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magicbluebird 's review for:
Lord of the Flies
by William Golding
Sure, this story is known for having a interesting story that reaches some deeper topics. It may just be my age or simply that I lack the ability to truly understand this text, but this book was incredibly dull for me until the very end. If I didn't have to read this book, I certainly would have just put it down and never touched it again. However, since I did have to read it, I figure I might as well give a review on it.
Lord of the Flies deals with a breakdown of society. A bunch of 6 to 12-year-olds being thrown on an island has a reason to cause trouble. However, the way that that it goes into this story is simply impossible and distressing to read- at least, I found it to be so. The rest of this review will have mild spoilers, so if you don't want those, skip over this now.
In this story, one of the characters goes power-hungry. They try and overthrow what little government is created by these boys, trying to create chaos. At the same time, they also bring out groups of boys to go hunting. Upon their first kill, this boy is ecstatic and fueled by the hunt. However, this is where the story goes off the train tracks of reality. In the real world, younger children are unable to kill a creature like that unless they have been conditioned. Even then, killing anything often ends up haunting that person for the rest of their life. Since this did not happen to this character, it really seems painfully unrealistic as their blood lust grows.
Then you have the characters. Other than the main three, which are Piggy, Ralph, and Jack, you feel no compassion for the others. Nothing is told about them- which is understandable for background characters. But the book tries to get you to care about them, even leading off one chapter by talking about the twins- which, as far as I'm concerned, may as well be one person. They have no personality that separates them, which is also impossible.
However, the description of the environments and events is just good enough to keep the story redeemable. The island they are all stranded on is described wonderfully, and if not for being invaded by a bunch of rogue boys, it would serve well as a resort location to take a vacation to.
Overall, not a very good read unless you don't mind being frustrated about not really knowing about some of the characters, or not minding a bunch of filler events at the beginning. Arguments about building a place to sleep become useless and do hardly anything to move the plot along. But like I said- it does go into some deeper topics that may have flown over my head. The reviews on this book are a mixed bag. It's really up to you to decide what you think of the story.
Lord of the Flies deals with a breakdown of society. A bunch of 6 to 12-year-olds being thrown on an island has a reason to cause trouble. However, the way that that it goes into this story is simply impossible and distressing to read- at least, I found it to be so. The rest of this review will have mild spoilers, so if you don't want those, skip over this now.
In this story, one of the characters goes power-hungry. They try and overthrow what little government is created by these boys, trying to create chaos. At the same time, they also bring out groups of boys to go hunting. Upon their first kill, this boy is ecstatic and fueled by the hunt. However, this is where the story goes off the train tracks of reality. In the real world, younger children are unable to kill a creature like that unless they have been conditioned. Even then, killing anything often ends up haunting that person for the rest of their life. Since this did not happen to this character, it really seems painfully unrealistic as their blood lust grows.
Then you have the characters. Other than the main three, which are Piggy, Ralph, and Jack, you feel no compassion for the others. Nothing is told about them- which is understandable for background characters. But the book tries to get you to care about them, even leading off one chapter by talking about the twins- which, as far as I'm concerned, may as well be one person. They have no personality that separates them, which is also impossible.
However, the description of the environments and events is just good enough to keep the story redeemable. The island they are all stranded on is described wonderfully, and if not for being invaded by a bunch of rogue boys, it would serve well as a resort location to take a vacation to.
Overall, not a very good read unless you don't mind being frustrated about not really knowing about some of the characters, or not minding a bunch of filler events at the beginning. Arguments about building a place to sleep become useless and do hardly anything to move the plot along. But like I said- it does go into some deeper topics that may have flown over my head. The reviews on this book are a mixed bag. It's really up to you to decide what you think of the story.