ŷ������

Ha ha! I remember starting to read this on a bus, long, long ago. I couldn't understand it at first but eventually I got into the rhythm. I do recall its being pretty pretentious, though (as was everything Burgess did).

Only ever saw the movie Adina, which was hard enough, but Malcolm McDowal was creepy enough for me. How could Burgess write the 'Singing in the Rain' scene anyway without the music?

I tried and failed here too. The dystopia seems dated anyway, with all future worlds the risk is technology fundamentally changes it.

Tried reading years ago in HS but gave up for that reason. It's still on my TBR list, hoping that I'll be able to decipher it now that I'm older, sounds like it'll still be an issue.

Cheers to your next great read!! ❤️📚

Damn! I wanted to buy this book sooner or later because Kubrick's movie adaption is a fan favourite of mine but now I'm scared to DNF it me too.. thanks for the warning :)

I read this book while I was studying Russian; so, I found the invented language easy to follow and very funny. At the end of the day, we must ask ourselves the question that Alex asks at the end of the book, "What's it going to be then?" Persons considered as clockwork oranges or as more complicated forms of life?

It's meant to be seen as a film IMO, a reasonable knowledge of Russian language helps also.

That's unfortunate. I read this fairly recently and enjoyed it. The vernacular took a little getting used to but I was able to glean most of it from the context.

One of my favorite books and movies. I cheated though because I speak fluent Russian 😅

Brett wrote: "It's meant to be seen as a film IMO, a reasonable knowledge of Russian language helps also."

I don't think Burgess would have agreed with you, having written it nine years before the adaptation was made.

I'm with you Adina, I started reading it and gave up. I got too tired of searching the meaning of the words,if only they were made closer to its meaning would have been so much easier to read.

I loved it & thought the Russian was a really nice touch. It was written during the Cold War, so it evoked a lot of horror in a unique way - more subtle than any invasion scenario. I thought my linguistic skills were terrible, but I had no trouble understanding the words in context.

Keep the movie & the book separate since Kubrick made the movie based on an early US edition of the book which didn't include the last chapter for some unknown reason. The final chapter changes the entire point, an absolutely stunning reversal, especially since it was only a couple/few pages. I really liked the movie too, though.

Paul wrote: "Ha ha! I remember starting to read this on a bus, long, long ago. I couldn't understand it at first but eventually I got into the rhythm. I do recall its being pretty pretentious, though (as was ev..." i don't like pretentious so i am probably better off skipping this.

John wrote: "Only ever saw the movie Adina, which was hard enough, but Malcolm McDowal was creepy enough for me. How could Burgess write the 'Singing in the Rain' scene anyway without the music?" i might watch the movie instead then.

Richard S wrote: "I tried and failed here too. The dystopia seems dated anyway, with all future worlds the risk is technology fundamentally changes it." Good to hear I am not alone.

Todd wrote: "Tried reading years ago in HS but gave up for that reason. It's still on my TBR list, hoping that I'll be able to decipher it now that I'm older, sounds like it'll still be an issue." it depends on your patience. I do not have much of it.

Danielle wrote: "Cheers to your next great read!! ❤️📚" Thank you. i already read something extraordinary.

Adina, I admire and enjoy seeing other people's DNF's, especially of well reviewed novels. Why bother to finish if you're not enjoying it?

Haha.. I do understand where you are coming from Adina, the invented patois was/is probably overdone.

Totally agree!

I've never read it (it's on my TBR) but I imagine it's like an American trying to learn British slang or vice versa.

Adina...that's ok...the year has just begun with many five star reads coming your way! Onward!

Tina it’s super easy slang that you pick up in a few goes. If it was such a travail to learn it, then no one would have been able to get through the book.

Richard I think the world they live in is the low class violent slums. It’s more about class distinction and the real point - are you even human if you are no longer able to use free will? than dystopia future. I first read it at 11 and didn’t even think about it being in the future. Rereads until my current age didn’t get the future idea through to me. My friend told me. Yet somehow that didn’t hamper the philosophical questions at the center of the narrative.

Good for you. It sucks. I thought ALL of Burgess's novels sucked, but his autobiography was terrific. Maybe the best autobiography I've read.

Honest!

Didn't your edition have a translation ? The first copy I had didnt, I through the book out the school buses window. Eventually I got one with the slang being translated.

Dan wrote: "Adina, I admire and enjoy seeing other people's DNF's, especially of well reviewed novels. Why bother to finish if you're not enjoying it?" Exactly! i could have soldiered no but i realized i did not want to.

Gianfranco wrote: "Damn! I wanted to buy this book sooner or later because Kubrick's movie adaption is a fan favourite of mine but now I'm scared to DNF it me too.. thanks for the warning :)" Try a sample first.

Searnold wrote: "I read this book while I was studying Russian; so, I found the invented language easy to follow and very funny. At the end of the day, we must ask ourselves the question that Alex asks at the end o..." I am glad you found it funny. I thought it was distracting. Good to know what the message of the book was. i read the summary on wikipedia. :)

Brett wrote: "It's meant to be seen as a film IMO, a reasonable knowledge of Russian language helps also." I had no help then. :))

Derrick wrote: "That's unfortunate. I read this fairly recently and enjoyed it. The vernacular took a little getting used to but I was able to glean most of it from the context." I could do it also but it pissed me off.

Kon wrote: "One of my favorite books and movies. I cheated though because I speak fluent Russian 😅" Good for you. It might have helped.

Pablo wrote: "I'm with you Adina, I started reading it and gave up. I got too tired of searching the meaning of the words,if only they were made closer to its meaning would have been so much easier to read." Some were, I think but not many. i am used to not understanding every word since English is not my 1st language but this was too artificial.

Jim wrote: "I loved it & thought the Russian was a really nice touch. It was written during the Cold War, so it evoked a lot of horror in a unique way - more subtle than any invasion scenario. I thought my lin..." Thank you for your comment. Interesting to know the background.

Baba wrote: "Haha.. I do understand where you are coming from Adina, the invented patois was/is probably overdone." Thank you.

Freddie wrote: "Good for you. It sucks. I thought ALL of Burgess's novels sucked, but his autobiography was terrific. Maybe the best autobiography I've read." :)) Good to know.

Steven wrote: "Didn't your edition have a translation ? The first copy I had didnt, I through the book out the school buses window. Eventually I got one with the slang being translated." Nope, but I found it on the Internet. I did not have the patience to follow it.

i read this just days ago and i was about to give up too but once you started to learn the slang it's easy. i promise! haha

Mischelle wrote: "i read this just days ago and i was about to give up too but once you started to learn the slang it's easy. i promise! haha" it seems I gave up too early. maybe I'll try again one day.

I had a good laugh at your mention of the invented words. There is so much of that today I gave up trying to understand most of it.

I'm sorry you didn't like this book. I read it in high school and was so enthralled that I actually wrote my book review in Alex's voice, in his language. ("This is a horrorshow story... etc")-- and my English teacher loved it!
PS Well, I enjoy studying foreign languages -- I've seriously studied 4 over the years -- So I'm probably the intended audience!

I think that's how long I lasted, too. But reading how many here enjoyed it, maybe I was in too much rush to abandon it?

Joe wrote: "I had a good laugh at your mention of the invented words. There is so much of that today I gave up trying to understand most of it." i know...my brain cannot do it sometimes.

Fran wrote: "I'm sorry you didn't like this book. I read it in high school and was so enthralled that I actually wrote my book review in Alex's voice, in his language. ("This is a horrorshow story... etc")-- an..." I speak six languages so I should be the the intended audience but I did not like the story enough to bother.

Ioana wrote: "I think that's how long I lasted, too. But reading how many here enjoyed it, maybe I was in too much rush to abandon it?" Mybe I was in rush as well but I have too many books I want to read and only one lifetime.

Adina wrote: "Fran wrote: "I'm sorry you didn't like this book. I read it in high school and was so enthralled that I actually wrote my book review in Alex's voice, in his language. ("This is a horrorshow story...."

Wow, 6 languages! I'm amazed at how you manage to keep them straight. (And in any language, I hope you like the book you're reading now.)

Your missing out! Once you get a hold of the slang, its awesome 😃

Adina, have a little break and try again, this book is worth persevering with. And please don’t throw your Kindle out of the window!