A Clockwork Orange

Rating:
Summary: One of the classics of 20th Century Literature
Review: Answer: Yes, it is wrong and unethical to dehumanize human monsters in order to make our world a safer place. Humans, like oranges, are no fun when they are made of plastic.

Question: A clockwork orange looks just like a real orange, so why can't we squeeze it and make juice?

Perhaps I cringe more at the rape scenes than I did when I was a younger reader, and I wonder whether or not we could have done without some of that. But the book is what it is: an idea taken to its logical, or illogical, conclusion.

This one ranks right up there with 1984.

Rating:
Summary: Dialect!
Review: This edition of 'A Clockwork Orange' begins with a scathing criticism of the publisher by Burgess that I applaude. In the Author's note, Burgess describes how the original Novella as published in the UK consisted of 21 chapters. When Burgess attempted to publish the book in the US, the publisher felt it was within his providence to omit the 21st chapter, calling it a "sell-out". He continues to explain that not only did the 21st chapter provide a certain degree of numerical resonance, but that the concluding chapter contained his vision of the book's ultimate lesson. A lesson of change that is completely rendered impotent by the 20th chapter if left alone. Clearly riding on the book's success (and of course the Kubrick film that truly popularized his work - and was based only on the American '20-chapter' version), Anthony Burgess finally laughs loudest at the end of this disagreement. His attack on the publisher (who clearly still has rights to the book and is compelled by money to continue to market it) is so harsh that the publisher feels compelled to place a tiny little "Publisher's Note" after the "Author's Note" that basically says "I'm sorry" in a watered down and spineless way. It's easily the best introduction to a book I have ever experienced.

The story's heart is dark and disturbing. Centered around a troubled 15 year old named Alex who narrates the book from the first person, is an account of violence and pleasure. 'A Clockwork Orange' raises serious questions about the anatomy of evil in an extreme depiction of the 'Nature versus Nurture'argument. By default, Burgess compells the reader to question what is the anatomy of good as well - a phrase that doesn't roll off the tounge as easily because it is never used.

But the real genius of this novella is the imaginary cockney dialect that Burgess creates to convey his message. It took me three chapters of slow, difficult reading. But by the fourth, I had adapted to the new vocabulary, understood the new language, and could read as smoothly as if I was reading my own words. A subtle and powerful lesson that makes Burgess' point about nurture all that more profound.

The violence is what keeps you reading when the language is difficult, the going is slow, and the images are at times nauseating. Why?

Rating:
Summary: This book must be read at somept. in everyone's life
Review: First things first, the first 50 pages or so, as entertaining as they were, made me wonder where the book was going. I felt as though these pages were somewhat slow, even though Burgess creates majestic, witty, and strong characters [even though these adj's describe mostly Alex] who make the reader [at least me] love them, but at the same time hate them because of the horribly vicious and malice acts they commit [i guess its that whole love hate thing.]

At the present time I must plea with you to not let my negative description deter you from this book [especially since I just read the former paragraph and I'm making the book sound a lot worse that it really is.] Moving on, after the 1st 50 pgs the book picks up and never for a second slows down [even in the "controversial" last chapter that was removed by American editors in its early release, which was simply put: a stupid mistake.]

I really don't want to reveal to much else about the book, especially why they [American Editors] removed the 21st? chapter; but I must insist that you read this book. It makes the reader question government policies [expecially the death penalty] and it made me question myself about what rights I believe criminals should have and at what point should criminals have no rights at all.

PLEASE READ!!!

Rating:
Summary: Clockwork is right
Review: I recently finished reading "A Clockwork Orange" and quite frankly, I expected more. Instead I found it to be quite predictable and ordinary. The protagonist, Alex, is nothing more than a posing hooligan trying to fit in with his "crowd." His brand of violence is not really shocking in this, the 21st century. He is merely a victim of peer pressure. The only thing that sets him apart and adds a slight air of menace is that he embraces a lot of different types of violence - from rape to beatings to petty theft. He is not a true believer of his own world, though, with his reluctance to pull off true crimes in the form of burglary and out-and-out murder. And his supposed shocking "rehabilitation" is simply aversion therapy. The last "lost" chapter is neither a shocker nor a surprise and I really don't see any significance in it at all other than the numeric importance to the author. Sort of a cop out - time heals all wounds... and psychopaths. I will grant that the slang language invented by Burgess is a very good tool for transporting the reader into the "droog" world. Otherwise, I don't see the fuss over this predictable novella.

Rating:
Summary: Terrifying yet brilliant!
Review: This is an incredible book. The author created a slang language in it that was a mix of cockney and russian slang. The outcome is a funny yet disturbing piece of prose that at times reads like poetry. It is vicious with a point. The author is fighting a conflict between being evil or being good because you have no choice. It reminded me of the Catholic religion and Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil. Are you being good because you are afraid of the consiquences of being bad or are you being good because it feels like it is the rite thing for you to do. Living life as you see it should be lived. You don't kill or rape because a Religious law tells you it is sin; instead you don't do these things because you know that they are wrong. This is what Nietzsche called living beyond good and evil. And it has neve being better protrayed than in this book. A clock work orange.

Rating:
Summary: An epiphany of the human psyche
Review: Many reviews before mine have already summed up this book's merits. I will only add that the slang utilized is necessary to emerge oneself fully in the brutal, eery, eye-opening world which Burgess creates. Read this book with an open mind and prepare yourself to be utterly shocked and enlightened.

Rating:
Summary: This bookw is great.
Review: A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess was a very good book. It is about a 15 year-old boy and his very violent life. The story takes place in a futuristic city. Alex and his friends go around the city and act like terrors. The story starts to get exciting when he goes to jail and is the test subject for a new method of state reform. I liked this book because it shows that actions have reactions. The bad part about the book is the dialect. I think Anthony Burgess over does the dialect and makes the book hard to understand.

Rating:
Summary: A Really Freaky Book!
Review: By writing A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess created one of the most disturbing novels that I have ever read. It begins with our most humble narrator, Alex, living his teenage years as a drug-addicted bugular and rapist. Alex and his friends commit crimes for fun and see nothing wrong with their incredibly violent ways. When eventually Alex is caught by the police and put in the State Jail, he is entered into a program that will supposedly 'cure' him of his violent actions and allow him to go free. The question is, though, does someone actually become 'good' when their free will to make that choice is taken away? Which is worse: choosing to do wrong or being forced to choose good? Burgess really makes you think about that idea as Alex's life progresses after he goes through the cruel procedure to 'reform' him. I would definitely recommend reading this book to anyone, as long as they are prepared for a lot of violence and gore (as well as Burgess' invented slang that Alex and his friends use - it takes a little while to get used to). What's it going to be then, eh? Go read A Clockwork Orange and get ready to think about a lot of stuff you never have before.

Rating:
Summary: Burgess's hits big with this story on human respone.
Review: "A Clockwork Orange" is Anthony Burgess's story of the life of a young thug named Alex. The first thing you'll notice about this story is that it is written in a imaginary slang. This slang is called "nadsat" or teenage talk. The story is divided into three parts. In the first part, it outlines how Alex goes around and terroizes the town until he is caught. The second part tells about his life in prision and the new experimental technique he agrees to take place in. The third section is about how the procedure changes Alex's life and how he responds to this. This is a very good story about good and bad and how far the government may go one day to correct the evil ways of people. I gave this story four stars only because it took about half the book to understand the complex slang. But in terms of plot, development, and language, this story is tops

Rating:
Summary: Nightmare or Reality
Review: Anthony Burgess takes us on a roller-coaster ride through our young narrator Alex's life. Alex goes around raping, stealing, and even murdering in this novel based in the future. He is later caught and taken to jail for the murder of a old woman. After being put in jail Alex is used as a guinea pig in a new controversial experiment. The experiment is supposed to make the criminal forget all their criminal tendencies and turn them into a peaceful citizen. Alex thinks this will be his way to escape from prison but in the end it turns Alex's world into an even bigger nightmare.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy read, a book that will keep your attention, and keep you turning pages. There are only two down falls to the book and they are the use of "slang" by the characters when talking in the book and some of the gory details used to describe situations that occur in the book.