Everybody knows little Alex and his droogs! (A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess)

Member Name: missbrowneyedgirl

Product:	A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
Date:	19/05/01 (196 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: brilliant! (what else do you need)

Disadvantages: maybe too graphic for some

Those of you who follow my reviews will know of my intense preference of novel over film so when the
much celebrated Stanley Kubrick's Clockwork Orange was deemed to be fit for viewing, I decided to read
Anthony Burgess' book first.

The author had fifty or more works published in his writing career, spanning nearly 35 years yet it was to
some disappointment that this novel was his most well known. He believed he had written much better
books, and worried about the effect this tale of violence may have on youth culture. Astoundingly, Burgess
had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 1959. After being given a year to live he decided to
become a full time writer and proved his doctors wrong by working until his death in 1993.

A clockwork orange is the tale of Alex, a delinquent to say the least, and his life from the age of 15 onwards.
Alex is the leader of his 'gang' who spend their time terrorising, stealing and avoiding the police. The title
originates from a Cockney saying, 'as queer as a clockwork orange', which makes it a perfect title for the
novel.

The first thing a reader notices about the book is the colourful way Burgess has used language. Throughout
the novel he incorporates the slang of our 'hero' into the tale which not only serves to alienate the reader
from the characters frame of mind, but also draws you deeper into the tale. In much the same way that Irvine
Welsh uses Scottish terms, Burgess's colloquialisms add depth to the prose.

You find yourself making a rough interpretation for words such as malchik, ptitsa, pletchoes and
baboochkas at the beginning of the tale and refining them as you read on. I have included a few
interpretations of mine at the end of the review although I must stress, I can't be sure they are the author's
true intentions:

All of the characters, and the
principal in particular, have a great depth which is explored and relayed
brilliantly. Although Alex is a rogue, you see a very different side of him in his appreciation and thorough
knowledge of classical music.

Without spoiling the tale, I can tell you that the major part of the story concentrates on Alex's reforming into
a 'good' man. It surprised me how fond I had grown of the character prior to his capture by the police as I
felt very strongly that he should have got away! In prison Alex is offered a 'revolutionary new treatment'
which comprises of mental torture.

The story fascinates as it unfolds and will certainly have you gripped right up until the surprising end. I
wouldn't recommend this to anyone with a weak stomach as the tales are recounted very graphically and can
be quite disturbing at times. The power of the written word never fails to surprise me! However, if you can
stomach the works of Irvine Welsh and Steven King then you will love this book!

Glossary
--------
goloss = voice
chelloveck = man
platties = clothes
tolchock = puch / hit
millicents / rozzes = police
creech = shout
horroshow = good / well
slovos = words
Bog = God
droog = friend
skorry = quickly
moloko = milk
peet = drink
viddy = see / watch
rooker / rook = hand
litso = face
malchick = man / boy
devotchkas = women
rot = mouth
ookoos = ears

There are so many more, but I will let you discover them for yourself...;)

Summary: