A Clockwork Orange

Original Title: A Clockwork Orange
Turkish Title: Otomatik Portakal
English Title: A Clockwork Orange
Author: Anthony Burgess
Pages: 168
My Rating: 5/5

WHY THIS BOOK?
Because it is one of those books that make me think: “Everyone has read this book but me…”

THE STORY:
It is the story of a teenager becoming an adult in a futuristic, criminal world. The teenager, Alex is the lead “droog” in his gang. Alex and his gang do anything violent one can think of ranging from beating people up to killing them, from raping to robbing, etc. Alex and his droogs’ violent nights are the first few chapters. Then, “government intervention” comes into scene. Government claims to find a solution to violence in the society. Alex plays a key role in this intervention. I will leave it to prospective readers to discover themselves how he does this.

MY COMMENTS:
This was the most ultra-violent book I have ever read. There are long descriptions of all sorts of crime. Burgess managed to drag me into the world of Alex where I felt what he had been through. Especially in the second half of the book, I moved with Alex: I cried with him, I felt his horror and pain although he had a really annoying personality. I liked the Turkish translation of the slang used by Alex (My sincerest thanks to the translator).

This is a perfect novel about free will and it is a must read for every lover of modern classic stories. It is not easy to write something new about this book as it has been reviewed by hundreds of readers. It was one of the most enjoyable reads of 2012 for me and I strongly suggest it to all bookworms.

APPLICABLE CHALLENGES:
I finished reading it on June 18 so I can count it for Spring Reading Thing 2012.
It was my first Anthony Burgess novel so I can count it for New Author Challenge.
It was dystopian so I can count it for The Dystopia 2012 Challenge.
This was one of the books I picked up as sci-fi modern classic for WFTM Science Fiction Reader Challenge.
I chose this book for Summer Reading Challenge 2012 as “a book from Modern Library’s 100 Best Novels List”
This book was also in my list for The Classics Club.

Çarpık Evdeki Cesetler (Crooked House)

Original Title: Crooked House
Turkish Title: Çarpık Evdeki Cesetler
English Title: Crooked House
Author: Agatha Christie
Pages: 326
Rating: 3/5

WHY THIS BOOK?:
It has been quite some time since I decided to read a book by Agatha Christie. Right after my thoughtful hubby bought me a lovely “Kindle Touch” for the St. Valentine’s, I had access to almost all books of this great crime writer. I am so excited about using my kindle so in a short time I may end up reading more and more books by Agatha Christie.

THE STORY:
Charles is a young man who fell in love with Sophie Leonide, but, due to unfortunate events, they cannot marry. Now, years later, Sophie’s grandfather has been murdered by poisonous injection. Charles, along with his police officer father and a detective, investigates the Leonides’ house to solve the crime. However, he discovers that Sophie’s relatives are all crooked in some way and they all live together in a crooked house.

As Charles goes around the Crooked House, he discovers that all the suspects seem to have a reason and are capable of murdering poor Aristide Leonide. Everyone knew that the medicine could be dangerous and fatal. Who could it be?

MY COMMENTS:
Many people who read that book were surprised by the killer. For me, it was kind of disappointing as my guess about the criminal turned out to be true. I’m generally not good at solving criminal mysteries so maybe I was just lucky. Still, at the end of the day, it affects if you love the book or not. Agatha Christie described the writing of this book as “pure pleasure”. Well, for me, the reading of this book was just OK but I think it is worth giving a try as many people were happy with being misdirected throughout the book. Who knows, maybe you are one of them!oked House

Turkish Title: Çarpık Evdeki Cesetler

English Title: Crooked House

Author: Agatha Christie

Pages: 326

Rating: 3/5

WHY THIS BOOK?:

It has been quite some time since I decided to read a book by Agahta Christie. Right after my thoughtful hubby bought me a lovely “Kindle Touch” for the St. Valentine’s, I had access to almost all books of this great crime writer. I am so excited about using my kindle so in a short time I may end up reading more and more books by Agatha Christie.

THE STORY:

Charles is a young man who fell in love with Sophie Leonide, but, due to unfortunate events, they cannot marry. Now, years later, Sophie’s grandfather has been murdered by poisonous injection. Charles, along with his police officer father and a detective, investigates the Leonides’ house to solve the crime. However, he discovers that Sophie’s relatives are all crooked in some way and they all live together in a crooked house.

As Charles goes around the Crooked House, he discovers that all the suspects seem to have a reason and are capable of murdering poor Aristide Leonide. Everyone knew that the medicine could be dangerous and fatal. Who could it be?

MY COMMENTS:

Many people who read that book were surprised by the killer. For me, it was kind of disappointing as my guess about the criminal turned out to be true. I’m generally not good at solving criminal mysteries so maybe I was just lucky. Still, at the end of the day, it affects if you love the book or not. Agatha Christie described the writing of this book as “pure pleasure”. Well, for me, the reading of this book was just OK but I think it is worth giving a try as many people were happy with being misdirected throughout the book. Who knows, maybe you are one of them!