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slendermen buttmuncher from Pennsylvania Since: Aug, 2011
buttmuncher
#1: Feb 6th 2012 at 11:55:59 AM

Currently, I am trying to read this novel for English class. It's interesting so far, but the Nadsat language is hard for me to get used to.

So, dear droogs, if you've already read this, do you have any tips that I can use that will help me grasp Nadsat better? Or, even if you haven't? Did you like the book (with or without the 21st chapter)?

a girl with kaleidoscope eyes.
feotakahari Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer from Looking out at the city Since: Sep, 2009
Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer
#2: Feb 6th 2012 at 12:11:59 PM

I kind of sympathize with Burgess's desire to not be remembered for a book like this. (Myself, I never made it past the second rape scene.)

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful
Hatshepsut from New York Since: Jan, 2011
#3: Feb 6th 2012 at 12:12:24 PM

Some volumes have an glossary at the back, some don't. I didn't realise the copy I had the first time I read it had one, but wasn't too angry because I had picked up the lingo sufficiently well from context. But yeah, definitely flip to the back if you want to look something up.

ImipolexG frozen in time from all our yesterdays Since: Jan, 2001
frozen in time
#4: Feb 6th 2012 at 6:59:43 PM

Basically, you have to learn the lingo as you go. Or you could look here if you want help.

Personally, I liked the book, although I feel it's better without the 21st chapter. That one seems very out of place to me, like it's a tacked-on happy ending that goes against everything that came before.

Incidentally, this is also perhaps the only case where I think the book and movie are about equally good.

no one will notice that I changed this
eX 94. Grandmaster of Shark Since: Jan, 2001
94. Grandmaster of Shark
#5: Feb 7th 2012 at 12:13:44 AM

^

I agree, the story is just a little too over the top in its violence for a growing up metaphor. There is a difference between teenage rebellion and a full-fledged psychopath.

TiggersAreGreat Since: Mar, 2011
#6: Feb 7th 2012 at 10:54:41 AM

Not only that, but that book was written at a time when people did not quite understand the concepts of "psychopath" and "sociopath". At the time of writing, people thought that such a person could be treated or cured. Of course, nowadays people know that there's not really much they can do to help such a person!

Still, the story does an interesting job actually causing you to feel sorry for Alex, especially later on when he got "cured". Indeed, the story seems to pose the question on whether a "psycho/sociopath" is a matter of perception, because everyone in the story certainly acted like a "psycho/sociopath" after Alex was supposedly made into a "good" person!

I have to say that the author was very clever to make up his own vocabulary for teenage speak, with most of them basically Russian words with some slight changes made to them. He knew that teenage speak changes constantly, and what is understandable today becomes incomprehensible tomorrow. Yep, making up his own vocabulary was definitely the best way to address that problem! grin

Oh, Equestria, we stand on guard for thee!
Yuanchosaan antic disposition from Australia Since: Jan, 2010
antic disposition
#7: Feb 7th 2012 at 3:26:41 PM

I wouldn't describe chapter 21 as a "happy ending", either. If I remember correctly, Alex contemplates an endless cycle of teenagers committing the same sort of atrocities.

I certainly found the book interesting, and was surprised by how easy it was to pick up the language by immersion alone. Despite that, I don't think I'll read it again.

"Doctor Who means never having to say you're kidding." - Bocaj
TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#8: Feb 7th 2012 at 4:06:26 PM

I preferred the film. I could never finish the book.

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