An Ode to "Lord of the Flies"

I enjoy reading books, but I'm a slow reader. Most books take me a good amount of time to finish. My mind tends to wander, sometimes I don't find the time to sit down and read and there are moments when, even though I try not to, I just want to goof around on my phone. But there is one book that I do enjoy reading and going back to time and again. That book is "Lord of the Flies".

I remember reading “Lord of the Flies” for the first time when I was in 9th grade and it has stuck with me ever since. I instantly connected to the story. I liked the whole idea of how these students would try and survive if they were stranded on an island. I like stories that focus around learning to live in very tough surroundings. I don't know why either, but I do. After reading it for the first time I found myself wanting to go back to it. That never really happened before. Usually I read a book once and then I'm done with it. In fact, I think "Lord of the Flies" may be the only book I have read more than once. There was a good period of time where I would check it out of the library pretty much every year to reread it. I finally bought my own copy recently and I'm almost done reading it for what has to be somewhere in the 20's. I keep going back because the story is so fascinating and because the book is so well written. It's not too long, maybe 240 pages. The story moves. I never feel bored. Even when I know what is about to happen, I still get a little shocked with each new read. I relate to different characters each time. I try to put myself in the situation they're in in the book and think how I would react. I envision a world where a show or movie got this story right. The first season of "Yellowjackets" has come closest for me, but that show, in my opinion, has fallen off a cliff.

I know they made two movies, but they both have issues that I would change. That being said, the one from the 60's is a decent watch for me. But the reason they cannot get it right, in my mind, is because the book is an absolute classic. William Golding was in his bag when he wrote this book. He had an idea and ran with it and made such a wonderful and harrowing story. I was reading a chapter recently and found myself sympathizing with Simon for the first time I remember. There are times when I think Jack has a very good point, he just goes about it the wrong way. I tend to fall on the side of Ralph and Piggy, like most do, but they could've done stuff differently too. That is what makes this book so fantastic. These are kids forced into a horrific situation, and try as they might to handle it maturly, they still cry and whimper and get home sick and make rash decisions. That's what kids always do. I was talking to my children about the book, they are very much city mouse type of kids, and they will ask why the kids just didn't get along. I try to put them in the same or similar situation, and they end up relented and saying they would do what the other kids do. And that is because they're children who don't have fully functioning and intuitive brains just yet.

The thing that stands out most to me is how timeless this book has become for me. I first read it when I was 14. I'm now 42 reading for whatever number it is now and I continue to find new and interesting ways to look at the story.

I highly recommend reading "Lord of the Flies" if you haven't yet, or going back and rereading it if you read it as a teen and are now an adult. The book is amazing and the story is just as good as the first time. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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