2025 Reading Challenge discussion

I just finished this classic. It's been on my to-read list for years. I thought it was an entertaining story but I'm failing to see why so many people love it. Please someone enlighten me. What is the deeper meaning that I know is there but I somehow missed?

I should also mention, I listened to the Audiobook with the extra chapter(s).

It seemed to me that the author wanted to explore the idea of how much power the state should have to enforce law and order (an interesting topic given the current times we live in). Although Alex's crimes were reprehensible, should the state be allowed the power to modify Alex's brain in order to ensure his future lawful behavior? The theme is somewhat reactionary to B.F. Skinner's behaviorism school of thought, of which Burgess was not a fan.

When Stanley Kubrick adapted the book to film, his written comments about the book included this gem: "It is a story of the dubious redemption of a teenage delinquent by condition-reflex therapy. It is, at the same time, a running lecture on free-will."

I didn't like the last chapter by the way. I prefer to pretend that it never existed.

As for why people love it, I think it's because the book and film have become counter-culture classics due to their criticism of the state's suppression of individuality. Burgess' dystopic future also holds some quirky charm, especially with his made-up slang ("Nadsat") that is derived somewhat from the Russian language.

Hope that helps.

I agree with RJ that it explores the idea of how much control the government or authority have over the individual. Unlike RJ, I love the last chapter because I feel it proves that the state's conditioning was essentially futile. They didn't change Alex, they simply made him sick at the idea of doing what he wanted. I think the last chapters shows that he eventually grew out of it on his own.

I love the book because Burgess' made up slang (yes, based on Russian) allowed the reader to distance themselves somewhat from what was happening. By the time you've translated and understood how incredibly violent and disgusting it was, you were already "in it", so couldn't look away, so to speak.

You are both awesome! It clicks a bit better now. I still have to think about whether or not I like the regular or extended ending though... You both make great points.

RJ, I've recently gone back to school to be a teacher so I feel smart-ish that I know what you speak of when you mentioned B.F. Skinner! I guess my education is working! Haha

Alisia wrote: "You are both awesome! It clicks a bit better now. I still have to think about whether or not I like the regular or extended ending though... You both make great points...."

I'm glad that was helpful Alisia. Sometimes after I finish a classic novel I like to read the Wikipedia pages for both the author and the book. In this case, the Wikipedia entry for A Clockwork Orange has a lot of interesting information. Occasionally I Google search the novel and quite often some interesting reviews and articles pop up - that is also the case when it comes to A Clockwork Orange. Reading some of those articles helps me sort out my own thoughts and feelings, especially those well-worded opinions that are contrary to my own that often give me food for thought.

Group discussion (like this one) always helps too. You can find more group discussions by going to the Goodreads page for the book and scrolling all the way down to the bottom of the page where you will find a section entitled "DISCUSS THIS BOOK" (this works on a computer but I don't think it works on the mobile app, by the way). If you click on the link that says "More Topics..." you will be taken to a page that will show all book discussions for the book, those in groups that you may not be a member of. That's something I've kind of figured out on my own and I don't hear many people talking about it so I thought I'd throw it out there. Some of the robust discussions are well worth reading even if they ended years ago, and more than once I have stumbled across new, interesting groups to join.

My on reading experiences have improved since I started enjoying books for what they are and how they speak to me personally. No two readers will have the same experience with a book because the act of reading is an interaction in which we draw on our own experiences, our own likes and dislikes. Some books "click" with us, others don't and maybe never will. If A Clockwork Orange doesn't speak to you (and there are many, many people who find that is the case for themselves) then I hope you find other books that do.

I love Cliff's Notes for the same reason! I never read them instead of, or before, a book, but I love reading them afterward. I like to enjoy the story as I read and learn everything else later, possibly rereading if I feel it's warranted with my knew knowledge.

Kandice wrote: "I love Cliff's Notes for the same reason! I never read them instead of, or before, a book, but I love reading them afterward. I like to enjoy the story as I read and learn everything else later, po..."

I've heard that from other readers, but I've never tried Cliff's Notes. Maybe I will have to check them out someday.