n  n    “We did everything adults would do. What went wrong?”n  n

For me, this quote sums up the entire book. It’s a powerful exploration of humanity and the wrongness of our society and it also demonstrates the hypocrisy of war. Adults judge the behaviour of children, but are they really any better? I think not.

The scary thing about this book is how real it is. The Lord of the Flies bespeaks the brilliance of realistic dystopian fiction, it gives you a possible world scenario, a bunch of very human characters and then it shows you want might happen when they are thrown into a terrible situation: they act like monsters (or humans?) What Golding shows us is that we are not so far from our primal nature, from our so called killer instincts, and all it takes is a little push out of the standard world we live in for us to embrace our darker side.

The boys act in accordance with what they have seen in the world (though they don’t understand limits.) Power creates authority and violence is a way to achieve the peace you want. Sort of ironic isn’t it? They go to war amongst themselves and in doing so lose all sense of childhood innocence. They grow up. They learn what humans are capable of doing when pushed. They become ‘savages’ and reject civilisation and create their own sense of community, though in another display of irony this in itself becomes a mini-civilisation- just a one of their own accord without any rules and a nasty child tyrant enthroned as chief.

“What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages?”

The novel is rich in allegory to the point where it has been interpreted in so many different ways over the years. Like all great literature, it could mean lots of things and nothing at all. It’s a very clever piece of writing and it got me thinking a great deal about children and how we protect them from the realities of the world. It sort of says something to me, a quiet acknowledgement about how messed up things can be given the right circumstances and these children are so very quick to embrace it with unflinching enthusiasm (at least, when one of them leads the way.)

It’s a good book with a lot of ideas though at times I found the prose a little hard to follow. The dialogue is confusing at times and many of the children fade into the background with only a small few developing distinct personalities. I found the first part of the story particularly difficult to read, so in terms of the actual execution I think it could have been done a little better. I found myself wanting to edit sections of the text, which is not a place a reader should ever be in especially with a novel this revered by so many enthusiastic readers, critics and students. Maybe I’m just a little picky with word placement.

Overall though, I’m glad I spent the time to revisit it. There are so many pop-culture references to this that a reminder was needed.

Book 2⭐
Author 1 ⭐

I'm glad I can check this one off my list. I wish I had enjoyed it more. I was pretty bored after chapter two so I started to read online articles and other reviews. To find out the author confessed that he attempted to rape a girl named Nora (15) when he was 18 while home from his first year at Oxford made my skin crawl. He was sure the girl "wanted heavy sex". There are plenty of articles online with a simple search "William Golding+rape". Nobel Prize for Literature novelist, yea whatever.

Another Golding confession was when he was a teacher, he got schoolboys to fight among themselves. Maybe that's the origin of Lord of the Flies?

The audiobook on Libby/Overdrive read by the author was dreadful. I searched and found much superior narration on Youtube by Martin Jarvis. A disturbing story, more so because they were kids.

A February Readalong

Com certeza o mundo atual está cheio de violência principalmente entre adultos que não se entendem , que não conseguem conviver uns com os outros, não se entendem , não se suportam. Agora imagino contudo que isso é um pouco melhor do que se imaginar uma população de crianças se tornando selvagens e violentas! É isso que basicamente "O senhor das moscas" nos retrata : a possibilidade do mal nas crianças como uma coisa que já vem no sangue , independente de sua convivência com os adultos..

“Maybe there is a beast... maybe it’s only us.”

Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story shows how people, even the most innocent ones - children - change when there are no rules and no structure.
How they point of view changes, their feelings toward other humans beings or living things in general.
I think the concept and the story itself was really really good, but while reading it, it felt really slowly. The last 10 % were the most shocking and made the story so good.

Writing style ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The writing seemed a little bit plain, but it was still enjoyable.

_The lord of the flies_

*It is a 4,5*
The writing is excellent, the pacing is excellent, the characters are kids and they certainly do feel like children. Completely and utterly foolish children.
This book shows that Μr Golding deeply believed that the human race is evil. I, also myself, do believe that too.
Only 4 people managed to remain human, and yes, they were all hurt by the island and yes their whole existance got shattered into pieces, but only 4 people had their soul intact, had their pride intact. Only 4 survived the madness.
Even if the book is about how we can turn savage, how our nature and our ancient and eternal insticts can overrule our minds, Mr Golding decided to end the story with hope. Did these kids deserve it? No, i don't think they did, but with Ralph, i felt. I felt so much and i loved his character.
And when anger settles, my anger, all that i see are kids, all that i see are lost souls, mistakes and sins and how little humans were thrown somewhere in hell to survive, cz for them, it was like hell, and then they turned everything into hell, real, pure, alive and forbidden and forgotten by God.
This book was good and real and i can talk about it forever so i will just stop here.
Please read it, it is worth your time.

Actual rating is 3.5 stars.

This book is considered a classic. It is about a group of children that are stranded on an island. Soon these children become savages as they are without law and order.

This is one more classic that I can scratch off my list. I basically knew what the book was about but there is nothing like reading the actual story. I can see why many consider this a favorite but I had issues with the first half. It just did not grab me at first. I believe I wasn't connecting with the author's writing style. I could not get a good sense of the picture of the island and the setting. But when the real drama kicks I really enjoyed this book. This book is an allegory about actual civilization as we had three characters act out as representatives. I enjoyed this aspect as we get to see civilization, the voice of reason, and what happens when we stop following the rules. I liked the descent of mankind. I loved the ending as it comes full circle and I appreciate what the author did there.

I am glad that I finally read this. It was a little slow for me at first but when the s**t hits the fan I could not read fast enough. I am also glad I read this for the reason I can see how this influenced so many works over the years. It had its flaws but definitely worth a read for enjoyment and its message.

I was Piggy (well, in personality at least, though not in portliness). I hated everyone who picked on him. I still do. Should people be forgiven for what they do on a deserted island? That depends on whether you think their true nature has revealed itself, or their humanity has been corrupted by circumstance and stress. In a world where almost every human trait is now considered a product of both nature and nurture, would Golding have written his tale differently today? No, I don't believe so. He was quite ahead of his time to believe some of the boys, though certainly not the majority, still remained moral despite the situation. The question is, what would have happened to me? It was impossible not to wonder after I read this book.

Lord of the Flies isn't your average book. The setting is predictable for a story - boys stranded on an Island. It's a recipe for a good old fashion adventure novel, right? Except, it's not. It's different. But in a good way? yes and no.

Set in an unspecified period of war, a plane crashes, leaving a group of schoolboys stranded. Shocking, but not that unbearable. After all, the young boys dreams have come true: who wouldn't want a whole island to play on all day without any nagging from the Adults? The unlikely protagonists are Ralph, and his buddy, Piggy. Without any adults, the boys realise that a leader must be elected in order to make sure that everyone has fun and doesn't act unkindly. Ralph ends up being voted in as leader of the pack, he has skills and popularity with the rest of the boys. Ralph befriends a choirboy called Jack, who turns out to be the antagonist in this story. But as time passes a sort of cabin fever kicks in, resulting in a more sinister and unsettling set of actions.

Is this a book about protagonists and/or antagonists? it's really hard to truly define who they are as a group, for you see, Lord of the Flies isn't just a book about boys becoming independent and mentally toughened up. It holds a deeper, more subtle meaning, making the reader question what it really means to be immoral, and the true meaning of evil. It is a book with more depth that it first appears, and it constantly brings up some interesting points. The biggest problem I found was reading it as an older adult, I just never felt the trills and spills, that say, an eleven year old boy would, thus found it hard to really connect with the kids in the same way as a kid reading this would. It is definitely more suited for those still in education, and would make a great read for a boy scout camping out in the wilderness. Should have read it 30 years ago, for better appreciation. Solid storytelling though.

Lectura con el grupo PopSugar Reading Challenge en Español

En este mundo hay libros de los que nunca se duda el porque son clásicos y éste es uno de ellos. Con una premisa que ha sido explotadísima durante años: ¿Cómo hace un grupo de personas para sobrevivir en un ambiente aislado y reducido en recursos? Hoy en día tenemos ejemplos como TWD y Lost para alimentarnos de esta idea germinal, pero ninguno de ellos logra lo que Golding hizo en este libro, que es mostrar claramente como se va perdiendo la humanidad y la cordura.

Esta historia es para pensar, para medir y para plantearte quien eres en realidad. Cuando leí El día de los Trífidos comentaba que pareciera que las convenciones sociales son tan antinaturales que son olvidadas al primer segundo de desesperación, pero aquí es todo más sutil, más lento, la degeneración de la civilización como institución y ente rector es progresiva, pasando de momentos donde los símbolos lo son todo,dónde aquello que mantiene a flote a estos niños es el aferrarse a sus costumbres, pero Golding no se limita a darnos ese lado de la moneda, sino que nos muestra que ante la desesperación las personas se entregan a la locura, al instinto de supervivencia y al miedo, además de como colisionan ambas actitudes en un espacio tan cerrado.

La historia es intensa, y no da un sólo momento de descanso. Primera página y el autor ya nos tiene encerrados en la isla y ante la perspectiva de estar solos pero, conforme avanzamos, párrafo a párrafo nos encontramos con quienes serán nuestros líderes, Ralph y Jack, y nuestras voces de la razón, Piggy y Simon, si bien hay muchísimos niños en la historia ellos cuatro representan la naturaleza primordial de los enclaustrados, mientras que "los peques", niños de alrededor de 6 años, representan lo infantil, lo despreocupado y las masas, son la prueba irremovible de que quienes están dirigiendo son sólo niños, niños que tratan de sobrevivir pero al final del día infantes.

Es fácil ver está historia y estremecerte, no sólo tienes el enorme simbolismo presente desde el título, sino que para este punto todos sabemos que el ser humano que no esta regido bajo una sociedad bien establecida: siempre regresará a sus orígenes, a la salvajidad que lo llevo a sobrevivir por siglos y que, sin una autoridad bien definida, irá cual depredador destrozando todo a su paso y tomando lo que necesite.


Les presento al Señor de las Moscas, igual conocido como Belcebú (o Belzebú), Señor de los ejércitos para los cananeos y Príncipe de los demonios en la religión cristiana

Pero esta historia es mucho más que la metáfora de la pérdida de la inocencia y la actitud civilizada, contiene un trasfondo político interesante por decir lo menos, donde muestra tanto a dirigentes como a los consejeros sabios y realistas que muchas veces son prescindibles en la teoría pero en la práctica son mas que necesarios, y que por lo mismo son a quienes con más fervor se desea mantener o eliminar, porque son la base, la idea y el concepto. En este libro esos aspectos que son tangibles, presentes y necesarios, así como la sensación de enemistad y rivalidad que el libro transmite desde que comienza.

Si bien la historia es representada por niños, todos los temas que toca son adultos, y por lo mismo el tono carece de infantilización, narrándose de manera cruda y dura, pero adecuándose a como actuaría un infante. Incluso los líderes, que son de los mayores dentro del grupo, actúan conforme a su edad, y aquí no niego que de repente pareciera que logran arreglar las cosas de manera muy simple, pero me pongo a pensar que el libro se publico en los 50's, una época en la que los niños eran llevados a los scouts, tenían mejor condición física e incluso más imaginación dado el tipo de educación que recibían y notó que no es ilógica la manera en que actúan para su doce/trece años: tienen miedo, pero saben que deben actuar para lograr ser rescatados.

Si bien la historia tiene problemas como el hecho de que muchas veces se narran partes que parecen ser inconexas, cómo que provienen de la nada, especialmente en la primera mitad, y que de repente desconciertan, pero no se puede negar la maestría con la que el autor trato historia hasta llevarla a buen puerto, desnudando (figurativamente) a los protagonistas hacia el final: sin importar lo que pase, ya nada será lo mismo para ellos.

Intensa y terrórifica, es un imprescindible si es que te gusta conocer acerca de la naturaleza humana.


Comentario random: Esta historia inspiró la canción Lord of the Flies de Iron Maiden que, sin contar la trama, captura la naturaleza de la misma

Lord of the Flies is one of the most disturbing books I've ever read. It was required high school reading and since then, I've read it four more times. It is as disturbing now as it was then. Using a group of innocent schoolboys stranded on an island, the author very realistically portrays human behavior in an environment where civilization no longer has meaning.

¡Mátala! ¡Degüéllala! ¡Desángrala!

¿Como en qué momento todo se puso tan terriblemente turbio y macabro? Empezó como una historia al estilo Mark Twain y terminó como algo salido de las pesadillas. Progresivamente se hizo más oscura hasta que todo se salió de control, y sigo sin poder procesar lo que leí. Es un librazo, de eso no tengo dudas.

Me reservo una opinión más detallada para la video-reseña que subiré a mi canal muy pronto, así que si gustan chusmear, los invito a hacerlo: https://www.youtube.com/coosburton

Era da anni che volevo leggere questo classico moderno e finalmente col nuovo anno ci sono riuscito.

La trama è la seguente: un gruppo di studenti inglesi sta volando in aereo quando avviene un incidente e naufragano in un'isola deserta, dove muoiono gli adulti. Col tempo i bambini creano una sorta di società in cui ognuno ha il suo compito: chi va a cacciare i maiali, chi costruisce le capanne per ripararsi dalle piogge, chi prova a dettare delle leggi da rispettare ma la cosa più importante è quella di mantenere acceso il fuoco di modo che se dovesse passare una nave essi possano essere recuperati e salvati. Ma col tempo vedremo che i ragazzi diventeranno sempre più selvaggi fino a tristi epiloghi.

L'autore William Golding, Premio Nobel per la letteratura nel 1983, ha creato, con questa opera, una sorta di esperimento sociale, una sorta di Grande Fratello coi bambini: cosa potrebbe succedere se dei bambini ben educati improvvisamente si ritrovano da soli, senza adulti e quindi senza regole, in un'isola deserta e devono provvedere ai loro bisogni primari? E Golding sembra risponderci così: andrà male, molto male, perché in questi bambini si risveglieranno i loro istinti animaleschi e diventeranno dei selvaggi. Quindi egli ci dice che il male è congenito nell'uomo. I bambini, quindi, hanno dentro di loro il germe della violenza che, in condizioni estreme come il vivere in un'isola deserta, si espande in tutta la sua bruttezza. Ed è quando ci viene descritta la testa del maiale ricoperta di mosche scoperta da Simone che l'autore ci descrive bene quel che intende dirci:

"Che idea pensare che la Bestia fosse qualcosa che si potesse cacciare e uccidere!" disse la testa di maiale. Per un po' la foresta e tutti gli altri posti che si potevano appena vedere risuonarono della parodia di una risata. "Lo sapevi no? ... che io sono una parte di te? Vieni vicino, vicino, vicino. Che io sono la ragione per cui non c'è niente da fare? Per cui le cose vanno come vanno?" La risata echeggiò di nuovo. "Ti metto in guardia. Sto per perdere la pazienza. Non vedi? Non c'è posto, per te. Capito? Su quest'isola ci divertiremo. Capito? Su quest'isola ci divertiremo. Dunque non provarci nemmeno, mio povero ragazzo traviato, altrimenti... " Simone si accorse che stava guardando dentro una gran bocca. Dentro c'era buio, un buio, che dilagava. "Altrimenti..." disse il Signore delle Mosche "ti faremo fuori. Capisci?"

A parlare è lo spirito del maiale, ovvero la violenza dei bambini che si era scatenata, uccidendo la povera scrofa incinta. E l'autore ci dice che la violenza chiama violenza, in un circolo vizioso che porterà solo morte e orrore. Il bene è solo un'utopia, la vera radice dell'uomo è la sopravvivenza che porta alla violenza e all'assassinio. Inutilmente Ralph prova a farsi rispettare, eletto all'unanimità "capo" della tribù dei bambini superstiti all'incidente e ben presto sostituito da Jack che incarna l'istinto di sopravvivenza più crudo e sanguinario. Sembra di rileggere ad un certo punto la storia di Caino e Abele, e sappiamo che non finirà bene. Golding ci dice e ce lo sottolinea spesso durante la lettura soprattutto nella seconda parte del romanzo, che ognuno di noi ha dentro un male "naturale", istintuale, e che può uscire fuori improvvisamente in determinate condizioni: fame, noia, odio, gelosia. La cosa terribile e bella allo stesso tempo è che ognuno dei protagonisti incarna un aspetto del nostro carattere: Ralph il raziocinio, Piggy la prudenza e la paura, Jack la cattiveria e l'istinto di sopravvivenza.

Non taccerei l'autore di pessimismo, come ho letto nella maggior parte delle recensioni, ma di realismo: nella realtà ognuno di noi se si dovesse trovare in quelle condizioni dei bambini non penso proprio che vivrebbe in pace e in armonia, o almeno lo farebbe i primi giorni, e poi...
Temo che molti di noi abbiamo paura del proprio lato oscuro, anzi, temono di ammettere che lo hanno dentro, ma vogliono nasconderlo. Golding lo scoperchia e ci mostra quanto sia putrido e orripilante. Basti pensare che l'umanità potrebbe facilmente tornare allo stato primitivo e regrediremmo sicuramente al nostro stato bestiale.