A Novel Idea Book Club meets once a month, giving avid readers a chance to converse and express their love of books with others. At each meeting, a new book for the next month is decided, giving everyone an opportunity to express what the group should read next.

This last month, A Novel Idea members read “A Clockwork Orange,” a novel by Anthony Burgess published in 1962. “A Clockwork Orange” is on the banned books list and is a historically controversial piece of fiction. Set in the future, it follows the storyline of Alex a young troublemaker and his group of troublemaker friends.

Written in a slang language, a mix of Russian and English, this book can be hard for some to fully understand upon first reading. When speaking to the members of A Novel Idea, one member said that the slang “made it hard for them to understand the book, which overall made the book less enjoyable,” while a different member “liked the slang in the book and thought it enhanced it overall, making it different than other books,” another member of the club ended up making a dictionary of sorts to refer back to when they stumbled upon a slang word they didn’t understand. 

“A Clockwork Orange” evoked many feelings, some good, and some bad.  One reader felt that when Alex (the main character) changed his ways and acted out good deeds it was almost cringe-worthy, and that in turn, made the book not as enjoyable to read.  At the same time when Alex caused trouble and heartbreak readers felt disgusted, how could someone do such things?  The same member brought up a great point, “the book is like a paradox, you don’t have any power – the good stuff is arbitrary.”

 The group then gave their opinions on if this book was relevant at all to today’s society. Everyone agreed that though in some ways it is relevant, there is good and there is bad. Our world today could never get as bad as this futuristic world. The members then went on to discuss why Anthony Burgess would write a novel like this.  One member brought up the idea that “Anthony may have written a book like this to show readers the difference between innocence/good vs. bad.”  Are people good overall or bad overall?  Was Anthony Burgess trying to make a moral point?

 The book club concluded with the members picking out a new book to read for the month of November.  They decided on the novel “The Orphan’s Tale,” by Pam Jenoff.

 So, if you are an avid reader and would like to discuss a monthly book with a group of other book lovers consider joining A Novel Idea! Check out the club listings on Iowa States Club & Organizations page and reach out to the club’s president, Paige Ahlrichs.  A Novel Idea will be meeting again after Thanksgiving break.