BOOK REVIEW: MATCHED by Ally Condie

I’m posting this in-between exams so I hope it’s coherent…

I fell in love with MATCHED, the dystopian 1984-esque world, and the two boys who fall for Cassia. I’m going to warn you now; huge complaints from people have been that the book was too slow, boring, and action was nilch. This reminded a bit of what I said about PEGASUS by Robin McKinley; the book was more like an introduction to the characters, the world, and the action to come. Except in this case, the action does not come until the last 30 pages or so.

Cassia lives in a world where everything is decided for her; her meal portions, uniformed outfits, and who she will marry. After her Matching ceremony a glitch on her viewscreen reveals another boys face for a moment, the boy she is not meant to be with. Or is she? And following the death of her grandfather, Cassia begins to question all of the rules and laws that govern her life.

When I first started reading I was able to put this book down several times and come back to it… until Ky entered the story. He is mysterious, intelligent, and he quietly rebels against the Society. Their chemistry is palpable and sometimes I wanted to yell at Cassia to DO something even though I know she can’t. It wasn’t until the end that I felt Cassia woke up and the story really began. I also fell in love with Xander, her Match, who seems to be more free-thinking than he lets on. The only complaint I have, which really isn’t a complaint, is that I wanted to know more about the Outer Provinces. There is so much information there and I know Condie will go into it more in the next book but the waiting is torture. I really fell in the love with the characters and the huge story that I know is coming, don’t let the comments on the pacing put you off! You can get MATCHED on Amazon today! (Or your local bookstore)

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations Krispy! You won my copy of MATCHED by Ally Condie. I’ll send you an e-mail soon so I can get the book out to you asap! Thanks to everyone else for entering!

random.org

BOOK GIVEAWAY: MATCHED by Ally Condie

***Contest Closed***
My first contest! And I’m giving away a copy of MATCHED!

I was planning on including this in my December giveaway but I changed my mind. I’ll be posting a review on the day before it comes out. Here’s a synopsis:

“Do not go gentle into that good night.” Cassia’s feelings of security disintegrate after her grandfather hands her a slip of paper just before his scheduled death at age 80. Not only does she now possess an illegal poem, but she also has a lingering interest in the boy who fleetingly appeared on her viewscreen, the one who wasn’t her match, the man she will eventually marry. What’s worse, she knows him—his name is Ky, and he is an orphan from the Outer Provinces. How could she love him as much as Xander, her match and best friend since childhood? (Amazon)

All you have to do is leave a comment with your e-mail.

+Get extra entries for Following on Blogger or Subscribing on Wordpress.

This giveaway ends on November 25^th at 11:59PM.

Only open to U.S. Residents.

Harry Potter's Biggest Fan...

Is NOT me.

This guy has me BEAT.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is in theaters in 3 minutes!

BOOK REVIEW: PEGASUS by Robin McKinley

First thoughts: "But this is only the beginning!"

I got this book exactly two months ago and I’m still twisting myself in knots about it. If you’ve read Robin McKinley before, you’re probably familiar with her open-ended endings. They’re usually full of unanswered questions and unexplored possibilities; one reason why her writing pulls me in. And at the end of every book I’m usually hoping that the sky will open up and a sequel will fall into my lap… and it never happens. So at the end of PEGASUS I was left feeling even more forlorn than usual when I read the last line and realized that this was the end.

Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pegasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them. Humans and pegasi both rely on specially-trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication.

But it’s different for Sylvi and Ebon. They can understand each other. They quickly grow close—so close that their bond becomes a threat to the status quo—and possibly to the future safety of their two nations. (Goodreads)

When I read the last line my first thoughts were: But this is only the beginning! A reaction I’m used to having but never actually validating. PEGASUS ends right when the action begins to start. The entire book felt like an introduction to an even larger story and adventure. It reminded me of the beginning of THE HERO AND THE CROWN but instead of coming full circle it ends on the climax.

When I read the first line I was zapped into this word of winged horse-like creatures and Rocs, and I was reminded again of why I love to write. It reminded me that details aren’t always the enemy in this quick-read world. Even though I felt like the entire book was an introduction to the world and the relationship between Ebon and Silvi, I couldn’t put the book down when I tried. I was enamored from Ebon’s first line to Silvi, “Aren’t you excited, or are you just a dull stupid human?” And from there I fell in love with their world and their families. I can’t help feeling like there’s more to this story; I know there is more to this story. I’m just wondering if I’m going to have to leave what happens all up to my imagination.


EDIT: I just read Robin McKinley's blog and a sequel has fallen into my lap! There will be a book II! So go read PEGASUS!

Happy Halloween!

Book Giveaways…

THE point system; 2 points for posting on twitter, 3 points for posting on your blog, 1 point for leaving a comment, 2 points for following… I hate math.

I have YA books that I would like to give away… and this point system (that I see everywhere) drives me nuts. Any advice on how to do giveaways? (I will not be using a point system)

(a.n.: I am not giving away THE GIVING TREE, although it is a wonderful book...)