Reviews with content warning for Drug use - A Clockwork Orange

I've recently read this book and watched the movie afterwards. It's a little messy to read due to its use of slang. In the beginning, it can be a little annoying to constantly have to refer to the glossary at the back of the book. However, it is not for long as eventually, you get used to it. The copy I read was in Spanish, but the translation was very good. Still, I think if I were to read this book again, I may search for the English version.

I liked the plot and idea of the story. It is interesting to see a character who is unsympathetic and does not have a tragic back story to explain it. I don't think the ending qualifies as a redemption story, but I would understand if others read it like that. Although it completes a character arc, it feels a little unrealistic to think he actually reformed. I think the movie is actually much more cynical showing that the character managed to find himself in a good situation, it shows he has hardly become a better person at all.

The title of the book feels a little bit like a side story, but I think it is an interesting point and has a relation to the overall sentiment behind the book.

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chyneyee's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Alex is well portrayed as a teenager with arrogance, immaturity, and limited meaningful vocabularies. He does sadistic things because he derives pleasure from them and for no other reason.

The fictional society is the result of the combination of elements from both communist and capitalist societies. The State's ideology believes that humans can always become virtuous and good through education and reform because of the assumption that humans are morally perfectible.

In contrast, Alex believes humans have the right or choice to act evil. A government that doesn't allow its citizens to misbehave is a government that denies its citizens their right to be human beings. His resistance to the State's radical and logical thought by using his intuition is the only choice he has under the oppressive regime and the only way to bring out his identity and the genuine part of him.

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kendall_readz's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

one of the most fascinating books i’ve ever read, loved it. alex is such an interesting character

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mugan's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective 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

4.25

Personally I read this book as a tale of growing up. Following Alex as a child who goes out at night beating up "starry" people etc to his incarceration and his reformation to him realising that its he's to old to act the way he once did. Honestly this book is not for everyone but I would say it's something that should be read at least once.

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btrz7's review against another edition

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challenging dark fast-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

3.75

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