Rating: 
Summary: the power of free thought
Review: when i finished reading 'THE COLLECTOR', i threw the book across the room in frustration and disgust. such is the power of john fowles, luring the reader deeper and deeper into a world of twisted fantasy which is portrayed in a terrifyingly realistic fashion. the book centres around two characters, fred clegg, a quietly insane and lonely man who loves to collect butterflies (hence the name of the book - a strong metaphor), and miranda, a girl that he imprisons in his house so that she can know and love him. clegg feels disadvantaged in many ways, and so takes out all his feelings of rejection and inadequacy on his unfortunate prisoner. i have read some reviews that suggest that the book should not have been divided into sections - miranda's and clegg's - and on this point i would have to entirely disagree. the juxtapositioning of the two points of view is the very essence of the story, showing the two sides of human life: on miranda's part, her passion for life and discovery, for learning and making a difference; and clegg's, showing his selfishness, rigidness and desire to own or kill everything that shows vibrance and emotion, everything he is not. this was fowles' intention, to show us that we all have both good and evil inside us,that mirnada was not entirely perfect and clegg was not entirely evil, but that the evil in clegg eventually overcame miranda's good. this book is a dire warning to human kind to embrace life and see that we have opportunities outside what we are given, that we always have the option of free thinking.in a way, clegg was more trapped than miranda: her in body, but him in spirit.
Rating:
Summary: Chilling study of psychology
Review: With the exception of Nabokov's Lolita, this is the best book I have ever read. From the very moment I laid my hands on it I could not put it down and I have re-read it many times since. The premise is as such: a clerk (Frederick Clegg) becomes obsessed with a pretty art student (Miranda Grey) and holds her captive in his basement. Half of the story is told from Clegg's point of view in a recollective style, whilst the rest (the middle section) is relayed through Miranda's diary. The obvious differences in their views on life and the impossibility of them ever reaching a common ground is what grips you. Brilliant characterization and a brilliant study of human behaviour. Many people have suggested that The Magus was Fowle's best work, but The Collector puts it in the shade. Compelling.
Rating:
Summary: One of the finest psychological thrillers ever written
Review: Psychologically disturbed, sexually frustrated, and emotionally tormented ... these adjectives all describe the title character, Clegg, the collector himself. Fowles expertly allows readers to stand in the shoes of this demented butterfly collector and "understand" his thoughts. From the first chapter, I was engrossed into the mind of a psychopath unlike any other novel or film has been able to accomplish. Miranda, too, is a bit strange, but readers don't get to know her until the second half of the book, when daily we read her diary instead of reading Clegg's mind. The entire book is captivating, and when I finished the final page I simply sat and stared into space, mesmerized. To divulge much more of this beautifully haunting novel would be criminal, but the book is fascinating; it's a must-read for anyone who enjoys a voyage into the mind of the psychologically disturbed.
Rating: 
Summary: Psychologically deep and psychotically horrifying!
Review: A truly original, and disturbing novel. Fowles does a masterful job creating feelings of sympathy for the socially lonesome, and rather compulsive Ferdinand Clegg, who kidnapps Miranda and keeps her locked up in a makeshift 'cage', analogous to his collecting of butterflies. The story starts off with Ferdinand's point of view of the events, then shifts to Miranda's, before ending in Ferdinand's again. As the reader, you can't help but 'feel' for the kidnapper, who in his own mind thinks that what he's doing to Miranda is justified(read the book to learn why he thinks so). But you can't help but sympathize for Miranda as well, who is taken away suddenly from her everyday freedom, to be caged and starved of life much like a beautiful butterfly. I had to give the book a 4 because I thought that Miranda's part of the story tended to be a little less eventful than Ferdinand's as she wrote in her journal of her life with her family and her friends. But only a 'little less'. A great book worthy to be used as a study by psychology students. A must read.
(I am trying to find a copy of the movie, it's a little old, but heard it was great)
Rating:
Summary: A broken Butterfly's wing.
Review: Mr Fowles has such a gift for getting the reader into the head of the subject. I really enjoyed this book. The way the book is crafted from the prospective of the two subjects was inventive and enlightening. I thought it was well balanced regarding the male female relationship and their reactions to the progress of the book. I would recomend this book to anyone looking to really excape for the duration of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: Fantastic book. His writing style is rare and wonderful. You don't often read a book and really get into the minds of the characters the way you do with this book.
I wonder how much Stephen King was influenced by John Fowles writing style? Definite similarities.
I'm officially a John Fowles fan now and will collect first editions of his other books as well.
Rating: 
Summary: The Frustration
Review: This book is definitely intriguing, so if that is your goal when buying a new book, then you'll love this book. Its completely unique and original in plot and in character. I love the way that it gets into the minds of the main characters. I, personally, had a really hard time reading/liking this book. Miranda reminded me too much of myself, and my frustration about being "trapped" in this book only grew as I read it. I became so utterly frustrated that it was difficult to read this book at all for me. I suppose in that sense, the writer, Fowles, is ingenious in that I experienced his written emotion so palpably. And for any plot readers, this is not a book for you. While the beginning offers promise in the plot department, you will be disappointed with the end.
Rating:
Summary: The degrading and macabre exploration of the human condition
Review: The Collector...well, where does one begin when concerning such an exhilirating but macabre piece? The reader witnesses the degenerating nature of a man who has been isolated from human society due to it's insoluble isolation and expectations of what one should be like. Clegg falls victim to the intricacies of love, and Miranda a figure who, is perhaps an emblem of the affects of the human condition (imposed by man, himself) who is severed but learns a vital lesson concerning the importance of life. If one wants a challenge, and desires to explore the different meanings interwoven into a sensitive yet powerfully written piece, then 'The Collector' is defiantely a text to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not really good at all.
Review: This book I have to warn people about as it I didnt finsh it. It's really unenjoyable and sick in many ways. It's trash in may ways and the negative parts far outdo the positive.s The messgae of the book is far from postive and pornographic. Dont waste your money on it.
Rating:
Summary: Not really good at all.
Review: This book I have to warn people about as it I didnt finsh it. It's really unenjoyable and sick in many ways. It's [bad] in may ways and the negative parts far outdo the positive.s The messgae of the book is far from postive and pornographic. Dont waste your money on it. It's shear garbage in most parts.
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