Lord of the Flies Readalong #LordOfTheFliesReadalong discussion
Readalong Discussion (no spoiler/spoilers keeping pace with readalong)
Hi, thanks for the invite. I LOVE this book!
Hello, thank you for the invite!This has been on my TBR for many years, so hopefully I'll manage to read it now. :)
:::entering room::: Am I in the right class for The Lord of the Flies? :::checking pocket schedule::: Wait, I see Lisa, Morgan, and Dana, so this must be the right place. : ) Looking forward to comparing notes with you. Have a great read everyone! -Mark Wheats
***Mark’s Reading Tip***Please be sure you get the original version of the book and not try to save a few pennies with a cheap knockoff like I did. (I got “The Lord of the Fleas” and it was 300 pages about a dog with the mange).
; )
Mark wrote: "***Mark’s Reading Tip***Please be sure you get the original version of the book and not try to save a few pennies with a cheap knockoff like I did. (I got “The Lord of the Fleas” and it was 300 pa..."
Too Funny!!
Holly wrote: "Mark wrote: "***Mark’s Reading Tip***Please be sure you get the original version of the book and not try to save a few pennies with a cheap knockoff like I did. (I got “The Lord of the Fleas” and ..."
Thanks, Holly (and don’t worry, I will try to keep the lame dad jokes to a minimum during class). Have a great read!
-Mark
I'm ready! I just got the ebook from the library.
Hello! Having never done a readalong, I’m trying to figure out the logistics as we get closer to the start date. You will go live at 11a EST everyday to discuss the chapter for that day, correct? If we’re not able to join at that time, will we have a chance to go in and view the video? I would imagine so, just confirming. Thank you!
Mod
Hi Brooke! So glad that you are joining us. How the readalong will work is that we will read the book according to the schedule posted on the main page. Then, there is another thread called, "Readalong Discussion (no spoiler/spoilers keeping pace with readalong)". Each day, you can log into that thread, and that will be where all of the discussion will take place. So there is no exact time that you have to view anything, you can just log in and read/comment as time permits. It is pretty laid back.
It's February 15th here. I'm gonna read the first chapter!
Oops! I started a day early, because I thought we were starting on a Monday, like the Animal Farm readalong.My copy (50th anniversary edition) has a forward by E.M. Forster, who tells me that Ralph represents democracy. I *think* I'm supposed to like him, but I don't. He only got elected because he found the conch (which was all Piggy's idea) and he's generally good looking. (That seems right in line with democracy, actually.) And his behavior about Piggy's nickname pisses me off. His half-hearted sorry was insufficient.
Forster also informs me that Piggy represents the human spirit and Jack dictatorship (dumping some spoilers along the way). I can't say I like either of them, but Piggy is at least pitiable. The minor characters (fuzzy as they are in this first chapter) are more likeable (Simon, the twins, and the little boys).
The introduction on my edition was written by Stephen King, which was a nice surprise (interestingly, I've just started Volume 8 of The Sandman, which also has an intro by SK)! His intro was very much around discovering the book and his excitement reading it. He then talks about how it was the first book that showed how, left to their own devices, boys will *really* behave. It'll be interesting to see if we agree!
Mod
Chapter 1 - There is a lot to take in. The boys have crashed landed on an island. Apparently, I had a much better memory in high school because I remember the teacher talking about how the plus sized boy showed great leadership skills.
As an adult versus a teenager, what really struck me was the plus sized boy being so vulnerable with Ralph. The first thing that he says is, "Please don't call me Piggy." Of course, Ralph immediately uses this vulnerability against him. Then, when the plus sized boy says, "Well, at least don't tell the others." Of course, Ralph immediately calls him Piggy in front of the others. What do you make of this? Is this a classic story of how children will share their deepest fears while adults learn to shield themselves?
Also, what do you make of Ralph being elected versus Jack? Why do you think that they took Simon (the fainter) in their exploration?
"what intelligence had been shown was traceable to Piggy while the most obvious leader was Jack."
pg 22 in the ebook I'm reading ..
I wonder if this is the beginning of hierarchy between the boys and how it will play out.
I think I'm going to like reading this book. I can't believe I haven't read it before.
pg 22 in the ebook I'm reading ..
I wonder if this is the beginning of hierarchy between the boys and how it will play out.
I think I'm going to like reading this book. I can't believe I haven't read it before.
I remember reading this as a kid and thinking Ralph was a natural leader. After chapter one of this readalong, however, I’m not sure I like him at all. Instantly leaping onto Piggy’s nickname and then blurting it out to everyone to “protect” him hasn’t put him in my good books yet.It’s interesting that he chose Simon to go with him and Jack. Maybe he sees him as a friend from the other side, as it were, someone who knows Jack and wants to make friends with him to gather information. Just a thought…
First chapter done! It's interesting to experience the flashbacks and foreshadowing coming back to me from 5 years ago when I read this book for school. You can already get a sense of the hunters vs gatherers, adults vs children, intellect vs physicality themes present in this book. I forgot how mean Ralph was even though he's meant to represent the middle ground, a normal human mix of evil and good. Ralph took Simon along because he needed someone innately good to balance out Jack, someone innately evil; Ralph is the voice of reason so needed to have both points of view
Chap 1 “Their bodies, from throat to ankle, were hidden by black cloaks which bore a long silver cross on the left breast and each neck was finished off with a ham-bone frill.” As with the beginning of many stories, I think it sets things up with “foreshadowry” and symbolism, in this case perhaps the “ham-bone frill” represents the friction between Piggy and the hunters (as hunters often wear the skins of their kill like a trophy). The large rock they have to move aside to ascend to the top of the island is referred to as an atom bomb, further making the connection between the island and war as well as setting it up for future reference (not unlike a gun that a character may keep in a drawer). When Jack goes to kill the piglet, he hesitates. “I was choosing a place. Next time—!” (Perhaps symbolic, metaphorical, and foreshadowing Piggy again). Jack was timid in stabbing the piglet due to the blood, as mentioned, and though it’s not mentioned, it’s obvious to the other boys that Jack has never killed anything before (with a knife anyway) and is somewhat of a virgin when it comes to this activity. As for the conch, it can be viewed many ways, such as democracy, power, or even a false god. That’s the best part of any form of art—there are no wrong answers. The true answer is the one that YOU believe.
Matthew wrote: "I remember reading this as a kid and thinking Ralph was a natural leader. After chapter one of this readalong, however, I’m not sure I like him at all. Instantly leaping onto Piggy’s nickname and t..."I'm having the same experience. I wonder if the difference is an age perspective (kid vs adult) or a time perspective (1990s vs 2020s). That bullying behavior that might have been perceived as "normal" nearly 30 years ago (and probably even more so in the time and place it was written) seems toxic now.
It's my first time reading it and I didn't realise of metaphorical the book was going to be. Jack is obvious the dictator to be in my perspective and Ralph.. I haven't decided yet. Piggy I thing will be either the Greek chorus, the voice of conscience, or the ruin of them all. Like he said he was with ralph when he found the conch but he gets bullied, unappreciated and mocked. I pitty him but I'm interested to see what will become of him. The innocence of finding the island and thinking it's all ours" and laghting without thinking of the risks gets me intrigued of what's to come. And for me the best part of the chapter was Jack's pause with the knife and the explanation of the narrator about the descent of the knife. it's interesting so far.
First chapter down! I read this book 5-6 years ago in uni, and I am curious to see how different my reading experience is this time, because now that I know the story I can focus on details and foreshadowing.
Just finished the first chapter and some of it I remember from high school and some I didn’t. Or, more likely, was less aware of the nuances back then. The sneaky meanness of Ralph and the clear bullying immediately is interesting. I also found the description of Ralph fascinating and applicable to current life, he is described as displaying leadership qualities based on physical attributes rather than his intelligence. He was still, big (as in a strength way), attractive and had the conch-giving him the power (almost as a metaphor for money or similar asset). This is going to be really fun (maybe not the right word) to reread.
Bullying is the first thing that stuck out for me both now and when I read it years ago. The name calling seemed to be accepted as normal, and I believe it continues today. The boy's choice of a 'leader' is also not far off from how we select 'leaders' today. I guess human nature has not changed all that much. Piggy seems to be the only one with any sense but because of his appearance he will be made fun of and not taken seriously. Cruelty is the underlying theme.
Hello, Everyone!!I almost finish work and can dive into this.
To be honest, I have never read Lord of the Flies before so I'm really curious about this book. It's been on my TBR for ages.
Morgan (not accepting new friends request at the m wrote: "Bullying is the first thing that stuck out for me both now and when I read it years ago. The name calling seemed to be accepted as normal, and I believe it continues today. The boy's choice of a 'l..."My impression was the same, Ralph is a bully. Piggy - it's not accidental that we do not know his real name - in his attempt to be liked and accepted, reveals his vulnerable side and Ralph takes advantage of it, uses it to bend the poor boy to his will from the very start. And you are right, the boys voted to elect Ralph as chief for no good reason at all, but simply for his possession of the conch (I wonder what the conch symbolizes). How often people give away their votes thoughtlessly today?
I'm enjoying seeing everyone's perspectives here. I don't have any (serious) reader friends and I very much appreciate this conversation thread. I hope Lisa hosts more readalongs after this. I'm off to read the second chapter! (It's 16th here in India already, so) Happy reading! :)
Dana wrote: "Hello, Everyone!!I almost finish work and can dive into this.
To be honest, I have never read Lord of the Flies before so I'm really curious about this book. It's been on my TBR for ages."
Hi, Dana! I've read it so long ago, that it feels almost like I am reading it for the first time. I wanted to reread it for so long... Anyway, I hope you enjoy the author's writing style and what this book tries to teach us.
And thank you, Lisa, for organizing this read along group.
This is my first time reading this book. From the first chapter I didn't like any of the characters, which surprised me considering it's a bunch of kids. But clearly most kids here are bullies, and in our world left to their own devices children very often bully each other. So the cruelty didn't seem so out of character for children. In my imagination the entry scene of Jack and his group seemed like a cult moving. If Ralph is representative of democracy, he is not off to a great start after his behavior with Piggy and how he got elected due to 'charisma'. But he seemed like the better of the two choices between him and Jack, and I'm afraid more often than not that's how we elect in a democracy. Instead of the good option, we choose the better one from the available choices.This book seems heavier on the symbolism than I expected. I need to look out for it. Off to the next chapter for now.
As Golding was British might the conch be a symbol of the mace in our parliament? It symbolises the authority of The Speaker ( who controls which MPs speak) and the right of parliament to pass laws??? Just a thought!!
This is the first time I’ve read this book! Right now I’m pretty much only Team Piggy and anti everyone else 😒 but reading through some of y’all’s earlier comments, people are talking about foreshadowing and whatnot and you’re making me worried something’s going to happen to Piggy! 😩
Hi This is my first time reading this book, Two things: I feel that I'm going to hate Ralph a LOT and something bad is going to happen to Piggy and I don't think I will be ready for that :(
Catherine wrote: "Matthew wrote: "I remember reading this as a kid and thinking Ralph was a natural leader. After chapter one of this read-along, however, I’m not sure I like him at all. Instantly leaping onto Piggy’..."I agree about Ralph being a bit of a jerk by telling about the heavy boy's nickname, "Piggy". He was asked very nicely to not tell and the first thing Ralph does is out him to the whole group. I remember liking Ralph from reading during my teenage years and do not recall the issue with the nickname. It is very different reading this as an adult...
Ironically my library released this book in time today! But the audio version is not very good! I will try to keep up. I am able to “read” and do paperwork at the same time this way. Enjoy! Looking forward to more
Love this readalong and getting to hear (read) everyone’s thoughts and ideas in real time! It’s interesting that even as we don’t like Ralph from the start in his impatience with and treatment of Piggy, he did have what I perceived as a moment of empathy when Piggy approaches him and he says “Better Piggy than Fatty.” He seems to genuinely be trying to soften the blow of spreading Piggy’s nickname against his request. Is this meant to redeem Ralph’s character a bit?
My, such formal, formal language! Must be digested slowly, like a glass of scotch if you're not used to it. "The note boomed again: and then at his firmer pressure, the note, fluking up an octave, became a strident blare more penetrating than before." Whew! Reminds me of Graham Greene for a reason I can't quite place, other than both being British, since I adore Greene and am "meh" with Golding.Yep, Ralph doesn't exactly give off the warm fuzzies. But maybe he was elected because Jack was a little much, a little too dictatorial, and Ralph won as the kinder/gentler sort. As for Simon...he wouldn't have been my choice, but they sure weren't going to invite Piggy.
But what struck me and my immature brain, of course, was: https://c.tenor.com/uRHC_qcOQzQAAAAC/...
Oh, and thanks again, Lisa, for putting this together!
Brooke wrote: "Love this readalong and getting to hear (read) everyone’s thoughts and ideas in real time! It’s interesting that even as we don’t like Ralph from the start in his impatience with and treatment of..."
I think it is meant (by Golding) to soften the blow, so to speak, but Ralph's just making excuses. He took the opportunity to ingratiate himself even more with the Jack & the choir cult and doesn't care about Piggy's feelings.
It's super frustrating not to know "Piggy's" real name. Calling him by a descriptor is also rough. Can we give him a name?
Hello, this is my first read along - thank you Lisa of Troy for the invite. I had heard of this book but never read it. I'm listening to the audiobook.
I definitely remember my high school class praising Ralph but now that I'm rereading this, I don't know why we did that???😐Interesting point about Ralph picking Simon. I never really wondered why. Maybe Simon simply stuck out to Ralph? Or Ralph thought Simon's constitution (i.e. prone to fainting) can help softened up Jack because when Simon fainted, that's when Jack showed a little bit of compassion and allowed the other choir boys to relax and sit down.
I got the audiobook and kindle book. Audio is read by the author and I'm not impressed. 🤨
For some reason the answer that comes naturally to me is that the conch is seen in this situation as a symbol of authority and summoning. I think the robust boy seems smarter than Ralph and does show leadership skills except he lets Ralph step in because of his self-esteem maybe? Or because that was a role defined by society before the crash… but I like Piggy better.
I still have to finish Ch. 1 though. This is just my thoughts through the summoning.
This is the first time I have read this book.I need to digest what I have just read. I have more questions then answers.
I really do not like Ralph. Why did he betray Piggy the way he did?
The conch shell has a meaning.
That’s see what we find out in Chapter 2.
So, I've read this book before. In the 1980s. I had an excellent English teacher. Mr. Weiner. He also played his vinyl of the Beatles' The Fool on the Hill in class. We had to discuss what we thought it meant. I wish I remembered my thoughts on both this book and the song. I'm sure they'd differ greatly than now. I'm sure my high school self liked Ralph. My current self sides with Piggy. My heart actually breaks for his naivete. He's trusting to a fault.
Mod
Oops....we accidently burned down the forest, and a kid is missing.
Act first, think about consequences later. I also found it extremely interesting that the group doesn't even notice the impact of their actions on others.
i have always thought Piggy represented democratic ideas and values which is hard to maintain with everyday pressures. he is often ignored. while Ralph was the ideal English male.
and to answer the question why Simon. he simply chose the weakest of an opponent group. a common political tactic Of course as we learn later Simon has his own symbolism!
Brooke wrote: "Love this readalong and getting to hear (read) everyone’s thoughts and ideas in real time! It’s interesting that even as we don’t like Ralph from the start in his impatience with and treatment of..."
that's a interesting point it might be a way to shield piggy. (view spoiler)
Second chapter done and the foreshadowing and metaphors are crazy! I've read in some comments how you don't remember Ralph that way and I totally agree with you. Maybe later on we'll get to see another side of him?It's so funny that they mention that they are on an island like the one from "The Coral Island" because I always thought "Lord of the Flies" was a response to that book.
Thanks for joining today! This thread is to discuss Lord of the Flies as we progress through the book. The purpose for this discussion board is to keep pace with the schedule posted.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!