Book 14 - Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Reading date - June 2020

This book was not one I had any urge to read.  I got this in a bundle of books, the main book I wanted was The London Nobody Knows..this came with it, amongst some others.  I think I got some decent ones in the batch, I seem to remember one being a DH Lawrence.  They are all old Penguins, the ones that were released years ago so they have that old book smell.  The edition retails for a lot more than what I paid for it..but then I don't buy books for re-sale value.  

As usual, I asked around about this, put it on my insta story and about 99.9% of the people who have read this book are men.  Men who read it as boys at school.  My best friend remembers the boys reading it at school and I remember all the books I read..this wasn't one of them.

A few pages in, I could see why they made boys read it.  It's a proper boy's book..and an English teacher's dream - it's full of symbolism and a breeding ground for essay questions.  With most things, the Simpsons has parodied it and so for my duration of reading the book, I kept seeing Martin Prince as Piggy, even though they used Milhouse's glasses so technically, he'd be Piggy.

It is a short book and easy to read (despite being full of symbolism).  The different boys represent different qualities, one stands for democracy, one is intelligence, logic and due process and one is a complete savage.

There was such a big plot twist in this book that it stopped me in my tracks, I never ever saw it coming and when it happened, I had to re-read it a few times to make sure what had happened, had actually happened.

The books ends with a huge deus ex machina, which is one of the lamest things authors use, in my opinion.

I never knew what Lord of the Flies meant and now I do.  I could tell you..but then I'd be taking the joy away from you for finding it out yourself! 


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