Entrée

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

A short read peppered with gratuitous violence and thuggery. Burgess’ use of Nadsat (an artificial additive) makes the story hard to digest at first; however, as the palate adjusts to this peculiar language, the literary flavours begin to come through. N.B. Alex, the protagonist, may leave a bitter taste in the mouth.

Matching music: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor by Ludwig van Beethoven

Main Course

1984 by George Orwell

A hearty dish of authoritarianism and despair. Read as Winston Smith and his love, Julia, are ruthlessly hunted down and tortured by the Thought Police for daring to rebel against Big Brother. The bleakness of Air Strip One and the ridiculousness of Oceania’s war with Eastasia (or is it Eurasia? Who knows!) will turn your stomach. This is real food for thought.

Matching music: 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother) by the Eurythmics

Dessert

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Finish off with this little gem. Discover London in the year 632 AF (After Ford): a world where monogamy and family no longer exist, and where its mass-produced, socially-preconditioned citizens lead lives of pure, unbridled hedonism. When John, a naturally-born Savage, arrives in the city from a reservation in New Mexico all Hell breaks loose. This course will both fascinate and disturb.

Matching music: Something with a slow, hypnotic rhythm. Light a few scented candles too.