Lord of the Flies is one of those books everyone has at least heard of.  Or at least, everyone interested in reading.  I have always been a bit reluctant to read the books of authors one is supposed to have read.  I guess this originated with me reading Dostojewski's "The Karamazow brothers" too young (I think): I found it utterly dry, and halfway I completely lost the thread, I forgot who said what where and why.

Stephen King has referred to this book a few times, the most explicit reference was in "Hearts in Atlantis" (one of his better), where a young boy discovers literature with a capital "L" through this book.  Well, if a boy doesn't find it boring, probably I won't either I thought.  I didn't.