A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange Anthony Burgess
1986
Weight: 7 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating

 

I have always hated A Clockwork Orange. 

 

I feel like I am asking for scorn, just by admiting it. 

 

I never cared about the main character or believed in him.  I hated reading through the excessive violence, rape, and horror for what felt like no good reason.  I did not find that it brought up deep philosophical questions about good vs bad or human choice, like so many people have suggested.  I thought the (originally not published in the US) 21st chapter that ultimately seems to say boys will be boys, and they can grow out of being psychopaths, was bullshit.

 

The only truely amazing and eerie thing about this book is that it must say a lot about us, as a culture, that we love it so much and have turned it into a classic, complete with a Stanley Kubrick movie (which is one of those rare movies that is better than the book--not that I am in love with it either).  That scares and sickens me.

 

Good Riddance.