Throwback to one of the best book/film duos of all time:
“A Clockwork Orange” (1962) by Anthony Burgess is my favorite book of all time, which immediately labels me as “weird” because practically nobody likes A Clockwork Orange. It’s not the story itself that’s the issue. The book is full of sex, drugs, alcohol, violence, torture, and revenge, which caters to everyone’s dirty desires in some way. But, the story is more or less in a different language. And by that, I mean Burgess uses a futuristic subculture language called “Nadsat”, which is a mix of Russian and English. It’s almost impossible to read unless you can figure out for yourself what the words mean. (Or you could do what I did and find a dictionary online, print it out, and glue it to the inside cover for a quick reference.)
The novel is set in a futuristic dystopia where reading is uncommon and the alcohol of preference is spiked milk. The story follows a teenager named Alex, who, with his band of brothers called “droogs,” beat to death and rape random people for money, or even just for fun. Alex is arrested, and forced to undergo an experimental technique to try and rid him of his evil tendencies. (Look up “The Luvidico Technique.”) The book is primarily a look into the strictest forms of socialism and the human capacity for good and evil. It’s an excellent piece of work.
The book was adapted into the 1971 cult-favorite film by Stanley Kubrick. The film was ultimately nominated for four Oscars including “Best Picture” and “Best Director.” Like most books made into films, the on-screen version does not always represent the book perfectly. This version did however. It’s an ambitious adaptation of an ambitious novel. Like many Kubrick’s films, it gives you a good mind-fuck, but I assure you that you will love every minute of it. Even if it’s confusing, the ridiculous outfits will do it for you.
Check out “A Clockwork Orange,” both book and film. They’re unapologetic and raw.