Poll: The Showdown: Catch-22 versus 1984

[Captain Pancake]

Ok, so in higher english, there's a small dispute between me and a friend. I'm reading catch 22 for my personal study, and he's reading 1984. we have a playful little carry on about who's reading the more influential novel, and which one is better written and so on so forth. It may seem silly, but humor me, I'm a teenager. Which novel, in your opinion, is the better book? and if possible, give a few reasons.

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

I've only read an extract from the beginning of 1984. But the film weirded me out somehow.
And I never got around to watching Catch-22. never read it either.
So I can only say 1984.

 

[Skeleon]

Sorry, I only read 1984. It was pretty awesome. Very depressing, much more so than Animal Farm or Brave New World. And the ending is creepy.

So, I can't compare them, but I'll say this: 1984 is a great and horrific book.

 

[devillenator]

both books are worth reading, but i would say 1984 is the more influential.

this may just be because i read 1984 more recently than catch 22.

 

[SaunaKalja]

I've only read Catch-22, about 6 months ago. Didn't even know there was a movie of it.

 

[JanatUrlich]

Catch-22 is awesome! It was so ahead of its time and still does it's job today. 1984 does the same I guess, but I found Catch-22 to be a much more enjoyable read overall, so I voted for it =D

 

[HT_Black]

I say Cath-22; it's applicable and hard-hitting. 1984 might've topped it out had I been able to read three consecutive pages of it without my eyes glazing over.

 

[Cheesus333]

I've never heard of Catch-22, but if it's anything like 1984 it must be pretty damn good. Can someone message me a synopsis, preferrably without spoilers?

 

[oliveira8]

1984...because it's awesome and Bowie made an album based on it.

 

[Steelfists]

1984 is much, MUCH more influential.

Catch 22 just has a reputation as a strange novel that people doing English Lit degrees can brag about understanding.

1984... Well. Just think of how often newspapers and newsreaders use the adjective "Orwellian".

 

[Captain Pancake]

1984 is much, MUCH more influential.

Catch 22 just has a reputation as a strange novel that people doing English Lit degrees can brag about understanding.

1984... Well. Just think of how often newspapers and newsreaders use the adjective "Orwellian".

try not to turn this into a flame war, people. Just give the pros of your novel, kay?

 

[Steelfists]

1984 is much, MUCH more influential.

Catch 22 just has a reputation as a strange novel that people doing English Lit degrees can brag about understanding.

1984... Well. Just think of how often newspapers and newsreaders use the adjective "Orwellian".

try not to turn this into a flame war, people. Just give the pros of your novel, kay?

Okay, I apologise.

















Catch 22 sucks and anyone who disagrees with me is an idiot.

 

[Serge A. Storms]

As far as being "influential," 1984, hands down, the themes and language in that book are applied to this day, and probably will be decades from now. Most people don't even get Catch-22, much less appreciate it like they appreciate 1984.

As far as one actually being better, I like apples and oranges. That being said, Catch-22 actually seems more applicable today than 1984 (unless you're a conservative/libertarian psychotic that thinks every action the government takes somehow applies to taking away your rights, making Christianity illegal, and establishing the New World Order)

 

[Darknacht]

If your talking about which is better they are both good and its just person taste, I like 1984 better.
However more influential would definitely be 1984.

 

[AdhesiveTape]

Major Major Major Major is the most influential character that ever was. So there.

Well... We've all had experiences in dealing with bureaucratic nightmares, so Catch-22 is very relavant.