100 Greatest Novels

The movie A Clockwork Orange

I just came across Time magazine's 100 Greatest English Novels since 1923.

Looking at the list, I can proudly say I've read a grand total of..... 2 of them! The first is Animal Farm, which was my literature text during school days. The other is A Clockwork Orange.

Speaking of A Clockwork Orange, most people know of it as that ultra-violent 70s movie. The show's indeed very interesting (and super-ultra-xxx-rated), but the book's another thing altogether. I must say it is one of the most facinating books I've ever read. In fact, it's my 2nd favourite book of all time, although that's not saying a lot since I don't read tonnes. The amazing thing about this book is that it is written entirely in a slang called Nadsat invented by the author himself. Once you get the gist of it, you'll appreciate just how beautiful the writing is, or to describe in Nadsat, absolutely horrorshow. Everyone go read!

Among the list are some other very famous titles, like The Lord Of The Rings, Lord Of The Flies and To Kill A Mocking Bird, non of which I've read. One of them - 1984-, I find so dry that I gave up about one third into the book. Too bad.

It's such a coincidence, also, that I just found The Catcher In The Rye yesterday, after searching high and low over several rental bookstores. This is a very controversial book, partly because John Lennon's assassin was carrying this book when he was caught at the spot of the killing. A few chapters in and I'm already loving it! When I'm done, there'll be just 96⅔ more to go! :D

What's it going to be then, eh?