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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I read this as a teenager, 72 is purely a guess -- it might have been earlier, but I don't remember. What I do remember is being overwhelmed with the nadsat glossery in the back. My good buddy, Tom Meinskow, had read it as well and we used the language a bit.
It's so interesting to me that the methodologies used in the book to 'tame' Alex of his violence were used in the 80's to try to cure homosexuals of their inclination. I don't know if that's life imitating art or if Burgess was describing something that was already happening.
Having him bereft of both violent urges and his beloved Beethovan said something to me about the complex nature of human desires. Sure, Alex was a creep -- but he was a product of his society. And the society's violence to him was even more vile.
It's so interesting to me that the methodologies used in the book to 'tame' Alex of his violence were used in the 80's to try to cure homosexuals of their inclination. I don't know if that's life imitating art or if Burgess was describing something that was already happening.
Having him bereft of both violent urges and his beloved Beethovan said something to me about the complex nature of human desires. Sure, Alex was a creep -- but he was a product of his society. And the society's violence to him was even more vile.
Although the movie is classic, I still think the novel is better. It investigates the theme of governmental control along the same lines of 1984 and Farenheit 451.
challenging
dark
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
This book is such a classic book and always will be.
I absolutely love the way it has been written with the character Alex' own language. It's a little bit hard to understand at first but then his lingo just turns into a second language.
Even though Alex is so horrible and violent you can't help but like him anyway.
I absolutely love the way it has been written with the character Alex' own language. It's a little bit hard to understand at first but then his lingo just turns into a second language.
Even though Alex is so horrible and violent you can't help but like him anyway.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
slow-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
Something different from my normal reads. The book is basically the movie, showing the whole movie in frames with dialogue in between. A nice item to have, as I read the book and saw the movie before. Not to read if you haven't read or seen the movie, since I think you won't understand a thing then.
Alex is 15 years old, and with his three other friends, they roam the streets looking for opportunities to attack unsuspecting and innocent people. They start in the Korova Milk bar, drinking a milk plus, with added extra drugs. On their way home their period of ultra violence begins. They attack people, rob a store and fight with a rival group. After stealing a car they breaking a cottage, and attack and rape the residents. After more random attacks of violence, and tension in the gang, an attempt at a robbery fails and Alex is arrested.
As the woman has died, Alex is convicted of murder, and is given 14 year sentence. He is blamed for the death of another inmate, and is chosen to undertake the Ludovico Technique, a method of behaviour modification. This involves being injected with a substance that makes his nauseous and being made to watch violent films. One of the films has music by his favourite composer, Beethoven, and he ends up hating that as well. The treatment is deemed to be effective, and he is released.
Unable to return home, he wanders the streets. Whilst wandering he meets various people from his former life, who try to repay some of the pain he caused them. After a failed suicide attempt, the government don't want bad publicity about his treatment, and place him in mental home. As he considers if he has been cured or not, a chance encounter with one of his fellow gang members who now has a child, he reflects that he may have children who are far worse than he was.
Even though this book is uncompromising in its violence and brutality, it is tempered by the language that Burgess has used. The English & Russian slang hides a lots of the worst aspects of it, whilst ensuing that the intent is fully understood. There is as much in here about the stance that the government has taken to cure these destructive youth, as there is on Alex's bleak future. Burgess does take a moral stance in this book, but setting you against what Alex and his gang of 'droogs' are doing, but then asking he question over the brainwashing by the government, and asking another when people extract revenge on Alex.
I couldn't get on with the language in the book, there was almost too much of it; thankfully the glossary was quite handy. But i do like the way that he did predict the future, in the way that violent London gang culture has a patois of its own now. it is a seminal book in lots of ways. Can't say I liked it. But I am glad that i have read it.
As the woman has died, Alex is convicted of murder, and is given 14 year sentence. He is blamed for the death of another inmate, and is chosen to undertake the Ludovico Technique, a method of behaviour modification. This involves being injected with a substance that makes his nauseous and being made to watch violent films. One of the films has music by his favourite composer, Beethoven, and he ends up hating that as well. The treatment is deemed to be effective, and he is released.
Unable to return home, he wanders the streets. Whilst wandering he meets various people from his former life, who try to repay some of the pain he caused them. After a failed suicide attempt, the government don't want bad publicity about his treatment, and place him in mental home. As he considers if he has been cured or not, a chance encounter with one of his fellow gang members who now has a child, he reflects that he may have children who are far worse than he was.
Even though this book is uncompromising in its violence and brutality, it is tempered by the language that Burgess has used. The English & Russian slang hides a lots of the worst aspects of it, whilst ensuing that the intent is fully understood. There is as much in here about the stance that the government has taken to cure these destructive youth, as there is on Alex's bleak future. Burgess does take a moral stance in this book, but setting you against what Alex and his gang of 'droogs' are doing, but then asking he question over the brainwashing by the government, and asking another when people extract revenge on Alex.
I couldn't get on with the language in the book, there was almost too much of it; thankfully the glossary was quite handy. But i do like the way that he did predict the future, in the way that violent London gang culture has a patois of its own now. it is a seminal book in lots of ways. Can't say I liked it. But I am glad that i have read it.
Horrorshow book.
It feels that this word was the main driving force of the story.
No matter if you are violent or not, the politicians will use you and nothing will ever change.
The end part is very weak, there could be more violence.
I would much more appreciate if the Nadsat language was created by Alex. Everything would make more sense.
It feels that this word was the main driving force of the story.
No matter if you are violent or not, the politicians will use you and nothing will ever change.
The end part is very weak, there could be more violence.
I would much more appreciate if the Nadsat language was created by Alex. Everything would make more sense.