Anyone familiar with A Clockwork Orange

[Segilola]

Up until yesterday, I hadn't heard about A Clockwork Orange. I did a quick search on google and it seems to be popular.

Yesterday, I had my first unsolicited review in a magazine for my upcoming novella and there's a small comparison to one of the characters from A Clockwork Orange.

I take it as a good thing, but it is completely lost on me as I have never watched A Clockwork Orange.

What do you most knowledgeable people have to say?

Here's the review by the way http://lunastationquarterly.com/revie...

[Graeme]

Hi Segilola,

I'm currently reading A Clockwork Orange and I have seen the film.

The main character Alex, is basically a thug without a conscience, who adores violence, drugs and classical music.

Given the context of the review - it looks like the reviewer is comparing "the style of representation" of Dayo to Alex, as opposed to the actual nature of the characters.

i.e. How the two characters represent themselves in their respective stories.

(My 2 cents for what it is worth.)

[Segilola]

Thanks Graeme, much appreciated.

I laughed in my head (as opposed to a laugh out loud) because Dayo did torture two people and did drugs . . . OK I will laugh out loud now.

I wonder if there is time to add her musical tastes?

What would be apt music for someone who knows she's about to die to listen to?

Nothing really is original any more. This is the second time my writing has been compared to a 'great' that I hadn't even heard about let alone read.

[Graeme]

Is she at peace with dying or fighting it?

I think that the music that is chosen would capture that.

[Segilola]

she hasn't decided yet. she's to either accept to die to be reborn or not die and be shunned. god/goddess drama

[Tara Woods Turner]

Do you want to add music because of the Clockwork Orange reference? I think you should just stick with your original creative voice/creative decisions since that is how you write.

[Segilola]

I was just being cheeky . . . ;)

[Tara Woods Turner]

Sigh. My cheeky meter is off today lol.I'm just very excited that you've written a genre cracking book and want it to remain unique.

[Segilola]

Lol I need to remember to put smileys in my posts :)

Thanks for your unending support :) *big hugggggg* teletubbies style

[Quantum]

did ask to use that quote in your blurb?

[Tara Woods Turner]

Always! *big hugs* *looks over your shoulder at Oreo cake*

[Segilola]

Actually I didn't, I should shouldn't I? Especially now that I know a bit more about a clockwork orange

[Segilola]

Ahahah cake, I banned myself from baking temporarily. Someone was developing a sweet tooth

[Tara Woods Turner]

I am a walking sweet tooth lol. I am so close to perfecting the macaron...then I tell myself I will take a break from baking. But then again, I want to work on my scones lol.

[Segilola]

Writing can wait, scones can't.

Have you finally had cream tees?

[Tara Woods Turner]

What are those? They sound like articles of clothing lol.

[Segilola]

Ahahahhahahahah where's Tim? Sacrilege!

English scones (not the fake American version) plus clotted cream (preferably Cornish or Devon) plus strawberry jam. Heaven in your mouth.

[Tara Woods Turner]

That sounds like what I'm out to accomplish. But there is no such thing as fake American scones. We have biscuits lol. Mouthwatering but an entirely different animal. Clotted cream is my next conquest but that won't be easy because it is a bit of a bother finding low pasteurized milk, which is important. Also the reason I will have a hard time making goat cheese for Christmas.

[Segilola]

Doesn't the milk smell goatie?

[Matthew]

Segilola wrote: "Up until yesterday, I hadn't heard about A Clockwork Orange. I did a quick search on google and it seems to be popular.

Yesterday, I had my first unsolicited review in a magazine for my upcoming n..."

You're kidding! It's a classic! But I would recommend the film over the book. Kubrick's visual style really brings the story to life, Malcom McDowell is brilliant as Alex (the MC), and the ending is much more ambiguous than in the novel. It seems you've already got a good rundown by people her, but I too will add my two cents...

The story takes place in England in the not-too-distant future where violence is becoming a rampant problem. It is told from the point of view of Alex, a teenage boy who is very bright, loves classical music (especially Beethoven) and is a full-blown sociopath. He and his friends (a gang called the Droogs) specialize in committing acts of mayhem and violence, beating up homeless people, raping women, breaking and entering, carjacking, and getting into fights with other gangs.

However, in time, Alex escalates. He beats up his gang friends to force their obedience to him. And during a break-in that follows, Alex kills his victim by accident, and is betrayed and left behind by his gang. He is sent to jail for a life sentence, where he volunteers for a government program that uses operant conditioning to give a convict a terrible aversion to violence. This is done by subjecting them to violent imagery while also injecting them with drugs that simulate crippling nausea and discomfort.

By taking part in this program, Alex is given early parole, but he soon finds himself unable to function in society anymore. I won't spoil it any further, its worth seeing!

The name of the story is derived from the idea of how man (an organic being, like an orange) is being subjected to rationalized mechanistic procedures to make him function differently, like a clock. It forces the reader to question what it means to have a conscience, the difference between morality and social control, and at what point these things become at odds with each other.

It's very good. I suggest reading/watching it ASAP!

[Segilola]

Wow... I have to watch it now. Reminds me of nikita where people are given mind control treatment.

Thanks for your review Mathew

[Matthew]

Eh, no problem! You ever need any other dystopian stories reviewed, I'm yer man! ;)

[Segilola]

Duly noted :D