Anthony Burgess's - A Clockwork Orange - Any thoughts?

**Indian Boy** · 01-18-2010, 03:15 PM

I just finished reading 'A Clockwork Orange' by Anthony Burgess. One aspect of this book that I found very unique and enjoyable is the way Burgess transformed himself into the voice of Alex, or 'your humble narrator'. I'm not sure how he did it, but the way he uses his own made up 'droogy' language and the way he refers to the reader as, 'oh my brothers', gave me a strong feeling like the narrator was talking directly to me and therefore I felt closer to the book. Did anyone else read this book and get the same experience? If so, did you enjoy that closeness or think it was a technique that attempted but failed?

I've been reading many books lately and several of them, if not all of them, were written in first person. "On the Road", "Big Sur", "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", "The Rum Diary", "Huckleberry Finn", and a few others. But none of these books had the same effect on me as "A Clockwork Orange". Well maybe "Huck Finn" did a little, but not as much. I guess it's all about creating a real voice with which the reader can identify. So I guess to sum it up the voice of Alex from 'Clockwork' and Huck from 'Huck Finn' would be two of my favorites. Anybody have any others that they feel would beat out the two I've just mentioned?

**Travis_R** · 01-18-2010, 03:16 PM

Humbert Humbert in Lolita is probably the greatest.

**billl** · 01-18-2010, 03:42 PM

One book I've mentioned on this site before (forgive me for being a broken record) is James Kelman's How Late It Was, How Late.... The book is a first-person narrative in a Scottish dialect that was difficult for me at first, but soon became no obstacle at all. I don't want to do any spoilers, but it's about an older guy who wakes up after apparently being drunk or beaten-up or something, and doesn't know what happened, has a lot of trouble, etc.
The title sounds like it would maybe be a bad poem, but the language inside is pretty rough. It won the Man Booker Prize a while back, that's why I gave it a chance.

(I'm not suggesting it would beat anything out, btw, but it was easier for me to finish than Huck Finn. Haven't read Clockwork Orange. Still it sounds like it might be worth checking out, reading the first few pages or whatever, if you're looking for suggestions in general.)

**African_Love** · 01-18-2010, 05:38 PM

I bought it today but there are so many others books I've purchased that I haven't read yet, it might be a while before I get around to it. I hope this is a no-spoiler thread

**Dark Muse** · 01-19-2010, 01:17 AM

I loved Alex as the narrator, it is so creepy and disturbing how charming he comes off, and with the him telling the story, in a strange and twisted way you actually almost get to like him even if you disapprove of the horrible things to do. It is true he is perhaps one of the most genius narrators.

I have to say that one of my favorite narrators, of whom I find quite engaging and intriguing, is the narrator from Notes From Underground. He has a sardonic sort of charm, and I was completely captivated by his narrative voice.

**neilgee** · 01-19-2010, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by billl

One book I've mentioned on this site before (forgive me for being a broken record) is James Kelman's How Late It Was, How Late.... The book is a first-person narrative in a Scottish dialect that was difficult for me at first, but soon became no obstacle at all. I don't want to do any spoilers, but it's about an older guy who wakes up after apparently being drunk or beaten-up or something, and doesn't know what happened, has a lot of trouble, etc.
The title sounds like it would maybe be a bad poem, but the language inside is pretty rough. It won the Man Booker Prize a while back, that's why I gave it a chance.

How Late was a terrific novel, compelling from beginning to end, and I don't blame you for harping on about it! Not to everyone's taste though, I only recently discovered how much flak the novel attracted for its heavy use of obscenities [some sad statistician actually counted all the F-words in the novel and it came to several thousand] but since it's supposed to be written from the point of view of a member of the Scottish under-class and they do speak like that then it's perfectly justified in my opinion. The criticism was supposed to have really hurt Kelman, and you can see the effect of that in his most recent novel.

I also liked A Disaffection by Kelman, though his last novel wasn't so good.

A Clockwork Orange is one of those books that's probably better known for the film version that was banned for about thirty years in the UK.

It seems to have the same effect on the screen as Indian Boy describes the novel having on him. People seem to identify with Alex. The day after it was shown again in the UK I remember one guy coming to work and actually acting like Alex. All he needed was a bowler hat to complete the effect.

**sixsmith** · 01-19-2010, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by neilgee

How Late was a terrific novel, compelling from beginning to end, and I don't blame you for harping on about it! Not to everyone's taste though, I only recently discovered how much flak the novel attracted for its heavy use of obscenities [some sad statistician actually counted all the F-words in the novel and it came to several thousand] but since it's supposed to be written from the point of view of a member of the Scottish under-class and they do speak like that then it's perfectly justified in my opinion. The criticism was supposed to have really hurt Kelman, and you can see the effect of that in his most recent novel.

One book I've mentioned on this site before (forgive me for being a broken record) is James Kelman's How Late It Was, How Late.... The book is a first-person narrative in a Scottish dialect that was difficult for me at first, but soon became no obstacle at all. I don't want to do any spoilers, but it's about an older guy who wakes up after apparently being drunk or beaten-up or something, and doesn't know what happened, has a lot of trouble, etc.
The title sounds like it would maybe be a bad poem, but the language inside is pretty rough. It won the Man Booker Prize a while back, that's why I gave it a chance.

I remember there being some less than kind things said about this novel when it won the Booker. The feeling was that, rather than being narrated in an idiosyncratic voice, it was simply incomprehensible muck. However, you steered me on to to a pretty good thing with Nicholson Baker bill, so I may have to check this out.

**billl** · 01-19-2010, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by sixsmith

I remember there being some less than kind things said about this novel when it won the Booker. The feeling was that, rather than being narrated in an idiosyncratic voice, it was simply incomprehensible muck. However, you steered me on to to a pretty good thing with Nicholson Baker bill, so I may have to check this out.

Hey, that's great you liked Nicholson Baker! Glad it wasn't a waste of money and/or time. (I like everything he got published thru 1998, but I recommend caution after that, if you ever are looking for another by him. Might just be me, though.)

The first few pages of How Late can be read at amazon, and might give a good idea of the prose. As far as it having some sort of meaning or something: I saw something in it, but who knows, it might not be enough for another reader.

At any rate, I liked it, and the narrator definitely seems to be speaking directly to the reader, and in an interesting voice.

**Voivod30** · 01-25-2010, 11:32 PM

It's very rare for a film based on a novel to be as good or better but in this case I think it's true. Don't get me wrong I loved the novel (novella? from what I remember it's quite short) but Stanely Kubrick is in my opinion a genius. I loved the loose Russian slang but it was a bit of a chore to read footnotes constantly to get the whole picture. Ten years ago I considered the best film I'd ever read up to that point. However, currently I definitely wouldn't go quite that far. I love Kubrick's dark comedies but Dr. Strangelove is a whole lot better as is Berry Lydon still (sorry for the rambling) to answer your question the book was really good from what I recall.

**WICKES** · 01-26-2010, 12:26 PM

Where is clockwork orange supposed to be set btw? In the film it seems to be a futuristic London estate.

**Amoxcalli** · 01-26-2010, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by WICKES

Where is clockwork orange supposed to be set btw? In the film it seems to be a futuristic London estate.

I don't think it matters, but I've always pictured as a near future, somewhat dystopian suburb of a large European city. That's just the impression I got. I can't back it up with any arguments.

**African_Love** · 01-29-2010, 08:26 PM

10/10

**Babbalanja** · 01-29-2010, 08:37 PM

I'm not a great Burgess fan, but I loved A Clockwork Orange. I'll admit that I thought the movie was better, and the "lost chapter" is absolutely laughable.

Regards,

Istvan

**African_Love** · 01-29-2010, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by Babbalanja

I'm not a great Burgess fan, but I loved A Clockwork Orange. I'll admit that I thought the movie was better, and the "lost chapter" is absolutely laughable.

Regards,

Istvan

Do you mean the one where he has new droogs, Pete gets married and he decides that he wants to settle down and have a family? I live in Canada, it's only the U.S versions that don't have the extra chapter, right?

**Babbalanja** · 01-29-2010, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by African_Love

Do you mean the one where he has new droogs, Pete gets married and he decides that he wants to settle down and have a family? I live in Canada, it's only the U.S versions that don't have the extra chapter, right?

That's right. It destroys the whole meaning of the novel, that evil is omnipresent despite our best attempts to eradicate it.

Regards,

Istvan