“Savages and tiny savages
After reading Catcher in the Rye, I was on the lookout for similar kid adventures with more meaning than say, Harry Potter. This tale about a band of lost boys marooned on a remote island while the adults wage war across the human civilisation is very entertaining and a swift read.
A small novel, it starts off with how a bunch of disorganized kids install a council for the safety and sufficiency in their island refuge and the unanimous leader Ralph is envied but accepted by a better behaving marching troop's leader - Jack.
The conch is the symbol of power and authority vested in Ralph. The conch is passed to whoever wishes to speak and everyone listens. With such a good start you would expect them to get better. But these are human children with their innate savage instinct. And now with an island to explore and rule on they get initiated into barbarism with the hunt for a pig, supported by a hunting song, killer's dance and more.
There is lot more to it than children's games here. There might be a monster on the island. Ralph and Jack will of course compete in this new hunt to prove bravado.
Deaths of kids are mentioned with good subtlety in this novel and mystery is created with simple scenes/words. With the eventual break up of the council and savagery rampant in the island it is up to Ralph to restore normalcy and his rightful place as the leader. The mindsets of different kids is shown through their actions.
A great parable for human wars and human nature, this book may leave you depressed even though the ending is safer than the kids' island adventure.”
udey wrote this review Sunday, September 16 2007.
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