lollll, I love BNW and it's my related for extension. Haven't read 1984 yet, though I have a copy. Is it good?
yea much better but i didnt really read it in the sense of reading moreso for analysing for common mod essays lol, IMO its not moreso the message it sends (letting the government take your rights etc.. /dangers of being in dictatorships) but the way it presents its that makes it decent.
In comparison between 1984 and BNW from my view:
The system in 1984 is just rejecting the purpose of conventional governments which is gaining power to improve the lives of their people only, so instead they decide to equally suppress everyone else, the hierarchy's pointless since everyone's lives are centred around the Party in one way or another, its just how much autonomy you sacrifice for consciousness. It's wierd and paradoxical and its not supposed to be a realistic projection moreso you're supposed to be afraid of the shared elements between such a cruel system and the normal world (propaganda, surveillance etc..)
Tbh BNW's society is fucked up relative to our society but like the motivations are understandable to adopt pure hedonism, its just foregoing purpose or value for enjoyment i.e legit just red pill vs blue pill (know the truth at the cost of your comfort or don't). Its just not explored as much as I'd like to, found it really boring since the concept here is more interesting than in 1984 but never found myself engaged with the story. Can't even remember the names of the characters except John the Savage but I know the guy in the beginning, the guy controlling the state, the girl the first guy meets and the general plot and the genetic stuff.
1984 has better execution imo but BNW has a better concept. 1984's more memorable IMO even if I wouldn't have studied as much as I did for HSC, still, has a great payoff. But I won't be picking those books up ever again, these upcoming months I'm abstaining from anything, and all things English xD