Reviews - La naranja mecánica

6.76k reviews for:

La naranja mecánica

Anthony Burgess

3.86 AVERAGE

guyd's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

louiejaber's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

falonhowell's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad

ashleyho's review against another edition

5.0

Language is deconstructed, modified, and recreated by Burgess in A Clockwork Orange, which is ridden with, and perhaps centred upon ultra-violence. Initially disconcerting and disorientating, the foreign tongue and syntax acts as both amplifier for the crudeness of the protagonists' thoughts and acts of cruelty, and censorship through surreality and the need for decryption.

The conflict between the schools of thought regarding morality strikes most starkly: between religion's idea of possessing choice to embody good and evil as essential to humanity, and modernity's consequentialism in decision-making that applies the instant-noodle culture to justice and morality.

In a touch of realism, Burgess withholds the protagonist's immediate and complete reformation due to systemic procedures, instead highlighting the inherent goodness that is summoned only with time, thoroughly humanising the perpetrator of inhumane acts.

themtj's review against another edition

3.0

Not my cup of tea, but I see the appeal. The writing was mostly impressive and the story is disturbing in several ways. I've never seen the movie and I'm not sure I want to due to the nature of the content, but was definitely worth the read.