I just finished the first two pages of A Clockwork Oragne and I have not understood more than maybe 3 or 4 sentences. Think of me what you will, I want a straight answer. Should I even bother reading on? Or should I spend my time reading something in English (American dialect that is)?

Keep reading, it starts to make sense. Have the yarblockos to persevere.

There should also be a glossary of the NADSAT language that is used in the book at the very end. You'll find yourself consulting this a lot while reading it. If for some reason, beyond my imagining, that there is no such a thing in your book... you can also find it at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Foru...aco_nadsat.htm

Stick with it, it gets easier.

~Scheherazade

Sure, its worth reading. As others have said, you get used to the language after a while. As always, the book is much better than the film.

(IMHO) Much of the message of the book can be summed up in the quote from the character of the prison chaplain
oh, and another of those overly clever details – the name of the main character Alex, is "a lex" = "without law"


Hemulen

Well, I started reading Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas instead but I will take your advice and finish ACO when I'm done.

Thanks.

After that try Russell Hoban's Riddley Walker and/or the more manageable, but sometimes thematically similar, Vurt by Jeff Noon.

Both are set in England.

The version of Clockwork Orange with a glossary in the back is the old American edition.

First, Burgess didn't like the glossary that someone tacked onto his book. You really can figure the language out from context. It's worth the effort.

Second, he really didn't like that someone deleted the final chapter. That version, however, is the one that Kubrick used for his movie.

I recommend that you try to find the unexpurgated version. It was printed over here a few years back.

You guys were right! I read through the first few chapters already and it does get easier. Awefully disturbing stuff though.

http://soomka.com/nadsat.html

if you still need one. i printed it out and used it as i read along.

I read this for the first time about three weeks ago, and I have to say it was a great book.

I read the version that had the "controversial" last chapter...

Ironically, I had to get an older copy that didn't have the last chapter to have the "nasdat dictionary"...which I really didnt use after the first three or four chapters. Because I was at the beach for the week and had no computer access....

I have to say the book IS better than the movie (as usual) but Stanley Kubrick made a fairly faithful version of the book, with some changes to it. Mostly noticeably the ending...(not including the "controversial" last chapter)

I also thought that the last chapter added a whole new life to the book.