Lord of the Flies

Great read

A really good quality book that I enjoyed from start to finish, excellent read. However, there is one problem with it which really annoyed me. In the 6 page foreword by Stephen King, he explains how lucky you are if you're reading the book for the first time, and then he basically gives away a massive spoiler of how the book ends, without warning. Thanks Stephen King. 5/5 without the foreword.

This book is one of those reads that pulls you in, shakes you about a bit, and leaves you thinking long after you’ve put it down. Rushdie’s writing is rich, layered, and sometimes a bit wild — but in the best way. You get sharp humour, surreal moments, and chapters that feel like they slip between dreams and reality without warning. It’s definitely not a light read, but that’s part of what makes it so memorable. The characters feel alive, the themes hit deep, and the storytelling is bold enough that you can’t help but admire it. Whether you agree with everything in it or not, the creativity and craftsmanship are undeniable. A challenging, powerful novel that rewards you for sticking with it.

Ok, I will get straight to the point. I had to read this novel as part of my Y11 English literature exam of 2012. And I must say that for a piece of school work it isn't as bad as I expected. It's better that 'To kill a mocking jay' or 'Inspector something...' Every character is a boy abandoned on an island away from civilisation, which is both a blessing and a curse. There are many twists and turns, and eventually you begin to feel for the characters and their troubles. Overall I would say buy a copy of the boy like I did, simply so that you can highlight quotes that become important like; (all from memory) - colours of corruption (dead parachutist) - complication of lines (dead parachutist) - blush of mortification (Jack) - The fair boy - (Ralph) - Inward sight of a beast at once heroic and sick (Simon's narrative) (FROM MY ESSAYS) Lord of the Flies key quotes: * There rose before his inward sight the picture of a human at once heroic and sick * A dark creature fumbling along (foreshadowing) * The Lord of the Flies: "Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!" * Lord of the Flies: "This is ridiculous. You know perfectly well you'll only meet me down there - so don't try to escape!" * "A stick sharpened at both ends" This is a paradoxical metaphor symbolising that death is inevitable. Ralph, thinking to himself: "There was no solemn assembly for debate nor dignity of the conch." * "Colours of corruption" * "Jack was bent double." * `Bollocks to the rules!' Use of taboo language personify the fact that Jack is no longer a mere child - he is a strong ruthless commander and a dictator who is highly nationalist that doesn't have respect for rules - Jack is actually interested in breaking the rules and the coarse of punishment. * `A blush of mortification' Jack is extremely quickly tempted and solemnly believes that he has the right to be chief - yet, the others disagree with him. * `Wedded to her in blood and lust' `In colour the shell was deep cream, touched here and there with fading pink... slight spiral twist and covered with delicate embossed pattern.' (long complex imagery and elegant fragile imagery and sibilance significantly portray that the conch is very precious and is the key to fairness and hope on the island. The conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist. `But there was no more to come. Percival Wemys Madison sought in his head for an incantation that had faded clean away.' `Complication of lines' `Jack trod with theatrical caution' Ralph returned to his own personal hells (he dismisses Simon - and Ralph especially is excessively naïve by consistently ignoring those people that could potentially save him from himself if only he'd take the time to listen) `A mildness about his face that proclaimed no devil.' `devils of dust' (metaphor) `the sky loaded with stars' (poetic and violent imagery of a loaded gun) Jack's hunters - there voices had been a song of angels' (not anymore) Simon perched in the blazing sun in denial (degrading Jack is no longer referred to by name he is called `Chief') Simon peers down to the tribe `what else is there to do?' likewise to the way that the religion analogy figure of Moses looked down at his people before bringing the truth down from the mountain. * Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart and the fall through the air of the true wise friend called Piggy.' * `Fair boy' * `Snake thing' interlinks to the concepts of original bestowed from the Garden of Eden, with the evil relentlessness of temptation * `Lord of the Flies' the very title is a Arabic translation of the Devil. * `the crowd was as silence as death' the boys are horrified of the first death with the littlun with the birth mark - however when the time comes to kill Ralph there is a `deafening ululation' reflective of savages. * `A whiteness in the gloom' possibly portraying that Ralph still people that the boys purity (whiteness) is still existed but it is buried in the gloom of the beast. * `Simon was speaking almost in his ear' is slight prophetic and highly significant as it portrays that Simon is almost reflective of a voice from God. * `Just a game.' said ralph uneasily. * Jack: `I'm not going to play anymore' * `Desperately, Ralph prayed that the beast would prefer littluns.' Golding cleverly conveys that Ralph is simple realistic child that even though he is a `fair' democrat he still obtains the natural instincts of Darwinism `survival of the fittest'. * Navel Officer: `Jolly good show.' Ralph is morally superior in comparison to the Naval Officer because Ralph now comprehends the true nature of the beast - he is no longer arrogant because he has forever lost his by the `fall through the air' and the loss of innocence by falling from grace. * `A sign came down from the world of the grown-ups. Although at the time no child was awake to read it.' * `urge to kill and destroy' (Simon's death uses sibilance adding to the hypnotic quality - along with the elegant imagery and the creature surrounding his head are beautiful and symbolic of a halo - Simon is at peace and has found tranquillity. However the lexical fields of `earth, sun and constellations' are very scientific sounding -effectively conveying that the island has begun to slowly loose hope and faith in the boys. Jack is representative of the Greek God Prometheus who similarly stole fire for his own selfish vindictive needs. Ralph cradled to conch and rocked himself to and fro. (Implying that Ralph is morally and mentally degrading down into a childlike manner - because children are simplistic and don't understand the events happening in there surrounding - likewise to protection mechanism. Jack's tribe uses primeval diction and language of `Chief...Holt who goes there... Advance' `You're a beast, a swine and a bloody bloody thief!' (brutal sound of `b' alliteration. Jack has full control `See, see they do what I tell them' - Dictator. Ralph: `someone else's legs ran for him' Ralph is transfixed in a mental state of utter hysteria he simply cannot cope or understand the situation. Ralph remembers Simon's prophecy `Don't scream.' `You'll get back' Thereby when Ralph is on the verge of death and total devastation his conscience reliefs him and gives him a source of hope - and the will to carry and try desperately to survive. `The ululation faltering and died away' At the sight of the naval officer (adult) the boys are the island are instantly reminded of their place in the societies hierarchy. `Infected by emotion.' Cleverly expresses that against all their barbarian crimes of murder the boys are still liable to human emotions of guilt and love. Hope this helps, I also suggest buying a revision guide it helped me a lot! Good luck if you have the same exam, remember don't worry, stay calm, read the question and answer it. Mine was something along the lines of 'How does Golding present the theme of death on the island.' And I wrote able Jack's violent slaughtering of the mother pig, Simon's death using lots of sibilance and pathetic fallacy and religious imagery, and Piggy's death that is uses very simple factual nouns that depict and illustrate to the reader that piggy was a simple factual intelligent boy. Here are some language tips - connectives; moreover likewise alternatively henceforth / hence Furthermore Similarily additionally by constrast Indeed with regards on the contrary Here are other uses of higher degree language; depicts illustrates demonstrates mirrors articulates reflects symbolises portrays depicts conveys presents expresses implies Good Luck once again! :)

I bought this book as I was told to read this as it is a classic book. Well I found it very confusing at first, there was no information on how they had landed upon this island and what ever happened to the plane they were supposed to be on. It was also confusing as to why a plane load of kids would be flying over or near a war zone in the first place. I suppose a child would enjoy this because it is basically a book about children running amok on a dessert island who don’t have a clue about survival except to bully everyone into submission just to please the older kids. Disappointed because it also ends quite abruptly too with again no explanation as to the repercussions or there actions. Strange book indeed.

Good story

Not an enjoyable read, but an unforgettable one. Lord of the Flies drags you straight into the ugliest bits of human nature and refuses to look away. A vicious study in fear, groupthink, and what happens when there are no consequences. Disturbing, clever, and deeply British in the worst way.

Lord of the Flies is, of course, an absolute classic. I've read it a few times now. I actually bought this copy for my son, who is studying it at school, but re-read it myself before giving it to him.

Libro perfetto e senza alcun errore grammaticale. Il formato è particolarmente piacevole alla vista, come la copertina del libro stesso.

Lo compré de segunda mano. Vino en perfecto estado excepto algunas anotaciones a lápiz que fueron fácilmente eliminables con una goma. El libro en sí es una gran lectura. Historia tensa llena de analogías con la vida real y simbolismos que llevan a posarse preguntas desde el ambito político hasta el antropológico. No es un libro infantil o juvenil. Recomiendo su lectura a alguien que quiera leer un libro más serio.

Nice book and excellent edition. I really enjoyed it. Thanks

As expected and advertised

Lord of the Flies is one of those books everyone should read no matter what kind of books you like. The story will stick with you for a long time and there is a timeless message hidden within the pages. Even though I never read this in high school, this is defiantly a high school level book. The reading is quick and easy once you get into it, just the plot might slow you down. Everyone should read though if you want to understand great usage of motifs, foreshadowing, allusions to mythology, and get certain references from several books, movies, and television shows. The main reason I started this book now was one I never read it before and two I have read all the Hunger Games. Yes, Hunger Games is like Battle Royale, but they are both extremely close to Lord of the Flies as well. Another reason I read this was that I heard Fables refers to it in the Animal Farm story arch, not just the pigs head on a stick, but the fact only one person can hear the “Lord of the Flies” talk to them. So, I went all Fables Fangirl at that part of the book. I must say I also was constantly thinking about the Simpsons’ episode were the kids are stranded on a disserted island. Overall, I really liked the book. It was somewhat predictable at times, but I think that was mainly due to the fact the book has been referenced so many times. Not to give anything away but there is a lot of talk about Piggy’s glasses and how if he ever lost them. At times, the dialogue was a little difficult to follow, but I just had to figure out who was talking when. This is more of a personal issue, but authors need to stop stereotyping twins so much. We are not the same person and makes it hard for me to follow books when they make them Samneric all the time. I think my favorite character in the book was Piggy. Right away, you just get a sense of feeling for him and you just want him to stand up for himself. Ralph you get the feeling he is a complete jerk and you know he is going to be the main villain of the story. I mean he calls Piggy by his nickname, when Piggy tell him not to call him that. Although, Piggy was stupid for even trusting Ralph in the first place, as most innocent kids when they meet bad friends. Clearly, Piggy just wanted a friend. This is the type of book I could go on and on with in my review, but I’m not going to or I know I give away spoilers to those who are living under a rock and never even heard about this book. As I previously said before, this is a book everyone should rad no matter what types of books you like to read. I very much recommend it to those who read Battle Royale and Hunger Games though. This is a great book too for a horror aspect of bullying and the flaws a government with too much authority. You don’t just read this book, this book makes you experience!