#30 A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

When I first dug in to this book I thought it might be a bit difficult to get thru. It is written in the first person narrative style - the main character speaking directly to the reader.  Alex speaks to you using that futuristic cockney slang that Malcolm McDowell so brilliantly brought to horrorshow life in Stanley Kubrick's film.   You do soon get used to all the listos and glazies and such, O My Brother, so it is not that bad after all.

There is an introduction before the edition that I read that gives the impression that Burgess isn't as fond of this work as everyone else is. If I remember right, Kubrick wasn't all that proud of the film version either.  Perhaps bringing to life a character as horrible as young Alex puts you off a bit.

And Alex is thoroughly awful. Believe it or not, Kubrick changed some things to clean him up a little bit. Burgess' Alex is absolutely detestable.. and he attempts to ingratiate himself to the reader by referring to himself as "You Humble Narrator" and your "Friend". Ugh - barf.

Normally, in a philosophical work such as this, the deeper message is more nebulous.. something you are forced to ponder and piece together.. but not here.  Burgess comes right out and tells you the precise meaning and explains the metaphor - right in the book - of the "clockwork orange".  He spends pages explicitly detailing the meaning of what he is saying about human nature and crime and punishment. I guess I am used to some more obscurity for things of this nature.

The book is divided up into three sections, each begins with Alex being asked "What's it going to be then, eh?"  This particular line gets to the heart of the major philosophical issue in the book: CHOICE. Alex chooses to be who he is (evil) and the justice system takes away his ability to choose.  I suppose he should be locked up for life because he only chooses to hurt people for his own gain, but I suppose he should not have his humanity stripped from him even if he is a shitty human.

P44
They don't go into what is the cause of goodness, so why the other shop? If lewdies are good that's because they like it, and I wouldn't ever interfere with their pleasure, and so of the other shop. And I was patronizing the other shop. More, badness is of the self, the one, the you or me on our oddy knockies, and that self is made by the old Bog or God and is his great pride and radosty. But the not-self cannot have the bad, meaning they of the government and the judges and the schools cannot allow the bad because they cannot allow the self. And is not our modern history, my brothers, the story of brave malenky selves fighting with these big machines? I am serious with you, brothers, over this. But what I do I do because I like to do.

#42 the Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

When I first picked it up, I was thinking I might be overdosing on King Arthur.  My level of interest quickly heightened when I saw that it was the Arthurian legends from the FEMALE perspective.  And naturally it was quite good.

All of the characters, no matter how strong their convictions or how powerful they are, show a lot of insecurities and have a very high capacity for self doubt.  I found it interesting on how quickly all of the women flowed back and forth between jealousy - almost to the point of hostility - and supportive sisterhood.  Viviane, Igraine and Morguase have a sisterly relationship that is based on equal parts love and resentment; magical power and subjected duty; guilt and sacrifice.. and pride.
Gwenhwyfar and Morgaine constantly stab and forgive each other. Each feels like the other one got what she should have had. They are horribly envious of each other, but somewhat comfortable in the knowledge that the other doesn't have it that good either. They accuse and forgive - several times - within the span of just a few breaths.
It is tragic, but beautiful.   ..why the "but"?..  It is tragic AND beautiful.
Perhaps this is somewhat of a glimpse of what goes on in a woman's mind all of the time.. if so.. yikes.

p48
They had reached the door of their lodging; Gorlois his face turning dark with wrath, pushed her angrily within. "You will not speak to me in that voice, lady, or I shall beat you in earnest."
Igraine realized that she had actually bared her teeth like a hunting cat, and her voice hissed as she said "Touch me at your peril, Gorlois, or I shall teach you that a daughter of the holy isle is no man's slave or servant!"

p726
"Why should we all meet in one afterlife? Why should there not be many paths, the Saxons to follow their own, we follow ours, the followers of Christ to worship him if they choose, without restraining the worship of others?"
Kevin shook his head. " My dear, I do not know. There seems to be a deep change in the way men look at the world, as if one truth should drive out another - as if whatever is not in their truth, must be a falsehood."
"But life is not as simple as that," Morgaine said. 
"I know that, you know that, and in the fullness of time, Morgaine, even the priests will find it out."
"But if they have driven all other truths from the world, it will be too late." Morgaine said.

p758
There is no sorrow like the memory of love and the knowledge that it is gone forever.