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MJ Nicholls's Reviews > A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange
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MJ Nicholls's review
bookshelves: novels, penguin-classics, sassysassenachs, worshipped
Oct 17, 2012
bookshelves: novels, penguin-classics, sassysassenachs, worshipped
Read 2 times. Last read October 18, 2012.
A favourite of my late teens, still a favourite now. The brutality of male blooming and the private patois of our teenhood . . . splattered across this brilliant moral satire, abundant in vibrant, bursting language and a structural perfection: Shakespearean, dammit. Goddamn Shakespearean! nadsat is second only to the language in Riddley Walker for a perfectly rendered invented language that is consistent within the novel’s own internal logic. This book is musical! This book sings, swings, cries and rages! Oh this book, this book! My first encounter with unbridled creativity, intelligence, elegance, thematic unity, this book made me weep for the future of poor sadistic Alex. Oh, he must grow up, he must! But he doesn’t Oh Humble Skimmer, he doesn’t! His nadsat is in place up until his story ends, and all that cal, so Alex remains a perpetual teen, like the boring little shit in Salinger’s unambitious literary haemorrhage (I forget the title). This book, this book! Oh my droogies, oh my Bog . . . nothing hurts so much on your stomachs and your heads and your hearts as this book . . . except maybe having Earthly Powers dropped on your tootsies . . . !!! [collapse into gibberish] !!!
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
October 17, 2012
– Shelved
October 18, 2012
–
Started Reading
October 18, 2012
– Shelved as:
novels
October 18, 2012
– Shelved as:
penguin-classics
October 18, 2012
– Shelved as:
sassysassenachs
October 18, 2012
– Shelved as:
worshipped
October 18, 2012
–
Finished Reading
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by
Jeffrey
(last edited Oct 18, 2012 12:54PM)
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rated it 4 stars
Oct 18, 2012 12:44PM
My wife had to read this for a class in college and she absolutely despises this book, so of course, for the sake of peace I have no official opinion of this book. (.taerg saw ti tghuoht I)
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Is ACO more popular among males? Probably. Along with Slaughterhouse 5 et al. Not on here, obvs. Among the Great Unhosed ten-books-a-year (m)asses.
MJ wrote: "Is ACO more popular among males? Probably. Along with Slaughterhouse 5 et al. Not on here, obvs. Among the Great Unhosed ten-books-a-year (m)asses."Recommending this book to a woman might be a great way to end a relationship.
A casual acceptance of (and higher tolerance of) the old ultraviolence in pop. cult. probably strips the gruesome moments of their instant horror for new droogy readers. The horror should rise up at some point in the reading, or you're a sociopazz.
"Come and get one in the yarbles, if you've GOT any yarbles!"
As soon as you said droogy, it all came flooding back. Good stuff, MJ.Does anyone else suddenly have a Ludwig van earworm?
Every time I hear Miley Cyrus I collapse in kicking screaming agony, but that's normal.
Well, what would be a female ACO version, I wonder...
Did you read Earthly Powers before you dropped it on your tootsies? Any plans to do so?
MJ wrote: "Every time I hear Miley Cyrus I collapse in kicking screaming agony, but that's normal."Absolutely normal.
Great review, but yes probably not a book to recommend to a woman. Although speaking of that I did meet several female literature students who loved the book...
Jonathan wrote: "Although speaking of that I did meet several female literature students who loved the book... "I don't want to stereotype, but . . . lesbians. The lot of them. Raging hormonal dykeroos of the worst order.
Ian wrote: "Did you read Earthly Powers before you dropped it on your tootsies? Any plans to do so?"
Not yet. Still hopping up and down promising to never touch it again, honest guvner.
Burgess's book covers aren't exactly thrilling. A boring glass of boring milk for this, a boring paperclip for Earthly Powers. Never undersell, first rule of marketing.
That cover seems almost calculated to put off the sort of teenagers who would love the story. My copy had this pop art cover http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20... which doesn't exactly hint at the thuggishness within, for those who don't already know, but at least the colours are exciting.
And as for Earthly Powers, my copy of that has such a dull cover that I don't think I've ever even picked it up to be able to drop it on my feet.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19...
Isn't that cover you linked to for the German edition? It seems on Amazon people have bought that ed thinking it was the English:
MJ wrote: "Isn't that cover you linked to for the German edition? It seems on Amazon people have bought that ed thinking it was the English: ..."
Mine was a Penguin bought in the mid 90's which had the same picture. I just couldn't be arsed scrolling through all the different editions to find it. Unless it became a matter of debate...
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62...
ETA: Amazon link not working.
Yep, seems like the best cover in a series of uniformly dire covers.
Antonomasia wrote: "ETA: Amazon link not working. "ETA means estimated time of arrival, no? Is there another meaning?
I'm female, and I think it's a brilliant book! But I like Vonnegut, too.(My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...)
Yeah, I'm a girl, too, and I liked it. A lot. So there goes that theory. And which version of the story did you read? The cut version, or the uncut version? Because I remember the last chapter a LOT differently than you do, if you think he remained a perpetual teen.
This Penguin edition is the uncut text. By "perpetual teen" I mean Alex is still using nadsat and seeking the ultraviolence when he emerges from prison and his fellow droogs have moved on. But you're right in that he "grows up" to an extent at the end.
MJ wrote: "This Penguin edition is the uncut text. By "perpetual teen" I mean Alex is still using nadsat and seeking the ultraviolence when he emerges from prison and his fellow droogs have moved on. But you'..."Good point.
Yes MJ, his language is Shakespearian indeed. I was surprised that none, especially of the 1960's "published" reviews I could find in the NYT, Guardian, etc.make reference to this. Although I still rank it among the top works of 20th century fiction, my more recent reacquaintance with this fabulous book was much more difficult now than my original reading in the 60's. I hate to admit it but my dramatically increased sensitivity to the treatment of women applies not only to society but also to literature. I am not referring to the rapes but the dispensability of the female characters.
As a woman, I really didn't find it offensive. I do think the psychology of the rapes were unfinished or vacant. That is not meant as an argument against this creative masterpiece. I did enjoy it and was surprised a few times. It isn't that easy to do for me. if you recommend this to a woman and it ends the relationship she was probably lame anyway. I feel that the violence of the rapes isn't necessarily the main point, but the point was to paint a brutal picture. it was important to the book. I don't know why the final chapter was ever taken out. My eyes bugged out of my head; I had a WTF moment for that last chapter.
Lively review! :) I agree with you about the Nadsat, it made the story come alive and it didn't take me long to understand and remember the words within their context. Btw, Holden is a little wimp compared to twisted Alex - a true antianti-hero. xD
