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Sasha's Reviews > A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange
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Sick assholes ruin Beethoven in this dystopic nightmare of a novel, which is written not in our language and takes place not in our world and has been the inspiration for how many Halloween costumes.
Top Five Literary Costumes
5. Lolita
- or Alice (basically the same outfit and you are gross, why don't you dress as Harriet instead of helping make Halloween a tool of the patriarchy)
4. Sherlock Holmes
3. Alex
2. Thomas Pynchon
1. Wear a corset and a huge dress and say you're Lizzy Bennet or whatever
I know, many of these are inspired more by the movie adaptation than the book itself. I'd never read this book before but I've seen the movie about a thousand times; this is part of the canon for kids of my generation and adolescent angstual demographic. Watched it again today; still awesome. I love that fucked up synth score.
The point is that one must choose to be good. "Goodness is something chosen. When a man cannot choose he ceases to be a man." Fine. Not rocket science, but a good point and well told. In the US version a final, 21st chapter was cut out; I prefer the book without it. (view spoiler)
So it joins the conversation with 1984 about thoughtcrime, and follows on Brighton Rock with the whole "teenagers are the worst" theme, and carries on in the grand tradition of Thomas Nashe of making up words. Including that title, right? "That's a fair gloopy title. Who ever heard of a clockwork orange?"
Top Five Literary Costumes
5. Lolita
- or Alice (basically the same outfit and you are gross, why don't you dress as Harriet instead of helping make Halloween a tool of the patriarchy)
4. Sherlock Holmes
3. Alex
2. Thomas Pynchon
1. Wear a corset and a huge dress and say you're Lizzy Bennet or whatever
I know, many of these are inspired more by the movie adaptation than the book itself. I'd never read this book before but I've seen the movie about a thousand times; this is part of the canon for kids of my generation and adolescent angstual demographic. Watched it again today; still awesome. I love that fucked up synth score.
The point is that one must choose to be good. "Goodness is something chosen. When a man cannot choose he ceases to be a man." Fine. Not rocket science, but a good point and well told. In the US version a final, 21st chapter was cut out; I prefer the book without it. (view spoiler)
little chelovecks made out of tin and with a spring inside and then a winding handle on the outside and you wind it up grrr grrr grrr and off it itties, like walking, O my brothers. But it itties in a straight line and bangs straight into things bang bang and it cannot help what it is doing. Being young is like being like one of those malenky machines.And it's young Alex who's interesting. What happens next...well, I like the book better without knowing. If you read on,(view spoiler) Kubrick agrees, for what that's worth.
So it joins the conversation with 1984 about thoughtcrime, and follows on Brighton Rock with the whole "teenagers are the worst" theme, and carries on in the grand tradition of Thomas Nashe of making up words. Including that title, right? "That's a fair gloopy title. Who ever heard of a clockwork orange?"
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Reading Progress
April 13, 2015
– Shelved
April 13, 2015
– Shelved as:
to-read
August 2, 2015
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Started Reading
August 3, 2015
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Finished Reading
August 4, 2015
– Shelved as:
2015
August 4, 2015
– Shelved as:
novel-a-biography
August 4, 2015
– Shelved as:
rth-lifetime
Comments Showing 1-17 of 17 (17 new)
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Jennifer
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rated it 5 stars
Apr 13, 2015 11:28AM
Running off to see what my copy has..
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I think I have a uk copy if you can't find it
You definitely want both endings. They make for two VERY different books!
Thanks Natalie! I can probably find an e-version. I hope. And thanks for that perspective, Forrest!
Jennifer, did you find out?
Wait, have you not read this or seen the Kubrick film before?
I checked my copy. (which I have never read, but have seen the movie). It has that last chapter that was in the British version, its a new American version that put it back in. What is even more curious, is that Kuberick made the movie based on the original American version that did not have that last chapter. I may be moved to read this.
Brighton Rock, huh? I happened to pick that up at a thrift shop on a whim; I look forward to your review [as always] :)
M.R. wrote: "Wait, have you not read this or seen the Kubrick film before?"Seen the movie! Like five times. But somehow I've missed the book.
Vrixton, I've only read one Greene (Quiet American) but I thought it was hella great, so I'm looking forward to more.
Jennifer, let's elbow each other if we get to it - maybe we can convince the other to come along.
Better yet Alex, we could give ourselves a date to read it by...I only have 3 library books that have to be returned by May 11...:)
Psycho was great. I read it during detention in middle school lol
@vrixton that is the kind of memory a life is made of and made by!
I wish I'd read a version without the last chapter. That last chapter brought the book down for me which was why I ended up giving it 4 stars instead of 5. I think it'd be much better in the versions without it. The movie is fantastic!
Francesca wrote: "I wish I'd read a version without the last chapter. That last chapter brought the book down for me which was why I ended up giving it 4 stars instead of 5. I think it'd be much better in the versio..."+1
A great review, Alex. Does the fact the central character shares your name have any effect on you, or have you read of enough Alexes to be inured? Vrixton wrote: "Psycho was great. I read it during detention in middle school lol"
LOL indeed. Did the teachers know what you were reading?
Cecily wrote: "A great review, Alex. Does the fact the central character shares your name have any effect on you, or have you read of enough Alexes to be inured?"I used to be impressed by that, back when I first saw the movie, but nowadays about half of seven-year-olds are named Alex so I'm a little over it. I have never worn one fake eyelash for Halloween, anyway.
I bet you don't drink milk, either.
