A Clockwork Apple

by Belinda Webb

An extraordinary, passionate retelling of Burgess's original novel takes readers to a dystopia where the gangs are female, the state's control is exercised through addiction therapy, and Alex's solace is in high literature and postmodern deconstructionism  Alex is an anti-heroine for the 21st century. She would rather have all her nails pulled out than read the literature promoted by the Enid Blytons of the world?the bourgeoisie. She runs rampage through the streets of a dystopic Manchester with her girl gang, and her main aim is to feed her Phrontistery, that is, her dream factory. In Alex's world, the State imposes its control through addiction therapy and the blunt administrations of female police and social workers. Men have long since ceased to have any influence. The muvvas spend all day in the Old Duchess of New York, and dark confrontations take place in Whitworth Park, the old raping ground of the red light walkes. Alex has never conformed, but when she is faced with the charge of addiction, the battle really begins, in this angry, powerful novel fizzing with energy and linguistic inventiveness.

Genres: Novels

250 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished 'A Clockwork Apple' by Belinda Webb a few weeks ago. I have been mulling it over ever since. I read 'A Clockwork Orange' several years ago and really enjoyed the language and imagery it evoked and I was hoping for something similar from Webb's retelling. I don't feel it really delivered.

Usually I'd feel it was unfair to judge a book by it's inspiration piece but Webb sets the comparisons out so starkly that they're impossible to miss. The main characters have the same name, Alex. Webb's is female, Burgess' is male. Both have gangs and both perform violent acts to get their kicks against their fellow humans. Both characters are cultured and enjoy classical music and reading. However, Webb's world building falls down somewhat here as she makes it clear that her Alex is from a society that does not allow women of Alex's class to be taught formally and yet she knows how to read and write with no explanation as to how she acquired this knowledge.

However, you can ignore those cracks and simply enjoy the occasional cultural reference and the building of Webb's version of Manchester play out. I think the set (though not the setting) is a strength of this book. Another strength was Webb's choice to remove the sexual component from Alex's drive. Alex even refers to herself as asexual at one point in the book - all of her passions instead are consumed by a drive and passion to change and effect the ignorant and broken society she exists within. This drive and insight felt like it was really going somewhere and was a thread I looked forward to following.

Then Alex's gang turns on her and she is arrested and we move with the story to the prison and, eventually, treatment. Where Burgess treatment was horrific, questionable, and philosophically engaging, Webb's is... a bit drippy. It doesn't alter or change anything and doesn't really seem to have a purpose in the story other than to help Alex understand her mum a little better. Unlike the Burgess' Alex, Webb's Alex simply uses her smarts and walks away - nothing learnt, nothing gained and no actual aversion to the life she led before. No conflict or consequences encountered.

The final nail in the coffin for me happened at the very end when Alex leaves prison and returns to her old haunts. However, I think that would give away too much and I'd rather see how others respond.

[Belinda Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it.

[Jo Elford · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read - best read in fewer sittings and fun to read aloud. would be interesting for students of media, social subjects and language.

[Vera Legaliden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, a beautifully crafted book. Extremely compelling with a sublime literature and a powerful story. Growing up in Manchester myself, i relate to this. Will recommend this book to others! extraordinary x

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled with the original 'A Clockwork Orange' by Anthony Burgess, but reaped the reward of a compelling and important tale of a state controlled future. 'A Clockwork Apple' presents a similar struggle, but, for me, without such reward. It is important to point out that this may not be the case for all; with some exciting language play and a twist on the gender politics, it is not without its merit, but I found myself regularly wishing I was reading the original text again. A book that will probably suffer such a comparison by most who like Burgess' work, and so best enjoyed as a stand-alone, quick read.

[Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s an old idiom that states you can’t compare apples to oranges but in the case of Belinda Webb’s A Clockwork Apple (2008) you can’t help compare it to Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange, purely because it follows the source so closely. However, there are wholesale changes for the sake of parody, notably the inversion of genders, so that rather than teenage boys running amok, Webb’s dystopia is populated by teenage girls.

Read my full review here.

[Tony · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read it and missed the point, by the look of it. Same with A Clockwork Orange,so I guess it serves me right, really. Sorry.

[PJ Ebbrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, not good. Well worth a read if you run across. Might take a bit of time to get into idom.

[Bettie]

Not for me at this time