Thread: Lord of the Flies

My friend recommended me a book called Lord of the Flies by Williams Golden. He won the nobel literature award so I decided to read it. I got to around page 60 of the book and found it really really dull. There was no plot at all except for a bunch of kids hunting for pigs.

Did any of you guys read the book? Does it get better at the end?

Lord of the Flies is full of symbolism, so you have to pay careful attention to understand everything. And yes, it does get more exciting towards the end. I don't want to spoil the ending, but pigs aren't the only thing they kill...

It's a genuine classic, one that should be read by most people. There are only a few books like this in my opinion.

Democracy just doens't work.

Democracy is a horrible way to run a country, but it's the best of all the options. =p (Paraphrased from someone, sue me.)

Lord of the Flies is a great book, and yes it's full of symbolism. You need to read the whole book, and then reread it, knowing what's going to happen. The second read you'll find an appreciation for the foreshadowing, and a greater sense of what he's trying to accomplish.

Worth the read for sure, if only for a look at a very rich and unique writing style.

never mind.

I had to read Lord of The Flies in high school. It was a fast and easy read, and although it brings up some interesting points, I didn't like it. I found it dull and not particularily entertaining. Not something I'd read again. Makes me wonder why it gets the praise that it does.

I just read it for high school and I loved it. Most everyone in my class holds your opinion though.

Horrible. Hated that book...

but I had to force myself to read it. I guess it has somewhat of a good message. I still hate it.

I thought it was an amazing book.

I read the book about a year ago out of interest. I remember I thought it was pretty interesting, I suppose most books you have to give at least 100 pages before you put down ..
If I remember correctly, the underlying theme related to the futility of democracy (the conch shell was a symbol) and the rise of anarchy/barbarism.

worst book ever. end of story

I read it in english class, and yea it can be dull, but the themes of human nature and biblical ideas are brought across really well. The symbolism is what you have to look out for. I think its more interesting when studied, rather than read for purely for entertainment.

I, like alot of you, read the LOTF for english class. Schools love the book because Golding did fill it so full of metaphors, symbolism, archetypes, and pretty much any other example of english terminology. Perfect to teach kids with (though personally I suspect that sometimes teachers just look really hard and find some that aren't actually there.)

Ironically I happened to find my grade 9 copy of LOTF in my closet just a couple weeks ago, and now it's sitting on my desk with alot of my other skimming books two years later.

Anyway, as to the book itself, I really really liked Golding's plot, it's structure and how the story unfolds. Unfortantly I don't much like his style of writing and so it's not one of my favorite reads though many educated readers would probably disagree with me on that.

- Madness

i had to watch this movie in like year 8 (thats 13) and my whole class were seriously wiggin' at the yucky rock on head bit... eeeew

I tried to read it when I was 12 and failed. I thought it was dull.

I then gave it another go when I was 16 and absolutely loved it. I had the whole book visualled in my mind, it was vivid and interesting and I thought the symbolism gave it an extra boost.

So yep, I really like it, although I'm thankful I didn't have to study it like some of my peers did. The education system tends to suck all the fun out of books.