, those who know better either to scared to speak or eliminated as a threat to those in power. I am not a political person, but you don't have to be to see the message in this book. 
 This wasn't a sit-down-and-read-a-fun-book kind of story. It is dark. It is classified as fiction yet eerily its message is anything but fiction. Now I see why it's a classic. I can't wait to read 1984.