A Clockwork Orange
5 journalers for this copy...
To vedranaster, 03/22/11.
Thank you ghir for this wonderful RABCK!
This book did not come alone, it arrived with a wonderful surprise RABCK, The Thief of Always by Clive Barker, a book I've been looking for for ages now, ever since I lent my copy to an acquaintance and never got it back. Moreover, it was also accompanied with some yummy passionfruit orange organic green & black tea, which I'll be brewing in a minute or two, just as soon as I've finished journalling the books. :D
Looking forward to reading this one, even though it might be on my shelf for a while as my Mount TBR has grown significantly after having won a sweepstake. ;) But no worries, it will travel on eventually. :D
Haven't read it yet, but it's just been moved up from around the top of the reading list to the very top. Reserved for 4evagreen after I've finished with it. :)
I've been reading this book for months now, and not because it was uninteresting, but because various rings and rays kept popping in, making me put this one on hold.
I like the book a lot as it is still very much relevant today, or maybe even more today than all those years ago, as we seem to be slowly moving in the direction where violence is more and more present among young people, and where governments are taking away freedoms one by one, with silent consent from the masses. Yes, some speak up, but not enough of us to really matter. "The common people will let it go, oh yes. They will sell liberty for a quieter life." And while I don't agree with the way the people in this book chose to show governmental encroachments, I love that quote, because it is quite true. We are all willing to sacrifice something so as to have a quieter life. The question is only where do we draw the line? And will it be too late by the time we decide to do it?
The language of the main character and narrator -- "nadsat" the language of teenagers -- was a bit distracting at first, but as most of the words come from Slavic languages I soon got used to it. I had a quick look at the nadsat glossary for the words which didn't seem at all familiar, and after that I had no problem following the story. I must say, I admire any reader who is not from the Slavic language background for their persistence. I might have given up on the book had so many words been foreign to me. I generally do not like to stop reading in order to look things up in glossaries or footnotes etc. I feel it takes away from the flow of the text and hinders understanding.
I like the final chapter where the main character grows up and gives up his violent ways, though I'm not sure I particularly agree with him ascribing all the violence to his youth: "And all it was was that I was young." Yes, children do have a mean streak and can be unnecessarily violent, but not at the age of 14. That characteristic goes away much sooner in most children.
Anyway... I really enjoyed the book, despite all the violence. The "nadsat" in a way manages to make it less graphic and easier to take. Now I must find the film again in my video store and re-watch it. The book is reserved for another book crosser and will travel on some time next week.
Thank you, ghir, once again for this wishlist book! You're fabulous! :D
Released 12 yrs ago (12/5/2011 UTC) at Zagreb: Donji grad (city centre), Zagreb City Croatia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Whew... It took a while, I kept getting interrupted with rings and rays, but I finally finished the book and have finally managed to get to the post office and send it on.
4evagreen, enjoy and good luck with the lingo! ;)
Released 11 yrs ago (7/11/2012 UTC) at Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Personally I'm not sure as to whether or not the last chapter (which was origanally omitted in the American publication) adds or detracts from the overall book mainly because I'm not totally convinced that people with thuggish tendancies will ever just grow out of them on their own accord. Overall I really enjoyed this book but the early struggle swith the language marked it down for me.
Anyway hopefully the next reader will enjoy as much as I did.