A Clockwork Orange

I saved this copy of A Clockwork Orange while my boyfriend cleaned out his childhood bedroom, sweeping everything clean into the trash.  It is an American reprint complete with a forward by Burgess complaining about how both previous versions of this novel (and consequently Kubrick's film as well) omitted the 21st chapter, as well as the final chapter in question.

Having read the full book with this 2-sided knowledge, it's clear that the question is not whether one version is better or worse than the other.  What it does, actually, is show you how much of a difference a single chapter can do in a to-the-point way that I have rarely experienced.  Knowing that the story could have ended with Alex being "fixed", and then going on to see his natural train of thought after the fact turns the overarching theme from one of the frights of technology and government, to something around the idea of whether a man can ever change.  It would be interesting to experience this book in all three ways (20 chapters with no knowledge of the last, 21 chapters with no knowledge of America's cutting the story short, and the way I came about it) with a clear slate, though obviously that is impossible.  I guess the only way one could do that would be to concede to technology and get a lobotomy 3 times over.  Seems fitting.

Other notes: gritty, punky, and very violent.  I usually don't like plots like this, and it honestly was rough for me to get through in the beginning, but it redeemed itself.  Also, Burgess is pretty freakin' fun and I quite enjoyed his voice in the Introductory note.  Give it a try (and don't cop out and just watch the film...though I assume it's theatrical and beautiful, being a Kubrick and all that).