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A review by adamjcalhoun
The Inheritors by William Golding
2.0
Everyone says that you can't say you like an author if you have only read one of their books. I loved Lord of the Flies, so I figured I should read William Golding's other critically acclaimed novel ("his best writing!" reads the blurb). It is unfortunate, then, that this book is SO BORING. Like constant eye-glossing boring - and I don't usually mind boring writing.
The story is one of Neanderthals meets humans; or at least, the 1950s conception of neanderthals meet humans. Except that these Neanderthals are telepathic. And of course they are loving, unwilling to kill animals, and worship a mother-goddess. And are idiots. OK, so let's just view this book as an exercise in cognitive difference.
I suppose this book won such plaudits because of its style; for this I must salute the critics who are able to force their way through it and enjoy it. It does do a decent job of portraying a more sensory-focused world-view, but I'd rather be reading Flowers for Algernon than this. But the book contains lots of symbolism! That's good, right? If you like unnecessary symbolism, this book could be for you. No wonder the mid-century critics loved it.
The story is one of Neanderthals meets humans; or at least, the 1950s conception of neanderthals meet humans. Except that these Neanderthals are telepathic. And of course they are loving, unwilling to kill animals, and worship a mother-goddess. And are idiots. OK, so let's just view this book as an exercise in cognitive difference.
I suppose this book won such plaudits because of its style; for this I must salute the critics who are able to force their way through it and enjoy it. It does do a decent job of portraying a more sensory-focused world-view, but I'd rather be reading Flowers for Algernon than this. But the book contains lots of symbolism! That's good, right? If you like unnecessary symbolism, this book could be for you. No wonder the mid-century critics loved it.