“There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, Dim being really dim, and we sat in the Korova Milkbar making up rassoodocks what to do with the evening, a flip dark chill winter bastard though dry. The Korova Milkbar was a milk-plus mesto, and you may, O my brothers, have forgotten what these mestos were like, things changing so skorry these days, and everybody very quick to forget, newspapers not being read much neither.”
― Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange
There are some books that you really strongly dislike. For me A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess is one of those few I have on my list. I found it to be so…disturbing. I get why it’s called masterpiece and I partly get why some lewdies give it 5/5 starts but I didn’t like it. I also think there should be age limits to books like this.
“But what I do I do because I like to do.”
― Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange
Clockwork Orange is raskazz about malchik named Alex who likes classical music, especially Beethoven. He lives in dystopian world and leads a gang that loves mindless violence and thinks there is nothing wrong with it. As you might guess, Alex’s road as prestoopnik leads him to jail. There he volunteers for experimental treatment called Ludovico’s Technique.
I didn’t like it because of Nadsat language. It was imaginative and well-invented byt it freaked me out. As native speaker of Russian, I got almost all of Nadsat language but it was like reading very highly bolnoy and oozhassny Russian.
I didn’t like Alex at all and I should have thought he deserved that all yet I somehow felt pitty for him. I have read book both in English and Finnish. The Finnish translator did way too good work with the translation…
I’d give this bok 4/10
How-To Read A Clockwork Orange
1. Definitely read it but I would not want to read it twice (krrrhmm).
2. Can’t give any tips on how to get Nadsat language without looking all the time the words up in the glossary but they say you start to get them and replace them with English ones. When beginning reading, you should look what the words mean to get the context. Helps a lot if you know some Russian.
3. Prepare to think about questions like “how far is too far”, “can evilness be cured” , “what’s wrong with the society”.
4. Ending was disappointing. Some say never to read chapter 21. Freedom of choice.
5. The book was much worse than the movie. Movie was quite watchable, artistic. In book the malchik is 15 and does much more oozhassny crimes. Movie is tame.
“So what is it going to be then, eh?”
― Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange
Haven’t read that one,but I’m looking forward to. :)
I noticed many people sometimes talking in that language for fun… so I don’t know what to expect from that book.
Will I end up being confused with the Nadsat language ,or will I cope with and have fun? I should read to know….
Haha..the famous chapter 21…I heard someone said it was controversial,but of course,I ignore why!
As for the movie,I watched the beginning when I was a kid.I ignored what it was all about and after more than a decade,I downloaded the movie on my laptop,before the latter crashed.Luckily…I should say,as I still haven’t watched the movie – it’s preferable to do so after reading the book.
And it doesn’t surprise me that the movie is better than the book,as it is among the top 15 on IMDB list! I was even surprised to see that the main actor is already a very old man! :o
And as always,I liked your pics! :)
I think it is a book that you have to read, woudln’t recommend it and give it the best ratings though. Haha, I don’t really see why to talk in Nadsat language…for fun,I wouldn’t. It sounds somehow so childish and rude at the same time. I think you will understand the language though :)
I kind of liked the movie and I almost did not like the book at all :D which is very rare case that I find movie to be better :o
Haven’t read that one,but I’m looking forward to. :)
I noticed many people sometimes talking in that language for fun… so I don’t know what to expect from that book.
Will I end up being confused with the Nadsat language ,or will I cope with and have fun? I should read to know….
Haha..the famous chapter 21…I heard someone said it was controversial,but of course,I ignore why!
As for the movie,I watched the beginning when I was a kid.I ignored what it was all about and after more than a decade,I downloaded the movie on my laptop,before the latter crashed.Luckily…I should say,as I still haven’t watched the movie – it’s preferable to do so after reading the book.
And it doesn’t surprise me that the movie is better than the book,as it is among the top 15 on IMDB list! I was even surprised to see that the main actor is already a very old man! :o
And as always,I liked your pics! :)
I think it is a book that you have to read, woudln’t recommend it and give it the best ratings though. Haha, I don’t really see why to talk in Nadsat language…for fun,I wouldn’t. It sounds somehow so childish and rude at the same time. I think you will understand the language though :)
I kind of liked the movie and I almost did not like the book at all :D which is very rare case that I find movie to be better :o
It is a book i feel I should read, rather than want to read. I am a huge fan of Kubrick and I did like the film a lot. Must have been quite a challenge adapting it to the big screen.
Definitely something you should read at least once (I always say this). Movie version was good, Kubrick did great work with it.
Really? I actually loved this book. But then again, I love books that are equally disturbing and memorable, which – to me – this book definitely was. I know it’s not for everyone though. :)
I do get why people love this book. I think it was talented but yeah I didn’t like it. Hmmm maybe you would like American Psycho and books of Cormac McCarthy: Blood Meridian, The Road (not as disturbing as Clockwork Orange but some same elements I think)
I did love American Psycho and Blood Meridian. I never had the chance to read The Road, though. But if it’s interesting or along the same lines as Clockwork Orange, then yeah. I’d probably dig that, too.
:) I think you will, The Road is very good book (and it also received Pulitzer prize). Then there’s a book called The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things and some books of James Ellroy are also dark.
Thanks so much for the great refs! I will definitely have to check out those books when I get the chance. Dark and twisted is my specialty. ;)
It is a book i feel I should read, rather than want to read. I am a huge fan of Kubrick and I did like the film a lot. Must have been quite a challenge adapting it to the big screen.
Definitely something you should read at least once (I always say this). Movie version was good, Kubrick did great work with it.
Really? I actually loved this book. But then again, I love books that are equally disturbing and memorable, which – to me – this book definitely was. I know it’s not for everyone though. :)
I do get why people love this book. I think it was talented but yeah I didn’t like it. Hmmm maybe you would like American Psycho and books of Cormac McCarthy: Blood Meridian, The Road (not as disturbing as Clockwork Orange but some same elements I think)
I did love American Psycho and Blood Meridian. I never had the chance to read The Road, though. But if it’s interesting or along the same lines as Clockwork Orange, then yeah. I’d probably dig that, too.
:) I think you will, The Road is very good book (and it also received Pulitzer prize). Then there’s a book called The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things and some books of James Ellroy are also dark.
Thanks so much for the great refs! I will definitely have to check out those books when I get the chance. Dark and twisted is my specialty. ;)