EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club discussion
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A Clockwork Orange
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A Clockwork Orange - pre-read
I have picked up this book numerous times and just never got through the first few pages. I just got to chapter 4 and am thoroughly enjoying it! I'm pretty surprised how fast you can grasp the odd language. I'm so excited to finish this up!
Y'all let me know how you handle the vocabulary! Read until it clicks? Spend time using context clues to figure it out? Google as you read? Keep a Clockwork Orange glossary next to you to look words up?
I read this as a teen and loved the made up language. I picked it up the other day while I was exhausted and realized I need to read it while I'm more focused to really take it all in and enjoy the fun lingo.
I am excited to pick this up as soon as I get some time...
I have had this book on my shelf FOREVER, so I plan to jump in soon
I've wanted to read this for ages, so I'm glad to get on it this month!
I decided to read this one first and just started. Without going into it too much because it talks about the ending a bit, I thought the introduction was interesting. It's just interesting to wonder how many books are/were cropped from what the author intended because the publishing company thinks it "will sell better" or "readers can't handle it." I know, they are all edited, but to the point where it changes the true outcome of the story is much different to me. At least this author, Anthony Burgess, had a chance to "fix" it later on to what he originally wrote. -Kristin H.
I mostly read my books in English, but I have a German edition of Clockwork Orange. I'm a bit concerned about how they translated the special language into German...guess there's only one way to find out.
How interesting, you'll have to let us know!
Lena wrote: "I mostly read my books in English, but I have a German edition of Clockwork Orange. I'm a bit concerned about how they translated the special language into German...guess there's only one way to fi..."I had to make that decision when I was in the library earlier. I just compared the first pages and decided on the english version. I had the feeling that the german translation is a bit more dull and less poetic in this case. I would advise you to compare them too or just get the original version, in case you would like to re-read it again sometime :)
Well I guess I've been living under a rock, because I had no idea about this whole lingo thing that was going to be happening!! I must admit I found it pretty hard to grasp, and there was plenty of going back a few pages to try to understand what I had just read, but I finished part 1 last night and I'm starting to feel better about it!! I'm also interested in watching the movie once I finish the book....
Has anyone tried the audio book? I am curious how that impacts the language. I feel like hearing the speech could only help with context and meaning (as I find true with older English style, Shakespeare, etc.). I will be starting it in the next few days and will report back!
Brian, I hadn't thought about that! I'm not into audiobooks but this is one book I would definitely try on audio. Such unique language and characters, it would be great with a narrator who could capture the nasty attitudes.
Regarding the lingo, I actually read chapter 1 twice -more skimming through the second time - this helped me get the words and tone down better. I'm approaching the end of Part 1 and am getting through more quickly now. I'm not getting every single word, but there's enough context to understand what's going on.
Audio format is a good idea.
I'm on page 8 and maybe it's just the mood I'm in, but is it too soon to give up?!
Leesa, I wasn't feeling it the first day I picked it up this go round, but I'm enjoying it now!
I thought this was interesting, current news comparing violence to this old story:https://www.google.com/amp/www.bbc.co...
Sarah, I'll let you know as soon as I find the right time to start the book !Markus, I'll try to read the German Version first and see how it works out. But I will definitely have a look into the English version as well.
Yeah Sarah, I'm really not feeling it. I've started another one so I can go between both and hopefully soften the blow a little. We will see!
I am so glad I came here, and we are reading this as a group.I was two pages in, when I realised there is a word in every sentence that I don't understand. My initial thoughts were that English is not my first language and I probably don't understand old English vocab or something similar. It was so comforting knowing that it's not my fault.
I am going to restart it tomorrow when I am not tired.
I just read the first page WOW. This is going to be tough it feels like. Good luck everyone.
Once I got going enough to understand the lingo, I was really hooked!
I read somewhere that the audio version is immensely useful in going with the flow and peculiar language of this book. Deciding to give it a try —I'm not in an audiobook habit— I was thrilled to find it available in my Overdrive library. Problem is: I don't know how to download and listen to it. Figures, hee hee. Now I'll need to wait until Monday when a librarian can help. Really looking forward to this book as I've heard so much about it.
I'm almost done with the second part, and I feel like I'm starting to understand the lingo a little bit better!! I'm hoping to finish today or tomorrow so I can start our other challenge book, and also because I'm reading IT with another group and it's very long lol.
The lingo is definitely confusing at first. Although I find it easier to follow than I did Joseph's speaking in Wuthering Heights. I'm honestly just going mostly on context clues. I was actually really annoyed with the foreword. It basically gave the whole outline of the story. I hate when a book does that. I ended up skipping the introduction because it was rather long and I assumed held more spoilers.
I'm a little obsessive and like to read every last bit of a book, so skipping it is bugging me. But spoilers bug me more.
I never know if I should read the foreword or not! I also feel like I have to or else I didn't actually read the whole book. If I hadn't read this one before already, I would have been annoyed by the spoilers as well!
Struggling to get going with this - I'm on holiday and I'm not on the mood for the made up language. Will restart when I get home. Thanks for the heads up about the intro etc - will read it at the end. ;-)
The audio book is all my library has! So that is what I am lisyening to. I actually love audio books, and there are some, esp ones read by the author, that provide a whole new dimension of understanding to the book. (In particular thinking of Angela's Ashes and Lolita. The latter not read by the author but by Jeremy Irons, who played Humbert Humbert in the movie and demonstrated incredible insight into the character.) Anyway...listening to the intro, where it is revealed that foreign versions of ACO contain an additional chapter, changing the ending of the book entirely. I feel like the version I read in school years ago contained that 21st chapter. Are there American editions that include it? I am both dreading and looking forward to reading this book again. I remember it being disturbing and violent, and I abhor violence. Will be interesting to see what my much older self thinks...
The violence is overwhelming but I am hanging in there, Chapter 2. I have the audio version narrated by Anthony Burgess, himself. His accent brings this story to life. I agree with earlier comment - Joseph in Wuthering Heights is harder to understand than Burgess vocabulary. Plan to print off the vocab sheet! Thanks! And the violence in this story seems too similar to everyday occurrences in today's world.
Thanks for the list, Dawn!I'm almost done with the book and am finding myself not wanting it to end!
I read this book the first time decades ago. It seemed utterly normal for that time - cool, you dig? I'm giving you the skinny, so don't be spazzing out. I ain't jiving, man. A lot raggin' on is bogus, but I'm being real. Rock on! Groovy. Peace out.
Someone persuade me to keep going with this please, I hate to abandon a book but I'm just finding the nadsat too much hard work, with other books calling me from my TBR. Help!
Carolyn wrote: "Someone persuade me to keep going with this please, I hate to abandon a book but I'm just finding the nadsat too much hard work, with other books calling me from my TBR. Help!"Try the audio if you haven't already, the nadsat becomes second nature after the first chapter or so.
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Kaseadillla wrote: "I'm actually surprisingly not having much trouble with the language. I'm pretty much not trying to understand the weird language and instead skimming over and reading the entire sentence or paragra..."This is pretty much what I have been doing. The super common words like rooker and rot I can pretty much translate as I read now. But if there is one that is less common, I just kind of infer with context clues.
I've been using context clues mixed with the file someone shared and then some i just ignore. The first couple pages were hard to get through but after that it was easier
Carolyn, all I can say is that when I first picked this up this go round, I was very discouraged. But I ended up giving it 5 stars! Same thing that happened with Life of Pi for me! I think this is a brilliant, original dystopian novel! If nothing else, finish it for the love of writing and the root of future ideas that followed it!
I just got this book and I'm pretty excited because I've heard a lot about it!
Not going to get this read for this month. But I do have a request for the audio version and will tackle it when that comes through.
Hi, Laura. I did the audio, and I feel it made it much easier to understand the slang--or at least get into the proper mood to not sweat every word. Between the slang and the violence, I'm not sure I would have made it through otherwise.
Allegra wrote: "Hi, Laura. I did the audio, and I feel it made it much easier to understand the slang--or at least get into the proper mood to not sweat every word. Between the slang and the violence, I'm not sure..."Thanks, Allegra. I appreciate the encouragement. I did persevere with The Sun Also Rises but this book is more out of my comfort zone.
I've only ever seen snippets of the film so thought I'd start with this book this month. I have some idea of what to expect and love psychology so hopefully I will enjoy this one. I couldn't bring myself to start The Great Gatsby first!I've read Gone Girl before and remembered enjoying it so time for me to try something new!
I'll be joining, but my library copy isn't available for 2 weeks, so I'll jump in then!
I felt literal relief when I saw that this would be the BOTM for November. I have had this book since I was 13 or 14 years old, and have never made it past the first 10 pages. This may well have languished on my bookshelf for the rest of my life for all I know. Is everyone reading the version with the last chapter? Apparently that one is missing in a lot of the older American editions.
Me too I am excited for this read. It is a book better understood with discussion,
excited for this one, the portuguese version is avaiable on kindle unlimited, so I'm gonna read it with the group :)
I'm in for this one me Droogies!
I've got this on hold at the library, so I should be getting it in the next week or so. I got the version with the "controversial last chapter".
This discussion will be SPOILER-FREE. If you have read the book and want to discuss, hop on over to the spoiler-filled discussion HERE .
Happy reading!
Kasey