This summer is barreling down fast and as we walk into a new summer we have dropped off 3 new books for you to dive into while you enjoy some fun in the sun. Whether enjoying a morning walk in the park, or laying on a beach, or grinding the summer away we have a few books that will help you along your journey. This season the Summer Reading List brings together three powerful efforts: Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Deadliest Game by Richard Connell and Manchild in the Promised Land by Claude Brown.
The Most Dangerous Game is a must read. It explores themes of corruption and moral bankruptcy among the wealthy and also the value or lack thereof we see in our fellow man. General Zaroff treats murder as sport and privilege as power in this highly read short story.
Lord of the Flies has been remade into a limited series, so it was only right for us to recommend you read the iconic book the series derives from. In this coming of age story you get to see what happens to society when rules are tossed out the window. This is one any sociologist would suggest in learning the nature of people especially with no checks or balances.
Manchild in the Promised Land is set in Harlem and many believe the story to be based in truth. This one is a wild ride and takes you directly into the mind and lifestyle of the criminal youth. It’s really good. No spoilers.
Lord of the Flies, The Most Dangerous Game, and Manchild in the Promised Land all examine what happens when survival becomes more important than morality. Each story strips away comfort and exposes the violence, fear, pride, and instinct hidden beneath civilization. Read them in this order: The Most Dangerous Game first for its sharp introduction to predator-versus-prey psychology, Lord of the Flies second to explore the collapse of social order, and Manchild in the Promised Land last because it brings those same themes into real urban life, showing survival not as fiction, but as lived experience in Harlem. Together, the stories become less about adventure but more about the architecture of fear, survival, and human nature.
Nikki Mack, Editor In Chief
DaChickenShack 