Rating: 
Summary: I recommend this one to all my droogs
Review: One of the best books I have read in a long time, A Clockwork Orange is incredibly direct, and disturbing.
At the beginning, a tad bit confusing, due to the "nadsat" language, but this element of the book only increases it's worth.
A book i could not put down, so poignant was it. It made me imagine the future and all it will bring. Excellent. Oh, and one more thing : if possible, get the edition which has 21 chapters (as opposed to 20).
I read the 21st chapter off the internet, and found that it really changed my impression of the book in general
Rating:
Summary: A modern classic about rape, murder, and Beethoven
Review: A dark, disturbing, and fully engrossing novel that is unlike anything ever written. Its colorful use of language, imagery, philosophizing, and gruesome detail is used in liberal doses throughout, and an exceptional and coherent story shines through a complex surface. I have to say the bottom of the book is engaging, and horrific. With precision, care, and great imagination, Burgess has created a tale that is dark, grim, yet undeniably brilliant
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant, but leave the "Orwell" comparisons behind
Review: Has anyone read "Animal Farm"? That book is the worst anti-socialism propaganda ever written. It was as anti-capitalist as it was anti-communist and it appeared to make a point.Burgess tells a tale that is anti-facism, anti-capitalism, andti-communism... anti-ism!! One of the more amazing novels written in the twentieth century, the fact that it is short and still brutally effective is its most amazing attribute. What Burgess has done with this novel is actually change the idea of what literature can be. He dances on the edge of de-construction without crossing over the line. The language is incredibly anguishing to read, but at the end of the first few chapters, you realize that the effect of this "translating" that you have to do, you begin to think exactly like Alex. You feel complete empathy with his feelings. Its actually rather chilling when you think about it. Anyone who enjoyed the way in which this novel was written should pick up "Naked Lunch" by William S. Burroughs.
Rating:
Summary: Conciseness makes the book great
Review: This is Burgess's most famous novel, largely to the controversial treatment of it by Kubrick. As with most famous novels, there is the danger of disappointment because they are so hyped up. This was the case with me, until I was about halfway through. Then, because it was sufficiently different from the movie, I realised that it was good beyond the hype. And overall, it is the fact that Burgess has condensed quite a lot of ideas onto about 150 easy pages that makes this book a great read. If it was much longer (like so many other thematic books of novels-of-ideas) it would lose its tolchok... Speaking of tolchoks, this would be the most challenging part of the novel - nadsat. The narrator is Alex, a juvenile delinquent living in a somewhat not-too-distant-and-certainly-dystopian future, where Britain is quite close to being a police state and where crime is such that the "delinquencies" of little Alex involve rape, murder and other examples of ultra-violence. Furthermore, the teens in this future speak nadsat, a slang peppered with Russian expressions. The first page should be quite a shock to those who don't know Russian (and if like me you do know it, there's the feature of figuring out what Russian word the Anglicised string of letters is meant to symbolise). Anyhow, you can think of it as a cloze passage and in a few pages, you should be fluent. If not, there are excellent resources on the internet, such as Wikipedia's nadsat entry. As for the purpose of this deliberate difficulty, it's actually worthwhile in highlighting the superficial and brutal subculture Alex lives in. The novel is divided into three parts. Part 1 is Alex and his friends running amok and basically doing what they like. Part 2 is Alex in prison, and the famous Ludovico's "rehabilitation" technique. Part 3 is Alex back in the world, with a difference. The book is seen to explore free-will and the choice to do good and evil. As such, we climb into the head of someone who would most likely be described as a sociopath in conventional terms. He commits acts of violence simply because this is what he genuinely enjoys. And to go against the stereotype of the low-IQ bum, Alex is considerably intelligent and has a true passion for classical music. This sets up the background of a world-gone-mad. Then, Alex is treated with a technique that physically conditions him to be unable to do harm to anyone. Of course, the prison chaplain is against this but according to the Minister of the Interior, at least it will help in the seemingly-hopeless fight against violence. Alex immediately becomes front-page material and a political pawn from all sides of the spectrum. Burgess examines the nature of our society, where politics and public perception are at the heart of every issue, and where both sides can become involved in dirty and partisan tactics. Also, the inconsistencies of the way society brings people up, incarcerates, punishes and attempts to rehabilitate criminals is a major idea. The good thing is that it is unclear to me what moral lesson Burgess was actually attempting to espouse. He really lets the reader draw their own conclusions, more so than most writers. Finally, some of the early editions cut the last chapter, making the novel more edgy and dark (this is the case in the film). The last chapter (part 3, chapter 7) is an actual resolution. People have argued whether it makes the novel better or not. I think it does make it better because it casts irony on the tortuous attempts to rehabilitate Alex. But try to get an edition with the last chapter so you can see what Burgess intended originally. Because it seems that somehow, violence is still with us *just a bit*, and the Clockwork opens up the recesses of evil and not-so-evil and its such a concise read makes it a great novel of the 20th century, and more original than many other dystopias.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Horrorshow
Review: Great books seldom make for great films, but when they do, it's usually the movie people remember better. Films reach more people, requiring less investment of their time. Plus, when they are made as well and as excitingly as was Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of this Anthony Burgess novel, it's hard not to think of the movie first.
Both feature a young man named Alex who, in what was a vaguely futuristic society for the time, rides around with his friends committing various felonies. Alex lords it over his friends as well, a bit too much. Then he finds himself with one victim too many, and in the hands of the police. His only chance for freedom: Submit to a controversial mind-altering technique that will make him incapable of violence.
There are two reasons the book remains vital above the movie. The first, more surface reason, has to do with Nadsat, the unique argot Burgess developed for the youthful protagonist, Alex, and his friends. For example, while contemplating robbing helpless victims, Alex narrates thusly: "Our pockets were full of deng, so there was no need...of crasting any more pretty polly to tolchock some old veck in an alley and viddy him swim in his own blood..."
You can find a Nadsat glossary online if your edition doesn't have one, but the remarkable thing is how well you pick up on the words' meaning after a few pages without looking up definitions. The movie keeps some of the Nadsat but it doesn't have the same place it has in the book, which is too bad since the language makes a point about the corruption of the culture Alex inhabits.
The second thing about the book that places it over the movie is explaining what the title is all about. The phrase "A Clockwork Orange" recurs through the novel, while never appearing in the movie. "A fair gloopy title," Alex calls it, when he first spies it on a manuscript of an author he is in the process of terrorizing.
As Alex goes on to read, the author describes "a clockwork orange" as the artificial imposition on man of "laws and conditions appropriate to a mechanical creation." This has a ring of irony when Alex himself submits to the technique. It's not that the movie doesn't carry the concept of the clockwork orange, just that it doesn't connect the dots or make the point as effectively.
A third reason to choose the book over the movie is the missing 21st chapter, which is found in later editions of the book but not all, and did not appear in the movie. It's kind of a mixed blessing, since the missing chapter wouldn't have gone so well in the movie (hard to imagine the wonderfully malevolent Malcolm McDowell suddenly having a sensitive moment) but does give the reader something positive to take away from an what otherwise might feel depressing upon reflection, the idea that man has two choices, to be controlled artificially or left to their evil desires.
But "A Clockwork Orange" is not depressing to read through. It's actually thrilling, mind-warping, and more than a bit funny. You will find yourself liking Alex despite yourself, and adapting to his worldview with surprising ease. That's because Burgess does such a good job of representing the devil inside all of us, why we listen to it, and even, most daringly, why it's better to have one than not.
Rating:
Summary: A Must-Have Book!
Review: Anthony Burgess' novel A Clockwork Orange has become a sort of underground classic. It is read and loved by young men all over the world.
The novel is written in a language all its own; a hybrid of English and Russian slang. Burgess called this language Nadsat. It can be, at first, difficult. However, once the reader acclimates themself to the rythyms of the words Nadsat comes alive. The language of this novel is electric. Burgess was very interested in music, and was a composer. In this novel he uses words as Mozart would have used musical notes.
A Clockwork Orange is the story of Alex, a young criminal. He and his "droogs" (friends) roam the streets robbing, beating, and raping the people they encounter. Alex is quite satisfied with his life, he has everything he needs.
Things begin to turn bad for Alex after a midnight raid on a house in the country. He is captured by the police and his friends turn on him. Soon Alex finds himself in prison, where he is offered the "Ludovico treatment". This treatment will garuntee that he never breaks another law.
Alex agrees to the treatment in exchange for release from prison. This is the point in the story where Burgess' talent really begins to show. It is at this point that the reader fully realizes that Burgess is not simply telling a story; he is showing us a metaphor for the world we inhabit.
The Ludovico treatment turns Alex into a clockwork orange: he appears to be a living creature, but is merely a machine. Alex, stripped of free will is unable to defend himself. And, because he cannot choose evil, any good he may do is meaningless.
In this book Burgess first creates a loathsome character. Then draws us into his world, making us care a bit about what happens to him. He then tears down that characters world, to show how easily our world can be torn down.
This is a startling, and brilliant book. It is not for the squeamish, nor the easily offended.
By the way, if you purchase this book be sure to look for the European edition which is one chapter longer than the American version. Another terrific purchase I made off Amazon -- completely unrelated to Clockwork Orange -- is The Losers' Club by Richard Perez, a very engaging, substantial and funny book.
Rating:
Summary: The Best I've Read
Review: A Clockwork Orange has to be one of the best books I have ever read in my life. I am the type of reader that will pick up a book and if it's good, it will become my new favorite. I can honestly say that A Clockwork Orange hasn't been topped since I read it earlier this year. I originally started the book last year, but with my busy schedule, I didn't have time to finish it. This year was a different story, I could not put the book down. Burgess' use of the NADSAT language filled with the vile images leaves you with a life long memory of it all. I don't have one problem with this book, I can't say that about many things. I have reread it now a couple of times and is falling apart with all the notes I have taken in it. It has such a deep meaning that can be topped by very few books. I give this book my ultimate rating.
Rating:
Summary: The quintessential British dystopian novelette
Review: Anthony Burgess' vision of the future entertains by subjecting the reader to a crucible of bureaucratic and Proletariat violence and mayhem dissolved in waters of state subsidized cultural supremacy. The final solution reverts back to what brought the reader here in the first place: an earlier omitted chapter neither in the film directed by Stanley Kubrick nor in the original United States publication. This book is about the violent mind of its lead character. Alex, the narrator who along with his evil `droogs', terrorize innocent civilians is terrorized by the State, when he is subjected to psychiatric reconditioning to curb his violent behavior. This book is wonderful depiction rehabilitation gone awry.
Rating:
Summary: Don't judge a book by its movie!
Review: If you're tired of reading the same ol' stories with a goody two-shoes protagonist, who has some sort of dilemma then through a miraculous epiphany he finds his way and everyone holds hands and sings kumbaya, then this is the book for you! (Whatever you do, do not read the last chapter!!!!)
This is a very dark and satirical novel with a very fresh dialogue. Burgess uses a language called Nadsat to alienate the main character and his "droogies" from the rest of the world. If you have the capacity to read at a slightly higher level (like Shakespeare or Dante), or are enamored by the challenge, then this story will have you quoting it months after you're finished with it. And if you're IQ is above average you might even recognize the author's sporadic humor and sarcasm.
Alex suffers from some kind of psychopathic disorder, and the society he lives in has incubated all the malice that lives within him. He is very clever, brave, witty, articulate, and not exactly what you would call a delicate flower.
After the government experiments with a highly effective and novel rehabilitation method, Alex becomes an ideal citizen, but he suffers every day and wants to kill himself. His life becomes "Clockwork" and loses its purpose (I don't know where the orange part comes from).
As you read it you will be confused as to how you are cheering on this menace, which kills, robs, and does other horrific activities. However, this is where Burgess' genius becomes apparent and makes the book a classic. You the reader experience what Alex experiences when he goes through the rehabilitation process, he starts feeling and doing things that are contradictory to his natural state of being, and hence becomes mere "clockwork." Even though he is a malevolent character you yourself are in oppression of something greater and can't help liking him and hoping for his reincarnation so to speak.
All of the characters are interesting and the encounters with one another are real. The only folly of the book is its 21st chapter. I don't know hat happened here but the book is pure magic until its last chapter, where it abandons its key premise and succumbs to social pressures and suddenly becomes politically correct. Nonetheless, the book is profound intelectual bliss-you can end with the 20th chapter and it makes complete sense.
I recommend this book to anyone who is not superficial and is looking for a thoughtful experience. Please do not judge this book by its movie! This cliché was probably coined specifically for this book. The movie has a completely different ambiance and misses the artistic brilliance of the author. The book is probably 5 times more interesting, more entertaining, and much better.
It's a great read, and will have you scratching your head by the end of the book, not because it's confusing, but because you can't put it down and thus have no time to shower.
In My Humble Onion
John G (Find Me Please)
Rating:
Summary: A clockwork orange taste good!
Review: The first thing that should be known about this book is it's literary style. The book is based in a british slang called nadast. Don't be discouraged by this style of writing and decide not to read this book. I know when i first picked up this book and i had read the first page i thought to myself, "man, this is one hard book to follow." At that point i had almost put the book down and planned on not reading it. But, people telling me how good this book was kept me reading the book. After a few pages into the book taking it slowly i started to make sense of this confusing text and now i'm use to it, and it's a wonderful book. SO FROM ME TO YOU, IF U PLAN ON READING THIS BOOK DON'T PUT IT DOWN THE TEXT WILL MAKE SENSE THE FARTHER YOU GET INTO IT. Hey, Maybe you'll even start talking like them, this being a very horrorshow (good) book.
As for the actual review of the story, i will start with the beginning but i dont plan on giving it all away (you can read someone elses if you want to spoil it for you.) Also im not good at reviews or writing in genral.
First off, the book starts with a young 15 year old boy named Alex, who is sort of a juvenile delinquent. His average days consist of Hanging out with His Droogs(friends,also gang members) sitting at a milk bar (drugged up milk is drank here) and doing several delinquent acts such as rape,thievery and maybe even MURDER! The first main thing to happen in this book is they take a little trip to a authors hows to have a little fun. Alex using his charm to make the kind young lady open the door enough for them to run in and attack and rape his wife and him. Later they return to the milk bar and a young lady starts to sing a little opera, when Dim (the dumbest and biggest of them)makes a very ignorant gesture/noise towards this women. Which results in a nice kiss to the face from the leader Alex. This makes his droogs to conimplate betrayal and hatred towards there leader. Then the droogs go off to another house to go for more vicous acts. Alex leads in and is confronted by a older woman who puts up a terrible fight. As Alex leaves the house he is confronted by his droogs to see that they have come to betray him. They knock him to the ground which results in him getting caught by the cops.
Alex is then charged with murder and sentenced to 14 years in prison. 2 years in prison leads to a scientific discovery made by government officials to "brainwash criminals to be good" and Alex is "forced" into the program. They give Alex a drug that inflicts pain on him which then they keep his eyes open as he watches disturbing videos; so as the drug co-insides with criminal acts triggering when he does wrong.
There is more to this book but like i said early i am not about to give the book away thats pretty much to much info right there. If you want to know what happens next then look at someone elses to find it, like i said im not giving it away. Also Yes! there is a movie on it but i reccomend you should read the book instead or at least read it before it is certainly much better and more enjoyable then the movie.
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