Absolutely gripping, 29 Oct 2007
I spent years looking for a book that would make me forget everything around me and I finally found this. Golding's story is absolutely gripping and of huge interest as it explores the dark depths of human nature. Here you can see how humanity disintegrates outside formal social bounderies.

Amazing., 09 Jul 2006
I read this book straight through, no stops. And I loved it. It is gripping, and even terrifying in some parts. His use of imagery and symbolism is practically an art, and this book perfectly conveys human nature, and it is vital that society is maintained, otherwise we slip into savagery. I really empathised with Ralph and his struggle to hold onto civilisation. Everything that happens is very real. I would recommend this book to anyone.

My bible for GCSE English!!!!!, 12 Mar 2001
I am currently studying GCSE English and was looking for a study guide to help me with "Lord of the Flies". I came across this one purely by chance and have never looked back. This book has taken me from not understandng any of the book and its meanings and implications to knowing exactly what things represent. The use of translating the complex language of the book into simple terms was fantastic.

This book is cheap and extremely useful and I would strongly recommend this to anyone studying the book. I originally, before I used this book, wrote and essay and I received a D grade, I then used this book to rewrite the essay and received an A* grade. Thats how well it works.

It was amazing!, 23 May 1999
If William Golding was alive today and I had the opportunity of meeting him, I would congratulate him on his amazing novel. The use of symbolism was so extremely explicit and perfectly written, it really made me think about society and where we would be without it. It was a novel which I have read over and over again and I will certainly never forget it as it showed me the origins of mankind and taught me to never, ever take anything for granted. Read and enjoy!

An excellent book for anyone from "littluns" to "bigguns"..., 08 Apr 1999
My English class has just finished reading Lord of the Flies, and the way Golding uses symbolism is amazing! EVERYTHING in this book is a symbol! Golding can see right into mans' evil and destructive nature. He shows us how destructive we can be by setting forests on fire, pushing boulders off cliffs, and childrens' games of throwing sand and rocks at each other. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and definitly recommend it for anyone. Read it! Golding's perspective of us humans is very thought-provoking. By the way...this book does not take place during WW2. Have you ever heard of an ejectable passenger tube on an airplane? No. He wrote it to be some time in the future--anytime actually. But time is not important. If it were a specific time it may not apply to us now in the present, but it does. It can apply to anyone, and that's how he wanted it to be.

Absolutely gripping, 29 Oct 2007
I spent years looking for a book that would make me forget everything around me and I finally found this. Golding's story is absolutely gripping and of huge interest as it explores the dark depths of human nature. Here you can see how humanity disintegrates outside formal social bounderies.

Amazing., 09 Jul 2006
I read this book straight through, no stops. And I loved it. It is gripping, and even terrifying in some parts. His use of imagery and symbolism is practically an art, and this book perfectly conveys human nature, and it is vital that society is maintained, otherwise we slip into savagery. I really empathised with Ralph and his struggle to hold onto civilisation. Everything that happens is very real. I would recommend this book to anyone.

My bible for GCSE English!!!!!, 12 Mar 2001
I am currently studying GCSE English and was looking for a study guide to help me with "Lord of the Flies". I came across this one purely by chance and have never looked back. This book has taken me from not understandng any of the book and its meanings and implications to knowing exactly what things represent. The use of translating the complex language of the book into simple terms was fantastic.

This book is cheap and extremely useful and I would strongly recommend this to anyone studying the book. I originally, before I used this book, wrote and essay and I received a D grade, I then used this book to rewrite the essay and received an A* grade. Thats how well it works.

It was amazing!, 23 May 1999
If William Golding was alive today and I had the opportunity of meeting him, I would congratulate him on his amazing novel. The use of symbolism was so extremely explicit and perfectly written, it really made me think about society and where we would be without it. It was a novel which I have read over and over again and I will certainly never forget it as it showed me the origins of mankind and taught me to never, ever take anything for granted. Read and enjoy!

An excellent book for anyone from "littluns" to "bigguns"..., 08 Apr 1999
My English class has just finished reading Lord of the Flies, and the way Golding uses symbolism is amazing! EVERYTHING in this book is a symbol! Golding can see right into mans' evil and destructive nature. He shows us how destructive we can be by setting forests on fire, pushing boulders off cliffs, and childrens' games of throwing sand and rocks at each other. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and definitly recommend it for anyone. Read it! Golding's perspective of us humans is very thought-provoking. By the way...this book does not take place during WW2. Have you ever heard of an ejectable passenger tube on an airplane? No. He wrote it to be some time in the future--anytime actually. But time is not important. If it were a specific time it may not apply to us now in the present, but it does. It can apply to anyone, and that's how he wanted it to be.

Excellent tape, 11 May 2004
Having only seen the film I wasn't prepared for the structure of the book. It was very different and more interesting. This audio tape occasionally has the theme tune and very, very occasionally some atmospheric sound affects, but they're in no way obtrusive.

Having grown up listening to Martin Jarvis read the Just William books I was used to his voice and his manner. He delivers a great performance, I actually think he'd make a great Calloway in any dramatisation of the story!

The tape is a double cassette, easy to store and is 3 hours long. A great title to have.

Absolutely gripping, 29 Oct 2007
I spent years looking for a book that would make me forget everything around me and I finally found this. Golding's story is absolutely gripping and of huge interest as it explores the dark depths of human nature. Here you can see how humanity disintegrates outside formal social bounderies.

Amazing., 09 Jul 2006
I read this book straight through, no stops. And I loved it. It is gripping, and even terrifying in some parts. His use of imagery and symbolism is practically an art, and this book perfectly conveys human nature, and it is vital that society is maintained, otherwise we slip into savagery. I really empathised with Ralph and his struggle to hold onto civilisation. Everything that happens is very real. I would recommend this book to anyone.

My bible for GCSE English!!!!!, 12 Mar 2001
I am currently studying GCSE English and was looking for a study guide to help me with "Lord of the Flies". I came across this one purely by chance and have never looked back. This book has taken me from not understandng any of the book and its meanings and implications to knowing exactly what things represent. The use of translating the complex language of the book into simple terms was fantastic.

This book is cheap and extremely useful and I would strongly recommend this to anyone studying the book. I originally, before I used this book, wrote and essay and I received a D grade, I then used this book to rewrite the essay and received an A* grade. Thats how well it works.

It was amazing!, 23 May 1999
If William Golding was alive today and I had the opportunity of meeting him, I would congratulate him on his amazing novel. The use of symbolism was so extremely explicit and perfectly written, it really made me think about society and where we would be without it. It was a novel which I have read over and over again and I will certainly never forget it as it showed me the origins of mankind and taught me to never, ever take anything for granted. Read and enjoy!

An excellent book for anyone from "littluns" to "bigguns"..., 08 Apr 1999
My English class has just finished reading Lord of the Flies, and the way Golding uses symbolism is amazing! EVERYTHING in this book is a symbol! Golding can see right into mans' evil and destructive nature. He shows us how destructive we can be by setting forests on fire, pushing boulders off cliffs, and childrens' games of throwing sand and rocks at each other. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and definitly recommend it for anyone. Read it! Golding's perspective of us humans is very thought-provoking. By the way...this book does not take place during WW2. Have you ever heard of an ejectable passenger tube on an airplane? No. He wrote it to be some time in the future--anytime actually. But time is not important. If it were a specific time it may not apply to us now in the present, but it does. It can apply to anyone, and that's how he wanted it to be.

Excellent tape, 11 May 2004
Having only seen the film I wasn't prepared for the structure of the book. It was very different and more interesting. This audio tape occasionally has the theme tune and very, very occasionally some atmospheric sound affects, but they're in no way obtrusive.

Having grown up listening to Martin Jarvis read the Just William books I was used to his voice and his manner. He delivers a great performance, I actually think he'd make a great Calloway in any dramatisation of the story!

The tape is a double cassette, easy to store and is 3 hours long. A great title to have.

superb moving book, 07 Jun 2008
i have read this a couple of times now and it's beautiful. Combines the nasty realities of life with touching sentiment and beautifully crafted characters. Story follows a familiar theme with the lovely kind poor girl and rich cad....i don't want to spoil it...but it follows her through, the christian motif through it v strong and poignant with a heart breaking ending. Excellent

Predictable and sobering. (Contains spoiler), 13 Aug 2006
You could see most of it coming a mile off. The peerless young Ruth was bound to meet her Nemesis in the shape of Mr. Bellingham, and he was bound to abandon her, penniless and pregnant, only to turn up years later in a different guise. The only thing I hadn't anticipated was the tear-jerking end. Although predictable, it made me think. How sorry it made me feel for poor Victorian unfortunates like Ruth, lured unwittingly into a life of sin that she could not have anticipated, and upbraided by society for being an unmarried mother, while her vile seducer becomes a pillar of society. Those modern folk who glibly give birth out of wedlock when marriage these days is so easy should remember how terrible life was when people DIDN'T have a choice to become 'respectable'.

An Underrated Classic, 31 Aug 2005
I came to this novel having just read North and South. As with North and South it takes time for Elizabeth Gaskell to set the scene and develop the central characters. But it is worth sticking with. The last 100 pages will take you on an emotional roller coaster. The central character's inherent goodness and selflessness only serves to highlight the hypocracy of those who claim to be the moral guardians of society. The central character feels so real and you cannot fail to be deeply affected by reading this novel.

Much more than a tragic story of a deceived girl, 04 Oct 2001
It's a shame that my review is the first one. Ruth is a classic, a must-read. Mrs. Gaskell deals in her novel with very serious problem of unmarried motherhood and double standards of judging men and women behavior. Why a wealthy young man who seduced and deserted a poor motherless girl is not to be blamed and not to pay for his guilt? And why a girl who has been too young, too innocent and too ignorant in sexual affairs is to suffer and to be an outcast in society? The heroine leads a virtuous life and does a lot of good after her so-called fall. Nevertheless the end of the book is tragic... Some critics find inconsistencies and exaggerations in the story. May be they are right. The author couldn't always choose the best way of presenting the heroine and circumstances. (Well, Hardy's more famous story of Tess of the DÚrbervilles is not also without faults.) Just imagine difficulties of writing of such book in Victorian society. Innocent as it is, Ruth was a scandal and was considered to be an improper reading for young people. Nowadays I would recommend the novel to any reader. It is interesting, intriguing, full of poetical nature descriptions and typical rural characters, the problem is sharp and up-to-day. Modern girls are neither naive nor ignorant. However... are they really wise in love affaires? Aren't they in danger of becoming voluntary victims of charming but spoiled young men? Read the book and judge for yourself.

Absolutely gripping, 29 Oct 2007
I spent years looking for a book that would make me forget everything around me and I finally found this. Golding's story is absolutely gripping and of huge interest as it explores the dark depths of human nature. Here you can see how humanity disintegrates outside formal social bounderies.

Amazing., 09 Jul 2006
I read this book straight through, no stops. And I loved it. It is gripping, and even terrifying in some parts. His use of imagery and symbolism is practically an art, and this book perfectly conveys human nature, and it is vital that society is maintained, otherwise we slip into savagery. I really empathised with Ralph and his struggle to hold onto civilisation. Everything that happens is very real. I would recommend this book to anyone.

My bible for GCSE English!!!!!, 12 Mar 2001
I am currently studying GCSE English and was looking for a study guide to help me with "Lord of the Flies". I came across this one purely by chance and have never looked back. This book has taken me from not understandng any of the book and its meanings and implications to knowing exactly what things represent. The use of translating the complex language of the book into simple terms was fantastic.

This book is cheap and extremely useful and I would strongly recommend this to anyone studying the book. I originally, before I used this book, wrote and essay and I received a D grade, I then used this book to rewrite the essay and received an A* grade. Thats how well it works.

It was amazing!, 23 May 1999
If William Golding was alive today and I had the opportunity of meeting him, I would congratulate him on his amazing novel. The use of symbolism was so extremely explicit and perfectly written, it really made me think about society and where we would be without it. It was a novel which I have read over and over again and I will certainly never forget it as it showed me the origins of mankind and taught me to never, ever take anything for granted. Read and enjoy!

An excellent book for anyone from "littluns" to "bigguns"..., 08 Apr 1999
My English class has just finished reading Lord of the Flies, and the way Golding uses symbolism is amazing! EVERYTHING in this book is a symbol! Golding can see right into mans' evil and destructive nature. He shows us how destructive we can be by setting forests on fire, pushing boulders off cliffs, and childrens' games of throwing sand and rocks at each other. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and definitly recommend it for anyone. Read it! Golding's perspective of us humans is very thought-provoking. By the way...this book does not take place during WW2. Have you ever heard of an ejectable passenger tube on an airplane? No. He wrote it to be some time in the future--anytime actually. But time is not important. If it were a specific time it may not apply to us now in the present, but it does. It can apply to anyone, and that's how he wanted it to be.

Excellent tape, 11 May 2004
Having only seen the film I wasn't prepared for the structure of the book. It was very different and more interesting. This audio tape occasionally has the theme tune and very, very occasionally some atmospheric sound affects, but they're in no way obtrusive.

Having grown up listening to Martin Jarvis read the Just William books I was used to his voice and his manner. He delivers a great performance, I actually think he'd make a great Calloway in any dramatisation of the story!

The tape is a double cassette, easy to store and is 3 hours long. A great title to have.

superb moving book, 07 Jun 2008
i have read this a couple of times now and it's beautiful. Combines the nasty realities of life with touching sentiment and beautifully crafted characters. Story follows a familiar theme with the lovely kind poor girl and rich cad....i don't want to spoil it...but it follows her through, the christian motif through it v strong and poignant with a heart breaking ending. Excellent

Predictable and sobering. (Contains spoiler), 13 Aug 2006
You could see most of it coming a mile off. The peerless young Ruth was bound to meet her Nemesis in the shape of Mr. Bellingham, and he was bound to abandon her, penniless and pregnant, only to turn up years later in a different guise. The only thing I hadn't anticipated was the tear-jerking end. Although predictable, it made me think. How sorry it made me feel for poor Victorian unfortunates like Ruth, lured unwittingly into a life of sin that she could not have anticipated, and upbraided by society for being an unmarried mother, while her vile seducer becomes a pillar of society. Those modern folk who glibly give birth out of wedlock when marriage these days is so easy should remember how terrible life was when people DIDN'T have a choice to become 'respectable'.

An Underrated Classic, 31 Aug 2005
I came to this novel having just read North and South. As with North and South it takes time for Elizabeth Gaskell to set the scene and develop the central characters. But it is worth sticking with. The last 100 pages will take you on an emotional roller coaster. The central character's inherent goodness and selflessness only serves to highlight the hypocracy of those who claim to be the moral guardians of society. The central character feels so real and you cannot fail to be deeply affected by reading this novel.

Much more than a tragic story of a deceived girl, 04 Oct 2001
It's a shame that my review is the first one. Ruth is a classic, a must-read. Mrs. Gaskell deals in her novel with very serious problem of unmarried motherhood and double standards of judging men and women behavior. Why a wealthy young man who seduced and deserted a poor motherless girl is not to be blamed and not to pay for his guilt? And why a girl who has been too young, too innocent and too ignorant in sexual affairs is to suffer and to be an outcast in society? The heroine leads a virtuous life and does a lot of good after her so-called fall. Nevertheless the end of the book is tragic... Some critics find inconsistencies and exaggerations in the story. May be they are right. The author couldn't always choose the best way of presenting the heroine and circumstances. (Well, Hardy's more famous story of Tess of the DÚrbervilles is not also without faults.) Just imagine difficulties of writing of such book in Victorian society. Innocent as it is, Ruth was a scandal and was considered to be an improper reading for young people. Nowadays I would recommend the novel to any reader. It is interesting, intriguing, full of poetical nature descriptions and typical rural characters, the problem is sharp and up-to-day. Modern girls are neither naive nor ignorant. However... are they really wise in love affaires? Aren't they in danger of becoming voluntary victims of charming but spoiled young men? Read the book and judge for yourself.

A classy whodunnit which stands out from the crowd, 10 Feb 2008
In the overcrowded field of mystery thrillers, it's not often one comes across a book that is not only a great mystery but also a literary testament to the turmoil of humanity, but that is exacly what David Guterson has achieved with Snow Falling on Cedars. The 'action' takes place over the course of three days, in a court room presided over by an elderly judge, in an small island community being pummelled by one of the worst wintery storms in living memory. Kabuo, a third generation Japanese immigrant, is accused of the first degree murder of another island fisherman. But as the case unfurls, Guterson takes us on a tour of this island's history that reveals the tensions and turmoil of island life, and reveals the backstories of the accused, the victim and many of the witnesses and spectators. Each character is laid bare, exposed to the censure of the pen, while Guterson leaves the reader to make their own judgement. In finely crafted, laconic prose, Snow Falling on Cedars is a testament to the pointlessly of war, the duality of the nature of love and, above all, to the power to humanity to do the right thing in the end. An engaging parable, a gripping thriller, and fine book. Highly recommended.

Whodunnit? who cares? that's not the point of this book, 03 Jan 2008
This is not a whodunnit in the Agatha Christie sense of the term. Do not expect everyone to gather in the drawing room where the detective will point their finger at the person every reader had worked out on page six was the guilty party.

If that is what you expect then you will be disappointed. As other reviewers have said it is a pity in many ways that someone chose to label the book as a whodunnit. Yes this is a courtroom drama and yes there is a mystery to solve. More importantly though is that this book is a superbly told description of a small community, exacerbated even further by their insularity, both literal and metaphorical, and some slight racist overtones. That it does superbly but the amount of description Guterson uses to achieve that does get in the way of approaching this as a simple whodunnit.

If you like Joanne Harris' novels then this should appeal. It has those similar themes of small communities but is in many ways a far better account. If you want a true whodunnit then look elsewhere, that is not the main point of this book.

not really a crime book, 12 Dec 2007
The main disadvantage this book has is that it has the word 'whodunnit' on the cover, which is completely misleading. Frankly, the reviewer who labelled this as a whodunnit ought to be sacked; it is hardly surprising that people who buy this book expecting a whodunnit are disappointed, since that particular genre is plot driven with minimal interest in characters, whereas this thoughtful and, in places, profound work is quite the opposite. Guterson is clearly interested in characters, describing their motivations and how these motivations came to exist at a deeper level than most crime books, which is what separates this book from most other crime fiction. In fact, I'm not even sure labelling it as a piece of crime fiction is helpful.
In short, a beautiful and engaging book, but don't buy it if you want a whodunnit or a thriller...

good story, rather overdescriptive, 05 Dec 2006
A courtroom drama consisting of a series of flashbacks into the lives of the witnesses.
It is an enjoyable read, but at times with superfluous description and scene setting -- most of which could just be skipped. The flash-back technique is quite well managed, but can be a little confusing at times. Generally, it is a well-written story, although the ending takes a pointlessly philosophical turn.


Descriptive and insightful…, 07 Feb 2006
I enjoyed this book and the way the characters and plot unravelled as the story progressed. I did find the description a little too in-depth at times and found myself wanting to skip paragraphs which described the weather and scenery. Instead, I found delving into the past of the characters far more interesting – a revealing insight into how the war destroyed so many lives and how prejudice determined many actions and choices during and after the war.

Compared to the rest of the novel the ending seemed incredibly quick; a lengthy in-depth treatment of the murder trial (including perhaps too much on the closing speeches as we had already read all the details and didn’t need to ream them all again) was followed by Ishmael’s quick revelation (which should have been made earlier) and subsequently the ending was upon us.

A satisfying ending however to an interesting book and a very well-written debut.

Absolutely gripping, 29 Oct 2007
I spent years looking for a book that would make me forget everything around me and I finally found this. Golding's story is absolutely gripping and of huge interest as it explores the dark depths of human nature. Here you can see how humanity disintegrates outside formal social bounderies.

Amazing., 09 Jul 2006
I read this book straight through, no stops. And I loved it. It is gripping, and even terrifying in some parts. His use of imagery and symbolism is practically an art, and this book perfectly conveys human nature, and it is vital that society is maintained, otherwise we slip into savagery. I really empathised with Ralph and his struggle to hold onto civilisation. Everything that happens is very real. I would recommend this book to anyone.

My bible for GCSE English!!!!!, 12 Mar 2001
I am currently studying GCSE English and was looking for a study guide to help me with "Lord of the Flies". I came across this one purely by chance and have never looked back. This book has taken me from not understandng any of the book and its meanings and implications to knowing exactly what things represent. The use of translating the complex language of the book into simple terms was fantastic.

This book is cheap and extremely useful and I would strongly recommend this to anyone studying the book. I originally, before I used this book, wrote and essay and I received a D grade, I then used this book to rewrite the essay and received an A* grade. Thats how well it works.

It was amazing!, 23 May 1999
If William Golding was alive today and I had the opportunity of meeting him, I would congratulate him on his amazing novel. The use of symbolism was so extremely explicit and perfectly written, it really made me think about society and where we would be without it. It was a novel which I have read over and over again and I will certainly never forget it as it showed me the origins of mankind and taught me to never, ever take anything for granted. Read and enjoy!

An excellent book for anyone from "littluns" to "bigguns"..., 08 Apr 1999
My English class has just finished reading Lord of the Flies, and the way Golding uses symbolism is amazing! EVERYTHING in this book is a symbol! Golding can see right into mans' evil and destructive nature. He shows us how destructive we can be by setting forests on fire, pushing boulders off cliffs, and childrens' games of throwing sand and rocks at each other. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and definitly recommend it for anyone. Read it! Golding's perspective of us humans is very thought-provoking. By the way...this book does not take place during WW2. Have you ever heard of an ejectable passenger tube on an airplane? No. He wrote it to be some time in the future--anytime actually. But time is not important. If it were a specific time it may not apply to us now in the present, but it does. It can apply to anyone, and that's how he wanted it to be.

Excellent tape, 11 May 2004
Having only seen the film I wasn't prepared for the structure of the book. It was very different and more interesting. This audio tape occasionally has the theme tune and very, very occasionally some atmospheric sound affects, but they're in no way obtrusive.

Having grown up listening to Martin Jarvis read the Just William books I was used to his voice and his manner. He delivers a great performance, I actually think he'd make a great Calloway in any dramatisation of the story!

The tape is a double cassette, easy to store and is 3 hours long. A great title to have.

superb moving book, 07 Jun 2008
i have read this a couple of times now and it's beautiful. Combines the nasty realities of life with touching sentiment and beautifully crafted characters. Story follows a familiar theme with the lovely kind poor girl and rich cad....i don't want to spoil it...but it follows her through, the christian motif through it v strong and poignant with a heart breaking ending. Excellent

Predictable and sobering. (Contains spoiler), 13 Aug 2006
You could see most of it coming a mile off. The peerless young Ruth was bound to meet her Nemesis in the shape of Mr. Bellingham, and he was bound to abandon her, penniless and pregnant, only to turn up years later in a different guise. The only thing I hadn't anticipated was the tear-jerking end. Although predictable, it made me think. How sorry it made me feel for poor Victorian unfortunates like Ruth, lured unwittingly into a life of sin that she could not have anticipated, and upbraided by society for being an unmarried mother, while her vile seducer becomes a pillar of society. Those modern folk who glibly give birth out of wedlock when marriage these days is so easy should remember how terrible life was when people DIDN'T have a choice to become 'respectable'.

An Underrated Classic, 31 Aug 2005
I came to this novel having just read North and South. As with North and South it takes time for Elizabeth Gaskell to set the scene and develop the central characters. But it is worth sticking with. The last 100 pages will take you on an emotional roller coaster. The central character's inherent goodness and selflessness only serves to highlight the hypocracy of those who claim to be the moral guardians of society. The central character feels so real and you cannot fail to be deeply affected by reading this novel.

Much more than a tragic story of a deceived girl, 04 Oct 2001
It's a shame that my review is the first one. Ruth is a classic, a must-read. Mrs. Gaskell deals in her novel with very serious problem of unmarried motherhood and double standards of judging men and women behavior. Why a wealthy young man who seduced and deserted a poor motherless girl is not to be blamed and not to pay for his guilt? And why a girl who has been too young, too innocent and too ignorant in sexual affairs is to suffer and to be an outcast in society? The heroine leads a virtuous life and does a lot of good after her so-called fall. Nevertheless the end of the book is tragic... Some critics find inconsistencies and exaggerations in the story. May be they are right. The author couldn't always choose the best way of presenting the heroine and circumstances. (Well, Hardy's more famous story of Tess of the DÚrbervilles is not also without faults.) Just imagine difficulties of writing of such book in Victorian society. Innocent as it is, Ruth was a scandal and was considered to be an improper reading for young people. Nowadays I would recommend the novel to any reader. It is interesting, intriguing, full of poetical nature descriptions and typical rural characters, the problem is sharp and up-to-day. Modern girls are neither naive nor ignorant. However... are they really wise in love affaires? Aren't they in danger of becoming voluntary victims of charming but spoiled young men? Read the book and judge for yourself.

A classy whodunnit which stands out from the crowd, 10 Feb 2008
In the overcrowded field of mystery thrillers, it's not often one comes across a book that is not only a great mystery but also a literary testament to the turmoil of humanity, but that is exacly what David Guterson has achieved with Snow Falling on Cedars. The 'action' takes place over the course of three days, in a court room presided over by an elderly judge, in an small island community being pummelled by one of the worst wintery storms in living memory. Kabuo, a third generation Japanese immigrant, is accused of the first degree murder of another island fisherman. But as the case unfurls, Guterson takes us on a tour of this island's history that reveals the tensions and turmoil of island life, and reveals the backstories of the accused, the victim and many of the witnesses and spectators. Each character is laid bare, exposed to the censure of the pen, while Guterson leaves the reader to make their own judgement. In finely crafted, laconic prose, Snow Falling on Cedars is a testament to the pointlessly of war, the duality of the nature of love and, above all, to the power to humanity to do the right thing in the end. An engaging parable, a gripping thriller, and fine book. Highly recommended.

Whodunnit? who cares? that's not the point of this book, 03 Jan 2008
This is not a whodunnit in the Agatha Christie sense of the term. Do not expect everyone to gather in the drawing room where the detective will point their finger at the person every reader had worked out on page six was the guilty party.

If that is what you expect then you will be disappointed. As other reviewers have said it is a pity in many ways that someone chose to label the book as a whodunnit. Yes this is a courtroom drama and yes there is a mystery to solve. More importantly though is that this book is a superbly told description of a small community, exacerbated even further by their insularity, both literal and metaphorical, and some slight racist overtones. That it does superbly but the amount of description Guterson uses to achieve that does get in the way of approaching this as a simple whodunnit.

If you like Joanne Harris' novels then this should appeal. It has those similar themes of small communities but is in many ways a far better account. If you want a true whodunnit then look elsewhere, that is not the main point of this book.

not really a crime book, 12 Dec 2007
The main disadvantage this book has is that it has the word 'whodunnit' on the cover, which is completely misleading. Frankly, the reviewer who labelled this as a whodunnit ought to be sacked; it is hardly surprising that people who buy this book expecting a whodunnit are disappointed, since that particular genre is plot driven with minimal interest in characters, whereas this thoughtful and, in places, profound work is quite the opposite. Guterson is clearly interested in characters, describing their motivations and how these motivations came to exist at a deeper level than most crime books, which is what separates this book from most other crime fiction. In fact, I'm not even sure labelling it as a piece of crime fiction is helpful.
In short, a beautiful and engaging book, but don't buy it if you want a whodunnit or a thriller...

good story, rather overdescriptive, 05 Dec 2006
A courtroom drama consisting of a series of flashbacks into the lives of the witnesses.
It is an enjoyable read, but at times with superfluous description and scene setting -- most of which could just be skipped. The flash-back technique is quite well managed, but can be a little confusing at times. Generally, it is a well-written story, although the ending takes a pointlessly philosophical turn.


Descriptive and insightful…, 07 Feb 2006
I enjoyed this book and the way the characters and plot unravelled as the story progressed. I did find the description a little too in-depth at times and found myself wanting to skip paragraphs which described the weather and scenery. Instead, I found delving into the past of the characters far more interesting – a revealing insight into how the war destroyed so many lives and how prejudice determined many actions and choices during and after the war.

Compared to the rest of the novel the ending seemed incredibly quick; a lengthy in-depth treatment of the murder trial (including perhaps too much on the closing speeches as we had already read all the details and didn’t need to ream them all again) was followed by Ishmael’s quick revelation (which should have been made earlier) and subsequently the ending was upon us.

A satisfying ending however to an interesting book and a very well-written debut.

Worthy of a claim to gratness, 20 Oct 2008
Over forty years ago a new English teacher at my school answered a question asked by an eager student. The question was, "What do you think is the greatest novel written in English?" He didn't think for very long before replying, "The Heart Of The Matter."

We academically-inclined youths borrowed Graham Greene's novel from the library and eventually conferred. There were shrugs, some indifference, appreciation without enthusiasm. We were all about sixteen years old.

I last re-read The Heart Of The Matter about twenty-five years ago. When I began it again for the fourth time last week, I could still remember vividly the basics of its characters and plot. Henry Scobie is an Assistant Chief of Police in a British West African colony. It is wartime and he has been passed over for promotion. He is fifty-ish, wordly-wise, apparently pragmatic, a sheen that hides a deeply analytical conscience. Louise, his wife is somewhat unfocusedly unhappy with her lot. She is a devout Catholic and this provides her support, but the climate is getting to everyone. She leaves for a break that Scobie cannot really afford. He accepts debt.

The colony's businesses are run by Syrians. Divisions within their community have roots deeper than commercial competition. There is "trade" of many sorts. There are accusations, investigations, rumours and counter-claims. Special people arrive to look into things. There's a suicide, more than one, in fact, at least one murder, an extra-marital affair, blackmail, family and wartime tragedy.

But above all there is the character of Henry Scobie. He is a man of principle who thinks he is a recalcitrant slob. He is a man of conscience who presents a pragmatic face. He makes decisions fully aware of their consequences, but remains apparently unable to influence the circumstance that repeatedly seems to dictate events. He remains utterly honest in his deceit, consistent in his unpredictability. His life becomes a beautiful, uncontrolled mess. His wife's simple orthodox Catholicism contrasts with his never really adopted faith. He tries to keep face, but cannot reconcile the facts of his life with the demands of his conscience. His ideals seem to have no place in a world where interests overrule principle. He sees a solution, a way out, but perhaps it is a dead end.

For twenty-first century sensibilities, the colonial era attitudes towards local people appear patronising at best. Perhaps that is how things were. But The Heart Of The Matter is not really a descriptive work. It is not about place and time. Like a Shakespearean tragedy, the events and their setting provide only a backdrop and context for a deeply moving examination of motive and conscience. And also like a Shakespearean tragedy, the novel transcends any limitations of its setting to say something unquestionably universal about the human condition. Forty years on, I now realise, that my new English teacher was probably right.


Chronicle of a struggle within, 08 Jul 2008
This is a magnificent book. It starts quite ordinarily enough and takes its time to get going but the wait is worth it. The first third of the novel is solid character building; and what characters they are. Green has a real talent for creating amazing personalities who you want to know more and more about. The central figure of Scobie is of course treated in great detail but the other people in the book jump out vividly too. From the ineffective priest Father Rank to my favourite the disgusting scheming Yusef, right through to more minor characters such as Harris and his terribly shabby hotel room in which he hunts cockroaches; not one is badly drawn.

This book is regarded as one of Greene Catholic novels and while there is a great deal of Catholic symbolism and debate about the nature of religion and the ultimate fate of the soul I found it to be rather a story about morality. Scobie is very strict with himself, he is someone who wrestles with his life and his place in the world. I am an atheist and have no time for thoughts about eternal damnation and the like but Greene's skilful writing makes Scobie's self torture amazingly compelling reading. Visual images such as the following are just fantastic to read as Scobie tries to come to terms with the results of his actions.

He thought: my heart has hardened, and he pictured the fossilised shells one picks up on a beach: the stony convolutions like arteries.

I found the conclusion to the story to be entirely predictable but was not disappointed by this in the least. Hints are dropped very early on by events in the story as to what the end will be and the reader is drawn inexorably onwards toward the inevitable finish. Green doesn't flinch at the end.

I will certainly be reading more of Graham Greene's work in the future.


Real matter at Heart!, 20 Jun 2008
About three weeks ago I picked up `The Heart of the Matter' - Greene's novel of 1948 set in West Africa during the Second World War.

I first read this about 30 years ago - It has everything I remember - but a lot more.

Perhaps because I've been working on `The Taming of the Shrew' at the same time - elements of religion, marriage and identity have stood out in focus in a way I don't remember. The Shrew is a play all about seeking salvation through appropriate partnering - The Heart of the Matter, how salvation is individual and not to be found in others.

This was a pretty dismal, depressing read the first time - it touched on the meaning of existence and right way to live - on lovelessness and the unforgivable: What I hadn't tasted then was the existential angst, the deepness of the despair and the strength of individual choice.

Major Scobie, our everyman, is a policeman with a wife - respectability personified. He is hated by the ex-pats because he isn't corrupt - and loved by the Syrian dealer in corruption for the same reason. His lack of corruption perversely makes him untrustworthy to his own kind - and his career suffers as a consequence. The only true friendship comes from the Syrian, Yusef - very not British - and it is a friendship Scobie can never accept.

It is Scobie's fall from grace we follow - in the true meaning of the words: He is not ruined in any earthly way - but his spiritual existence is, at least in his own mind, spiraling ever further down through the circles of hell.

In one of the more frighteningly understandable images of the book, Scobie sees himself as fisting god - not fighting in the abstract, but physically punching and damaging the flesh: It is an image which horrifies in its very physicality - and in the clarity of self-knowledge Scobie exhibits.

Around this dying light flutter a whole cast of shadow-dwelling characters.

Scobie's wife is damaged goods - her husband's incorruptibility has driven her to this god forsaken land so she has plunged into the superficialities of Catholic dogma - the ritual and the literal making her empty life fuller. She reads books and poetry - replacing any real inner life with printed words and borrowed sounds.

She is not a fool - but it is her needs that keep what is left of their marriage alive - most of it died with a young daughter back in England. Her leaving to live in South Africa opens the gap needed for a replacement `needer' - and the final human dilemma that shatters Scobie's relationship with the divine.

Wilson, spy-on-his-own-kind, and writer of trash poetry; driving Scobie no more than a mosquito could - tolerated as a fact of the environment - in `love' with Scobie's wife and emptying the word of all depth.

Helen, fallen woman and siren - who is no more than a vessel the fates use to trap Scobie - from her very first appearance as love-less, dried-skin of a girl clutching a stamp-album to near-whore for the ex-pat wild boy.

A priest who knows he serves no one well - least of oll Scobie; a priest who needs to confess as much as to listen to confession - but perhaps the only one who sees the real relationship of Scobie to his god - who appreciates the complexities and ultimate unknowability of any meaning in life.

These moths flicker in and out of the life that is Scobie - contrasting their weaknesses with the immense strength he is using in his `psychomachia' - his soul-struggle.

Scobie is ultimately heroic - in his choice and in facing of the consequences of that choice. He is very much a 20th Century man - having both the consciousness and anxiety William Golding identified as hallmarks in the work of Graham Greene.

Morality's Conflicts, 08 Jun 2008
Another of his books where his Catholicism is very strongly on show. It is an excellent book telling of a colonial policeman, passed over for promotion and thereby unable to help his wife's longing for social status. Scobie feels like he has failed in his duty towards her and sends her off on a holiday he can ill afford, having to borrow money from a local villain to do so. We see how an honest man is conflicted between duty and honesty and the affair affair when it happens further conflicts his morality. As with all Greene's books it is expertly written and they are far more than just novels. Highly recommended.

Disapointing, 07 Mar 2008
After reading The Quiet American I was expecting something in the same vein. I found myself getting bored with a novel badly constructed and at some time chaotic. If I would not have read the introduction I would have never got the importance of religion in the life of the main character. It is difficult to believe that Scobie is torn between his duty, love and religious obligations. Yet we feel the heat but that's all and not enough.

Absolutely gripping, 29 Oct 2007
I spent years looking for a book that would make me forget everything around me and I finally found this. Golding's story is absolutely gripping and of huge interest as it explores the dark depths of human nature. Here you can see how humanity disintegrates outside formal social bounderies.

Amazing., 09 Jul 2006
I read this book straight through, no stops. And I loved it. It is gripping, and even terrifying in some parts. His use of imagery and symbolism is practically an art, and this book perfectly conveys human nature, and it is vital that society is maintained, otherwise we slip into savagery. I really empathised with Ralph and his struggle to hold onto civilisation. Everything that happens is very real. I would recommend this book to anyone.

My bible for GCSE English!!!!!, 12 Mar 2001
I am currently studying GCSE English and was looking for a study guide to help me with "Lord of the Flies". I came across this one purely by chance and have never looked back. This book has taken me from not understandng any of the book and its meanings and implications to knowing exactly what things represent. The use of translating the complex language of the book into simple terms was fantastic.

This book is cheap and extremely useful and I would strongly recommend this to anyone studying the book. I originally, before I used this book, wrote and essay and I received a D grade, I then used this book to rewrite the essay and received an A* grade. Thats how well it works.

It was amazing!, 23 May 1999
If William Golding was alive today and I had the opportunity of meeting him, I would congratulate him on his amazing novel. The use of symbolism was so extremely explicit and perfectly written, it really made me think about society and where we would be without it. It was a novel which I have read over and over again and I will certainly never forget it as it showed me the origins of mankind and taught me to never, ever take anything for granted. Read and enjoy!

An excellent book for anyone from "littluns" to "bigguns"..., 08 Apr 1999
My English class has just finished reading Lord of the Flies, and the way Golding uses symbolism is amazing! EVERYTHING in this book is a symbol! Golding can see right into mans' evil and destructive nature. He shows us how destructive we can be by setting forests on fire, pushing boulders off cliffs, and childrens' games of throwing sand and rocks at each other. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and definitly recommend it for anyone. Read it! Golding's perspective of us humans is very thought-provoking. By the way...this book does not take place during WW2. Have you ever heard of an ejectable passenger tube on an airplane? No. He wrote it to be some time in the future--anytime actually. But time is not important. If it were a specific time it may not apply to us now in the present, but it does. It can apply to anyone, and that's how he wanted it to be.

Excellent tape, 11 May 2004
Having only seen the film I wasn't prepared for the structure of the book. It was very different and more interesting. This audio tape occasionally has the theme tune and very, very occasionally some atmospheric sound affects, but they're in no way obtrusive.

Having grown up listening to Martin Jarvis read the Just William books I was used to his voice and his manner. He delivers a great performance, I actually think he'd make a great Calloway in any dramatisation of the story!

The tape is a double cassette, easy to store and is 3 hours long. A great title to have.

superb moving book, 07 Jun 2008
i have read this a couple of times now and it's beautiful. Combines the nasty realities of life with touching sentiment and beautifully crafted characters. Story follows a familiar theme with the lovely kind poor girl and rich cad....i don't want to spoil it...but it follows her through, the christian motif through it v strong and poignant with a heart breaking ending. Excellent

Predictable and sobering. (Contains spoiler), 13 Aug 2006
You could see most of it coming a mile off. The peerless young Ruth was bound to meet her Nemesis in the shape of Mr. Bellingham, and he was bound to abandon her, penniless and pregnant, only to turn up years later in a different guise. The only thing I hadn't anticipated was the tear-jerking end. Although predictable, it made me think. How sorry it made me feel for poor Victorian unfortunates like Ruth, lured unwittingly into a life of sin that she could not have anticipated, and upbraided by society for being an unmarried mother, while her vile seducer becomes a pillar of society. Those modern folk who glibly give birth out of wedlock when marriage these days is so easy should remember how terrible life was when people DIDN'T have a choice to become 'respectable'.

An Underrated Classic, 31 Aug 2005
I came to this novel having just read North and South. As with North and South it takes time for Elizabeth Gaskell to set the scene and develop the central characters. But it is worth sticking with. The last 100 pages will take you on an emotional roller coaster. The central character's inherent goodness and selflessness only serves to highlight the hypocracy of those who claim to be the moral guardians of society. The central character feels so real and you cannot fail to be deeply affected by reading this novel.

Much more than a tragic story of a deceived girl, 04 Oct 2001
It's a shame that my review is the first one. Ruth is a classic, a must-read. Mrs. Gaskell deals in her novel with very serious problem of unmarried motherhood and double standards of judging men and women behavior. Why a wealthy young man who seduced and deserted a poor motherless girl is not to be blamed and not to pay for his guilt? And why a girl who has been too young, too innocent and too ignorant in sexual affairs is to suffer and to be an outcast in society? The heroine leads a virtuous life and does a lot of good after her so-called fall. Nevertheless the end of the book is tragic... Some critics find inconsistencies and exaggerations in the story. May be they are right. The author couldn't always choose the best way of presenting the heroine and circumstances. (Well, Hardy's more famous story of Tess of the DÚrbervilles is not also without faults.) Just imagine difficulties of writing of such book in Victorian society. Innocent as it is, Ruth was a scandal and was considered to be an improper reading for young people. Nowadays I would recommend the novel to any reader. It is interesting, intriguing, full of poetical nature descriptions and typical rural characters, the problem is sharp and up-to-day. Modern girls are neither naive nor ignorant. However... are they really wise in love affaires? Aren't they in danger of becoming voluntary victims of charming but spoiled young men? Read the book and judge for yourself.

A classy whodunnit which stands out from the crowd, 10 Feb 2008
In the overcrowded field of mystery thrillers, it's not often one comes across a book that is not only a great mystery but also a literary testament to the turmoil of humanity, but that is exacly what David Guterson has achieved with Snow Falling on Cedars. The 'action' takes place over the course of three days, in a court room presided over by an elderly judge, in an small island community being pummelled by one of the worst wintery storms in living memory. Kabuo, a third generation Japanese immigrant, is accused of the first degree murder of another island fisherman. But as the case unfurls, Guterson takes us on a tour of this island's history that reveals the tensions and turmoil of island life, and reveals the backstories of the accused, the victim and many of the witnesses and spectators. Each character is laid bare, exposed to the censure of the pen, while Guterson leaves the reader to make their own judgement. In finely crafted, laconic prose, Snow Falling on Cedars is a testament to the pointlessly of war, the duality of the nature of love and, above all, to the power to humanity to do the right thing in the end. An engaging parable, a gripping thriller, and fine book. Highly recommended.

Whodunnit? who cares? that's not the point of this book, 03 Jan 2008
This is not a whodunnit in the Agatha Christie sense of the term. Do not expect everyone to gather in the drawing room where the detective will point their finger at the person every reader had worked out on page six was the guilty party.

If that is what you expect then you will be disappointed. As other reviewers have said it is a pity in many ways that someone chose to label the book as a whodunnit. Yes this is a courtroom drama and yes there is a mystery to solve. More importantly though is that this book is a superbly told description of a small community, exacerbated even further by their insularity, both literal and metaphorical, and some slight racist overtones. That it does superbly but the amount of description Guterson uses to achieve that does get in the way of approaching this as a simple whodunnit.

If you like Joanne Harris' novels then this should appeal. It has those similar themes of small communities but is in many ways a far better account. If you want a true whodunnit then look elsewhere, that is not the main point of this book.

not really a crime book, 12 Dec 2007
The main disadvantage this book has is that it has the word 'whodunnit' on the cover, which is completely misleading. Frankly, the reviewer who labelled this as a whodunnit ought to be sacked; it is hardly surprising that people who buy this book expecting a whodunnit are disappointed, since that particular genre is plot driven with minimal interest in characters, whereas this thoughtful and, in places, profound work is quite the opposite. Guterson is clearly interested in characters, describing their motivations and how these motivations came to exist at a deeper level than most crime books, which is what separates this book from most other crime fiction. In fact, I'm not even sure labelling it as a piece of crime fiction is helpful.
In short, a beautiful and engaging book, but don't buy it if you want a whodunnit or a thriller...

good story, rather overdescriptive, 05 Dec 2006
A courtroom drama consisting of a series of flashbacks into the lives of the witnesses.
It is an enjoyable read, but at times with superfluous description and scene setting -- most of which could just be skipped. The flash-back technique is quite well managed, but can be a little confusing at times. Generally, it is a well-written story, although the ending takes a pointlessly philosophical turn.


Descriptive and insightful…, 07 Feb 2006
I enjoyed this book and the way the characters and plot unravelled as the story progressed. I did find the description a little too in-depth at times and found myself wanting to skip paragraphs which described the weather and scenery. Instead, I found delving into the past of the characters far more interesting – a revealing insight into how the war destroyed so many lives and how prejudice determined many actions and choices during and after the war.

Compared to the rest of the novel the ending seemed incredibly quick; a lengthy in-depth treatment of the murder trial (including perhaps too much on the closing speeches as we had already read all the details and didn’t need to ream them all again) was followed by Ishmael’s quick revelation (which should have been made earlier) and subsequently the ending was upon us.

A satisfying ending however to an interesting book and a very well-written debut.

Worthy of a claim to gratness, 20 Oct 2008
Over forty years ago a new English teacher at my school answered a question asked by an eager student. The question was, "What do you think is the greatest novel written in English?" He didn't think for very long before replying, "The Heart Of The Matter."

We academically-inclined youths borrowed Graham Greene's novel from the library and eventually conferred. There were shrugs, some indifference, appreciation without enthusiasm. We were all about sixteen years old.

I last re-read The Heart Of The Matter about twenty-five years ago. When I began it again for the fourth time last week, I could still remember vividly the basics of its characters and plot. Henry Scobie is an Assistant Chief of Police in a British West African colony. It is wartime and he has been passed over for promotion. He is fifty-ish, wordly-wise, apparently pragmatic, a sheen that hides a deeply analytical conscience. Louise, his wife is somewhat unfocusedly unhappy with her lot. She is a devout Catholic and this provides her support, but the climate is getting to everyone. She leaves for a break that Scobie cannot really afford. He accepts debt.

The colony's businesses are run by Syrians. Divisions within their community have roots deeper than commercial competition. There is "trade" of many sorts. There are accusations, investigations, rumours and counter-claims. Special people arrive to look into things. There's a suicide, more than one, in fact, at least one murder, an extra-marital affair, blackmail, family and wartime tragedy.

But above all there is the character of Henry Scobie. He is a man of principle who thinks he is a recalcitrant slob. He is a man of conscience who presents a pragmatic face. He makes decisions fully aware of their consequences, but remains apparently unable to influence the circumstance that repeatedly seems to dictate events. He remains utterly honest in his deceit, consistent in his unpredictability. His life becomes a beautiful, uncontrolled mess. His wife's simple orthodox Catholicism contrasts with his never really adopted faith. He tries to keep face, but cannot reconcile the facts of his life with the demands of his conscience. His ideals seem to have no place in a world where interests overrule principle. He sees a solution, a way out, but perhaps it is a dead end.

For twenty-first century sensibilities, the colonial era attitudes towards local people appear patronising at best. Perhaps that is how things were. But The Heart Of The Matter is not really a descriptive work. It is not about place and time. Like a Shakespearean tragedy, the events and their setting provide only a backdrop and context for a deeply moving examination of motive and conscience. And also like a Shakespearean tragedy, the novel transcends any limitations of its setting to say something unquestionably universal about the human condition. Forty years on, I now realise, that my new English teacher was probably right.


Chronicle of a struggle within, 08 Jul 2008
This is a magnificent book. It starts quite ordinarily enough and takes its time to get going but the wait is worth it. The first third of the novel is solid character building; and what characters they are. Green has a real talent for creating amazing personalities who you want to know more and more about. The central figure of Scobie is of course treated in great detail but the other people in the book jump out vividly too. From the ineffective priest Father Rank to my favourite the disgusting scheming Yusef, right through to more minor characters such as Harris and his terribly shabby hotel room in which he hunts cockroaches; not one is badly drawn.

This book is regarded as one of Greene Catholic novels and while there is a great deal of Catholic symbolism and debate about the nature of religion and the ultimate fate of the soul I found it to be rather a story about morality. Scobie is very strict with himself, he is someone who wrestles with his life and his place in the world. I am an atheist and have no time for thoughts about eternal damnation and the like but Greene's skilful writing makes Scobie's self torture amazingly compelling reading. Visual images such as the following are just fantastic to read as Scobie tries to come to terms with the results of his actions.

He thought: my heart has hardened, and he pictured the fossilised shells one picks up on a beach: the stony convolutions like arteries.

I found the conclusion to the story to be entirely predictable but was not disappointed by this in the least. Hints are dropped very early on by events in the story as to what the end will be and the reader is drawn inexorably onwards toward the inevitable finish. Green doesn't flinch at the end.

I will certainly be reading more of Graham Greene's work in the future.


Real matter at Heart!, 20 Jun 2008
About three weeks ago I picked up `The Heart of the Matter' - Greene's novel of 1948 set in West Africa during the Second World War.

I first read this about 30 years ago - It has everything I remember - but a lot more.

Perhaps because I've been working on `The Taming of the Shrew' at the same time - elements of religion, marriage and identity have stood out in focus in a way I don't remember. The Shrew is a play all about seeking salvation through appropriate partnering - The Heart of the Matter, how salvation is individual and not to be found in others.

This was a pretty dismal, depressing read the first time - it touched on the meaning of existence and right way to live - on lovelessness and the unforgivable: What I hadn't tasted then was the existential angst, the deepness of the despair and the strength of individual choice.

Major Scobie, our everyman, is a policeman with a wife - respectability personified. He is hated by the ex-pats because he isn't corrupt - and loved by the Syrian dealer in corruption for the same reason. His lack of corruption perversely makes him untrustworthy to his own kind - and his career suffers as a consequence. The only true friendship comes from the Syrian, Yusef - very not British - and it is a friendship Scobie can never accept.

It is Scobie's fall from grace we follow - in the true meaning of the words: He is not ruined in any earthly way - but his spiritual existence is, at least in his own mind, spiraling ever further down through the circles of hell.

In one of the more frighteningly understandable images of the book, Scobie sees himself as fisting god - not fighting in the abstract, but physically punching and damaging the flesh: It is an image which horrifies in its very physicality - and in the clarity of self-knowledge Scobie exhibits.

Around this dying light flutter a whole cast of shadow-dwelling characters.

Scobie's wife is damaged goods - her husband's incorruptibility has driven her to this god forsaken land so she has plunged into the superficialities of Catholic dogma - the ritual and the literal making her empty life fuller. She reads books and poetry - replacing any real inner life with printed words and borrowed sounds.

She is not a fool - but it is her needs that keep what is left of their marriage alive - most of it died with a young daughter back in England. Her leaving to live in South Africa opens the gap needed for a replacement `needer' - and the final human dilemma that shatters Scobie's relationship with the divine.

Wilson, spy-on-his-own-kind, and writer of trash poetry; driving Scobie no more than a mosquito could - tolerated as a fact of the environment - in `love' with Scobie's wife and emptying the word of all depth.

Helen, fallen woman and siren - who is no more than a vessel the fates use to trap Scobie - from her very first appearance as love-less, dried-skin of a girl clutching a stamp-album to near-whore for the ex-pat wild boy.

A priest who knows he serves no one well - least of oll Scobie; a priest who needs to confess as much as to listen to confession - but perhaps the only one who sees the real relationship of Scobie to his god - who appreciates the complexities and ultimate unknowability of any meaning in life.

These moths flicker in and out of the life that is Scobie - contrasting their weaknesses with the immense strength he is using in his `psychomachia' - his soul-struggle.

Scobie is ultimately heroic - in his choice and in facing of the consequences of that choice. He is very much a 20th Century man - having both the consciousness and anxiety William Golding identified as hallmarks in the work of Graham Greene.

Morality's Conflicts, 08 Jun 2008
Another of his books where his Catholicism is very strongly on show. It is an excellent book telling of a colonial policeman, passed over for promotion and thereby unable to help his wife's longing for social status. Scobie feels like he has failed in his duty towards her and sends her off on a holiday he can ill afford, having to borrow money from a local villain to do so. We see how an honest man is conflicted between duty and honesty and the affair affair when it happens further conflicts his morality. As with all Greene's books it is expertly written and they are far more than just novels. Highly recommended.

Disapointing, 07 Mar 2008
After reading The Quiet American I was expecting something in the same vein. I found myself getting bored with a novel badly constructed and at some time chaotic. If I would not have read the introduction I would have never got the importance of religion in the life of the main character. It is difficult to believe that Scobie is torn between his duty, love and religious obligations. Yet we feel the heat but that's all and not enough.

Rumer Godden's best novel?, 26 Jul 2000
As someone who counts herself as a bit of a fan of Rumer Godden I can say that this is my favourite of her books. I first read this when I was eighteen and had a lot of time for Mary's character. I can understand someone who gets swept up in what they think they are feeling and then discovers they have tied themselves to a stranger they don't even like very much. The romance of the setting carries one away and I have a vivid picture of the hotel, beach and surrounding area. I enjoyed the characters, both bad and good and one can't help hoping that things will work out as they ought for Mary. I would like to say more, but fear that whatever I say might give away the story. Maybe not a lad's book, but an enjoyable read never the less and one that can be read again.

Tasha, the anti-heroine of Jane Green's Straight Talking, is sassy, sexy and out for all she can get, or so she would have you believe. Straight Talking aims its arrows of truth directly at you, as its narrator, Tasha, openly discusses issues as if you were part of the world on the page and could answer back. The book is a no-holds-barred, frank take on sex, friendship and relationships for the single thirtysomething. A ladette in her 20s, sleeping around happily with a series of men, Tasha begins to retrench in her 30s and it becomes all-out open warfare to capture a man.

Will she fall for the suave, arrogant Andrew, who has females falling at his feet? Or will she fall back into a relationship with her treacherous ex-boyfriend, Simon? Or will she come to lean on nice, but not terribly sexy, Adam? Green's/Tasha's style is irreverent and self-deprecating as she points the finger at the clichés of singledom: "Of course I have cats. What self-respecting single career woman of 30 who's secretly desperately longing to give it all up for the tall, rich stranger of her dreams doesn't have cats?" She has a keen eye and a cutting tongue, which sustains the action and pace of this sharply observed and witty first novel. --Nicola Perry

Absolutely gripping, 29 Oct 2007
I spent years looking for a book that would make me forget everything around me and I finally found this. Golding's story is absolutely gripping and of huge interest as it explores the dark depths of human nature. Here you can see how humanity disintegrates outside formal social bounderies.

Amazing., 09 Jul 2006
I read this book straight through, no stops. And I loved it. It is gripping, and even terrifying in some parts. His use of imagery and symbolism is practically an art, and this book perfectly conveys human nature, and it is vital that society is maintained, otherwise we slip into savagery. I really empathised with Ralph and his struggle to hold onto civilisation. Everything that happens is very real. I would recommend this book to anyone.

My bible for GCSE English!!!!!, 12 Mar 2001
I am currently studying GCSE English and was looking for a study guide to help me with "Lord of the Flies". I came across this one purely by chance and have never looked back. This book has taken me from not understandng any of the book and its meanings and implications to knowing exactly what things represent. The use of translating the complex language of the book into simple terms was fantastic.

This book is cheap and extremely useful and I would strongly recommend this to anyone studying the book. I originally, before I used this book, wrote and essay and I received a D grade, I then used this book to rewrite the essay and received an A* grade. Thats how well it works.

It was amazing!, 23 May 1999
If William Golding was alive today and I had the opportunity of meeting him, I would congratulate him on his amazing novel. The use of symbolism was so extremely explicit and perfectly written, it really made me think about society and where we would be without it. It was a novel which I have read over and over again and I will certainly never forget it as it showed me the origins of mankind and taught me to never, ever take anything for granted. Read and enjoy!

An excellent book for anyone from "littluns" to "bigguns"..., 08 Apr 1999
My English class has just finished reading Lord of the Flies, and the way Golding uses symbolism is amazing! EVERYTHING in this book is a symbol! Golding can see right into mans' evil and destructive nature. He shows us how destructive we can be by setting forests on fire, pushing boulders off cliffs, and childrens' games of throwing sand and rocks at each other. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and definitly recommend it for anyone. Read it! Golding's perspective of us humans is very thought-provoking. By the way...this book does not take place during WW2. Have you ever heard of an ejectable passenger tube on an airplane? No. He wrote it to be some time in the future--anytime actually. But time is not important. If it were a specific time it may not apply to us now in the present, but it does. It can apply to anyone, and that's how he wanted it to be.

Excellent tape, 11 May 2004
Having only seen the film I wasn't prepared for the structure of the book. It was very different and more interesting. This audio tape occasionally has the theme tune and very, very occasionally some atmospheric sound affects, but they're in no way obtrusive.

Having grown up listening to Martin Jarvis read the Just William books I was used to his voice and his manner. He delivers a great performance, I actually think he'd make a great Calloway in any dramatisation of the story!

The tape is a double cassette, easy to store and is 3 hours long. A great title to have.

superb moving book, 07 Jun 2008
i have read this a couple of times now and it's beautiful. Combines the nasty realities of life with touching sentiment and beautifully crafted characters. Story follows a familiar theme with the lovely kind poor girl and rich cad....i don't want to spoil it...but it follows her through, the christian motif through it v strong and poignant with a heart breaking ending. Excellent

Predictable and sobering. (Contains spoiler), 13 Aug 2006
You could see most of it coming a mile off. The peerless young Ruth was bound to meet her Nemesis in the shape of Mr. Bellingham, and he was bound to abandon her, penniless and pregnant, only to turn up years later in a different guise. The only thing I hadn't anticipated was the tear-jerking end. Although predictable, it made me think. How sorry it made me feel for poor Victorian unfortunates like Ruth, lured unwittingly into a life of sin that she could not have anticipated, and upbraided by society for being an unmarried mother, while her vile seducer becomes a pillar of society. Those modern folk who glibly give birth out of wedlock when marriage these days is so easy should remember how terrible life was when people DIDN'T have a choice to become 'respectable'.

An Underrated Classic, 31 Aug 2005
I came to this novel having just read North and South. As with North and South it takes time for Elizabeth Gaskell to set the scene and develop the central characters. But it is worth sticking with. The last 100 pages will take you on an emotional roller coaster. The central character's inherent goodness and selflessness only serves to highlight the hypocracy of those who claim to be the moral guardians of society. The central character feels so real and you cannot fail to be deeply affected by reading this novel.

Much more than a tragic story of a deceived girl, 04 Oct 2001
It's a shame that my review is the first one. Ruth is a classic, a must-read. Mrs. Gaskell deals in her novel with very serious problem of unmarried motherhood and double standards of judging men and women behavior. Why a wealthy young man who seduced and deserted a poor motherless girl is not to be blamed and not to pay for his guilt? And why a girl who has been too young, too innocent and too ignorant in sexual affairs is to suffer and to be an outcast in society? The heroine leads a virtuous life and does a lot of good after her so-called fall. Nevertheless the end of the book is tragic... Some critics find inconsistencies and exaggerations in the story. May be they are right. The author couldn't always choose the best way of presenting the heroine and circumstances. (Well, Hardy's more famous story of Tess of the DÚrbervilles is not also without faults.) Just imagine difficulties of writing of such book in Victorian society. Innocent as it is, Ruth was a scandal and was considered to be an improper reading for young people. Nowadays I would recommend the novel to any reader. It is interesting, intriguing, full of poetical nature descriptions and typical rural characters, the problem is sharp and up-to-day. Modern girls are neither naive nor ignorant. However... are they really wise in love affaires? Aren't they in danger of becoming voluntary victims of charming but spoiled young men? Read the book and judge for yourself.

A classy whodunnit which stands out from the crowd, 10 Feb 2008
In the overcrowded field of mystery thrillers, it's not often one comes across a book that is not only a great mystery but also a literary testament to the turmoil of humanity, but that is exacly what David Guterson has achieved with Snow Falling on Cedars. The 'action' takes place over the course of three days, in a court room presided over by an elderly judge, in an small island community being pummelled by one of the worst wintery storms in living memory. Kabuo, a third generation Japanese immigrant, is accused of the first degree murder of another island fisherman. But as the case unfurls, Guterson takes us on a tour of this island's history that reveals the tensions and turmoil of island life, and reveals the backstories of the accused, the victim and many of the witnesses and spectators. Each character is laid bare, exposed to the censure of the pen, while Guterson leaves the reader to make their own judgement. In finely crafted, laconic prose, Snow Falling on Cedars is a testament to the pointlessly of war, the duality of the nature of love and, above all, to the power to humanity to do the right thing in the end. An engaging parable, a gripping thriller, and fine book. Highly recommended.

Whodunnit? who cares? that's not the point of this book, 03 Jan 2008
This is not a whodunnit in the Agatha Christie sense of the term. Do not expect everyone to gather in the drawing room where the detective will point their finger at the person every reader had worked out on page six was the guilty party.

If that is what you expect then you will be disappointed. As other reviewers have said it is a pity in many ways that someone chose to label the book as a whodunnit. Yes this is a courtroom drama and yes there is a mystery to solve. More importantly though is that this book is a superbly told description of a small community, exacerbated even further by their insularity, both literal and metaphorical, and some slight racist overtones. That it does superbly but the amount of description Guterson uses to achieve that does get in the way of approaching this as a simple whodunnit.

If you like Joanne Harris' novels then this should appeal. It has those similar themes of small communities but is in many ways a far better account. If you want a true whodunnit then look elsewhere, that is not the main point of this book.

not really a crime book, 12 Dec 2007
The main disadvantage this book has is that it has the word 'whodunnit' on the cover, which is completely misleading. Frankly, the reviewer who labelled this as a whodunnit ought to be sacked; it is hardly surprising that people who buy this book expecting a whodunnit are disappointed, since that particular genre is plot driven with minimal interest in characters, whereas this thoughtful and, in places, profound work is quite the opposite. Guterson is clearly interested in characters, describing their motivations and how these motivations came to exist at a deeper level than most crime books, which is what separates this book from most other crime fiction. In fact, I'm not even sure labelling it as a piece of crime fiction is helpful.
In short, a beautiful and engaging book, but don't buy it if you want a whodunnit or a thriller...

good story, rather overdescriptive, 05 Dec 2006
A courtroom drama consisting of a series of flashbacks into the lives of the witnesses.
It is an enjoyable read, but at times with superfluous description and scene setting -- most of which could just be skipped. The flash-back technique is quite well managed, but can be a little confusing at times. Generally, it is a well-written story, although the ending takes a pointlessly philosophical turn.


Descriptive and insightful…, 07 Feb 2006
I enjoyed this book and the way the characters and plot unravelled as the story progressed. I did find the description a little too in-depth at times and found myself wanting to skip paragraphs which described the weather and scenery. Instead, I found delving into the past of the characters far more interesting – a revealing insight into how the war destroyed so many lives and how prejudice determined many actions and choices during and after the war.

Compared to the rest of the novel the ending seemed incredibly quick; a lengthy in-depth treatment of the murder trial (including perhaps too much on the closing speeches as we had already read all the details and didn’t need to ream them all again) was followed by Ishmael’s quick revelation (which should have been made earlier) and subsequently the ending was upon us.

A satisfying ending however to an interesting book and a very well-written debut.

Worthy of a claim to gratness, 20 Oct 2008
Over forty years ago a new English teacher at my school answered a question asked by an eager student. The question was, "What do you think is the greatest novel written in English?" He didn't think for very long before replying, "The Heart Of The Matter."

We academically-inclined youths borrowed Graham Greene's novel from the library and eventually conferred. There were shrugs, some indifference, appreciation without enthusiasm. We were all about sixteen years old.

I last re-read The Heart Of The Matter about twenty-five years ago. When I began it again for the fourth time last week, I could still remember vividly the basics of its characters and plot. Henry Scobie is an Assistant Chief of Police in a British West African colony. It is wartime and he has been passed over for promotion. He is fifty-ish, wordly-wise, apparently pragmatic, a sheen that hides a deeply analytical conscience. Louise, his wife is somewhat unfocusedly unhappy with her lot. She is a devout Catholic and this provides her support, but the climate is getting to everyone. She leaves for a break that Scobie cannot really afford. He accepts debt.

The colony's businesses are run by Syrians. Divisions within their community have roots deeper than commercial competition. There is "trade" of many sorts. There are accusations, investigations, rumours and counter-claims. Special people arrive to look into things. There's a suicide, more than one, in fact, at least one murder, an extra-marital affair, blackmail, family and wartime tragedy.

But above all there is the character of Henry Scobie. He is a man of principle who thinks he is a recalcitrant slob. He is a man of conscience who presents a pragmatic face. He makes decisions fully aware of their consequences, but remains apparently unable to influence the circumstance that repeatedly seems to dictate events. He remains utterly honest in his deceit, consistent in his unpredictability. His life becomes a beautiful, uncontrolled mess. His wife's simple orthodox Catholicism contrasts with his never really adopted faith. He