A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

We're studying this book at school at the moment, and were asked to read it individually during the half-term. I was quite looking forward to it, even after watching the film, which was good, but made me feel a bit sick. Anthony Burgess writes the story from the point of view of Alex, a fifteen year old boy into ultra-violence, rape and Beethoven. The book follows him up to the age of eighteen, and is well-written in that Anthony Burgess really becomes the character, using new words popular within the teen community at the time (the book is set in the future) and little expressions unique to the character. Of course, the reader is sucked into the story and might feel somewhat sympathetic towards Alex-I know I did. Although violence and an aggressive attitude is portrayed throughout the film and book, the story itself is only really about one thing that everyone can relate to-growing up.