Local Students Organize Marathon Live Reading of the Orwell Classic “1984”

1984 Live on June 6th is a live marathon reading of the entirety of George Orwell’s classic, 1984, with members of the public reading in relay.

1984 Live is also a marathon for your mind, organized by local high school homeschooled students of the Zombie Hotsauce Literary Society. We hope that this event puts some flavor on 1984 and even current events.

Why 1984? For us, 1984 immediately jumped out as relevant to our times. Earlier this year the novel climbed to the top of Amazon’s best seller list, coinciding with the use of the term “alternate facts” in the political arena. 1984 remains deeply relevant to the current political situation. It depicts a world that is becoming uncomfortably familiar, from constant surveillance by fictional telescreens, and our own electronic devices, to the rise of nationalism at the expense of individualism, and near constant war.

This is a fantastic opportunity to participate in the Hampton Roads — and global — literary scene. There will be a simultaneous star-studded reading of 1984 put on by the George Orwell Society in London. The London event will take place in the Senate House, Orwell’s inspiration for the Ministry of Truth, where members of Parliament, George Orwell’s son, and others will read. Their event will also be live streamed, and they have given us permission to live stream our event on Facebook. We are proud to point interested followers of our feed to theirs. Come be part of something bigger than yourself. But most of all, come enjoy this unique form of performance art!

The 1984 Live marathon reading very literally brings the book into the real world by reading it aloud.

This event is of, by, and for the public. Come to visit, to read, or to listen.

The Muse Writers’ Center is just outside the arts district of downtown Norfolk. Please register for the event at this link. You should then receive an email to confirm your time. When it is your turn to continue the story, someone will hand you a copy of the book, prompt you to step up to the mic, and you will begin reading. There will be themed light refreshments available for readers, and there are many surrounding local restaurants.