https://www.theindieauthorhive.com/for-readers-2
I can't access it because I'm on a laptop (or because I'm using Chrome, or because I'm in the United States... not really sure). But somewhere on the Indie Author Hive, there's supposed to be a thing to click to access the current Buzzfest. Lots of free or discounted ebooks in every genre.
(If you might participate as an author one day, this is a good time to check if you can see the "named tabs" or "menu." Because you must be able to view these now to take part. And I, well, can't. 😬)
BOOK REVIEW
LORD OF THE FLIES
As Netflix recently released a new 4-episode "limited series" of this classic book, I figured it was high time I read it! It's the 8th most frequently banned and challenged book in U.S. history. My favorite main character in the book doesn't actually have his real name in the story. (In the Netflix adaptation, he gets the name Nicky. And Ralph has a redeeming quality when he finally uses that name, thus treating the character with respect. But that's not in the book.)
The book starts by referring to characters as "the fair boy" and "the fat boy." The fair boy gives his name, Ralph, early on. "I don't care what they call me, so long as they don't call me what they used to call me at school." This quote is the first clue that this character is going to have a bad time, because all he had to do was never reveal this, but like a trusting fool, he tells Ralph they called him Piggy. When Jack calls him Fatty, Ralph corrects him and says the real name is Piggy, initiating the first betrayal among the boys in the book. “Kids’ names,” said Merridew. “Why should I be Jack? I’m Merridew.” The same character who wishes to have the adult-like respect of being known by a surname is unwilling to address "Piggy" by his proper name, or even inquire as to what it is. This shows, early on, that neither Jack nor Ralph can be a trustworthy, dignified leader.
(I mean, imagine if there was an actual world leader who called someone Piggy? It's inconceivable! Oh... never mind. 🤦🏽 https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c70j210g4e7o )
Jack desires to be the leader because of his position in the choir, which makes up a fair portion of the boys stranded on the island by the plane crash. And if singing ability were a survival skill, he probably would have been named chief. If intelligence mattered to the boys, Piggy might well have become chief and gotten his real name used. But Ralph is attractive, still, sizable, and can blow the conch well, so he is elected chief by the boys. And Jack is made the leader of the hunters.
(I mean, imagine if there was an actual world leader who called someone Piggy? It's inconceivable! Oh... never mind. 🤦🏽 https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c70j210g4e7o )
Jack desires to be the leader because of his position in the choir, which makes up a fair portion of the boys stranded on the island by the plane crash. And if singing ability were a survival skill, he probably would have been named chief. If intelligence mattered to the boys, Piggy might well have become chief and gotten his real name used. But Ralph is attractive, still, sizable, and can blow the conch well, so he is elected chief by the boys. And Jack is made the leader of the hunters.
Words like "wacco, wizard, and smashing" had me checking for meanings, and are apparently British slang from the time of this book. In Chapter Four, the boys' primary argument takes hold. Is it more important to hunt, or to keep the signal fire burning so smoke might be seen and result in a rescue? Not being proficient in survival skills, the first successful hunt results in the boys roasting themselves more than the meat.
It takes until Chapter Five for Ralph to realize that, even though Piggy is overweight, he's intelligent. It's not the primary lesson of the book, but it does say something about this miniature society that they don't know that weight is not linked to IQ. But, that's also the chapter where Ralph has to instruct the boys not to poop on the food. (Don't 💩 where you eat. -- The popular expression isn't from this book, but it may as well be, because the boys haven't figured it out.)
The book is set in the 1950's, and Piggy believes people will be traveling to Mars and back in a year or two. (Spoiler from 2026... not quite yet.)
In the book, Piggy asks if they're humans, animals, or savages. As the story unfolds, the boys do seem to go through a cycle of those choices. In chapter eight, they find a maternal pig who is feeding her young. Now, any decent hunter knows that taking out this creature will disrupt the population. If the boys had to survive on this island for years, they would run out of pigs early on because no one considered the breeding requirements to replenish the wild pig population. This doesn't come up in the book, but it was offensive to me. Roger hunting by shoving a spear up the rectum of a pig is also disturbing.
It's in Chapter Eight that the flies find Simon. The head of the pig is left on a stick as an offering, and its rotting flesh is being fed on by flies. This is from where the title comes. And then, in Chapter Nine, the breakdown of society, rules, and order really comes to a climax. Jack forms his own tribe to take control. Themes like fear of others, herd mentality, and cruelty take hold of the story, overshadowing the themes and ideas of survival and cooperation.
This review is my honest and unbiased opinion. It took me a while to get through this book, as I didn't especially enjoy it. The pacing, perhaps, didn't especially grip me in the first eight chapters. (Honestly, I fell asleep reading it more than once.) I'd only recommend it to someone who wants to get through a list of classic books, or who wants to understand how a society can break down so easily, and that a "utopia" is not a universally agreed-upon set of ideals. I enjoy YA books, I enjoy horror considerably, but this just didn't thrill me. I'm not sure if it's realistic fiction, as I'd rather wish it weren't, but in the current political climate of the United States in 2026, there are grown-ups who seem to be acting out parts of this book. If only the world could have a similar ending to the book's.
The big triggers for this book are centered on violence. The setting was difficult for me to picture, as it was unclear what was literal and what was metaphorical. Keeping the signal fire lit was the biggest obstacle in the book, which was mainly an obstacle because the boys just didn't prioritize their own survival; thus, the way the book ends is a bit facetious. It should be a cautionary tale for society.
📚💙 — J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge
https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner I'm grateful for follows! https://www.goodreads.com/j_lenni_dorner
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. Watch for special features!
https://www.myrandommusings.co.uk/2026/06/anythinggoes-linky-477/
