Keep the reader locked in.

[Charles]

Just the slang was tough. I liked the book ending better. None of the content really shocked or offended me, but it did open my eyes to the human condition in a lot of ways.

[Micah]

Odd. Hearing the slang spoken, even though I might not understand how the words looked, just made it feel so much more natural and easy.

Same as when I hear good renditions of Shakespeare: it comes across as natural and at least the general meaning is clear, whereas when reading it I sometimes have a hard time getting the meaning and flow of speech.

[Charles]

A lot of that is Malcolm McDowell. He's just an amazingly talented actor.

Loved him in Caligula.

Alfie Allen reminds me a lot of him for some reason.

[K.]

Micah wrote: "K. wrote: "However, I still prefer the books that make you think about the story, not how the story is being told..."

You've got me curious...have you read A Clockwork Orange? I thin..."

Micah, I haven't read that one. I saw the movie, and have avoided the story since. I think it was the subject matter, not the story presentation. Once was enough for me.

[Christina]

Actually, K, that the subject matter in the movie was unnerving is a really good reason to read the book. Especially with the last chapter intact. It presents a much different take on the senseless violence.

[Charles]

Yes. I seek out things that affect me like that. It's a testament to the power of the material.

It would have still been just as good without the slang though, but I think it does add an extra bit of fun once you get accustomed to it.

I was 18 or 20 when I first read it, so I struggled a bit more. I was more accustomed to Koontz, King, and generic fantasy at the time.

[Micah]

Christina wrote: "Actually, K, that the subject matter in the movie was unnerving is a really good reason to read the book. Especially with the last chapter intact. It presents a much different take on the senseless..."

True. Although in a way, IIRC, the book actually portrayed Alex in an even darker light. Kubrick's use of soundtrack acted as a kind of buffer or insulation between my natural empathic self and the portrayed violence. In much the same way that Peter Greenaway seemed to tried to separate the audience from the nastiness on screen in his movie The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, Her Lover by filming it so that you see the action on a stage...and doing artsy things like changing the colors of costumes from one shot to another...reminding you "it's only a movie, it's only a movie." That movie was amazing but creeped me out much more than Clockwork did.