Ralph's Children [MP3 Audio] [CD-ROM]

Hilary Norman (Author, Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2008

Some children play, from early years, with instincts far from pure. Some play their games with the souls of killers. And then they grow up...At Challow Hall Children's Home, the group of four - abandoned, abused, neglected - had been drawn to each other early on, bonded by their shared experience. When they first start acting out parts from Lord of the Flies, it's an innocent, childish game. But then one of their teachers joins in - a woman in a position of responsibility and trust - and the game gradually takes on a more sinister edge. Each of the group has his own agenda, his own reasons for wanting vengeance. Together, they will select their victims, and act out their darkest, most primitive urges in a 'game' that will have horrifying consequences.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Lord of the Flies was a profoundly shocking book about the dark nature of the child-beast, and Norman uses this chilling classic as the inspiration for her own frightening tale. Four children from an orphanage escape each night to read from Lord of the Flies and become so engaged in the story that they take on the names of the characters: Piggy, Jack, Simon, and Roger. When the little group is discovered by a woman from the orphanage staff, they figure the game’s up, but instead, the woman asks to join their group. She eventually becomes its leader, even taking the name Ralph, the ringleader in Golding’s novel. Years later, the group is still in touch, but their childish games have turned ever darker and more dangerous, with the main goal being to avenge perceived slights and right supposed wrongs. Their latest “game” is to target two young women, one the single mother of a disabled child and the other an outspoken journalist. What happens next is deeply disturbing, making for a compelling read with a hair-raising ending. --Emily Melton --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• CD-ROM
• Publisher: Soundings Audio Books (December 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1407906895
• ISBN-13: 978-1407906898
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Idea, Not as Well Executed as Could Have Been!, August 25, 2008

By 

James N Simpson (Gold Coast, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Ralph's Children (Hardcover)

Hilary Norman's novels range from pretty average quality wise to the masterpiece level booksGuilt, Twisted Minds, and Too Close. Ralph's Children is a sensational idea for a plot but to be honest the storyline never quite delivers. Too many pages are wasted getting to know two victims who become the victims near the end of the book. We really didn't need to get to know them at all, more encounters with beasts would have been better reading along the way. The interesting chapters always were around the children (who later become adults) and their game.

The plot of Ralph's Children revolves around a gang of orphans who live quite a boring life. One day one of them finds William Golding's Lord of the Flies on a bus seat. Having no other entertainment the children embrace the novel reading it chapter by chapter at night. They take turns taking on the personas of the characters in the novel and see the book as sort of their bible. On one such night a loser loner orphanage worker observes the children and wants to become a part of their bond. They reluctantly accept her to avoid being reported, but she grows to become their leader and takes on the persona of Ralph from the book.

The children fantasize about what it would be like to kill or punish the beasts that are in their lives. They turn this into reality by actually punishing and giving real life beasts their comeuppance, especially to those who do other creatures, especially children harm. They take this vigilante game into adulthood and decide there are two beasts who must face the ultimate punishment.

An all right read but not as good as you are hoping for after reading the plot synopsis.