The Lord of the Flies by William Golding – 2.5

I found this book just okay. The plot was highly predictable, what you’d expect if a group of young boys were stranded on an island and slowly descended into conflict. Its short length was a relief, as I’m not sure I would have wanted to read much more.

The story had moments of promise and a brisk pace, but it never fully captured my interest until the final fifty pages, when the tension reached its peak. I especially enjoyed following the main character, a boy trying to uphold order and morality in a world where others no longer value these principles and face no consequences for their absence.

Golding excels at showing children attempting to act like adults, lacking the wisdom or experience to succeed. You see glimpses of the adults they might become, either morally grounded contributors to society or ruthless figures suited to a savage environment. The portrayal of herd mentality in larger groups adds further psychological realism. I know this book is widely praised, and I can see why, but speaking purely from an enjoyment perspective, I found it quite dull at times.