Retro Friday Review: Ender's Game By Orson Scott Card

Retro Friday is a meme hosted by Angie of Angieville and "focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc." 

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication date: 1985 (originally published as a short story in 1977)
Pages: 352
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: Fun
Series: Ender series, Book 1

Ender is a third child, a rarity in his world where population is strictly monitered. He has been chosen by the military to go to battle school at six years old, after his two older siblings were rejected. Little does he expect to encounter there brutality, cruelty, and no sympathy from adults. Working his way up by skill, strategy, and wits, Ender is being groomed to play a vital part in the war for the planet - one that will decide the fate of all humans.

Things I Liked:
This truly is a clever, original story.  I was completely impressed with how real it felt.  I love the complex plot, the real and completely horrifying world of the battle school, how Card doesn't hold back on what happens to his characters.  Ender feels like a real kid and we feel the horror of the situations he is put into, the reality that there are no adults to look out for him.  It progresses completely to the ending that is ridiculously surprising, yet afterward seems inevitable.  It's smart and good sci-fi and will keep you invested in knowing what Ender will do next, or rather what will be done to Ender next.  He has a lot of internal conflict and I think that is realistically portrayed.  Just plain good storytelling.

Things I Didn't Like:
It can be very depressing at times, not that this is something inherantly bad about the book.  It's just hard to see Ender deal with all the crap thrown at him.  I listened to the audio version this time and I liked having different voices for different characters, but Ender's voice was pretty annoying.  Valentine's was belivable and felt young enough, but Ender's voice was less so - an older man with a rather gruff voice (Stefan Rudnicki).  This was ok at times, but other times it grated on me to have such a young kid read by a person with such an old voice.  Still, it didn't detract much from the really good story.

Read-alikes:
Honestly, I don't know.  I guess I don't read enough sci-fi.
For other books with great plot twists, check out my Twisted Tales book list

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@ 
scattered throughout

mrg-factor: none 

v-factor: ->->-> 
some of it is pretty horrifying, but not overly detailed

Overall rating: ***** 

Have you read it? What did you think?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

A Million Suns by Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: January 2012
Pages: 386
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: Across the Universe, Book 2

*Spoilers for the first book are quite likely*
Life on Godspeed has gone from ordered to chaos almost overnight.  Now that Elder stopped the use of Phydus, the people seem bent on doing nothing.  But when Elder finds out a big secret about the ship, he must try to fix that and keep control of his people.  Amy is trailing secrets across the ship as well and both are trying to figure out their relationship.  Can they solve the problems they are both facing before it is too late?

Things I Liked:
This book did anything but suffer from sequel-itis!  It was interesting and unique and had just the right balance of continuing story and new story to let it flow smoothly.  I loved the way the ship and its inhabitants followed what was a natural pattern - chaos and disarray and rioting from the order that existed before.  Amy and Elder are both conflicted and realistic enough that I wanted to know more about what went on in their heads.  The mystery and plot twists kept me on my toes (though, I had guessed nearly all the surprises and the mystery before they happened - yes even the big one discussed below) and it was just an all-around great read.  Plus, I always adore a book with an amount of space-love equal to my own.

Things I Didn't Like:
I was bothered by two things and these are pretty big spoilers, so don't read this part if you haven't read the book yet:
First, when the Shippers tell Elder the ship is stopped, I was a bit confused; picturing the ship at a standstill in space was hard for my brain, just seems unlikely they would go from moving to not moving, unless they hit something.  Then, it turns out they are in orbit, which actually is NOT stopped.  Could they just not tell the ship was moving or was it just based on them not actually using the engine?  Or, were they just misinformed?  This was never cleared up satisfactorily for me.  Second, one of the big reveals is that they are in orbit around Centauri-Earth, but every time they looked out the windows (which sounds like it happened quite often) they never saw it?  Ok, I can concede that, if they were in a synchronous orbit (ie always the same side of the ship facing the planet) they wouldn't see it, but they would have to see the two suns.  It's kind of hard to miss and the suns would not stay in the same place in relation to the ship!  I'm just not quite believing that, since the planet was pretty much just out of sight from the window that the suns were always just out of sight too.  Ok, so these are probably not things most readers would notice or care about, and they were just things I noticed as I tried to visualize the whole thing using my (albeit somewhat rusty) astronomy brain. *end of spoilers*  And despite these things, I enjoyed the book very much.  Sorry for the rant!

Read-alikes:
Inside Out and Outside In by Maria V. Snyder
Across the Universe by Beth Revis (obviously, read it first)

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none 
unless you count "frex"

mrg-factor: none 
kissy kissy

v-factor: ->-> 
a few disturbing scenes, but not graphic at all

Overall rating: **** 

For those who have read it, did those things that bothered me even cross your mind or am I alone? :)  For those who haven't, why not?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date: January 2012
Pages: 400
Source: ARC sent by publisher
For: Review
Series: Lunar Chronicles, Book 1

When Cinder has a chance meeting with Prince Kai, little does she expect so much to come of it.  As a cyborg, she is a lesser citizen in New Beijing, and her stepmother won't let her forget it.  But, when her stepsister gets the plague and she is blamed for it, Cinder might discover that she plays an unusually important role in the survival of her whole world.

Things I Liked:
What a fun, unique book with a stellar concept.  I loved the futuristic twist on a classic fairy tale.  There is nothing I love more than fairy tale retellings, so adding a sci-fi element made it even more fun.  I love Cinder - the tough, vulnerable, realistic cyborg who is trying to figure out where she fits in her world.  I loved the world Meyer has built and the societies she has created to inhabit this bleak future.  The sci-fi elements are simplistic enough to make it accessible for those who don't like sci-fi, but believable enough for the true connesieur.  The original story is there, but with originality and twists that make it much more interesting and fun.  Just a darn good story.

Things I Didn't Like:
Ok, so I had Cinder figured out long before the end of the story, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching her figure it out.  And really, that's all that might have bothered me.  Very much looking forward to the next books!

Read-alikes:
Not exactly like other fairy tale stories and not exactly like anything sci-fi either - it's pretty unique

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: ! 
occasionally

mrg-factor: none 
just some kissing

v-factor: -> 
maybe a little gruesome in relation to the plague

Overall rating: ***** 

What other fairy tales do you think could be great sci-fi?

Check out this clip from the awesome audio version of Cinder!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Variant by Robison Wells

Variant by Robison Wells
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: October 2011
Pages: 384
Source: ARC provided by publisher
For: Review
Series: Variant, Book 1

When Benson gets a scholarship to a remote private school in New Mexico, he thinks it's the beginning of a new life.  But when he arrives at a school with no adults, gangs of students, and no way out, he is definitely not prepared.  As the mysteries of this school just keep piling up, Benson is determined to escape, no matter the cost. 

Things I Liked:
What an action-packed and twisty story!  I loved how the plot built the tension slowly and carefully, how Benson wondered about everything and everyone.  I was enthralled by the different attitudes and personalities that were portrayed by students all in the same position.  I was pretty much blown away by the surprises and stunned at everything that happened, not to mention how it happened.  This is a surprising read with lots of action, suspense, and twists - not to mention psychological bending that makes you wonder if you're going crazy too!  I think this one will have a lot of boy-appeal and pretty much anyone who likes crazy action and surprise endings will love it.  (Side note: not sure how to fit this into the genre mold - not exactly dystopian, but kind of a little bit...)

Things I Didn't Like:
The characters didn't feel very developed.  The story definitely took a front stage on this one and the characters were more just a part of the action.  Benson was pretty well developed, but the minors felt very flat.  I liked Becky because she actually seemed to have some character, but most of the others just didn't have that spark.  I think Wells has a lot of potential and the writing is pretty good, but I wanted a little something more than story.  Still, couldn't quite believe what was going on and near the end my jaw was aching from being dropped so many times.  Read this one when you want something unexpected! 

Read-alikes:
The Maze Runner series by James Dashner
Lord of the Flies by William Golding

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: ! 
surprisingly few

mrg-factor: none 
just some kissing

v-factor: ->-> 
some gory fist fighting and the like

Overall rating: **** 

Which do you like more - books about story or books about characters (if you had to pick between them, of course)?

Looking for more dystopian goodness?  Be sure to stop at Presenting Lenore's Dystopian February celebration.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Mini Reviews 5: (Mostly) Audio Fun

Here we are again! I'm starting to love these minis. They are lots of fun to write and I feel less pressure when I do write them. Three of the five were audiobooks, so I figured the title was (mostly) accurate. Enjoy!


In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce
Publisher: Various
Publication date: 1990
Pages: 256
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: Fun
Series: Song of the Lioness, Book 2

Alanna's further adventures, as squire to Prince Jonathan, become even more dangerous as she continues to masquerade as a boy.  A dangerous and powerful magician is out to get not only her but those she cares about.

My thoughts: I loved watching Alanna grow into herself, accept herself as a woman, and learn to love.  She is still the same person, which I think is fabulous, but she has new parts to herself and has grown even more.  I thought it covered a lot of time in a very short book.  Which isn't bad, but it just seems like a lot happens and happens quickly.  I was also rather surprised at the direction it took. I figured the stuff that happened at the end would only come at the end of the entire series.  I'm happy to be wrong and look forward to seeing where the next books take me!  This was another audiobook and I still love the narrator.  She portrays Alanna so well and does a few accents to help me keep the characters separate.  I love the characters and the setting and just everything about this series.  This is my kind of story.  
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The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley, adapted by Yuri Rasovsky
Publisher: Zorro Productions and Blackstone Audio
Publication date: April 2011
Source: Audiobook won from Devourer of Books
For: Fun
Series: There are lots of Zorro books

Don Diego, a foolish and weak but rich young man, is being forced into taking a wife by his father.  He attempts to woo the smart and independent Lolita Pulido.  But her heart belongs to the dashing, daring, brave Zorro, a masked menace to the corrupt officials in the town. 

My thoughts: This was a good old fashioned, swashbuckling story.  I love Zorro stories (though I've never read one, so I'm basing it on the movie), but this one was just perfect, complete with do-gooder outlaw, beautiful lady, and corrupt leaders.  While the story is a bit simplistic, black and white, and just plain obvious, I think it is meant to be that way.  And it still is charming.  I really liked the full cast narration (Val Kilmer was not hard to listen to).  The accents and the voices and the sound effects made the story truly come to life. 
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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Publisher: Various
Publication date: 1962
Pages: 280
Source: audiobook from the library
For: Reread (for 50th Anniversary post)
Series: A Wrinkle in Time Quartet, Book 1

Meg does not fit in anywhere in her life, at school and even at home.  She's always fighting people and in trouble.  But when she gets a chance to find her father who's disappeared and to travel with some unusual new friends, she jumps at the chance.  And life will never be the same for her and her family.

My thoughts: I've already talked about much that I liked in my post about sharing this book.  But, I love the characters and the epic journey feel of the story.  I loved how broad and how huge its scope is - travel in space and how time and science play a huge part of it.  But I also love the religious aspects.  I know many people don't, but I am a religious person and found those parts added a layer and meaning to the book that resonated with me.  And yet, the book is still very strange, odd, and confusing even.  I wish I'd read it as a child.  My biggest complaint on this reread (er, relisten?) was that it was read by the author.  While this added another aspect of passion and meaning, I found her voice very annoying.  And I absolutely loathed Mrs. Which's voice, which had a strange echoing effect that bothered me to no end.  Definitely listen to one not narrated by the author.  She wrote interesting books, but she was not a good narrator.
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Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication date: October 2011
Pages: 272
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Review

Izzie is content with her life, she has a sweet boyfriend and a great best friend.  But life gets turned upside down when an interesting new guy, Tristan, shows up and a mix up in magical potions leaves her feeling confused.  Even more distressing is the strange creatures that begin stalking Izzie.  Will she figure out her feelings for Mark and Tris or will she be destroyed by monsters before she gets the chance?

My thoughts:
To be honest, I've seen nothing but loathing surrounding this book. Perhaps it was best that I had low expectations.  I liked how Izzie fought the idea of being attracted to someone based only on some stupid potion.  She didn't want to have that choice taken from her, but she was also a huge jerk both to Mark and Tristan.  Izzie had some interesting things about her, but much of her was just annoying.  I was glad that she changed and grew in many ways over the course of the book, but I just didn't enjoy reading it.  None of the parts seemed to mix together well.  It felt disjointed like its parts didn't quite fit together.  And I was disappointed that it seemed to lack Harrison's unique style and writing.  I couldn't bring myself to care about the characters.  Tris and Mark were just not interesting.  The quick exchanging of affections that occurs is unreal (though possibly intentional).  The whole thing felt like it was unpolished (mind you, it was an ARC, but even for an ARC, it felt that way).  The bones of the original story were there and fairly interesting, but it just didn't play out well.
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Frost by Marianna Baer
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication date: September 2011
Pages: 400
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series:

When Leena finds out she has a new roommate foisted on her during senior year, she is anything but happy.  But when it turns out to be Celeste, she is livid.  Celeste is eccentric, loud, complaining.  And Leena was sure this year would be perfect, since she and her friends are staying in Frost House, an adorable little house set off by itself in the woods.  But when strange unnerving things begin to happen to Celeste, Leena may discover there is more going on at Frost House than she could have imagined.  Or did she imagine it?

My thoughts: This book was very, very creepy.  The atmosphere, the small details all building on one another, all these elements made the whole thing completely horrifying (as it was supposed to).  I also really liked the teenage-ness of the characters, especially, the slow building picture of what Leena really is like, what she does.  She isn't even sure who she is herself.  There is also a Gothic undertone to the whole story that made it even more spooky and thrilling.  I was sufficiently terrified into avoiding my closet for a time.  And I have to admit, it is definitely not my kind of book.  I don't like being freaked out, and I don't like disturbing stories.  It was just not the kind of book I usually enjoy and not one I recommend, unless this is your kind of story.  But, it's a great psychological thriller for those aching to be terrorized by the mind.

Any thoughts on these books?

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Book Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: January 2012
Pages: 384
Source: ARC provided by publisher
For: Review
Series: Under the Never Sky, Book 1

When Aria finds herself thrown from her safely enclosed city, she is terrified of what she'll find in the Outside.  Things are nearly as bad as she pictured, with aether storms, wild animals, and the savage people who live on the outside.  But she must trust herself to one of those savages, Perry, if she is to get back to her home again.  And Perry must travel with Aria, despite his disgust for her soft Dweller ways, in order to save someone he loves.  Will the two survive the Outside, and each other?

Things I Liked:
I enjoyed the compelling ideas about our future this book portrayed, especially the way people spend most of their time living in virtual reality (which, honestly, is an idea I've had for a book for quite some time, so maybe I'm biased a bit).  I liked watching Aria experience life on the outside, in the real world, and the very real differences between Aria and Perry. Those differences didn't change, which allowed the characters themselves to change their perspectives.  I loved how their relationship developed - how it was slow and steady and had setbacks and wasn't instant or eternal.  No love triangle, just real obstacles.  And what kept me reading was that I had no idea where the story was going.  The ending and a lot of the lead up were not predictable (at least to me).  It was unique, well-crafted, smart and complex. No huge cliffhanger, but some interesting plot points for a sequel.  All around, it's an impressive dystopian debut that avoids some of the tropes of its genre.

Things I Didn't Like:
There were some things about the future tech and explanations for how the world ended up that way that didn't entirely satisfy me.  The world building felt a bit cursory or shallow.  Essentially, I wanted more!  Hopefully more about the Aether and the technology will be coming in the sequels.

Read-alikes:
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Matched and Crossed by Ally Condie

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
not too many, but some

mrg-factor: XX
not on page, but implied

v-factor: ->-> 
definitely some action, a bit gory at times

Overall rating: **** 

What does your idea of the future look like?

Looking for more dystopian goodness?  Be sure to stop at Presenting Lenore's Dystopian February celebration.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Fox Inheritance by Mary Pearson

The Fox Inheritance by Mary Pearson
Publisher: Henry Holt
Publication date: August 2011
Pages: 304
Source: ARC provided by publisher
For: Review
Series: Jenna Fox Chronicles, Book 2

*Spoilers for The Adoration of Jenna Fox*
Two hundred and sixty years after Jenna woke up, her two best friends Kara and Locke have finally been released.  After spending centuries locked inside their own memories in the dark, the two are trying to adjust to a new life, in a completely new world.  As they learn more about their new place in this world, they become more and more anxious to find the one person they remember from before: Jenna.

Things I Liked:
I'm always excited to read books about future ethical issues, particularly medical ethics.  And this book also has a fabulous story to go with it.  It has complex and interesting characters, internal and external conflict, and all the makings of a spanking good story.  I love how Pearson's future world felt realistic and totally believable - I can see how these types of medical advances just might be possible.  I liked being in Locke's head, feeling all that he experienced being in a new world and trying to figure things out, all while still dealing with the horrible past he couldn't forget.  A book that will make you think deeply about what being human means.  Here's  some of my favorite parts:

I have a fabricated body. I am in a world that is completely different from the one I was born into. What I think is all I have left. My mind is the only thing that makes me different from a fancy toaster. What we think does matter - it's all we truly have. p 105

My surprise at the mission suddenly clicks. I didn't picture a future that would have room for faith. I thought everything would be explainable by now, right down to the atom of every mystery, but the world has more mysteries for me now than it ever did. In fact, I am one of those mysteries. How does someone like me fit into this world now? p 180-181

I told you Bots dream. At least some of us do, whether we are supposed to or not, we dream. Some of us think beyond our cabs, we imagine where our customers go and what things they see. When they jump into our cabs, we imagine where they have been, and how it has changed them.their worlds become our secret worlds, and sometimes we share those places with others like us and sometimes ed even dare to dream that those worlds could be lures knew day. We don't know if that could ever be true for us, but we hear stories. And now...I am one of those stories. Escape is not about moving from one place to another. It's about becoming more. p 249-250

Things I Didn't Like:
Despite the great story surrounding Locke and Kara, I was not as interested as when we were in Jenna's head in the first book.  Also, some parts of it were slow and made me want to put it down. Still, I wholeheartedly enjoyed this sequel/companion novel to one of my favorite futuristic books, The Adoration of Jenna Fox.

Read-alikes:
Start with The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few

mrg-factor: X
a little bit implied

v-factor: ->
a bit here and there, nothing too gory

Overall rating: ****

What's your favorite thing about futuristic books?

Looking for more dystopian goodness?  Be sure to stop at Presenting Lenore's Dystopian February celebration.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen

The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen
Publisher: Square Fish
Publication date: May 2010
ISBN: 9780312659424
Source: ARC sent by publisher

 

Mason is used to the strange looks and staring that come from his seriously scarred face.  But when he learns that there is more to his past than his mother is telling him, he wonders if he's even odder than he thought.  By chance, he meets a girl who is most definitely different and embarks on a quest to save her from the horrors of her past.  But, will those horrors lead him right back where they started and can he face the secrets he'll learn about the girl and himself?

Things I Liked:
The story kept me reading.  It was entertaining and fast-paced and there was plenty of action that happened.  The book holds some interesting ideas about the future of our society as well, thoughts about how we would face hunger and other destructive influences.  While I think it was a bit (ok, a lot) over the top, still it provided some food for thought.

Things I Didn't Like:
Really, the only thing that kept me reading was the action.  The characters seemed really underdeveloped, especially minor characters - his mother, his friend, even the girl he meets.  It seemed like just the bare bones of a story idea with not much else developed around it.  I probably wouldn't have finished it if it wasn't so short and easy to read.  The writing felt stilted in places, particularly the dialog.  There are other things about it that bother me, but I don't think I'm articulate enough to explain them.  I can see how it will work for other people, but it really didn't work for me.  

Read-alikes:
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
Unwind by Neal Shusterman

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
one or two

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: **

This is one of those books that really reminded me how different people's opinions of books can be. I saw several very positive reviews and I didn't like it. Is there a book that did this for you?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Possession by Elana Johnson

Possession by Elana Johnson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication date: June 2011
ISBN: 9781442421257
Source: ARC provided by publisher

 

When Vi is arrested for walking with her match Zenn, she isn't certain just why it is such a big deal.  While she's imprisoned, she meets Jag, a dangerous bad boy that she's strangely attracted to.  The Thinkers want Vi on their side and they will do anything to get her, even brainwash Zenn.  Can Vi figure out what is going on and why they want her so much before it's too late?

Things I Liked:
This is a complex and interesting sci-fi dystopian story.  I loved the future tech stuff and the world that Johnson developed for her characters.  It felt pretty unique from other dystopians, though keeping several of the same elements, of course.  I liked Vi for her feisty attitude and her unwillingness to ever give up.  The book had a lot of intriguing elements that provoke thought and probably some good discussion as well.  I liked the control or be controlled aspect as well, since it wasn't black and white, but all kinds of gray areas.  Fast-paced and intriguing, Johnson created a different and scary world here.

Things I Didn't Like:
The biggest problem for me was that the action started right off and no explanations were given.  I felt like I had no idea or concrete concepts about this future world.  I really struggled to understand even basic structure of the goodgrounds and badlands and Thinkers and what anybody was even talking about.  This would have been ok if things had been explained later, but I honestly thought there was not enough info to give me a good grasp on things ever.  I came away from the book still wondering what had happened.  I think a good dystopian or any book introducing a new place needs a balance between info-dumping and withholding info.  This went too far on the withholding end for my taste.  Another minor squibble was that I just didn't like Jag.  At all.   

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of the Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
And a bit like Candor by Pam Bachorz

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some, but not too much

mrg-factor: X
some implied, nothing described

v-factor: ->
a little bit of fighting

Overall rating: ***

I've seen mixed reviews of this one - which way do you feel about it?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: May 2011
ISBN: 9780062024022
Source: ARC sent by publishers

 

Beatrice has spent her life in the Abnegation faction, where selflessness is the most prized attribute.  But, when she turns sixteen and gets to choose whether to stay with her family in Abnegation or go somewhere else, she decides to leave it behind, along with all the feelings of inadequacy for not being selfless enough.  Choosing Dauntless, however, ends up being a lot more difficult than she originally thought, as she must fight for her life every day.  Danger is lurking around every corner, and not just because of the deadly secret she's keeping.  She will have to face many threats from inside Dauntless and from outside it as well.

Things I Liked:
This was a fantastic story that sucked me in right from the beginning.  It definitely has the appeal that Hunger Games has, with the action-packed fast-paced story that has you flipping pages as fast as your fingers will allow and reading late into the night because you simply can't put it down.  I flew through this one, devouring the dystopian goodness and loving Beatrice/Tris for her conflicted feelings and her unique personality among the many around her.  She was most definitely not the perfect main character, but made bad choices and good, as well as struggled with issues many of us faced as teens and continue to face today.  Every page is stuffed with details of this interesting future world, not to mention all kinds of fighting for life and struggling to survive.  It's definitely another of my favorite dystopians of the year. 

Things I Didn't Like:
I did start to think it might be just a little bit over-the-top in its non-stop action.  I mean, pretty much every bad thing that could happen does.  But, most of the time, I was glued to the pages, unable to pry my eyeballs from the story, so this is a very minor quibble.  

Read-alikes:
Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few here and there

mrg-factor: X
some implied, nothing explicit

v-factor: ->->->
quite a bit, some disturbing

Overall rating: *****

Any other new dystopians that you've enjoyed recently?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens by Brandon Sanderson

Alcatraz Versus The Shattered Lens by Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication date: December 2010
ISBN: 9780439925570
Source: Library

Alcatraz and his friends face their worst enemies yet - a faction of evil librarians called the Shattered Lens.  They destroy any glass, including the prized special lenses Oculators use for power.  The capital city of Mokia is beseiged and Alcatraz must find a way to get help to the city in time to save it.  But, will he be able to save himself - from his own mother?

Things I Liked:
Once again, the humor in this series does not disappoint.  Alcatraz is filled with silliness and ridiculousity that rivals anything I've ever read.  He takes his diversions to the point of embarrassment, even while you have to laugh at the sometimes dreadful puns.  The story is also fun for sci-fi lovers and those invested in the Smedrys' stories.  Definitely a go-to book for reluctant tween boys who love a good laugh, tongue-in-cheek humor, and a bit of sci-fi action.  Here's just a taste of some of the fun stuff:

I won't lie.  It was shatteringly cool.  Instead of sitting around all day writing biology papers r listening to Mr. Layton from algebra class extol the virtues of complex factoring, I got to throw teddy bear grenades and jump off buildings.  It was really fun at the start.  Okay, it was really fun the WHOLE TIME. p 12

If you've ever thought that books are boring, it's because you don't know how to read them correctly.  From now on, when you read a book, I want you to scream the words of the novel out loud while reading them, then do exactly what the characters are doing in the story.  Turst me, it will make books way more exciting.  Even dictionaries.  Particularly dictionaries. p 37

People don't become Librarians because they wnat to force people to be quiet, or because they love books, or because they want to help people.  No, people become Librarians for only one reason: They like to put things in order.  Librarians are always organizing stuff.  They can't help it.  YOu'll see them for hours and hours sitting on little stools in libraries, going over each and every book on their shelf, trying to decide if it should be moved over one or two slots.  It drives them crazy when we normal people wander into their libraries and mess stuff up. p 199

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, as an adult, I got terribly annoyed after a while at the story's silly tone and the completely over-the-top feel of the story.  I can really only handle one of these at a time before I get too annoyed.  Also, despite it being the last of the series (supposedly) it really had no ending that felt satisfying to me.  [Note: I heard Scholastic didn't sign on for another book, but Sanderson indicated there is a 5th book, so that's why it felt unfinished.]  Still, as I said, the right tween boy (and possibly girl) will devour these.

Read-alikes:
Read the first three Alcatraz books by Brandon Sanderson first
The Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch 
A little like the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ***

I believe this might be my last Utah author review for May's Utah authors celebration (yeah, I didn't get to some on my list). How do you celebrate your local authors?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Hey! Look at me - posting again. Must mean we finally have internets at our new apartment. And I'm still alive (apparently).

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: May 2010
ISBN: 9780316056212
Source: Library (though I should totally buy it)

Nailer has never had much, working on a ship-breaking crew, trying to avoid being beaten by his drunken father.  But, when he happens on a lucky discovery, he has the chance to have everything.  This chance, however, rests on a decision between stripping a rich ship or saving a rich girl from the ship.  Is Nailer willing to risk everything on the chance that this girl could change the course of his life?

Things I Liked:
Wow.  This is dystopian literature at its finest, I think.  In rich, vivid, and totally engrossing language, Bacigalupi has created a future world where the divide between haves and have nots is so wide it seems impossible to breach.  Nailer's world is so horrifying and so realistically portrayed, it almost makes me think that it was based in reality.  You get a real sense of what they feel, touch, even breathe from his gorgeous writing.  Which doesn't even get into the fascinating story that is told in its pages.  The action is fantastic and I really loved the characters, particularly Pima and Nita.  A fascinating and terrifying future world that seems like it might just be our future.  Totally deserving of the Printz award it won, in my opinion.  Here are a few of my favorite parts:

It was as if the Scavenge God had come amongst the ships, slashing and chopping, dicing the huge iron vessels into pieces, and then left the corpses scattered carelessly behind  And wherever the huge ships lay, scavenge gangs like Nailer's swarmed like flies.  Chewing away at iron meat and bones.  Dragging the old world's flesh up the beach to the scrap weighing scales and the recycling smelters that burned 24-7 for the profit of Lawson & Carlson, the company that made all the cash from the blood and sweat of the ship breakers. p 6-7

Now, though, the dark reek of the oil room filled his mind - the memory of being up to his neck in warm death staring up at Sloth high above him, her little LED paint mark glowing - salvation if only he could convince her, if only he could reach out and touch that part of her that cared for something other than herself, knowing that there was a lever inside her somewhere, and if only he could pull it, she would go for help and he would be saved and everything would be fine.  p 99

Dozens of futures extended ahead of him, depending on his luck and the will of the Fates...and the variable that this girl presented.  He could see those roads spinning away from him in different directions.  He was standing at their hub, looking down each of them in turn, but he could see only so far, one or two steps ahead at best.  p 111

Things I Didn't Like:
I kinda wanted a little more info, mostly about Tool.  He felt like an enigma the whole time, a wild card that conveniently arrived to help them out and then disappeared when he wasn't needed anymore.  I couldn't figure him out.  Also, the ending was a little too neat and clean for the way the rest of the story felt - harsh, gritty, painful.  Still, like I said, one of the best dystopians I've read!

Read-alikes:
The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness
Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
throughout but no f-bombs

mrg-factor: X
mostly implied stuff, nothing descriptive

v-factor: ->->->->
quite a bit, some rather gory 

Overall rating: *****

Seriously, if you love dystopian stuff, get your hands on this. You won't be sorry!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: March 2011
ISBN: 9781442409057
Source: ARC sent by publisher

When Rhine is kidnapped and forced into a marriage with a man who has three other wives, she little expects to find any pleasure in the rest of her short life.  In her world, women live only until 20, while men live until 25, due to an unknown virus.  She only has four years left, but being trapped and at the mercy of her husband's creepy father is not how she wants to spend that time.  Little by little, Rhine develops relationships with those around her - her sister wives, a serving boy, even her husband.  Will she ever find a way out or will she decide that this life is not so very bad?

Things I Liked:
I thought the portrayal of Rhine's relationships and the changes she experiences throughout the book were really interesting.  DeStefano has taken a potentially horrifying situation and made characters that you should despise into relatable, sympathetic, real people.  I loved how those relationships were built over time and not instantaneously, like many romantic YA books today.  The writing is simply fantastic, each scene and place described in vivid and sometimes horrifying detail.  The future world's technology and situations are (for the most part) quite believable and well-realized.  And that ending really made me want to know what happens next!  An interesting and fairly unique dystopian debut.

Things I Didn't Like:
The one detail I had the hardest time accepting was the virus that kills people at specific ages.  I thought it was a little too much of a convenience for the story.  I just couldn't believe that there would be something so specifically able to target a person who suddenly reaches a certain age.  However, the dressings on the story and the beautiful exploration of relationships easily distracted me from that distraction.

Read-alikes:
Matched by Ally Condie
Bumped by Megan McCafferty
XVI by Julia Karr

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
some, not a lot

mrg-factor: XX
Nothing too descriptive, but because they're married...

v-factor: ->
mostly off-page and creepy, but not outright violent

Overall rating: *****

I've seen lots of reviews for this one, both positive and negative. Where do you fall on the spectrum?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Publisher: Egmont
Publication date: June 2011
ISBN: 9781606841440
Source: ARC provided by publicist

Emerson has definitely had a rough life.  Since her parents died, she's been seeing people that aren't there.  She ends up in a mental institution and she's been heavily medicated.  But now, she's finally returned home to stay with her brother and his wife.  When her brother brings around someone to "help" her, Emerson is understandably skeptical.  But Michael is definitely not like the others.  They have an immediate connection and she feels comfortable with the only guy who doesn't make her feel crazy.  But she will soon be drawn into a world she knows nothing about. 

Things I Liked:
This book had a really intriguing premise.  I loved the idea of time travel that's introduced into the story (hope that isn't really a spoiler - I think it's kind of obvious from the title and jacket summary).  McEntire is able to describe the time travel elements and almost make it just a little believable why and how it happens.  I liked the pseudo-science feel to the explanations.  Those parts that talked about how it worked and the intricacies of going back and forward in time were my favorite.  I love the twisty paths and difficult situations time travel can get people into.  The ending was pretty exciting and surprising as well.  The quirky writing was pretty good most of the time too.  I liked many of her descriptions and synonyms (some of the them were funny and interesting, but some of them were just awkward).  An interesting start to a new series.

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit there were parts of it that felt very much the same as every other YA romance I've read recently.  That is what I liked least about the book - the romance.  The connection between Emerson and Michael is electric - literally.  They are in love because they feel an electricity when they touch.  It isn't developed much beyond that.  I think I ended up liking the other love interest more than Michael.  He seemed more interesting to me.  But I really could have done without that element entirely.  

Read-alikes:
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some scattered throughout

mrg-factor: XX
nothing very descriptive

v-factor: ->
some scary and rather horrifying things happen

Overall rating: **** for premise *** for execution

Do you prefer books with a little romance and a lot paranormal (or fantasy or sci-fi) or the other way around?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Outside In by Maria V. Snyder

Outside In by Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication date: February 2011
ISBN: 9780373210114
Source: e-copy of ARC from NetGalley

*Some spoilers for Inside Out below*
When Trella and her friends led the revolution to overthrow the Travas, they expected everything to work out perfectly.  What they didn't expect was the endless meetings and impossible task of uniting a people who don't want to be united.  Uppers and lowers are still not getting along and now a new threat to Inside's peace has surfaced.  An unknown bomber is sabotaging the vital systems that keep Inside going.  The question is, why?  Trella doesn't want to lead another rebellion, but will she have a choice? 

Things I Liked:
I still enjoyed the fresh-to-me setting of hurtling through space and living in a society entirely contained within itself.  There are some fun technologies and gadgets that Snyder gets to incorporate that make the future society interesting.  Also, I really enjoyed the fact that she showed the aftermath of a revolution and how nothing really ran smoothly.  It was a realistic portrayal of trying to unite differing people and how overthrowing one leader doesn't necessarily lead to automatic peace and prosperity.  An interesting and unique sequel to Inside Out.  Here's a fun quote:

"Nothing says you care for me better than offering to torture my enemies."  He grinned.  "No sense doing things halfhearted.  And to think, some girls have to endure listening to poetry."

Things I Didn't Like:
I had a hard time feeling like I connected to any of the characters.  Trella wasn't that interesting anymore and I just didn't feel like I cared about anyone else either.  I was really bothered by the use of wipe boards while there was so much advanced technology in other places.  It seemed out of place and ridiculous, though probably useful if all technology disappeared.  There were a few twists, but not much that you couldn't see coming.  I'm still not sure what accounts for most of my dissatisfaction, but it wasn't as good as I was hoping.  Still, I enjoyed my reading of it and was able to set aside my annoyances for the most part.

Read-alikes:
Read Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder first 
A tiny bit like Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness 
Across the Universe by Beth Revis

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few here and there

mrg-factor: XX
several situations, nothing too descriptive

v-factor: ->->
some action fighting

Overall rating: ***

Any suggestions for some good space dystopian lit? I haven't read many, but I'm intrigued by them.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Publication date: October 2009
ISBN: 9781599905211
Source: Library

 

Lyn is the daughter of neo-gladiators and a "glad wife."  Her life is governed by the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association.  This becomes even more apparent when her father is killed in the arena by a young man who takes her dowry bracelet and her freedom.  That act means that she must marry him.  But when Lyn decides to take matters into her own hands, she must face a rabid violence-loving crowd in addition to the ruthless GSA.  Can she survive and retain her freedom?

Things I Liked:
I like the way it pokes fun at the commercialized and televised world we live in.  It's quite good (not that I have personal experience or anything) at showing life as a celebrity and how it is to live in the spotlight and have everything you do be visible and talked about.  It was also an interesting commentary on our violent culture and what we find acceptable.  And when the action does happen, it's excellent.  Here is one of the interesting quotes about trying to be average:

At my fast-food nation job, it's really hot and you have to lift heavy boxes of frozen food substance and you get spattered with sizzling grease.  But you have this uniform and this cap and you're just one of the underpaid and completely marginalized jerks like everyone else and no one asks if you come from seven types of men - you just fry and salt and squirt and slap and wrap and bag. p 32

Things I Didn't Like:
I just wasn't that interested in the story, I think.  Aside from the intriguing idea of neo-gladiator sports where professionals fight one another to the death, not much seems to happen in the story.  The ending, while it at first appeared gutsy, didn't really satisfy me.  With all of the building up and talking about fighting, there was only about 10 pages devoted to that.  Too much of everything else and not enough of what I expected the book to be about.  But, I suppose that is more of a problem with my expectations than the book itself.  

Read-alikes:
I guess it's a little like the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, but really only in very broad ways

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
remarkably few

mrg-factor: X
some implied stuff

v-factor: ->->->
while the scenes are few, they are fairly gory

Overall rating: ***

Posted as part of Presenting Lenore's Dystopian February celebration. Check it out!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld and Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Double Feature is an occasional feature where I discuss/review two books, often comparing and contrasting characters or elements that were similar or different.  I try my best to not include spoilers, or to give a spoiler warning before them, but because these reviews are more in-depth than regular reviews, it is possible there might be some plot points given away.  Read at your own risk.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication date: 2005
ISBN: 9780689865381
Source: Library (book group)

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: February 2011
ISBN: 9780061726828
Source: ARC provided by Traveling ARC Tours and e-copy through NetGalley

 

Summaries:
Uglies: Tally is just counting the days until she turns sixteen and can turn pretty.  In a world where everyone is gorgeous and happy, she is ready for her turn.  When she meets a new friend Shay, who talks about being pretty as if it isn't the most important thing, she thinks it's a joke.  Until Shay runs away and leaves the world of pretties behind.  Tally is then faced with a desperate choice between friendship and being pretty.

Delirium: Lena can't wait until she's gotten the cure.  In a world where amor deliria nervosa (ie love) is a disease, Lena wants the security and stability that will come from having calm if cold relationships.  After all, love is dangerous and will eventually kill you.  But, life has other plans for her.  Into her rigid and structured life comes a boy and Lena does the unthinkable.  She falls in love.

Similarities: 
Apart from the obvious, that they are dystopian books, these books had some other things in common.  The thing I first noticed was that there is a "cure" of sorts.  In Delirium (hereafter D), it is a cure for delirium nervosa, while in Uglies (hereafter U) it is a cure or procedure to get rid of ugliness.  The cure is what the entire novel revolves around in both.  

Also, in both books, the main character begins by believing wholeheartedly in the cure.  They are looking forward to the day when they will receive it and they are even both counting down the days until it happens.  It is also a close girl friend who first puts into our characters' minds the idea that it may not be what they think it is.  Hana in D is Lena's best friend and she appears not to be like most people - not afraid to speak out against the cure and the government that institutes it.  In U, Shay is the one who first gets Tally thinking about what being pretty might mean.  Shay and Hana also both encourage Tally and Lena to do things that are illegal like sneaking out and visiting forbidden places.  

A third similarity is in the male love interest.  For Lena in D, she meets Alex, who she at first believes is cured and therefore safe.  As time goes on (*spoiler*) she learns he is an uncured like her and also from outside of her town, the place where traitors and invalids live. (*end spoiler*)  Similarly, Tally in U meets David, who is unmistakably still an ugly, but who lives outside of the government's sway in a place where traitors and those who aren't cured live.  These boys open the eyes of both Lena and Tally to seeing that there is so much more to life that what they think and what the government tells them it should be.  Also, the main character visits these outside places at least once during the story.

Differences:
There are, of course, things that are very different about these two books.  One big difference is the presence of the government.  While it is obvious that both control everyday life, in U it was much more proactive in destroying those who don't obey the rules.  They actively seek out the Smoke and try to eradicate them.  In D, they keep outsiders away from those in the cities largely by fear and lining the borders with fences and electricity.  They were not interested in going outside of their cities and finding people after they initially thought they got rid of them all.  

The cures are also different, of course.  In U, it is obvious at first glance when someone hasn't had the cure - they are still ugly.  Also, (*spoiler*) there is more to the cure than just getting rid of ugliness, a part of the brain that is changed so people don't think much. (*end spoiler*)   In D, you can only tell if a person is cured by a small scar on their heads - a scar which could be faked.  Everyone knows that the cure for delirium nervosa affects how people feel and seems to dull all of their sensibilities.  There was no government effort to hide side effects or things of that sort.  Also, it was not really optional to receive the treatment in D, whereas there are a few people mentioned in U that choose to remain ugly.  There are no severe consequences mentioned in relation to those who choose that, except they aren't welcome in the pretty societies.  

Things also are different in relation to Hana and Shay later on.  While Shay is still very much opposed to the cure and escapes from that life into the Smoke, Hana's rebellion will not lead her to give up her current life.  She plans to stay in the city and receive her cure.

Things I Liked in Uglies:
This was my second time reading Uglies, for our book group.  We had a lot of lively discussion of this title, and everyone seemed to enjoy the book.  We all loved the society and the impact it made on our own views of what's beautiful.  I loved having a chance to reread it and get a more in-depth look at what Westerfeld might have been saying.  Most of us, on first reading, just get sucked into the fast-paced story and what will happen next.  This time around, I was struck by the comparisons Westerfeld and even the main characters made between the operation and growing up.  They often talk about "growing up" and thinking about what they want to look like, but the main part of the story is when Tally grows up in completely different ways.  She finds a little bit of herself at a time to love, even while she's ugly.  A lot to discuss and also a lot of fun.  Still one of my favorite dystopian books.

Things I Liked in Delirium:
This is a book that will make you think long and hard about almost everything in your life.  But, especially your relationships.  It will force you to look at them and remember why you love those people and what you would do for them.  It questions why we love and how we love and what we want from life.  At the risk of repeating that word too many times, I loved it.  Not only does Lena deal with falling in love with someone, but her relationships with her best friend, a young cousin, and her mother, are all woven into the plot.  Oliver's writing is beautiful; I don't know how many passages I marked in the book, but it felt like every page had something I wanted to share.  She has a talent for evoking feeling in every sentence and metaphors that feel so real and vivid, it's impossible to see things in any other way.  I was particularly intrigued by the dystopian world that was created.  It was very well developed and I especially enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter from a book that managed to change a lot of familiar stories.  It was awesome.  I'm going to be thinking about this one for a long time to come.  I think that is a sign of a great book.  I think these quotes also catch the essence of this book really well, both the writing and the content.  If you aren't at least intrigued, I'll be surprised.

It's only slightly better than the other word that followed me for years after my mom's death, a snakelike hiss, undulating, leaving its trail of poison: Suicide.  A sideways word, a word that people whisper and mutter and cough: a word that must be squeezed out behind cupped palms or murmured behind closed doors.  p 10-11 of ARC

Most of us won't see each other after graduation, and even if we do it will be different.  We'll be different.  We'll be adults, cured, tagged and labeled and paired and identified and placed neatly on our life path, perfectly round marbles set to roll down even, well-defined slopes. p 90 of ARC

I said that without love, there could also be no hate: without hate, no violence.  Hate isn't the most dangerous thing, he'd said.  Indifference is. p 362 of ARC

It occurs to me that this numbness, this feeling of separation, must be what she and every cured experiences all the time: as though there is a thick, muffling pane of glass between you and everybody else.  Hardly anything penetrates.  Hardly anything matters.  They say the cure is about happiness, but I understand now that it isn't, and it never was.  It's about fear: fear of pain, fear of hurt, fear, fear, fear - a blind animal existence, bumping between walls, shuffling between ever-narrowing hallways, terrified and dull and stupid. p 383 of ARC

Things I Didn't Like in Uglies:
The beginning does move a bit slow, before Shay takes off.  Otherwise, I really just loved reading it again.  

Things I Didn't Like in Delirium:
I was kind of a little surprised that she went with the ending she did.  While I expected something of the sort, I was rather hoping for something a little different.  Mind you, it was a seriously twisty ending and I nearly dropped the book when I read it, but it just wasn't what I thought it would be.  Which, actually now that I think about it, is more of a strength of the book and something I like than something I don't like. :)  Maybe it's because I want more books about this world and I can't tell if there will be from the ending.  I hope so.  The only other problem I had was the beginning being a little slow in places.  Oh, and the slightly unbelievable premise that people wanted to eradicate love.  But, these are minor squibbles.  Read it!

Read-alikes:
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Matched by Ally Condie
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Giver by Lois Lowry

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS for Uglies:
s-factor: !
maybe a few

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
some action sequences and scary parts

Overall rating: *****
_______________________________________
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS for Delirium:
s-factor: !@#
very few in number, but some f-words

mrg-factor: X
some moments, but it was really quite tame

v-factor: ->->->
there are some rather violent scenes

Overall rating: *****

What do you think? Have you read them both?

Posted as part of Presenting Lenore's Dystopian February celebration. Check it out!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage