Book Reviews of Lord of the Flies

Golding depicts in a nasty and disturbing way a group of "civilized" youngsters morphing into animals (not literally). One has to question that if our laws and societal rules were somehow taken away, would we digress to survival of the fittest? Although not the quickest read, this book will certainly cause you to think about societal constructs we create and how willing we are to uphold them in a time of crisis. Recommended for those who appreciate classics and those who want a little something more to think about.

One of the books I was forced to read in school that I ended up loving so much I read it again as an adult!

Human nature is evil! Want a classic book on what man does without law and authority? Want a classic book on what is in the heart of a man? Want a classic book that makes a powerful statement on what little kids will do to each other if not taught to be good and to love? Want a classic book on what man continues to do and will continue to do each other til' the good Lord comes back and makes things right? Read this book.

Most certainly NOT a "feel good" story, but still (or perhaps in spite of that fact), Lord of the Flies is one of my all-time favorite books. Golding's characters are so vivid and the storyline is eerie and haunting. It absolutely deserves its title as one of the great classics of all time.

This is one of those books that even if you don't care about your education or whatnot you can always read it because it comes up in TV shows like LOST. Don't be the only person who can't pop in with, "It's like Lord of the Flies out there" when the situation calls for it.

A classic story of the beasts that live within. Fiction doesn't straddle the line between Art and Life any better than this story.

Classic of course. Disturbing in a way that you won't forget for a very long time. Worth the read.

I wrote a few lesson plans for this book. It is a must read in high school and a book that I have enjoyed through adulthood. It really answers the question: Take away our conveniences and technology, what would we do? Although written in the 1950s, its life lessons still apply today.

A great adventure story showing the survival of the fittest through teenagers stranded on an island.

a scary novel of group psychology...read in the middle schools as an introduction to literature.

This book gives you the feel of survival of the fittest. Good book.

Lord of the Flies is a true literary classic!

this was a really good book. there were a few short sections that were a little dry, but an interesting read. glad i finally got to read it.

Lord of the Flies is a journey into the heart of darkness. By stranding a group of British schoolboys on a tropical island without adult supervision, Golding examines how fragile civilization and decency are and how strong are the primal urges which can impell any of us toward barbaric evil. It is not a pleasant book, nor for the faint of heart, but it mixes realistic storytelling with subtle thematic commentary to tell a powerful story. Golding does not dwell on the gruesome for its own sake, but he pulls no punches in his examination of the way men are.

Had to read it in school but I liked it. It is a book that I kept wanting to read.

Terrible book, in my opinion. Sucky dialogue, unbelievable characters (unbelievable not in the good sense), and a complete waste of time. Opinions should not be turned into crappy fiction novels. People say this is insight into mankind or whatever, but we don't really know that because probably none of us have been forced to survive on an island on our own, so they just accept that this is how mankind is.

I hated it!
Very boring.
I think I slept through it!

I had quite different feelings about it reading it as a child and as an adult.

It has gotten much more critical acclaim than it deserves. In striving to make both a story and an allegory, Golding fails at doing either excellently.

One of the very few books I was assigned to read during my school days. A quick read, mostly because it isn't boring so I didn't want to put it down.

Why is this considered a classic? Decided to read it because it's one of those books you always hear about or see reference too. It was BAD! On the one hand it drug on and one (even though it is a short book), on the other hand, it did not give any back story...where were they going, what accident happened to put them here? Then there is a short little blip in the back about what certain passages are supposed to mean and all the symbolism. I think someone, or a great many someones, aren't in their right mind to see some of the stuff that was supposed to be the "undertones" of the story.

"It is not only a first-rate adventure story but a parable of our times." William Golding = :)

I got out of reading this book when I was a school-kid someho9w. Years and years later I came across it and read it. Very moving. I think I got much more out of it as and adult. The same things we condem/praise these kids for happens in many subtle ways in everyone's life. Great story.

Over 7 million copies in print. The classic tale of what humans might resort to without the mediation of culture. Assigned in every high school English class.

A must-read timeless classic.

Excellent book!

Great classic!

A classic must-read.

A book that hast stayed with me for many years after reading it . . .

William Golding's classic tale about a group of English schoolboys who are plane-wrecked on a deserted island is just as chilling and relevant today as when it was first published in 1954. At first, the stranded boys cooperate, attempting to gather food, make shelters, and maintain signal fires. Overseeing their efforts are Ralph, "the boy with fair hair," and Piggy, Ralph's chubby, wisdom-dispensing sidekick whose thick spectacles come in handy for lighting fires. Although Ralph tries to impose order and delegate responsibility, there are many in their number who would rather swim, play, or hunt the island's wild pig population. Soon Ralph's rules are being ignored or challenged outright. His fiercest antagonist is Jack, the redheaded leader of the pig hunters, who manages to lure away many of the boys to join his band of painted savages. The situation deteriorates as the trappings of civilization continue to fall away, until Ralph discovers that instead of being hunters, he and Piggy have become the hunted: "He forgot his words, his hunger and thirst, and became fear; hopeless fear on flying feet." Golding's gripping novel explores the boundary between human reason and animal instinct, all on the brutal playing field of adolescent competition.

William Golding's compelling story about a group of very ordinary small boys marooned on a coral island has become a modern classic. At first it seems as though it is all going to be great fun; but the fun before long becomes furious and life on the island turns into a nightmare of panic and death. As ordinary standards of behaviour collapse, the whole world the boys know collapses with them - the world of cricket and homework and adventure stories - and another world is revealed beneath, primitive and terrible. "

Wow! I nearly gave up on this one. Three quarters of the way through I was seriously thinking of giving up. There was a lot of repetition at first, but then the story explodes. What can I say except the ending is alarming. Don't give up on this classic. Thank goodness for the notes at the end of the book because I never would have caught the symbolism Golding is depicting. I read for entertainment and not to try and decipher hidden meanings but the notes help put it into perspective, so be sure to read to the last page.

"Survivor" featuring young boys with no parental supervision. A classic study of human nature and our primal instincts.

This was not my usual book of preference, but it was a very good story about how fear can take over an individual and lead them to do things that they normally wouldn't do.

It was also a story of survival and human perseverance.

The decay of civilization as we know it, and the disturbing look at human nature represented by a group of boys stranded on an island may be a little too intense for younger readers. The book disturbs me as much now as it did when I had to read it in high school.

An amazing book

OMG!!! such a good book. i loved the ending. although the begining was a little tuff to understand

sucks to your ass-mar!

Required reading for my DS in midle school.

A "classic".

Classic

I was required to read this book for my freshman advanced english class.

Classic

A classic.

A classic!

Excellent. Easy and enjoyable to read.

I had to read it for my freshman year of high school and had a hard time finishing it because I wasn't very interested in the plot; but it is required to be read by many high schools in the United States.

This is a classic adventure, and one you never forget reading.

An interesting book!!!

Enjoyable reading.

a page turner!

If you have children that will be going into high school in the next couple of years or this next year you will need this book, but then again it depends on what state you may be living in.

I had to read this book for high school and let me tell you it seems to be a very strange novel, but when you read the entire book you come to realize that everything that this author writes about is amazingly true in todays society.

7 million copies in print..

a modern classic

From Amazon.com:
William Golding's classic tale about a group of English schoolboys who are plane-wrecked on a deserted island is just as chilling and relevant today as when it was first published in 1954. At first, the stranded boys cooperate, attempting to gather food, make shelters, and maintain signal fires. Overseeing their efforts are Ralph, "the boy with fair hair," and Piggy, Ralph's chubby, wisdom-dispensing sidekick whose thick spectacles come in handy for lighting fires. Although Ralph tries to impose order and delegate responsibility, there are many in their number who would rather swim, play, or hunt the island's wild pig population. Soon Ralph's rules are being ignored or challenged outright. His fiercest antagonist is Jack, the redheaded leader of the pig hunters, who manages to lure away many of the boys to join his band of painted savages. The situation deteriorates as the trappings of civilization continue to fall away, until Ralph discovers that instead of being hunters, he and Piggy have become the hunted: "He forgot his words, his hunger and thirst, and became fear; hopeless fear on flying feet." Golding's gripping novel explores the boundary between human reason and animal instinct, all on the brutal playing field of adolescent competition.

A classic, most of us read it in school. If you haven't, you should as it is both an engaging adventure story, but also very thoughtprovoking book about human nature.

This a book you will not forget. It makes you think.
I also had to read this classic in high school.

Ack, the stuff nightmares are made of. One of a kind.

Classic story is always a good read!

The book was okay... I think it ended to abruptly.

Amazon.com
William Golding's classic tale about a group of English schoolboys who are plane-wrecked on a deserted island is just as chilling and relevant today as when it was first published in 1954. At first, the stranded boys cooperate, attempting to gather food, make shelters, and maintain signal fires. Overseeing their efforts are Ralph, "the boy with fair hair," and Piggy, Ralph's chubby, wisdom-dispensing sidekick whose thick spectacles come in handy for lighting fires. Although Ralph tries to impose order and delegate responsibility, there are many in their number who would rather swim, play, or hunt the island's wild pig population. Soon Ralph's rules are being ignored or challenged outright. His fiercest antagonist is Jack, the redheaded leader of the pig hunters, who manages to lure away many of the boys to join his band of painted savages. The situation deteriorates as the trappings of civilization continue to fall away, until Ralph discovers that instead of being hunters, he and Piggy have become the hunted: "He forgot his words, his hunger and thirst, and became fear; hopeless fear on flying feet." Golding's gripping novel explores the boundary between human reason and animal instinct, all on the brutal playing field of adolescent competition.

excellent classic

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