who is the most overrated writer ever?

[superunknown]

Also even if you prefer Brave New World to 1984 that doesn't make Orwell overrated. He did write lots of other stuff apart from 1984 and Animal Farm. Burmese Days, Keep the Aspidistra Flying, Road to Wigan Pier, and Homage to Catalonia are superb.

[bazarov]

I didn't said it's unaccurate, I just think that Orwell's way of thinking and not just technology is more like now days.

It's not accurate you say?

Let's see.

An omnipresent secret police.

A cult of personality based around one leader who is raised to the status of a God (and the subsequent elimination of religion from all culture).

The establishment of labour camps, and execution of dissidents.

Show trials and confessions forced out through torture.

A collectivised state.

Brainwashing and propaganda.

Falsifying media i.e. photographs to change the appearance of past events.

A permanent state of potential war with foreign superpowers and the use of the fear it creates to further the state's control over the people.

Ring a bell? Do you happen to know any Russian history? Don't forget Orwell's political affiliations.

Both are excellent but they make different points and are very much of their respective times. Aldous Huxley observed on the depersonalization of man that he was witnessing with the recent inventions of mass production, the assembly line and other machinery which were making skilled workers jobless. Orwell was making a direct political commentary on what he was seeing in countries like Russia and applying the situation to England. I love both books (I think I might prefer Brave New World actually, but only just) but what you have to realize is that they're actually making different points. The two books don't serve the same purpose.

What's your point? I think you got me wrong!

Also even if you prefer Brave New World to 1984 that doesn't make Orwell overrated.

But when or where did I said that???

Oh, just forget it...

[Ryduce]

It appears I struck a nerve with Orwell.

*Runs out of thread*

[Etienne]

I didn't said it's unaccurate, I just think that Orwell's way of thinking and not just technology is more like now days.

I think it really depends on one's point of view. I also believe that Huxley's is more... accurate? Soma is more accurate than telescreen, however both have their merits. I do think that Huxley's writing is somewhat bland though and that Orwell is quite overrated.

[superunknown]

You got me wrong bazarov. I was speaking to Ryduce, not you. I thought my defending Orwell would've made that clear.

[Ryduce]

I put a disclaimer in my comment stating that it's all a matter of opinion and personal preference.

Orwell is a fine writer,and I love his essays Such,Such Were the Joys and Shooting an Elephant I just don't put 1984 on this pedestal that most others do.

[Dr. Flim-Flam]

Mein Krampht is over rated. The only truth in the book is trust no one.

[HotKarl]

Mein Krampht is over rated. The only truth in the book is trust no one.

lol. Don't think you'll be getting any arguments there.

[kandaurov]

Jane Austen.

[thelastmelon]

I've not been very impressed with Paulo Coelho so far, actually.
I had heard so many good things about his books and people that loved his stories and writings. So when I came around to actually read some of them, I was simply dissapointed. The stories didn't apply to me, the language didn't and the spirituality was a bit too much sometimes as well.

Maybe I need to read even more to get a hang of him, but so far.. not impressed.

[JBI]

Jane Austen.

Don't just name them. Support this with proof.

[JBI]

On the Orwell bit, Stalin had already run his marathon before 1984 was penned. I think it a little silly to credit Orwell as a prophet since he clearly was just an observer. He is good, but Orwell certainly has taken a toll from his fans who make him out to be some sort of guru. The fact that he is so well known has contributed to his overrated nature, since now big-brother is in every high school text book, and every kid knows a few Animal Farm quotes, that they misuse and don't understand quite regularly.

[kandaurov]

Jane Austen. Shallowness. She lived in a world of her own, she made believe as if the world were that simple. She brought innovation neither in terms of writing style nor in terms of plot. She followed the same formulae over and over again. She did have wit, her sole redeeming feature.

[kandaurov]

Antiquarian, fair enough! I happen to think that she did indeed criticize what she actually also reinforced with her novels, the social conventions, but all this is only my opinion though, which I was asked to laborate upon.

[teejay17]

Of all the authors I've read, Dan Brown was the most overrated. When I finished Angels and Demons, I thought it was complete drivel. I could barely get 1/3 of the way through The Da Vinci Code.