From the Bookshelf of Classics for Beginners…

A Clockwork Orange

Anthony Burgess

Start date: October 1, 2014

Finish date: October 31, 2014

Discussion: Current Group Read

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Showing 2 of -4 topics — 818 comments total

Current Group Read

The Prince
By ☯Emily , moderator · 3 posts · 32 views

last updated Jun 08, 2019 03:47PM

April 2019: The Crucible
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last updated May 09, 2019 05:21AM

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What Members Thought

May 24, 2012 Cecily rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: film-good-or-better-than-book, dystopian-apocalyptic, classics, miscellaneous-fiction, language-related, unreliable-narrators

How to review an infamous book about which so much has already been said? By avoiding reading others’ thoughts until I’ve written mine.

There are horrors in this book, but there is beauty too, and so much to think about. The ends of the book justify the means of its execution, even if the same is not true of what happens in the story.

Book vs Film, and Omission of Final Chapter

I saw the film first, and read the book shortly afterwards. Usually a bad idea, but in this case, being familiar with the ...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Renee rated it liked it

So I guess I missed something vital about this book. I certainly enjoyed the nadsat language. The mix of Russian with Shakespearean is brilliant & I now find myself saying bits of the lingo in real life. I actually found the it to be almost poetic during the really violent, rape/murder scenes. yikes for me.

My major fault with the book was just how much it really lacked any depth to the character. I mean, if the idea just that this kid is to some degree a sociopath who has no concern for anyone b ...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Ben rated it liked it

Shelves: owned-calibre

A good book that asks provocative questions. I think it would be particularly appropriate for young people as one of the issues addressed is the radically different perspectives that can occur for someone as they grow up and see the world in different ways. The use of a special lexicon is interesting. I'd be interested in discussing it's purpose versus the cost it imposes on the readers understanding. I'm not sure but I'd lean towards it's an unnecessary indulgence on the authors part. ...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Marcus rated it it was ok · review of another edition

You can tell this is the work of an author who at the time was pumping out about five novels a year. The Nadsat is not really a problem and I quite like the Joyce-like exploration of language e.g. to work is to rabbit.

I do, as a rule like the ultra-violence and that it is told from Alex's point of view but overall the plot is very weak (notably part 2) and the last chapter feels forced. ...more

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