That went pretty quick

Well, I finished Lord of the Flies and I have to say that I'm disappointed. The ending was so abrupt. Ralph is being chased by everyone on the island and just runs into a naval officer who happened to see the fire. Unfortunately, I didn't get the full enjoyment out of this book because I had it ruined for me. After the first two days of having this book and only reading the first two chapters, I had learned that simon died, Piggy died, and a ship came in the end. In fact, I was sitting in the hall reading after track, and someone who I barely know walks by me and says, "Piggy dies." What is it about this book that makes people want to ruin it?

8-9

I called it! What did I say in one of my earlier posts? That Ralph and Jack would split into two warring factions? I think so. It did split into two sides. Jack's side went to kill a pig which they did in an admittedly weird way. Ralph's group stayed and built a fire on the beach. Jack's group is becoming exceedingly savage. I think putting the head of the pig on a stake was a bit of overkill. When I first head about the pig talking to Simon I thought something was wrong. It caught me off guard. Finally, Simon dying is just plain weird. I don't know how the Lord of the Flies is going to be worked back into the story. The savagery has hit a high point and there is no turning back. What disturbed me most was that Ralph and Piggy were joining in the dancing. Even the most sane of the group are starting to turn.

Simon Rising

Simon is rising to more of a leadership position. When Ralph is staring out at the ocean and thinking about how the boys will never leave, Simon reassures him about how they will all return home. He also volunteers to go back and see Piggy and tell him they will not return for a while. This may not seem like much, but I'm sure that Simon is curious about the beast and instead he decides to help the group by causing all the others not to worry. Ralph's strength as a leader is also falling. He is starting to become more like Jack. He was wrapped up in the chase of the boar. The grop of bigguns in general is becoming more savage. They almost accidentally killed one of their own.

Air Beast

I still can't believe that the people on the island think that the dead pilot falling down in the parachute is the beast everyone fears. Unfortunately more disrespect for Piggy. Left behind with the littluns. I'm kinda surprised that Ralph and Jack lose sight of their goal somewhat. They are playing games? Now? That is highly unintellingent when you could be about to engage in a fight for your life. I'm more surprised at Jack fooling around. He is the one who is all excited about killing the pig. I would think that he would be sweaty-palmmed and determined to take down this scary beast. There is still one more thing. What is with the lack of fire protection? Nobody seems to care about the fire. It has gone out at least three times by now. It will be their downfall soon enough. Again.

Crazy Water Beasts!

I think the kids are becoming more irrational. They are starting to become more savage. I'm still kinda mad that the beast has yet to be revealed. I'm expecting some sort of Loch Ness monsterish creature, with flippers to crawl onto land and snatch up little children in the night. It seems like a child's tale like a boogey monster taking kids from their warm beds. More tension between Jack and Ralph. I see two warring factions. Those who follow Jack and those who follow Ralph. Oddly enough, the choir boys will be tired of Jack's ways and side with Ralph. Those who think that immediate survival, hunting pigs and such, is more important than the fire being kept lit will follow Jack. Jack will make the first move and try to remove Ralph from power. A violent battle will break out and many will be hurt. One will surrendeer to the other, then a ship will come and the survivors will go home.

Lord of the Flies

After the horror that was Pip and Great Expetations. I'm actually on chapter 5, but for now I'll just post on chapters 1 and 2. I noticed that the group seems to disrespect Piggy nad his ideas. They bully him around, especially Jack, and he is not going to take it for much longer. I forsee a mass power struggle between Jack and Ralph. The kids on the island will split into two sides and end up killing one another with only a few remaining. Also, that "beastie" is kinda freakin me out, especially when that kid disappears the night they make the fire.

It's Over!!!

I finished the book and I'd say that it had a relatively happy ending. Pip meeting Estella was a good way to finish with Pip getting the girl as I previously stated. Magwitch died which was no huge surprise, but it still was somewhat shocking. However, Orlick being a giant mastermind behind killing Mrs. Joe and swearing vengence on Pip. I have one question though. What is up with Joe marrying Biddy? Joe has to be like 40 and Biddy is around Pip's age. That caught me by surprise. I liked how Dickens made Joe successful at the end. He's learned to read and write, he has a wife, and has a more gentlemanly appearance. I'm still confused about one thing. How did Orlick figure all of this out? Dickens may have explained it in the book, but I didn't catch it. I liked how Pip had to return to the marshes where he first met Magwitch. I thought it was nice how Pip returned to the original place where his story started.

Coincidences

These few chapters probably had the most coincidental coincidences of any others before them. Highly unrealistic things were popping up left and right in these chapters. First off, whoa. Molly is Estella's mother!? At least that is what Pip thinks. That threw me for a loop in the first place. But wait, thatr is not it. The weirdest thing to happen so far in this book is not Miss Havisham being nice to Pip and then being lit on fire, which was pretty weird, but her being lit on fire and surviving! Pip some how manages to run from the garden to her room without her dying. That just seemed a little odd to me. However, I'm still not done. Pip now suspects that Magwitch is Estella's father. Since Magwitch considers PIp his son that would make him and ZEstella sisters. That meanas that Pip has been wanting to marry his sister. That got a little too crazy for me.

Compeyson's coming

These few chapters were okay. There was more suspense than there was action, which is fine at some points, but this got to be too much. Chapter 47 was the most in my opinion. I thought it odd that Pip would go to the theater to relax. He never really expressed a large intrest in it as far as I'm concerned. I was also suprised that Wopsle recognized the convict from the marsh. I had actually forgotten that he had gone with Pip and Joe. Since Compeyson's appearence is likely to be in the next chapter, I expect a series of highly improbable coincidences. I have a bad feeling about Herbert as well. I feel his role has diminished and that Dickens is removing him from the story. I wonder what other farfetched relations Compeyson will have to Pip besides being the man who stood up Miss Havisham.

Exploding brain

Chapter 42 blew my mind. Through a series of eerie coincidences, Magwitch came to know the man who left Miss Havisham on their wedding day. Magwitch also swore vengence on him for performing such a rotten deed. I was also delighted to learn that Arthur felt remorse for his vile actions, unlike Compeyson. Also, in chapter 44, Miss Havisham seems to take Pity on Pip which is the opposite of what her personality up to that point would lead us to believe she would do. I feel sorry for Pip as well. After confessing his love for Estella and being shut down for Drummle was probably the most painful thing that did or ever will happen to him. He was obbsessed with the notion only to find that his feelings were not Reciprocated. By the way, Chapter 44 had the Best ending of any chapter yet. "Don't go home." Why do you thinnk that Wemmick wrote this note to Pip telling him not to go home.

38 and 39

These two chapters probably had the most action of any so far. First off, I thought Drummle was gone from the story. But he's back. And he's courting Pip's beloved Estella. At this point Pip still thinks that he is supposed to marry Estella, which in my opinion is some very wishful thinking. She ignores Pip completely, but at least she responds to some of her suitors. Oddly enough, many people in Pip's life are finding partners. Herbert is with Clara, Estella and Drummle, and Wemmick and Miss Skiffins. This is getting very coincidental, but I don't mind too much, as long as all of the characters in this story aren't mysteriously related. The next chapter was tied for my favorite with the chapter when Pip first meets Herbert. We meet Pip's mysterious benefactor! And who woulda thunk it, but it is the first character we meet besides Pip. Unfortunately, I am somewhat skeptical of the wacky way the convict recieved his fortune. Sheep ranching in Australia? Creative on Dickens' part, but highly unrealistic in my opinion. Now that we have a new main character I wonder how the story will change. Also, I curious as to how Herbert will react when he returns.

Tragedy Strikes

A major tragedy caught me somewhat off-guard while reading. Mrs. Joe's death seemed to come as real blow to Pip. Even though she seemed not to like Pip at all, Pip loved her. I'm was also happy to read that Pip decided to be nicer to Biddy and Joe and to visit more often. He said he was sincere, but I am curious as to whether he will follow through. Also, Pip turning 21 seemed to be a large milestone. In our society, 18 is the age of adulthood, but Pip gets his money yearly starting at 21. Also, I think it is awesome that Pip is helping Herbert get into the merchant business. That is really kind of him. However, I think it is even cooler that Herbert now has a mysterious benefactor just like Pip has one. The mystery person is giving Pip money who is giving money to Herbert. Essentially that means that Pip's financier is paying for Herbert's business. People just seem to be throwing money around all over the place.

Chapter 28-32

Lots of crazy stuff happening here. First off, the return of the convict. I have a sneaking suspicion that the convict will begin to play a major role, mostly because I read it on the back cover. It is kind of disturbing that this guy keeps popping up everywhere every few years. Also Wopsle in Hamlet was great. I still can't get over the fact that Wopsle is an actor. It is the perfect occupation for him, but it still seems somewhat unnatural to me. Still more surprising, Herbert has a fiance! I hope to meet Clara sometime soon. I'm also concerned with the fact that Wemmick is so at home in the prison. It gives me the feeling that he was a convict at some point. I'm still curious with Wemmick's background. I don't know much about him and I don't think Dickens mentions much about his past. If he does I didn't understand it.

The Return of Joe

My favorite character lives again! Joe has returned to the story, at least in chapter 27. Speaking of things that return, Pip's snobbishness has once again reared its ugly head. Joe was just telling him news and he was disrespectful yet again. He was only interested when the news involved Estella. The best part of the news was that Wopsle has become an actor. After his re-enactment of the murder case earlier in the book I thought about what a great actor he would make. In regards to the Estella news, I wonder when Pip will go to visit her. He loves her, so I'm guessing that he'll take Herbert to Miss Havisham's house to see her. While he's there, he will neglect to stop by Mrs. Joe's house and catch up with Biddy. Based on Pip's reaction to Joe's visit, that seems highly probable if he goes to meet Estella.

Mr. Jaggers: Lawyer

I love Mr. Jaggers now! His stentorioun voice shook the courtroom. Even the judge was trembling. That must be pretty scary to face. Now I know what makes him a great lawyer. His scathing questions and fierce accusations probably make him a living lawyer legend in England. Unfortunately, this is about all that I understood from the chapter. In Mr. pockets house, the servants run the house apparently which seems somewhat odd. Also, I didn't understand what the deal was with the faces Wemmick showed Pip. This brings me to my next question. What role do you think Wemmick will play later in the story?

Oh my God!

I can't believe it! Herbert, the son of Pip's tutor and Miss Havisham's, is the pale young gentleman whose butt Pip kicked. That was my first reaction. Once I recovered from my surprise, I realized that it really isn't that surprising. Matthew Pocket wouldn't have not acknowledged his cousin's birthday , so he sent his son. Also, I love how the story of Miss Havisham is slowly being pieced together. It turns out that I was somewhat right. She did get devastating news which is why all her clocks were stopped. This leads me to a question for you reader. If you had loved someone and gotten news that they weren't going to return that love and betray you, what would you have done?

Chapter 14 to the end of the first section

I recently finished reading this section and I realized something. Pip is getting really stuck up! Just because he came into some money doesn't mean that he has to act completely condescending to Biddy and Joe. I hope that sort of behavior doesn't continue. I was really starting to relate to Pip. I also am wondering whether this means that Joe and Biddy will no longer be a part of the story. I doubt Dickens would go the whole first section of the book and never mention them again, but I don't know how he would tie them back into the story. Why would Biddy or Joe have any reason to go to London? It's a shame to because Joe was my favorite character. He seemed to so nice to Pip and how does Pip repay him? By being a snotty, stuck-up, disrespectful child who doesn't appreciate the good friends he has in Biddy and Joe.

Chapter 12: revisited

My favorite chapter so far is probably chapter 12. It seems somewhat out of place, but that is what I like about it. Pip meets this young man about his age who comes up to him and challanges him to a fight. Pip really doesn't know what to say, but the boy persists, so Pip fights him.Right now I'm thinking,"Pip is gonna get killed,". Suprisingly Pip soundly defeats the boy, who is far more muscular and taller. Estella must have seen the fight because she tells Pip to kiss her at the end of the chapter. I guess I liked this because I am a dreamer. I love comic books and superheroes. Against all odds Pip defeats the enemy and, in the end, gets the girl. This chapter seemed very uplifting and sometimes I just need to see that in a fairly morbid story.

Miss Havisham is weird

I finished chapter 13 and I gotta say this book isn't as horrible as I heard that it would be. The beginning was slow and that convict was really creepy. However, for a convict, he seems to be a relatively nice guy. At first he seemed really mean when he threatened to cut out Pip's heart and liver. However, he took the blame for the goods he forced Pip to steal when he was captured. The most disturbing thing I've read so far is about Miss Havisham. It seems to me that something terrible happened at the time when all of her clocks stopped. Based on what she is wearing and the placement of various objects, I think that she was preparing for her wedding, when she was given devastating news, probably that her spouse to be died. She stopped in mid-dress, and she didn't continue on with her life and sat near lifelessly. I'm conflicted between feelings of pity, awe, and a little bit of disgust.