Coraline

by Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell (Adaptor/Illustrator)
Published: HarperCollins, 2008
Pages: 186

This is an Eclectic Reader Challenge book!

When Coraline moves to a new house, she discovers another home strangely similar to the same as hers, only better.  Everything seems wonderful: the food is better and the toys are cooler.  But when Coraline's other mother tells her that she should stay, Coraline will have to fight to go back home to her real parents.

I have now read the book, watched the movie, and read the graphic novel.  Every edition of this story has sent chills down my spine.  Although I did think that the written version was much creepier than the graphic novel, it still creates an atmosphere fit for a spooky story like this.

The illustrations in this graphic novel are incredible.  I thought this adaptation was beautiful and striking.  P. Craig Russell  took the story of Coraline and drew it out in a haunting and creepy manner.  These illustrations gave the story a new life.  The rats throughout this story are very sinister and create a nice sense of foreboding.

All of Coraline's neighbors are unique and quirky, with special oddities.  The actresses breed dogs and crazy man upstairs trains a mouse circus.  The interesting character bring light to a dark story.  I am impressed by Neil Gaiman's ability to think up such interesting and dark ideas for this story.

I have read other Neil Gaiman works and I must say that he has a way with words and crazy characters.  His imagination is filled with an amazing ability to weave plots together to create an interesting story and a fantastic read.  I have enjoyed reading his work and will most definitely continue read anything written by him in the future.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"A magnificently creepy story for stouthearted kids who love a brush with the sinister, Coraline is spot on."
               --Kirkus Reviews

"Gaiman's tale is inventive, scary, thrilling and finally affirmative.  Readers young and old will find something to startle them."
             --Washington Post Book World

"By turns creepy and funny, bittersweet and playful, can be read quickly and enjoyed deeply."
              --San Francisco Chronicle Book Review

Paper Towns

by John Green
Published: Dutton, 2009
Pages: 305

It's an "Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge" book!

Quentin Jacobsen is on a mission.  His mission: to find the girl that he's been in love with for as long as he can remember, Margo Roth Spiegelman.  After a night of crazy adventure and revenge, Margo disappears and it's up to Quentin to find out where she went.  But as he looks deeper into the mystery, he finds that the Margo he knows and loves, might not be the real Margo.

John Green has created an incredible cast of characters that simultaneously annoy and excite me.  One of the reasons I really like this book is because I connected immediately with Quentin.  I wanted to find Margo just a bad as Quentin did and I was incredibly disappointed whenever we hit a dead end.  When the bigger picture was revealed, I was surprised right along with Q.  This connection to the characters is incredible and can only be the work of a fine writer.

The mystery is clever and well thought out, twisting and turning in ways that I couldn't predict at all.  There is rarely a mystery that I can't figure out before it's revealed in the book but John Green stumped me.  I am proud to say that I am very happy that I didn't figure everything out, it made this book ten times more intriguing and wonderful.

John Green has done it again.  He has created a narrative that has captured my attention from the beginning.  The mystery and the relationships between the characters make this book incredible.  Moving forward, I will read anything that John Green writes.

Stars: 4/5

Praise: 

"Green...delivers once again with this satisfying, crowd-pleasing look at a complex, smart boy and the way he loves.  Genuine--and genuinely funny--dialogue...mystery...and delightful secondary characters.  A winning combination."
           --Kirkus Reviews

"Green's prose is astounding-from hilarious...to devastating observation and truths.  The mystery of Margo...is fascinating, cleverly constructed, and profoundly moving."
         --School Library Journal

Nevermore

by James Patterson

Published: Little Brown and Company, 2012
Pages: 368

This is an Eclectic Reader Challenge book!

Max and company are back in the final installment of the Maximum Ride series.  All is well for the group as they try to be normal kids, that go to normal school. But what happens when The Voice, tells everyone that they have specific jobs to help protect Max and save the world.  All hell is about to break loose and Max is the only one that can save us all, or can she?

To be perfectly honest, I did not have very high expectations going into this book.  I wasn't a huge fan of the last couple books in this series, but I wanted to see how this story ended.  It left me very unsatisfied.  It was almost as though Patterson had just remembered there were questions that needed answers and he started scrambling to answer them without taking the time to make the answers make sense.

As for the characters, they continue to be my favorite part of these books.  Even though the love triangle between Dylan, Max and Fang irritated me, I really did enjoy Nudge, Iggy, Gazzy and Angel.  I thought of all the characters these four were most interesting, in fact they seemed to be the only ones that stayed in character throughout the series.  We still got the craziness of these kids in their own environment, at their best.

By the end of this novel, I was so frustrated with the answers we were given these questions: who/what The Voice was, how was Max supposed to save the world, are Fang and Max going to finally get together, why was Dylan even introduced. ect.

I was looking forward to a strong ending with questions answered.  It was quite unfortunate that this series didn't end better.  That being said, I am still sad to see this series end.  The bird kids have taken me from middle school into adulthood.  I enjoyed seeing how their stories end, even if I didn't like the way it ended.

Stars: 2/5

Praise:
"This book...has all the characteristics of [James Patterson's] work for grown-ups: pace, action, mystery and cool.... This skilled and compulsive take is so involving...and it proves that girls can be tough, too."
               --London Times, "Children's Book of the Week," July 3, 2005

"The key to Maximum Ride's success may be that it incorporates concepts familiar to young people....  What  makes these characters so appealing is that they have wings and can fly... Another plus: the book has a feel of a video game.... Fights and flights are nonstop in Maximum Ride.  The writing is visual and cinematic-things that kids expect from their video games, TV cartoon shows, and action movie."
               --USA Today

Fahrenheit 451

by Ray Bradbury
Published: Balentine Books, 1953
Pages: 179

It's an "Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge" book!

In a world where firemen create fires and books are banned, Guy Montag is a fireman.  He never questions his orders or the destruction and ruin his actions cause others.  But when he meets a young, eccentric neighbor, his whole way of thinking and opens his eyes to the past.  When everyone in his life starts to disappear, Montag begins to question everything he knows.

This book has been a long time coming.  I have been hearing about this since, well probably since middle school.  I really can't believe I have made it this long without reading this book.  I am absolutely intrigued by dystopian novels and Ray Bradbury is one of first authors to attempt this type of story.

I thought this book was very well written; it is beautiful and descriptive writing.  The dystopian world created by Ray Bradbury is incredibly bleak, but believable.  At one point in the story, we get an explanation about why the world is as it is, and it's somewhat plausible.  I imagine this world in the future and I shutter.  Bradbury was prolific in this novel with the message of censorship.  Knowledge is a powerful things, as is censorship in the wrong/right hands it can be extraordinarily destructive.

The characters in this book are so interesting.  Each complex in their own right, Mildred and her seeming vapidness, Clarisse and her carefree spirit, Beatty and his exploration of technology and willingness to defy the government.  All of these characters make this story intriguing and compelling.

I wanted to know more.  The open-ending is fine way to end it, but they always drive me crazy.  I always want to know what happens next.  Ray Bradbury has created a dystopian novel that kept me entranced by it's intense and frightening tale.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Frightening in its implications... Mr. Bradbury's account of this insane world, which bears many alarming resemblances to our own, is fascinating."
              -- The New York Times

I Am the Messenger

by Markus Zusak
Published: Knopf Books, 2007
Pages: 360

This is an Eclectic Book Challenge book!

Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver that seems to be going nowhere with his life.  Then he starts receiving cards with names on them.  Ed becomes the messenger.  He begins to deliver messages to people he has never met.  His dull life is suddenly brimming with purpose.  Only one thing remains a mystery:  who's behind Ed's missions.

This book is so well written, it kept me continuously curious and interested.  After the first incredibly comical chapter, I was hooked.  It's not every day you read about someone unintentionally preventing a bank robbery.

The characters are incredibly engaging as well as infuriating.  Ed and his friends are an incredibly complex and quirky bunch of people.  They balance each other so well.  The Doorman is possibly one of my favorite characters in this book.  He may be just a dog, but he embodies so much more.  His human characteristics and relationship with Ed makes this story ten times better.  Ed knows exactly what The Doorman wants and needs and The Doorman knows exactly what Ed needs.

It seems that Zusak has a purpose for every word he writes. Each carefully placed poetically that gives this story a gritty charm.  I admire how he crafts words into sentences and sentences in to paragraphs.  Those paragraphs become the stories that grace the pages of his books.  .

It seems that Markus Zusak can do no wrong.  I cannot wait to what he has planned for his next novel.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:
"Zusak doesn't sugarcoat anything, but he makes his ostensibly gloomy subject bearable the same way Kurt Vonnegut did in Slaughterhouse-Five: with grim, darkly consoling humor."
-- Time Magazine

"Elegant, philosophical and moving...Beautiful and important."
-- Kirkus Reviews

"An extraordinary narrative."
-- School Library Journal

Alice I Have Been

by Melanie Benjamin
Published: Random House, 2010
Pages: 345

This is an "Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge" Book!

As Alice Liddell reflects on her childhood, it is apparent that she was a very curious little girl.  She's the daughter of Dean Christ Church in Oxford, surprisingly sensible, incredibly charming and the inspiration of the little girl in Alice in Wonderland. 

There were many characters that absolutely unsettled me.  Mr. Ruskin and unfortunately, Mr. Dodgson were just a couple of the characters that I ultimately did not like.  I wanted to like Mr. Dodgson but there was just a feeling I got when reading about him that I couldn't reconcile.

I must say that the relationship between Alice and her mother drives me insane.  I have never read about a relationship so poor, so unhealthy.  I causes me great pain and anger to read their interactions and her mother's final insults.

Alice, however, was most definitely a great character and I really enjoyed hearing her story.  I've always been curious as to the person who inspired the bright-eyed Alice in Alice in Wonderland. Although, this is a fictional story, I love the fact that someone took the time to create this world that centered around the life of Alice Liddell.  She is such an adventurous girl, not afraid to speak her mind or do what she wanted.  Only pausing to consider her class standing and the proper ways of a young woman, every once in a while.  Even when tragedy strikes Alice stays strong, empowering.

Melanie Benjamin does a spectacular job writing the history of Alice Liddell.  This fictional account of a real woman, provides so much insight to what could have been the relationship between Lewis Carol and Alice.  There were times when I sincerely believed Alice was really telling me about the trials and tribulations of her life.  Her writing is enchanting and utterly convincing, she captured me as Mr. Dodgson had captured the young Alice with his stories.

Stars: 4/5

Praise:


"Melanie Benjamin blends the known with the unknown in a seamless tale of love, loss and myth. It's storytelling at its finest."
           —Sarah Addison Allen

 "Benjamin draws on one of the most enduring relationships in children's literature... spinning out the heartbreaking story of Alice from Alice in Wonderland...Focusing on three eras in Alice's life, Benjamin offers a finely wrought portrait of Alice that seamlessly blends facts with fiction. This is book club gold."
           —Publishers Weekly starred review, "Pick of the Week"

"Melanie Benjamin works valiantly to conjure up the real girl behind the Wonderland myth, and finds glints of genuine magic."
          —Entertainment Weekly

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

by Agatha Christie
Published: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1926
Pages: 276

It's an "Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge" book!

When Roger Ackroyd is murdered, all angles point to his stepson as the murderer.  It's up to master detective Hercule Poirot and doctor James Sheppard to discover the identity of  the killer and whether or not the rumors are true.

Agatha Christie is among the greatest mystery writers ever known and for good reason.  Her mystery is so well thought out and executed; it makes for a great read.  I found myself constantly trying to beat Hercule to figure out the identity of the murderer.  I am sad to report that I hopped from person to person and ultimately came to the wrong conclusion. I will not become a detective any time soon.

Hercule Poirot is possibly my favorite character in this book and luckily he is a reoccurring character in several Christie's mysteries.  This quirky detective has the audacity to shut down his nosy neighbor, the gossip queen of the village.  He is easily one of the most entertaining character, with his unexplained oddities and his gardening.  I look forward to reading about this character in future Christie books.

We read the story form Dr. James Sheppard's point of view, which is very interesting in a murder mystery.  It's a clever way to write a mystery novel because the reader only gets a certain view of the circumstances and in this case it's from Dr. Sheppard's view.  I didn't notice or realize that until Hercule Poirot began to explain himself to Dr. Sheppard.  It's really very interesting.  

Agatha Christie writes great light reading with plenty of humor and eccentricities.  I shall definitely be reading more Agatha Christie in the near future!

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

 “A classic—the book has worthily earned its fame.”
                - Irish Independent

“One of the landmarks of detective literature.”
              - H. R. F. Keating, Crime & Mystery: The 100 Best Books

“Agatha Christie had a mind like a mousetrap and taught me, in novels like The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, the pleasure of literary surprise.”
              - William Dietrich, New York Times bestselling author 

The Name of the Star

by Maureen Johnson
Published: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2011
Pages: 370

This is an Eclectic Reader Challenge book!

To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect coming into this novel.  I hadn’t read anything about it, but I did know that it was getting recommended left and right.   I love Maureen Johnson’s other books so left at the chance to read a copy of this book.  She has not failed me.  This book is highly entertaining and I was pleasantly surprised that the setting was England.  (I love many things that have to do with the UK.)  Even though, I’ve never been to London, I felt as though I knew my way around after reading this book. 

Rory came all the way from Louisiana to attend school in London.  However, when the murders start to occur, it becomes clear that Rory is not going to have a normal English education.  Even worse, a strange man repeatedly runs into her but no one else seems to remember him.  Her friends start to wonder if she crazy and she starts wonders if she is in danger. 

The characters are absolutely engaging.  Rory and Jazza, her roommate, compliment each other and when Boo gets thrown into the roommate mix, the dynamics changes just enough to keep the characters growing.  Rory’s oddities match her frustration and the way her friends see her.  Her adventurous spirit gets her into all sorts of trouble without even realizing it.  Rory's sharp wit and crazy family stories make her a hilarious character.  Rory is surrounded by a cast of fantastic quirky characters that make this book unforgettable.  

I am glad to report that there is a solid Doctor Who reference and enough witty banter to hold anyone over until the next Maureen Johnson book is published.  Maureen Johnson once again expertly crafts this story with humor, teen angst and romance.  Nothing seems out of balance.  I can even hear the British accents!

This book is the first installment in the supernatural thriller series Shades of London.  Look forward to the next book due out sometime in 2013!

Stars: 4/5

Praise:

"A gorgeously written, chilling, atmospheric thriller. The streets of London have never been so sinister or so romantic."
                    - Cassandra Clare, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Johnson uses a deft hand, applying the right amount of romance and teen snarkiness to relieve the story's building tension. Departing from her previous works, she turns paranormal on its head, mocking vampires and werewolves while creating ghosts that are both realistic and creepy. A real page-turner." 
                 - School Library Journal

The Scientists

by John Gribbin
Published: Random House, 2002
Pages: 647

It's an "Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge" book :D

To be perfectly honest, I had to read this for school otherwise I probably would have never picked it up.  And by probably, I mean definitely.  I have never been a huge fan of science, which is slightly ironic because one of my favorite genres is science-fiction.  I just never found the facts of science all that interesting or understandable.  That being said, I was pleasantly surprised about how much I enjoyed this book. 

The full title is The Scientists: a history of science told through the lives of its greatest inventors.  Rather than this book being full of facts and information that is hard to understand, John Gribbin took a different approach.  He gave the readers a history lesson.  The readers get a little biography of each scientist that is introduced, making it read more like narrative than a textbook. 

I will be honest, because I had to read it for class I had to read it in two weeks, which is a task giving the obnoxious length.  I read most of it, not all but most.  However, what I did read was very engaging.  There were points when I had to force myself to read, but as soon as I began I was intrigued with the history of the scientists.

The voice of the book was entertaining mostly because at times it seemed rather informal, telling the reader "I'm not going to discuss this because it's not really important but well maybe I'll tell you about it later."  Honestly, these inserts probably are not necessary but they are funny and I got a kick out of reading them. 

The best part of the book was not the discussion of the science that was developed, but the discussion of the life of the scientists.  It is much more interesting to know the life of the scientist because then the reader gets an understanding of who the person was when they discovered their incredible sciences.  The book starts at the very beginning with Ptolemy and his model of the universe and it ends with the future of science as we know it.

There is a section in the book about Marie Curie and her discoveries with radioactivity.  It really is fascinating to reflect on her work as one of the first female scientists to be recognized for her work.  She won two Nobel prizes and paved the way for women scientists after her.  It is weird to think that at one time she was not allowed to work in the labs with men because she might cause too much sexual arousal.  Little things like that just make the history of science better.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Essential reading...tells the story of science as a sequence of witty, information-packed tales...complete with humanizing asides, glimpses of the scientist's personal life and amusing anecdotes."
         - London Sunday Times

"A magnificent history...enormously entertaining."
         - The Daily Telegraph

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

by Jennifer E. Smith

Published: Poppy, 2012

Pages: 236

This is an Eclectic Reader Challenge book! 

The title makes it very evident that it is going to be a love story.  What the title doesn't tell you is that the love story is heartwarming and adorable.  Statistically speaking, this story should be an easy story to like.  

Hadley misses a flight to England by only four minutes.  This gives her enough time to brood over the fact that her father is getting married to the British woman that he left her mother for and that she has never met.  However, these four minutes change her life.  She meets Oliver.  He is also traveling to London, but for an entirely different reason.  The sparks ignite and could it be, love at first sight. 

I quite enjoyed this novel, it was lovely.  It was definitely a light friendly read.  The characters were quite witty and that always makes me laugh.  I really enjoyed the banter in this book specifically between Oliver and Hadley. 

Hadley's character works through a lot of emotions and thoughts in this book.  It is hard to write a character that has so much baggage, but Jennifer E. Smith did a fine job.  It didn't seem unnatural or forced. Hadley could have been highly annoying but she was a character that I sympathized with and celebrated.  

The one thing about this book that drove me crazy was the tense.  Present tense works in some context, but very few and I found it rather distracting.  At first it was obnoxiously distracting, but I got somewhat used to it and the tense became only mildly annoying.  I think it was an attempt to feel like someone that was looking in on the action rather than it be telling of something that passed, but it didn't work well.  

The idea of the story seems a little farfetched but that's the backbone of a good teen romance, and By George it makes for a really smooth read.  It warmed my heart.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

“A fast-paced and entertaining novel with a superlatively romantic premise…Readers will be as caught up as Hadley is by the physical and emotional distances she traverses.”

            – Publishers Weekly

 “Smartly observed…Smith’s acute insights make Hadley’s heartache and loss as real as the magical unfurling of new love.”

            – Kirkus

Bridge to Terabithia

by Katherine Paterson
Published: Harper Collins, 1996
Pages: 143

This is an Eclectic Reader Challenge book!

I never read this book as a child, but I definitely should have.  I have been meaning to read this for a very long time and I finally took the chance to read it this month.  I saw the movie once when it first came out and I remember loving it, however sad the story.  This story is magical in any medium.

Jess Aarons knew two things about life.  1) He liked to draw and 2) his father didn't approve.  He was content to fly under the radar at school and try to fit in at home where he is surrounded by women.  When Leslie Burke moved into town, she changed Jess's life forever.  With the power of imagination, Leslie and Jess created the beautiful kingdom of Terabithia where they would protect and rule.  This powerful world shares with him the importance of friendship and family.

All the characters were expertly developed, in fact I related to quite a few of them at different points in the novel.  There is a subtle elegance to the way the characters interact with each other, especially Leslie and Jess.  Leslie imagination is an entire character in and of itself, from her we get the beginnings of Terabithia.  She allows the reader to see what she sees and brings out the imagination in each reader.

The relationship between Jess and May Belle is one of my favorite relationships in the book.  Jess loves his little sister in a way that is obvious through his interactions with her.  Yes, she is just a little sister but sometimes he treats more like a friend than a nuisance.  Her dedication to Jess is very realistic and entertaining to read; as a little sister I remember feeling a little like May Belle at some points in my life.

There is a spirit about this novel that draws the reader in, that makes you want to continue reading, that makes you cry out at injustice and cheer with excitement.  This novel touches the reader, leaving a lasting effect.  This is a children's book, but anyone can read it.  In fact, I encourage everyone to read this novel.

Katherine Paterson eloquently addresses difficult topics in ways that make it assessable to anyone reading it, whether it be a child or an adult.  She does not dumb down her ideas, instead they are poignant and assessable to anyone.

Leslie and Jess inspire imagination in those that read this story.  I will never forget their story, and will continue to imagine as they did.

Stars: 5/5

Praises:

 “Set in contemporary rural America, the story is one of remarkable richness and depth, beautifully written.”
        - The Horn Book

Shall I Be Challenged?

Hey!  I know this is a little late in the year, but I think it's time to join a couple book Challenges!

The first challenge I've decided to join is the YA Contemporary Challenge, hosted by Katie's Book Blog and Reading Angel.

RULES: Participants can read any contemporary YA novel that is publish between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012 but you must read them in 2012!  (All formats accepted: paperback, ARC, e-book)

There are a couple different levels offered:
Level 1: 5+ books
Level 2: 10 + books
Level 3: 15+ books

I've chosen Level 1: 5+ books
1. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
2. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
3. Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald
4. Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
5. Guitar Notes by Mary Amato
6. 52 Reason To Hate My Father by Jessica Brody
________________________________________________________________

The next challenge I've decided to join is The 2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge, hosted by Reading with Tequila.

RULES: Participants can read any books from the list of books recommended by bloggers in 2011.  You can decide to read books only from the top 25 or from the entire recommendation list.  Rereads do not count towards your total books.  (All formats acceptable: audiobooks, e-book, etc.)

Recommended Books

The Levels:
Level I: 5 books
Level II: 10 books
Level III: 15 books
Level IV: 20 books
Level V: 20 + books

I've chosen Level I: 5 books (I might move up levels as the challenge continues)
1. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2/26/12)
2. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (3/30/12)
3. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (5/21/12)
4. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (7/21/12)
5. Paper Towns by John Green (9/16/12)
6. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (10/28/12)
_________________________________________________________________

This book challenge is called The Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge, hosted by Book'd Out.



RULES:
This challenge will run from January 1st to December 31st 2012.  Create a blog post committing to your participation.  You can choose your books as you go or create a list in advanced.  You have to read a book from each of the genres listed below.  You can read your chosen titles in any order, at any pace, just complete the challenge by December 21st 2012.  Each time you read and review a book as part of this challenge, make sure you identify it by adding either a direct statement or the challenge image badge to the post.

Genres:

1. Literary Fiction - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
2. Crime/Mystery Fiction - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
3. Romantic Fiction - The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith
4. Historical Fiction - Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin
5. Young Adult - Paper Towns by John Green
6. Fantasy - Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson
7. Science Fiction - Nevermore by James Patterson
8. Non Fiction - The Scientists by John Gribbin
9. Horror - Coraline by Neil Gaiman (Graphic Novel)
10. Thriller/Suspense - The Name of the Star - Maureen Johnson 
11. Classic - Lord of the Flies by William Golding
12. You favorite genre - I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

Lord of the Flies

by William Golding
Published: Pedigree Books edition, 1970
pages: 202

This is an Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge book!

This review has SPOILERS!

This is the worlds worst book, parable if you will.  It left me highly irritated and unsatisfied, also slightly depressed for the nature of society. (Not really, it was very well written.)

A group of boys gets stranded on an island and are left to find food and shelter.  The boys elect a leader, Ralph, who was determined to find a way off the island and back to England.  Along with Piggy, he tried to keep the boys safe and in order.  Ralph, determined to get off the island, he commands that a fire be built and sustained so that passing ships will see it.  For a while this works but Jack, the boy in charge of the hunters, gets restless and decides that he should have been the leader.  This is reaffirmed after he successfully catches and kills his first wild hog.  When the group of boys splits in two, most going with Jack, nothing but animosity between the boys is left.

William Golding does not neatly skirt around his opinions of the true nature of humanity.  He does not baby or hold the reader's hand.  He lets you fall deep into the most horrifying and ultimately distressful story of good and evil. Each character seems to symbolize a different characteristic like common sense, knowledge, violence, spirituality, and evil.  It is not immediately evident who symbolizes what, but the reader can quickly draw conclusions through the characters actions.  For example, Ralph symbolizes common sense because he is so adamant about keeping the fire going, which is the only way they would get off the island.  Anyone with self-preservation or common sense would realize that the fire was their best chance of being rescued.  Also, Jack symbolizes violence.  As the new chief and the leader of the hunters, he is wild and blood thirsty, always craving to kill more hogs.

Ralph and Piggy seem to be the only boys with enough sense to continue to strive to get off the island.  The others seem to submit to their fate.  They care less about getting off the island and more about hunting and killing.  The reenacting games are terrifyingly violent that result with two murders and one attempted.  The consequences are nonexistent because the tribe leader sees nothing wrong with it.  All of the savage ways, seem to be completely forgotten as soon as an adult steps onto the shores.  The boys become English children once again.  It's like the subconscious can erase the horror that occurs when there is no one around to monitor it.

People are inherently evil and occasionally do good things.  I absolutely do not like the fact that the subconscious goes away, essentially making everything that happened on the island okay or accidental.  No responsibility is taken and because there was no one to witness it, no one will ever take responsibility.

So it is with sadness that I cannot tell you whether I did not like this story because of it's implications or if I just did not enjoy reading it.  I guess it can be one in the same.  I wanted to like this novel, I wanted to meditate on the morals and meanings behind William Golding's tale.  Alas, consensus is: negative.

Stars: 2.5/5

Praise:

"One sees what Golding is doing. He is showing us stripped man, man naked of all the sanctions of custom and civilization, man as he is alone and in his essence, or at any rate, as he can be conceived to be in such a condition." 
     - Walter Allen

"To me Lord of the Flies has always represented what novels are for, what makes them indispensable." 
     -Stephen King