Set in Japan during WWII, this novel is about a group of juvenile delinquents who have been evacuated to a rural mountain village in order to escape the bombing of the cities. However, almost as soon as they get to the village, they are abandoned there as the occupants leave in the face of a potential plague. The boys are forced to fend for themselves, with mixed results, until the villagers return.

Though there are inevitable comparisons to Lord of the Flies, I think Oe's novel is much more brutal, both in concept and language. He has some truly horrifying descriptions that really vividly convey the childrens' experiences. And unlike Lord of the Flies, which basically posits that children can easily have the veneer of civilization stripped from them, Oe portrays the effects of isolation and anarchy on adults as even more terrible. Needless to say, it's a pretty depressing and troubling book, but well worth reading. I wonder, though, if Oe meant his message to apply universally, or if there was some cultural commentary about the war's effect on the Japanese populace; the latter would be really interesting. ( )

This incredibly harsh novel about hate, violence and pestilence is definitely an emotional investment. The reader is torn with sympathy for these children desperate for guidance and love and with horror at their violence and wildness. Oe, with few words, is able to portray a world of betrayal, fear, anger and love. While I had tossed all eventuality of hope, the masterful ending actually leaves room for redemption. A tremendous book which will not leave the reader indifferent. ( )

Children are swept into the events of this world. A good book to compare to Lord of the Flies. ( )

absorbing essay of life, survival, cruelty, cohesion, anarchy. ( )

Oe's interest in children and internal conflicts brought on by external forces is clearly being developed in this novel, and with great effect for the reader. This book is just as grisly as the title would lead you to believe, perhaps moreso. Yet it does have moments of peace and beauty, and does an amazing job of capturing childhood innocence meeting up with the most brutal conditions of human life. In some ways it recalls 'Lord of the Flies' for me, but I think I prefer this book to that in many ways, though both are excellent. ( )