Orwell’s books are not necessarily easy pastime, even Animal Farm. I believe that the last one isn’t critique of USSR. On the contrary it’s rather universal.
Yeah, Animal Farm & 1984 are way bigger than just critiques of USSR. His earlier books are much lighter, almost like travel diaries and pretty easy to read. But the subtle themes are all there - his hatred for totalitarianism, his issues with capitalism, and his complicated love for socialism. He was a socialist who hated Stalin, which put him at odds with the Soviets, all while the West used him while overlooking that he was also one of capitalism's sharpest critics. He'd probably roll in his grave seeing how he got turned into an anti-communist mascot.