The Spire by William Golding

In my continuing mission to investigate the lesser-known works of "one hit wonder" writers, I investigate the fifth novel from the author of the iconic Lord of the Flies. Is it as good as his more famous work? No, no it isn't.

Logan Albright is a writer, economist, musician, occultist, and all around interesting guy living and working in Washington, DC. In his spare time, he reads lots of books and reviews them.

[jillianmathews]

Thanks for the review. I just finished reading this for an extra credit assignment and it was so painful that I’m glad I found someone online who I can relate to about this

[lukeeastwood]

I read this a long time ago. It's a pretty obscure subject so I was doubtful at the beginning, but it turned out to be one of his best, utterly gripping as it unfolds.

[frankmorlock]

You were in Mexico ? I'm pretty much a permanent resident of San Miguel de Allende -- the most beautiful city in the world. If you haven't been here you should come.
I liked your take on Golding. I can't remember if I read the Lord of the Flies and saw the movie or just saw the movie. But I do remember that quite by accident I read Golding's only play The Brass Butterfly which I really liked. It's a sort of Shavian comedy set in the Roman Empire but more than that I cannot bring to mind at the moment. But I do remember having a very high opinion of it. I recommend it and I think you would like it, .

I checked out what you had to say about Joyce's Ulysses. Basically, I agree with you. I made a comment to that effect. I DNF'd Ulysses three different times at page 299 in the Modern Library Giant maybe 50 years ago. I liked the first 30 pages and kept waiting for something to happen. My patience was exhausted at page 299 on three different occasions with at least a year interval in between. It's not that the book is difficult, I've read much more difficult books --Hegel for example. But the difference is Hegel was trying to communicate some rather complicated ideas about a difficult subject, whereas, in my opinion Joyce was deliberately making very banal ideas difficult, and hiding them under a barrage of words that conceal the utter lack of interesting plot or characters. Life is too short and there are too many writers who do have something to say to spend with writers who do not.No matter how cleverly they say nothing or nothing worth saying.

I would like to recommend Look Homeward Angel by Thomas Wolfe. If you haven't read it, I think you would like it. If you have read, I'd like you to review it, . It had more impact on me than any other book except War and Peace.

I know you like Les Miz by Hugo. It's a good story with interesting plot and characters, but I think Hugo's 93 and Notre Dame to Paris are actually better. Hugo has an ability to make a character unforgettable; he does it very deftly. In 93 which is about the Chouan Revolt by monarchists in Brittany in 93 against the Revolutionary government in Paris; a patrol of soldiers comes across a woman who is wandering about seemingly dazed. The soldiers are suspicious: is she a spy ? The leader of the troop is a brave young peasant who has no words. He can't put a sentence together. Under questioning it turns out the woman has lost her father to one side and her husband to the other, and she has become separated from her three children and is trying to find them but cannot. She is going crazy.The soldiers believe her and the leader starts slamming the butt of his rifle against a tree trunk, saying: "This damned war ! This damned war !" It's a wonderful scene.

[-tj]

I have a confession. I have never read Lord of the Flies. I like the sound of the characters in The Spire. As for the plot, my argument is is that plot is the most underrated part of writing fiction. I remember having a long discussion with a young man in Bangkok in January 1993. That was his point . Now I am a published writer, I would endorse his view. Plots are extremely difficult to think up, then deliver. You wouldn't like the unpleasant characters in my offering.
Interesting video again.

[THFLCNx]

Never heard of The Spire, although I did really enjoy Lord of the Flies. Have you read The Inheritors? That was supposedly Golding's personal favorite of all his books, and its premise sounds pretty unique and intriguing. Might give that one a go before parting ways with Golding for good. :)

[goldenage]

"The Inheritors" is very good.

[severianconciliator]

If you liked Gormenghast, I highly recommend Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe.