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laavelify's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Rape, Body horror, Gore, Sexual violence, War, Alcohol, Child abuse, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts
pt_barnum's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is easily one of my all-time favorites. It's about nihilism, anarchy, and moral philosophy, all told through the perspective of an ultra-violent psychopath who changes drastically throughout the book. It's truly one of the greatest glimpses into the darkness of the human psyche ever put to page.
The gimmick of ACO is that contains a lot of non-english words, specifically a lot of Russian and Russian-influenced-yet-still-made-up slang, like the word "girl" is rarely used in the book, but the term "devotchka" is used in abundance. This is the biggest barrier to getting into the book, as you have to flip to the appendix to learn every new word. While somewhat frustrating at first, it makes it so much more fun to read once you get the hang of it (I was able to read without the appendix about a third into the book). It makes you connect with the setting so much more as it adds another layer of immersion. Just read it if you can get past all the red flags mentioned below, at least so you can brag that you did.
The gimmick of ACO is that contains a lot of non-english words, specifically a lot of Russian and Russian-influenced-yet-still-made-up slang, like the word "girl" is rarely used in the book, but the term "devotchka" is used in abundance. This is the biggest barrier to getting into the book, as you have to flip to the appendix to learn every new word. While somewhat frustrating at first, it makes it so much more fun to read once you get the hang of it (I was able to read without the appendix about a third into the book). It makes you connect with the setting so much more as it adds another layer of immersion. Just read it if you can get past all the red flags mentioned below, at least so you can brag that you did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Death, Murder, Body horror, Rape, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Blood, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Sexual harassment
cjfooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
You know what, I actually enjoyed this. I got to say - I wasn’t expecting to.
It was one of those books I wanted to read to say I’d read it and to watch the movie, which I know is a cult classic (although tbh I don’t feel the need now). The only other thing I knew about it going in, was that it was very graphically violent - and wow it definitely is, but not in the way you’d expect.
It was one of those books I wanted to read to say I’d read it and to watch the movie, which I know is a cult classic (although tbh I don’t feel the need now). The only other thing I knew about it going in, was that it was very graphically violent - and wow it definitely is, but not in the way you’d expect.
Firstly, the first part is quite confusing because by this point, not only are you still trying to understand the book’s world and meet characters, but the language is actually its own unique dialect of English.
They mention it at some point, but it’s the young people slang of this fictional world and includes a lot of Russian-derived words in place of English ones. This means most commonly used nouns and verbs are totally incoherent at the start. But towards the middle and end I actually really enjoyed this part of it and now, after reading, sort of miss listening to it, in the way you might miss hearing an Irishmen speak after visiting Ireland for a week.
I’m also really glad I read it for the first time as an audiobook for this reason - I think I understood it quicker and better this way.
When it comes to all the violence though, it’s dampened considerably by the language factor in a very clever way, never using the words like ‘r*pe’, ‘screaming/crying’ or ‘bl**d’ instead ‘the ol’ in-out-in-out’, ‘screeching’ and ‘krovvy’. Between this and the matter-of-a-fact narration about atrocities from Alex (the main character) i think the point here is to try and make the reader read in Alex’s detached perspective, instead of their own.
The language does change throughout the book and, man the way it’s written is so a unique, that I can’t help but respect the heck out of it (which is also why I don’t think the movie could ever do it justice).
Once Alex goes through ‘rehab’, the language he hears and starts using, changes to the ‘ugly’ words we’re used to (I.e. r*pe, etc.) and, this, combined with Alex’s correlated nausea, makes the impact of the violence that much stronger.
The language does change throughout the book and, man the way it’s written is so a unique, that I can’t help but respect the heck out of it (which is also why I don’t think the movie could ever do it justice).
In terms of plot, it’s heavily a character development, rather than plot. And seems to be making some sort of a point but I’ll admit - I still don’t really get it.
To me overall, it’s a cleverly written story about morality, cruelty, karma and a very clever use of language.
To me overall, it’s a cleverly written story about morality, cruelty, karma and a very clever use of language.
I wasn’t expecting to say I’d read this again but I think I would - and would recommend it in certain cases - but only for horror fans (though I wouldn’t actually call this horror) who can stomach a lot of violence in books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Animal death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Rape
_sophahs_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Not an enjoyable read but an important one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence
shoohoob's review
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I definitely should have read this instead of listened, but the audiobook narrator kinda ate
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Torture, and Toxic friendship
alext8086's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I felt like the slang language the main character uses is a bit over the top. I also feel like most of the book is just him doing awful things. I love the second half of the book, though, when he doesn’t get to be an absolute villain all the time. When he is just being his normal awful self, I did not love the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Blood, Bullying, Police brutality, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Rape, Child abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Drug use, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Vomit
elliya's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Despite beginning with a lot of ultraviolence and rape, I enjoyed this much more than I expected to! I believe that reading a narrated version made the nadsat vernacular much easier for me to parse, and therefore made for a much more pleasant reading experience. It reminded me strongly of Chabon’s Yiddish Policeman’s Union - strong soviet influences on culture and language in both, plus an array of generally dislikable male characters. I sort of felt bad for Alex in the middle section, and was rooting for him by the end! Unsurprisingly, I loved the way he related to music, found the correctional officer to be some needed comedy, and found the whole experimental results quite disturbing. All in all, I imagine those reactions are par. I’m glad to having finally read this classic, and I look forward to watching Kubrick’s film interpretation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Forced institutionalization, and Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Rape, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Death, Murder, and War
becandthebooks's review against another edition
4.0
"What's it going to be then, eh?"
I can understand how this book has divided readers throughout its time. This was the first Classics Readalong that I'm hosting with my friend Sam for 2024 and, oh my brothers, did it divided the group. Not in a bad way, but what an interesting discussion we all had. Some finished it and enjoyed it like myself, some DNF'ed it and the majority were on the fence with the general consensus being "it gave me the ick... but it is one of the most impressive pieces of literature" (as quoted by @exlibris_emily).
During Part 1 we are introduced to our narrator Alex who, along with his teenage friends, loves to go out at night partaking in "ultra -violence" - beating, stealing, bribing, raping, even murder. The language that Burgess has created within these pages, Nasdat, really helps to read through these horrifying ordeals, it almost creates a sense of putting it at arms length, you know what you are reading, but its not as graphic as what it would be in a normal language. Nasdat also helps to create a sense of the dystopian world we are visiting, dark, grungy and unsafe. "It's a stinking world because it lets the young get on to the old like you done, and there's no law and order no more."
During Part 2 we are with our self-proclaimed 'humble' narrator whilst he is in prison for a couple of years and ends up being the guinea pig for a new rehabilitation program designed to cause illness and stress whenever violence occurs and in turn take pressure of the criminal system. He is held down with his eyes pinned open and forced to watch "ultra-violence" on a screen while listening to classical music, which just so happens to be his favourite type of music. This, in turn, also destroys the enjoyment of the thing he appreciates the most. "Horrorshow is right, friend. A real show of horrors."
As we move into Part 3 Alex is out of the program and attempting to find his place again in society. He ends up with a political party that want to use him for their plight. "To turn a decent young man into a piece of clockwork should not, surely, be seen as any triumph." He accidentally helps them out by a whim-of-the-moment choice and at the same time accidentally cures himself of the illness he feels when he comes into contact with violence, violent thoughts or Beethoven.
Will he go back to his old ways, or will he end up on the straight and narrow after all of his punishments?
"And all it was was that I was young."
I've never read anything like "A Clockwork Orange" before. I started off reading it with a Nasdat dictionary in one hand and the book in the other. Once I was through Part 1 I put the dictionary down and just went with the flow. It took a lot of concentration and for such a short book felt like a lengthy undertaking. Having said all of that, once I got into the flow I enjoyed the challenge and I can see how it has become a classic. It's so unique and it would have also been breaching on taboo subjects with the actions and mindsets the main characters demonstrate.
I can understand how this book has divided readers throughout its time. This was the first Classics Readalong that I'm hosting with my friend Sam for 2024 and, oh my brothers, did it divided the group. Not in a bad way, but what an interesting discussion we all had. Some finished it and enjoyed it like myself, some DNF'ed it and the majority were on the fence with the general consensus being "it gave me the ick... but it is one of the most impressive pieces of literature" (as quoted by @exlibris_emily).
During Part 1 we are introduced to our narrator Alex who, along with his teenage friends, loves to go out at night partaking in "ultra -violence" - beating, stealing, bribing, raping, even murder. The language that Burgess has created within these pages, Nasdat, really helps to read through these horrifying ordeals, it almost creates a sense of putting it at arms length, you know what you are reading, but its not as graphic as what it would be in a normal language. Nasdat also helps to create a sense of the dystopian world we are visiting, dark, grungy and unsafe. "It's a stinking world because it lets the young get on to the old like you done, and there's no law and order no more."
During Part 2 we are with our self-proclaimed 'humble' narrator whilst he is in prison for a couple of years and ends up being the guinea pig for a new rehabilitation program designed to cause illness and stress whenever violence occurs and in turn take pressure of the criminal system. He is held down with his eyes pinned open and forced to watch "ultra-violence" on a screen while listening to classical music, which just so happens to be his favourite type of music. This, in turn, also destroys the enjoyment of the thing he appreciates the most. "Horrorshow is right, friend. A real show of horrors."
As we move into Part 3 Alex is out of the program and attempting to find his place again in society. He ends up with a political party that want to use him for their plight. "To turn a decent young man into a piece of clockwork should not, surely, be seen as any triumph." He accidentally helps them out by a whim-of-the-moment choice and at the same time accidentally cures himself of the illness he feels when he comes into contact with violence, violent thoughts or Beethoven.
Will he go back to his old ways, or will he end up on the straight and narrow after all of his punishments?
"And all it was was that I was young."
I've never read anything like "A Clockwork Orange" before. I started off reading it with a Nasdat dictionary in one hand and the book in the other. Once I was through Part 1 I put the dictionary down and just went with the flow. It took a lot of concentration and for such a short book felt like a lengthy undertaking. Having said all of that, once I got into the flow I enjoyed the challenge and I can see how it has become a classic. It's so unique and it would have also been breaching on taboo subjects with the actions and mindsets the main characters demonstrate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Gore
noranie's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Genocide, Police brutality, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Alcohol
rmehta's review
dark
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I get the point of this book but I didn't particularly enjoy it. The slang took a while to get used to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug use