A review by nincrony1
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

challenging dark sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I first came to the world of A Clockwork Orange via the film adaptation. I really like the film but I have cooled towards it over the years because 1) I think Kubrick made better films afterwards and 2) I read the book, which I ultimately prefer. I’m not a “book is inherently better than the film adaptation” kind of person but I think across the novel Burgess is able to more actively explore the themes, the language and actions of Alex in a more nuanced way. I know some bemoan the lack of the final chapter not being in the film but I feel both end on equally ambiguous, yet slightly different, notes; in the book, there’s something terrifying for me about someone like Alex and his ex-droogs becoming part of society. It’s a hard nut to crack, particularly if you haven’t seen the film version first as that acts somewhat as a primer to the dense invented language, but after a while you become acclimatised to it, real horrorshow.
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