A Clockwork Orange - Part One

[Alana]

Sorry I got the threads started a little late! Had serious computer issues recently. But, without further ado, please discuss part one!

[Mike]

I read this book 30+ years ago and found it to be a very powerful novel. Although I thought it bit of a tough read initially with the "nadsat" lingo, with a bit of persistence it gets easier.

[Diane S ☔]

I read this in high school and this book had such a horrific impact on me. The violence and the darkness, my favorite part of this novel is the title.

[Mike]

Diane S. wrote: "I read this in high school and this book had such a horrific impact on me. The violence and the darkness, my favorite part of this novel is the title." And the scene in which the writer in the early part of the book who is working on his book, "A Clockwork Orange"...

And Beethoven...

[Renee]

I had trouble with the Nadsat speech at first also. It took me a while to remember what some of the words were. Lots of "ultra-violence" (as Alex calls it) in the first part and I found it very disturbing. Alex never seems to feel bad for any of it either. The scene in the cottage with the writer and his wife was very disturbing. It's definitely a book I won't forget!

[Britany]

I think that this was a weird one all the way around... anyone watch the movie?

[Renee]

Britany wrote: "I think that this was a weird one all the way around... anyone watch the movie?"

I agree. I found it weird also. My husband really likes this book and the movie so now he wants me to watch the movie with him. Don't know about that though.

[Mike]

Britany wrote: "I think that this was a weird one all the way around... anyone watch the movie?"
I really enjoyed the movie as well. It is very close to the novel. An unsettling & disturbing movie... much as the book.

[Britany]

I agree, the movie is very close to the book, and actually helps illustrate some of the more murky topics in the book. I kept watching, wondering how they were going to show these different scenes,and language...

[Irene]

I finished Part 1 and I don't understand why this is a "must read". The invented slang has created a distance between me and the horrific acts. I am not feeling anything for anyone. It is as if I am watching the Roadrunner falling off a cliff. Am I supposed to be numbed by the end of part 1? Is the author trying to recreate the numbing effect of the endless stream of violence reported in the news? Are we supposed to see this gang with its own lingo as some distant world, too far from us to be real, like some foreign people on some distant contanent, a focus of short term fascination, but not real? I am only grateful that it is short. I could not face 500 pages of this. I am not sure I can handle 200 pages of it.

[Penny]

OK - I am way behind as usual but should be done by the end of the month, cant say its thrilling me!

[Jennifer]

I am months and months behind. Not proud of that. Just picked this one up and I am progressing better than I did during my first attempt at reading this book in my final year of high school. The senseless violence is extremely disturbing though I am doing better with Burgess' made up vocabulary as I progress further into the book. Not sure at this point if there is some philosophical point that Burgess is trying to make, but I kind of hope so.

[Alana]

Finally picking this one up! I found the slang ok to follow, although a bit difficult in the beginning. Makes me think more like "double speak" and such from 1984. Honestly, though, I think that's just about the only way to get through some of these scenes, because it's just so overwhelmingly dark and disturbing. I can vividly picture everything that's going on (much more than I'd care to) and any more "direct" speech would probably put it to the point that I couldn't stomach it any longer. Definitely a deranged young man (if that's even a fair term). It's incredibly disturbing to view these crimes from the perpetrator's point of view. I'm not done with part one yet, but was definitely horrified by the scene with the writer and his wife, though I've read similar scenes in other, less disturbing, books. I think seeing it from the "bad guy" perspective makes it that much more horrific.

[Alana]

Did anyone else notice the ongoing thread of music in this section? Interestingly, Alex makes references to the classical composers like Beethoven, not any contemporary artist. It's practically his mix tape, since it apparently even excites him on a sexual level. Any thoughts on that?