Customer Reviews
A week story with the outline shining through 
2008-06-04
Ted Brautigan from Hearts In Atlantis called this book a rare good story written well (not a quote, but close enough). It must have been in the world from which Ted came. In this world the story is weak, predictable, laboriously plotted, written in rather lame language festering with pronouns and descriptions that paint no picture.
The innocence of the age in which the book was written shows through and through: things that the author intended to be shocking pale in comparison with daily news stories of today.
Who needs Rowling when you've got Golding? 
2008-05-16
LORD OF THE FLIES, by William Golding, is one of the best books to come along in literature since Chaucer and his CANTERBURY TALES. Mr. Golding writes beautifully and poetically of this tragic commentary on humans and our society, making the story of these young boys all the more poignant and thought-provoking.
This book is not for the weak of mind, nor the faint of heart. Several high school peers of mine found it "boring and stupid," simply because they felt there was not enough adventurous action and "too many big words." They did not understand that Golding wrote as many of the time did, with detailed description of the small things, so as to give the reader a better vision of events and enthrall them further with the story. Truly, this may be his greatest strength: his ability to completely captivate the reader by way of giving descriptions so thorough our mind cannot blur it.
Many of my peers also would've liked "more blood and guts." It's a shame they did not realize that Golding did not write of gruesome things to revel in the macabre. He wrote of these to make stick in our hearts the tragedy that young boys, devoid of civilized society, had no ability to stop themselves from committing atrocities. For one to read this book looking to enjoy an unremarkable fairy tale, where things end as happily as they begin, I'm afraid one would be sorely disappointed.
I, however, was not disappointed in the least. I expected great things from this story and I received them: an enthralling plot, sincere characters, vivid descriptions, beautifully tragic writing, a deeply affecting social commentary and an ending that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
If anyone is bored with a simple movie, I'd suggest buying a copy of William Golding's LORD OF THE FLIES. This is one adventure that will never disappoint!
The Monsters of the Island . . . 2008-05-13
Well, most people in America have already read "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding, which is definitely a classic. So I'm not going to give a synopsis, just a general appraisal of the work.
The main characters (Ralph, Jack, Piggy, Roger, and many more) are very complex and very riveting. You can clearly observe their distinctive personalities with their actions and their dialogue. And you feel sorry for these characters when something goes horribly wrong.
There are many symbolisms in this book (the conch, the pigs, the flies, etc.), and they work very well here. Interpretations are open (except when it comes to the obvious ones). Tensions are high as we slowly move towards the climax. No Hollywood ending here.
Golding has created an influential work of art, as highlights in this book are many. This isn't an innocent story, and it's no cliché, either. Kudos to the author.
A+
Lord of the Flies 2008-05-12
William Golding's book of classic woe and hardship, the book tells of a group of young boys who are stranded on a deserted island. With no adults there with them they have to find the strength inside of them to survive on their own. The book starts off great with the boys getting along and learning how to work together, until they start to get power hungry. Ralph is voted to be chief of the group but you see the inner battle of how to rule, the side of hunting and playing and enjoying the stay at the island with out parents, or watching and tending the fire to get rescued. While Ralph is dealing with this another one of the boys wants to be chief and decides that hunting and playing is the way to go, he wants Ralph out of leadership and that is where the struggle begins. The fighting between the two boys brings out the evil in all the boys on the island. The book is the tale of the evil that mankind carries around, unknowingly, with them. It tells of the evil in all of us. Can society live and survive being good? Or does this inner evil take over? This book does a marvelous job telling of that.
Jacob's Book Review 2008-05-01
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, narrates a story of a group of boys trying to survive after their plane crashes on a deserted island. After the crash, a boy named Ralph and a boy named Piggy come together and use a conch shell to send out a noise to alert the other boys to come and meet them. A tribe of mixed ages is formed by their efforts, and the little ones of the tribe starts seeing a beast during the night. Shortly after the sighting of the beast, the tribe kills their first pig. While the tribe is busy killing the pig, however, the signal fire goes out and a ship passes by. Between the pig and the fire and the beast, the tribe has too many disagreements and splits into two clashing tribes.
This book is about a test of will and leadership of the boys because there is no guiding or advice for the boys to follow. This is a study of how some people might come together and bond while others will become enemies with no one to rely on for help or friendship. Somehow, against all odds, the boys survive for a period of time. This book is definitely worth reading and would be perfect for kids between the ages of ten and twelve who like adventure stories. The author is very descriptive and uses intimate details to describe the setting, but also writes in a classic style with some words or sentences that are added unnecessarily. The character's emotions and thoughts are described very well and it feels like they have realistic troubles and ideas. The book has a very interesting and exciting plot that incorporates the characters and the setting very well. The dialogue is also very realistic and interesting. This book is a great read that will never be forgotten.
I Threw Up 18 Times Because This Book Sucks 
2008-07-21
This was the worst book i've ever read. Personally I don't know why I finished it. The only good thing that came from me reading it is to make sure everyone else knows not to read this book. Please do yourself a favor and DO NOT read this book.
Grrrr-8 Book! 2008-07-14
This is a great book to read! Very interesting and intense. Great reading material.
I have the conch...let me speak! 
2008-07-10
OK now that I have the conch I have a few things I'd like to say about this book. First if you don't know what the conch is all about then you'd better pick up this book and read it. Secondly if you think you know who the Lord of Flies might be without reading this book your wrong. Third and lastly do yourself a favor anyway and pick up this book, it's a fun, quick read. I liked this story of young boys stranded on a island having to fend for themselves and at the same time trying to keep some sort of organization among themselves as they wait for a possible rescue. But therein lies the problem as their little world begins to turn up-side down as different personalities begin to clash. I felt as though I too was on the island with these kids as I read along. I've said enough now, who wants the conch now?
Do Humans Make Civilization, or vice versa? 2008-06-29
What an incredible first novel, a story of civilization, how humans create it and how easily it can be destroyed. It deals with fear, and the atrocities it can make people commit. Golding wrote often about the connection between humanity and civilization. Does civilization make us human? This story can mean many things to many people, making it wonderful fodder for literature classes and idle pondering.
The worst book I ever read 2008-06-12
This is the worst book I ever read. From the first time I read it 40 years ago, I could not imagine why it had not been banned. The viewpoint of mankind presented is so degraded and ugly that it should be. There is NO REASON to expose our young people to such negativity. No wonder they have so many psychological problems! Please, teachers, read positive works with your young students. The world is not like that, and it is our job to give them positive views for their future and ours!
