_a_r_u_'s review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
I read this in one evening and oh boy. Its not bad, by any means. It’s a classic for something. But the characters, their actions and the implied message of the author haven’t aged well. At all. I hated all of the characters (except one) for the entirety of the book, and the only moment I was finally able to empathize with one its not because they have changed their ways and had a remarkable development, rather because they were in a situation of extreme danger and stress. The descriptions were ok, the plot is genuinely interesting and it could’ve been so good if the characters and the message were different.
The “only white english culture is the way of civilized men” message was… definitely something… the absolute BLATANT fatphobia was also something… like, at least give the kid an actual name instead of a degrading nickname name…
Again, this could’ve been good (it’s a good book! It’s enjoyable!) but it aged so poorly and has so many terrible decisions that I can’t see it having much more repercussion in the future…
The “only white english culture is the way of civilized men” message was… definitely something… the absolute BLATANT fatphobia was also something… like, at least give the kid an actual name instead of a degrading nickname name…
Again, this could’ve been good (it’s a good book! It’s enjoyable!) but it aged so poorly and has so many terrible decisions that I can’t see it having much more repercussion in the future…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Gore, Cultural appropriation, Death, Fatphobia, Child death, Xenophobia, and Animal death
Minor: War, Misogyny, Homophobia, and Torture
thehawksflight's review
Marooned on an uninhabited island, 'civilised' children and prepubescents are presumably unable to democratise, instead regressing into various expressions of 'savage tribe' behaviour. The relatively short read is an exposition of groupthink/de-individuation, populism, superstition and even manslaughter, among other things if you want to go deeper in your anaylsis.
I choose to believe in the essential good of humans, even very young ones, with a tendency toward collaboration and altruism during calamity. William Golding clearly thought otherwise.
The trope(s) have been copied, parodied, interpreted so much over the years that I found the book itself hard to enjoy in its own right.
I choose to believe in the essential good of humans, even very young ones, with a tendency toward collaboration and altruism during calamity. William Golding clearly thought otherwise.
The trope(s) have been copied, parodied, interpreted so much over the years that I found the book itself hard to enjoy in its own right.
Content Warnings
Minor: Classism, Death, Mental illness, Body shaming, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Bullying, Dysphoria, Ableism, and Gaslighting
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