A Clockwork Orange
Finished the book, loved it. I'll have to read Burgess' other novels because apparently A Clockwork Orange was among his least favorites. The "real" ending of his novel was omited from American copies due to the publisher's personal feelings towords the american public. The author has Alex grow up in the book's final chapter and look back on his violent behavior with distaste and shame. The American publisher felt that the ending was a sellout, and that American readers were more accustomed to seeing "alex the hooligan" in their everyday lives, and could better relate to senseless violence than to comming of age and the abandonment of such dark ideals. Says alot about the United States in the 60's. Also, I think I realize what the title really means...
Orange is lively and beautiful in appearance. It holds a special vibrance about it than no other color can call its own. The main character of Burgess' novella shares this quallity of liveliness and energy, but behind this facade we see he is but clockwork; a wind-up toy of society and a slave to the endless cycle of violence and regret that Alex illustrates in the novel's final chapter.
Anyway, I really liked the book. If anybody has suggestions as to my future reading, feel free...
Orange is lively and beautiful in appearance. It holds a special vibrance about it than no other color can call its own. The main character of Burgess' novella shares this quallity of liveliness and energy, but behind this facade we see he is but clockwork; a wind-up toy of society and a slave to the endless cycle of violence and regret that Alex illustrates in the novel's final chapter.
Anyway, I really liked the book. If anybody has suggestions as to my future reading, feel free...