I will be honest to mention that this the first Orwell book I have read out of the 4 I have in my stack. No, I did not have the standard English 4 classes writing papers on refugee animals or the thought police, although Downtown Owl did involve literal mentions/explanations of 1984 in the plot of one of its characters. Still it's on my 'list'.
A more or less apathetic first - hand account of life in Paris and London, Orwell is a poverty stricken journalist moving day to day short of food, looking for odd jobs, socializing with fellow tramps and bunk mates. A few books that I was reminded of (even though this is obviously was written first):
Jack London's People of the Abyss - instantly cause it's the same plot, except that London is still high class, but disguises himself to write intimately about the bad conditions. He holds more pity towards the poor and despises his gov't.
Antony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential - only for the sole reason that the main character gets a dishwasher gig in a french kitchen, there's even mention of a Les Halles. Same conditions of 17 hour days, hell-ish sweat dripping on your food environment, rats and slathered on the floor meat to serve - but a gig with dignity.
Tell them who I am, Mole People, Dark days (doc), etc (I guess any thing that involves a first hand account of poverty) - Cause Orwell concludes, like the rest, that the poor are as intelligent, honest, and hardworking as the rest of society. Work, as in doing something they enjoyed, could bring them out of this state if only it was available. We are all the same beings - a slave for survival, but we still find reasons to be disgusted with the suffering.
next up: Keep the Aspidistra Flying , 1984, animal farm,
