Should You Read "Lord of the Flies"?
Review of "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
I'll admit: I never read "Lord of the Flies" growing up.
I wish I had.
It’s one of those books that everyone you know seemed to have read back in English class (along with “The Great Gatsby” and “Animal Farm”). You’re left confused as someone who hasn’t picked up a book since high school gets a look of terror on their face as they mumble a recount of “Piggy” and a mysterious “conch.” I wanted to join the club, so I decided to order a paperback copy of the 1954 classic.
Expectations were high.
But I’m happy to report after finally reading “Lord of the Flies,” I was blown away.
I now understand that look of terror I’ve seen for so many years.
The book drops you into the middle of the action as a group of boys find themselves stranded on a deserted island. You’re quickly introduced to Ralph and the famous “Piggy,” two of the central characters in a large cast, and given a literary tour of the island. The group of boys starts out relatively united, working together to survive without adults, but chaos slowly descends upon the island.
Don’t let the earlier chapters fool you, things get absolutely crazy. Even crazier than you’d expect. Once I got halfway through the book, I couldn’t stop reading.
Stephen King had the same reaction, as noted in a quote on the back of my copy:
"I finished the last half of the Lord of the Flies in a single afternoon, my eyes wide, my heart pounding, not thinking, just inhaling…”
When I got to the final page and closed the book, I saw that the ink across the back cover was smudged from reading so anxiously. It seems like most titles deemed “classics” follow a winding narrative that makes it hard to stay dialed in as a modern reader.
Not this book.
“Lord of the Flies” moves along at a startlingly quick pace. The story is expertly plotted so that the end of each chapter leaves you wanting more. You have to turn the page to see what happens next. It’s a refreshing experience— I’m not a fan of “fluff” in books. I like books where every word is there for a reason, where every setup leads to a payoff. This is one of those books. Things that happen in the opening pages come full circle in the final moments.
There were also darker elements in the book that I didn’t expect but really worked for me. If you’ve heard anything about the book, you’re probably aware of the shocking event toward the end, but there’s so much more. The dark side of human nature is fully explored. There is also a startling depiction of madness that elevates the terror.
Perhaps the best part of the book is how real the characters feel. The group dynamics of the island meetings gave me flashbacks to Boy Scout Camp. You’ll see people from your life reflected in each character, it’s such powerful writing.
The verdict?
If you’re like me and never read “Lord of the Flies” in English class, it’s definitely worth your time. It’s one of those rare books that holds your attention from page one and then leaves you thinking about it once you’re done. The paperback copy on Amazon also has a sweet cover and looks good on a bookshelf. This gets my full recommendation.
But what did you think?
Leave me a comment with your thoughts on the book:
This was a review of Lord of the Flies by William Golding.
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I haven't read fiction in years. But for my first, it is going to be Lord of the flies. Dabbled with Pride and Prejudice, the abridged version. Didn't go far
Read it recently. It’s a great thriller dressed up as lit fiction — not to cast aspersions on either of those genres: it’s kind of a masterclass in both.