The Glimpse

Dec 31, 2012 Marg K. marked it as will-never-read-like-ever · review of another edition

Shelves: what-the-frak

Okay, I know this is just a work of fiction and admittedly I haven't read the book (and certainly don't intend to), but the synopsis seriously pisses me off because the premise that is presented stinks strongly of nonsense that rolled around in a pile of bullshit. Therefore, as that dude from the Sears commercial would say, I hope you brought an umbrella 'cos it's about to rain some cold hard facts up in here.

First of all, "crazies" is a derogatory, stigmatizing title that demonizes individuals...more Okay, I know this is just a work of fiction and admittedly I haven't read the book (and certainly don't intend to), but the synopsis seriously pisses me off because the premise that is presented stinks strongly of nonsense that rolled around in a pile of bullshit. Therefore, as that dude from the Sears commercial would say, I hope you brought an umbrella 'cos it's about to rain some cold hard facts up in here.

First of all, "crazies" is a derogatory, stigmatizing title that demonizes individuals with mental illnesses by implying that they are all insane, senseless, harmful to themselves or others, and incapable of functioning in society. So not true.

Secondly, "mental illness" is a very broad term that in reality encompasses a multitude of disorders, including mood disorders, sexual disorders, anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, adjustment disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, somatoform disorders, and other cognitive dysfunctions. These all vary in etiology, symptoms, onset, duration, severity, and treatment.

Thirdly, there is a vast variety of factors that come into play when diagnosing individuals with mental illnesses. Genetics is only one component that has been identified in some mental illnesses. Other components include the environment (both physical & cultural influences), interpersonal relations, biological development, and personal aspects such as life experiences, stressors & coping mechanisms. Furthermore, just because someone happens to have a genetic predisposition for a particular disorder doesn't automatically guarantee that the disorder will manifest and that the individual will become sick.

Lastly, the incidence of any mental illness doesn't increase like the spread of an infectious disease. Prevalence statistics are largely dependent on medical diagnostic criteria/definitions as well as the cultural context. Both of these change over time and vary among different countries/populations. Currently in the US, it is estimated that around 20% of Americans are diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their lifetime with only about 6% representing individuals with a mental illness that can be considered disabling. These estimates are significantly lower in other parts of the world. Thus, I find the idea of mental illness "skyrocketing out of control" and resulting in the need for forced segregation to be more than a little far-fetched.

Anyways, yeah, I just needed to throw that info out there because my brain was totally going into overdrive after reading what the book is supposed to be about.

P.S. I want to send out an extra special "frak you" to the sexist undertones also present in the synopsis. (less)

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Oct 18, 2012 Nessa rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, review, not-my-cup-of-earl-grey-tea

I'd like to start out this review with a maths lesson. Don't run away, gentle readers! It's nothing too horrifying.

This book takes place in a dystopian society where people with genetic predispositions for psychological conditions are referred to as 'Crazies' and live miserable lives, segregated from the perfect 'Pure' people whose genes don't show any predisposition for a psychological condition, and live very comfortable lives, served by people who have genetic predispositions but haven't gone...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Amy or "Ames" rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian-or-post-apocalyptic, young-adult, psychology, 1st-in-series, arc, read-in-2012, netgalley, free-read, love-triangle, british, series-abandoned

Dangerous. This book is dangerous and disappointing. I can't tell you about the fury I felt at the very beginning of this book. The propaganda, myths and downright lies regarding the science of mental illness that only serve to misinform and hurt the vulnerable, those who live with these illnesses and their family and friends which is a good percentage of the population. Most will be affected by it at some point in their lives. And at this point you should know that my family has been touched by...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Sam rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-covers, arc-or-galley, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic, science-fiction, romance, dystopian

Claire Merle’s debut novel is set in the UK, a place, which according to the Mental Health Foundation, will see 1 in 4 people experiencing some form of mental illness per year. It is also where I live. Interwoven into Merle’s book are nods to area names that I step foot in every day. The Glimpse takes place in only a small handful of decades from now. In other words, it is a story that could take place in my life time – and this is where I find myself being instantly distanced from the book. The...more Claire Merle’s debut novel is set in the UK, a place, which according to the Mental Health Foundation, will see 1 in 4 people experiencing some form of mental illness per year. It is also where I live. Interwoven into Merle’s book are nods to area names that I step foot in every day. The Glimpse takes place in only a small handful of decades from now. In other words, it is a story that could take place in my life time – and this is where I find myself being instantly distanced from the book. The thought of society reaching the point where segregation between those disposed to mental illness and those not becomes the best solution in such a short period of time is incredibly far-fetched. London, of all places, could never be so easily moulded into something that extreme so quickly. While the premise was definitely an interesting one, and also not anything I have encountered before, I was never quite fully convinced.

Although The Glimpse and I got off to a rocky start, I was willing to lose myself in the plot and focus on the good points. This, however, turned out to be quite a challenge. Tedious doesn’t quite cover it. Slow would be an understatement. Claire Merle is not a bad writer, and I have little criticism of the actual writing, but the plot failed to capture significant interest from me. Much of the story line is focused on Ana (the main character)’s attempt to locate her joining partner, Jasper Taurell after he goes missing. This endeavour means leaving the safety of the ‘Pure’ community to stay with the ‘Crazies’. Mostly, I struggled to maintain attentiveness (which is quite a task to accomplish when you care so little about what happens next).

The characters were a mixed bunch, some even quite likable, thankfully. Although my grasp on the secondary characters was a rather flimsy one, it was enough to satisfy me given my reaction to Ana. I fear she may have been somewhat to blame for my lack of interest in the story. Like the plot, she was flat. Forgettable is, unfortunately, quite a fitting word here. Where Ana was dull and one-dimensional, other characters in the book held more of my attention. Her father, for example, was a delight to try to figure out. He was complex – my varying impressions of him were turned on their head several times – and one of the more interesting characters who made this book very nearly worthwhile.

In the end, however, there were too few redeeming qualities to make this a satisfying reading experience. Not even the romance managed to win me over, with enigmatic Cole sweeping Ana off her feet. (There is a slight hint of a love triangle, but nothing of the hair-ripping variety). Having gained so little from this book, The Glimpse, quite clearly, was not meant for me. The sequel will be released in 2013 to form the final book of this duet. I doubt I will be picking it up (no matter how pretty the cover).

(This review also appears on my blog)(less)

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Jun 05, 2012 Giselle rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, ebook, did-not-finish, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic

I tried to get into this, halfway through and incredibly bored I deduced that this wasn't for me. The plot is taking a lot of detours that seem quite pointless, seemingly used as filler material. I don't like the protagonist that much. The world isn't very believable, especially how this is supposedly only a few years in the future. Society could never change this drastically in such a short time, particularly seeing how controversial it all is. Along with inconsistent perspective changes and im...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Skyla rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bad-government, dark-subject-matter, dystopia, e-book, first-time-reading-this-author, net-galley, psych-ward, religious-zealot, sci-fi-fantasy, ya, arc, dystopia-romance-fail, romance-with-dirty-windows

A copy of was kindly provided by the publishers via www.netgalley.com

I've just finished this and honestly I am not sure what to think. I'm going to give it 1.5 stars for the time being and maybe that will change once I have thought about it a bit more.

I'm exhausted from reading this so I'm just going to do a list of what I liked and I what I didn't like because honestly I don't have the energy and I don't feel like I could write a proper review for this book anyways.

What I Liked:

1) The cover...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Mina Witteman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of The Glimpse. What a frightening book! I love frightening books and I loved this one so much, that I couldn't stop reading.

Claire Merle paints us a world where the sane -- the Pures -- rule with DNA-tests that predict one's future, and where there is no place for those who slip away from their strict norms -- the Crazies. She introduces us to seventeen-year-old Ana Barber, who has mistakenly been raised in the community with the Pures. Real...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Nimue rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, dystopian, netgalley, young-adult

Fantastic debut novel! I couldn't put it down so captivating was the story and the main heroine Ana.
full review coming soon

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May 04, 2012 Rachel Naddeo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5 STARS!

To be posted on: www.bookstoconsider.blogspot.com

Claire Merle's debut isn't just an ordinary dystopian novel. Actually it had many surprising and unexpected aspects to it like faith, religion and even a bit of magic. With such an original concept to an ever popular genre, The Glimpse will keep readers captivated until the very last page.

Ana actually reminded me a lot of Under The Never Sky's Aria. Ana, like Aria, lived in the supposed-to-be best society but later finds out that everyth...more 4.5 STARS!

To be posted on: www.bookstoconsider.blogspot.com

Claire Merle's debut isn't just an ordinary dystopian novel. Actually it had many surprising and unexpected aspects to it like faith, religion and even a bit of magic. With such an original concept to an ever popular genre, The Glimpse will keep readers captivated until the very last page.

Ana actually reminded me a lot of Under The Never Sky's Aria. Ana, like Aria, lived in the supposed-to-be best society but later finds out that everything she believed in was a lie. In this future everyone who is not genetically "healthy" is banned and must live in the City where Ana may be sent to because she finds out that she is a Sleeper (meaning that one day she will go crazy). Her only chance of not being sent to live with the Crazies is Jasper, a pure guy whom she is supposed to be joined with. But right aftertheir binding, Jasper disappears. Ana's search for Jasper uncovers many lies and truths about their society and about Ana herself...

After reading such a summary you may think that this book is pretty predictable, right?! But you couldn't be more wrong! Merle fills her novel with many twists and turns that will certainly leave readers completely astonished. While reading the first few chapters I had to wonder what the mentioned Glimpse in the book description was all about. When it was finally explained I was utterly surprised and couldn't read the whole novel fast enough. The Glimpse is an enthralling and thought-provoking read.

The characters were all pretty predictable. I liked Ana a lot; for she always tries to do the best for everyone not only herself and she is also really determined when it comes to something she needs to do. Jasper was a bit of a disappointment since I was really expecting him to be something he turned out not be (I know, I'm being mysterious on purpose!). And Cole was just the definition of perfection! And I loved the slow romance.

Merle's novel is actually a really chilling novel. There were some moments in the book that were certainly a bit strong for young readers but, well, they are realistic aspects of a broken society. And I can't forget to mention the pretty cover that caught my eyes instantly. Merle's debut has an intricate plot with many surprising aspects that will please most people. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel to this exciting debut!(less)

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May 02, 2012 Svea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

When I first read the short introduction of this book I was instantly drawn to it. The idea is great and different from everything that is being sold right now in bookstores.
I was lucky to read an advanced copy and I can honestly say this is one of the greatest, coolest books I have read in a while. It is scary and shocking but at the same time, this might be our future if when don't deal with the problem of excessive pill descriptions. I truly believe that drugs are not always the answer.
As I...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Kevin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of Matched

Shelves: first-reads-arc, reviewed

Was this suppose to be a psychological thriller with a hint of romance?

When you create a society such as Merle has done with The Glimpse, you have to make sure it makes sense and could actually happen. I don't care if this is the last place to live in the whole world, which by the way it's not, there is no way people are going to be segregated for potentially having a mental disorder. First of all, I don't think there are that many people out there that literally have no chance of having or d...more Was this suppose to be a psychological thriller with a hint of romance?

When you create a society such as Merle has done with The Glimpse, you have to make sure it makes sense and could actually happen. I don't care if this is the last place to live in the whole world, which by the way it's not, there is no way people are going to be segregated for potentially having a mental disorder. First of all, I don't think there are that many people out there that literally have no chance of having or developing some kind of disorder, plus those "crazies" would literally not let it happen, I'd know, since I'd def be one of them.

Sometimes when a book has a poor idea to it, or it's not executed properly the characters can save it by being interesting or special in a way, in this book, I could honestly care less what happened to all of the characters, especially the main one. She was said to be a "sleeper" of one of the big three diseases, which basically meant she was going to get it at some point, yet she went around calling the people not in the pure society, crazy. That just screamed hypocrite to me, as if she wasn't accepting what she was. Also she kept trying to be a hero to impress her new boy toy, and she just failed time after time..

I know I'm being bitter, but I just didn't care for this book, it reminded me way to much of Matchedand I might of actually enjoyed the first of that series more than this one. This was just a supposedly more realistic and harsh version of Matched. The romance developed eerily similar. With the main character being bonded/matched with someone she's known for awhile, then developing a school girl crush on a rebel guy who wanted to see forth the changes of society. The societies were even similar with a decidedly large group of outcasts living outside the privileged part of the town/area.

I did like the concept of the enlightenment project, and I would be interested to know more about them, but I doubt I will be reading more of this series.

When i finally got to the end, which I was surprised about due to my immense boredom at certain parts, there was like no conclusion! This was clearly not a stand alone book, since...pretty much nothing was solved and a compromise, which is broken 5 pages later, is made that does little for the past 400 pages I just read. Ugh.

Of note*** my friend, who is a girl, read this and adored it. So maybe it just wasn't for me..yeah I'll go with that theory. (less)

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Oct 29, 2012 Leandra rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was incredibly lucky to get to have read this already, but I cannot wait to get to read the finished product! Take my word, people- The Glimpse is a must read!!!! Claire is a superb writer. You go, girl! =)

****

Well, when you have a baby, it sometimes take you a little longer to get around to things! That is my excuse as why it took me forever to review this book. So...

Intense. If I had to do a one word summary of The Glimpse, that would be it. Two word summary, intense and romantic. Claire did...more

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May 17, 2012 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, net-galley, galley, drama, dystopian, futuristic, romance, part-of-a-series, science-fiction, ya, controversial, female-pov, reviewcopies

Review also found on my blog

*The publisher provided me with this book for review, via Netgalley.*

Before I go into what I thought of the book I think it is important to point out that unlike others I did not find this book offensive. (And before someone makes a comment I should point out that I have suffered from mental health problems for a while so it is not a lack of understanding that has bought on this opinion) There has been a lot of talk and labelling this book as wrong, offensive and dang...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Claire Merle rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Possibly biased, as I do happen to be the author!

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Apr 25, 2012 Lisbeth Avery {Assorted Insanity} rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, two-stars, own-kindle, yawn-fest, such-memories, reviewed

Actual Rating: 2.5

The Glimpse is my first ARC, but I promise not to be biased.

The Glimpse seems is the odd cousin of Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky and Delirium by Lauren Oliver. The plot is different but as a lot of similarities.

Awaken and The Glimpse:
Maddie and Ana are both the daughters of the men who ruined the world (either by making the test to decide whether you are Crazy or Pure or the software in Awaken). Both run of with men who are part of a rebellion.

Delirium and The Glimpse:
In Delirium,...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Soumi(in love with Puck) Roy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-arcs, owned-copy, young-adult, books-i-reviewed, signed-copies

In a distant future, England is divided into Pures and Crazies based on the result of a DNA test. When an error was detected in Ana’s result, she was given a second chance, a privilege of living in the society only if she joins a pure boy before her 18th birthday. After three years, finally she got joining invitation from a Pure boy Jasper, but few days before her joining Jasper gone missing and her world nearly shattered. Anna decided to take matters on her hand and sneaks out of society’s boun...more In a distant future, England is divided into Pures and Crazies based on the result of a DNA test. When an error was detected in Ana’s result, she was given a second chance, a privilege of living in the society only if she joins a pure boy before her 18th birthday. After three years, finally she got joining invitation from a Pure boy Jasper, but few days before her joining Jasper gone missing and her world nearly shattered. Anna decided to take matters on her hand and sneaks out of society’s boundary to find Jasper. The more she got closer to find Jasper, some devastating truths unravel about her family, her society and those she loves. She also learns to love the way she never loved before.

The Glimpse is a compelling debut of author Clare Merle. Well written and a promising plot line, I found myself attracted to this novel from the moment I have read the book blurb. Not your traditional dystopian, it has many unexpected elements. I bet the author did many scientific researches on the book and brings out every single detail.

Raised By Lies

I can imagine the blue print of a perfect society of futuristic England, where the Pures live inside a safe and secured wall of city; the crazies are struggling with day to day’s life outside the city wall. The society runs by few influential and powerful people, and Anna’s father is one of them; A very complicated man who discovered the Pure test and cares only for his reputation, but eventually we finds out a softer side of him, although his true motives are not clear. As I progressed in the story, I was thrust inside seemingly perfect but a cruel world, where everything is darkness, torture and pain.

As a protagonist Ana is very strong, stubborn and determine once she set her mind on something, also concerned about welfare of others. I liked her courage when she set of a journey to find Jasper. Anna is a character no one can hate, trust me on this. Believing Jasper has been taken by an unauthorized organization who strictly opposes the Pure test, investigations led Anna to a guy named Cole, an ex-member of this organization. With help of Cole Anna begins to solve the mystery behind Jasper’s abduction.

Transformed By Love

Cole is absolutely charming and lovable guy, always supportive to Ana. A vision of The Glimpse to the future led him to Ana and hope for a bright tomorrow. Presence of Cole throughout the novel felt so real and heartwarming to me that I wanted to jump into pages and hug him.
On the other side Jasper has less presence but he has been mentioned many times, but his character played a very important role. He wanted to be with Ana despite of her defects but as I said his tureself remains in mystery. I was expecting to know more about his character, but hopefully we get to know real Jasper in next book.

Bound To Destiny ?

Romance is slow burning. Ana finds her heart beats for Cole, where she is promised to Jasper. The way she loved Cole and cared for Jasper, even endangering her own life, I can't help but adore her. Who is the lucky one, she is destined to be with, oh boy! that's a huge cliffhanger.

You may think that you can guess the whole story from the official book blurb, but let me assure you, it’s definitely not what you think. The official synopsis is just a side of the actual story and a very subtle attempt to capture reader’s attention which proved successful. The original novel contains so many unpredictable twists and turns which you don’t wanna miss, trust me on this. (less)

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Jun 15, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bloomsbury-allen-unwin

Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

With such a beautiful cover, I expected the story to have the same impact on me and it most definitely did. The Glimpse speaks of a world that marginalises and alienates those who are "ill", determined by a DNA test created by Ariana Barber's father. When discovered that her Pure status is an error, she's given one month to marry Jasper Taurell, otherwise she'll be thrown out with the Crazies and separated from the only life she's ever known. Then...more Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

With such a beautiful cover, I expected the story to have the same impact on me and it most definitely did. The Glimpse speaks of a world that marginalises and alienates those who are "ill", determined by a DNA test created by Ariana Barber's father. When discovered that her Pure status is an error, she's given one month to marry Jasper Taurell, otherwise she'll be thrown out with the Crazies and separated from the only life she's ever known. Then Jasper tells her he has a big secret, one big enough to kill and die for, and soon mysteriously disappears. She's forced to find him before her one month is up and discovers dark and magnificent things about her world in the process...

The romance in The Glimpse sold it for me. You'll find out who he is when you read the book, but Cole made me swoon like no other. He and Ana don't exactly meet on friendly terms and there's a constant shroud of mystery surrounding him, but he's a mature MAN who will make your heart flutter with his charm and strength. Cole's intelligent, artistic and all kinds of caring too! You'll find that there are multiple groups of people within this society and their motivations and end goals are a complete secret. We don't know where Cole exactly stands so there's always a bit of apprehension when it comes to giving our complete hearts to him. Nevertheless, he's an amazing love interest that will make the sequel very exciting. The book ends on quite the cliffhanger, so I can't wait to see how the story ends!

For a dystopian book, it has a perfect amount of suspense and action. From Jasper's secret missions to Cole's involvement with the Enlightenment Project, you'll be left confused and dying to uncover the truths that are being concealed from all directions. The government is obviously corrupt and we see the stages of this unfold before our eyes with even more shocking betrayals being added to the mix as well. Ana's father is a puzzle and we can't crack him even when the book ends. Throughout The Glimpse, it's very unclear whether he's on Ana's side or not, and whether he's guilty of...many bad things. There's also a story behind Ana's mother's death and… Guh. Merle misleads us and takes us through so many twists, you'll feel like you're walking a tightrope! I was tense and suspicious throughout, a true testament to Merle's great storytelling and building of suspense.

As much as Merle develops her characters, her world is paid equal attention to. It's 2041 and there are 304 catalogued mental illnesses. I really enjoyed exploring the two split societies, a perfect and Pure gated community and an unpredictable "outside world". Jasper's secret is related to a big conspiracy theory and it eventually becomes a fast-paced pursuit for the truth. We question, not only the reliability of the government but also, Jasper's mission. Could it all be a wild goose chase? Oh how Merle keeps us on our toes! I loved the pacing and development of the story, and had only issues in the middle section where it slowed down a little and was difficult to read (emotionally tough!). Apart from that, a brilliant story.

I'm telling you, there are useful clues and red herrings all over this book. You most likely won't be able to tell them apart so Merle will pick at your brain to her heart's content and leave you gasping by the end of it! I'm desperate to know how the characters will go on after the big final scene, and see how the consequences of Jasper's secret affects the society. It was almost twist after twist and entire situations would change with every revelation. Nothing in this book is clear cut black or white so the characters really struggle to decide which side they're playing for. Ana and Cole are fantastic leading characters with sizzling chemistry that will make The Glimpse even more entertaining and engaging than it already is! I have very high hopes for book 2 and I'm keen to finally get all of the answers. At the end of the day, The Glimpse had me feeling confused, angry and fuzzy in cyclic phases and I just adore the mystery of this book.
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Mar 22, 2012 Heywot marked it as to-read · review of another edition

EDIT: Here's a review that offers a much more factual and articulate review than mine.

EDIT #2: I should have added this before, but if the blurb isn't true to the novel, Ms. Merle, you need to fire whoever wrote. If it is ... well, we'll see.

Also, to those saying that "of course they'd use derogatory terms in a dystopia" must have never read a dystopia before. Using derogatory terms will likely breed more dissent than using clinical or even made-up ones. I honestly don't see how using them is be...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: psycho-thriller, young-adult, dystopian, coulda-been-worse

There is this one incident that I will never forget, which happened during the first semester of my Psych bachelor's degree program. For weeks I had been slaving over this particular assignment on developmental delay, convinced that I totally rocked that paper. So imagine my surprise, my complete bafflement, when my professor handed it back to me with this big, red, bold 40% mark scrawled in permanent marker, no less, on the upper right corner of the front page.
In my whole entire life I had neve...more

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Apr 21, 2012 Ally rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, netgalley, young-adult, imports, debuts, fiction, series, mental-illness, dystopia

When I first read the synopsis of this book, I was intrigued and worried: intrigued by this new dystopian concept and worried that I would be offended or put off by the way that people predisposed to mental illnesses are written about. In this future, anyone with genetic predisposition to any mental illness is not Pure: they are Crazies. And they are not allowed to live near the Pures. Ana is pure, or at least she thought she was until her retest revealed an anomaly. It's all she ever wanted: to...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Gabby (Bookmarks & Bookshelves) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review, Interviews and more fun @ Bookmarks & Bookshelves
4.5
An astounding debut Claire Merle has Introduced a dystopian that is thought provoking and will leave you heart pounding way beyond the last page.

When fifteen-year-old Ana finds out there was a mistake with her test, her whole world crumbles. Now, seventeen, Joining with Pure-boy Jasper is her only hope of salvation.
But when Jasper disappears, Ana sets off on his trail, determined to solve the mystery of his abduction. In doing so s...more

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May 09, 2012 Devon Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: completed-arcs, reviewed-on-blog

In this dystopian world the Pure bloodlines (ie. no genetic markers for mental illness) are separated from the Crazies who live in the Community (ie. people with genetic markers for mental illness). Apparently Ana has been living the life a Pure but only because her father had access to the testing database and altered the results of her Pure test. Ana does something a typical stupid teen will do (I'll let you read what), raises the suspicions of the Pure board and they retest her Crazy-@ss. Now...more In this dystopian world the Pure bloodlines (ie. no genetic markers for mental illness) are separated from the Crazies who live in the Community (ie. people with genetic markers for mental illness). Apparently Ana has been living the life a Pure but only because her father had access to the testing database and altered the results of her Pure test. Ana does something a typical stupid teen will do (I'll let you read what), raises the suspicions of the Pure board and they retest her Crazy-@ss. Now they've got quite the condundrum. Should they kick her into the Crazy civilization to defend for herself or allow her to go through with the binding ceremony (ie. engagement) with Pure Jasper if he's still interested? Jasper still cares for her and goes through the proceedings but they'll never be allowed to have children. But Jasper, whose father is important in a huge pharmaceutical company dealing with mental illness, does a disappearing act before they can be married and authorities believe he's been kidnapped by some radicals in the Community.

Right before he's taken, Jasper mentions a few unsettling things to Ana. Things he was looking into about the Pure/Crazies that probably got him into trouble. So what's a girl to do? Wait and see if the authorities can find these people (whom Jasper clearly said he couldn't trust) or sneak into the community and use the clues he gave to track down the people suspected of taking him? Guess which one she chose? I actually preferred the story once she got into the community, event though it was a little ridiculous for a seventeen year old girl to be doing this. There she infiltrates the radicals and learns that maybe Jasper's suspicions were right after all. But if the radicals were wrongfully blamed, what exactly happened to Jasper?

At some point someone's going to have to explain to me the segregation that's going on this book, cause if I was reading it right, their homes are segregated but Ana goes into Crazy infested areas to go to school and for her binding ceremony. I don't get that. Why bother segretating at all if you're comfortable with your children mingling with people that can snap any moment? Overall, the story was creative and kept my attention, but what I really liked best was the developing attraction between Ana and one of the radicals (sorry Jasper). The Glimpse is definitely worth your time, so pick it up.

description

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.(less)

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Apr 23, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-wanna-read-so-bad, uk, 2012-release, e-galley

I'm finding it very hard to sum up this book because of all the thoughts running through my mind. I've been crammed full of dystopian dilemmas and I think I might just explode. The Glimpse is definitely a book you should try out if you want to live in another world for a few hours. Do not be fooled into thinking that this book is a light contemporary by looking at the cover because it's set in one of the most complicated worlds I've ever read about.

So, basically, okay, maybe it's not basic, but...more I'm finding it very hard to sum up this book because of all the thoughts running through my mind. I've been crammed full of dystopian dilemmas and I think I might just explode. The Glimpse is definitely a book you should try out if you want to live in another world for a few hours. Do not be fooled into thinking that this book is a light contemporary by looking at the cover because it's set in one of the most complicated worlds I've ever read about.

So, basically, okay, maybe it's not basic, but I'll attempt to write a basic summary for the book. Ana, a 17-year-old girl, has been living her life thinking she was a Pure, someone who has no chance of having a mental illness. But when she finds out that that there was an error in her DNA test, she thinks her life is over. She could be banished to the land where the 'crazies' live, she could lose everything that meant something to her, she could lose the boy who she's been promised to, Jasper. And when he is abducted, Ana's father claims that he is doing everything he can to find Jasper but it's not enough. Ana sets off on a journey. A dangerous journey to find the boy she's liked for so many years. But in a land of possibilities, will Ana fall for the boy who could help her find Jasper?

And that's just the surface! The book goes into incredible detail with beautifully described scenes and exciting characters.

There's just one thing that I found irritating. The first chapter. The Glimpse just has one of them beginnings that you can't really understand or get into, but it did get better. Around page 50 I just couldn't put it down. I had grown to know the character's personalities and I really wanted to know more about them. Also, some of the dialog did make me want to fall asleep....I did manage to stay awake but I just wish there were less science-talk...I didn't mind some of it but I just think there could have been less.

For me, Ana's relationship with Jasper could have been better, but then again, she might not have met....*drumroll* Cole! Yes, Cole is one of those amazing guys you can't get out of your head. Oh, and not to fear! There are no love-triangles. Which I'm sure many readers don't wait.

So think to yourself: Do I have too much time on my hands? Do I need an interesting book that can keep me entertained in the space of that time? Do I want a unique dystopian? Do I want a book with a guy that is totally amazing and awesome? THEN, this book is for you.

Overall, The Glimpse is an exciting new addition to the genre that I can't wait for you guys to read and enjoy. I'm giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 because I did feel lost at times and wish that some of the details and dialog weren't so complicated. Claire Merle has done a great job at delivering a book that is different and will stand out for both it's gorgeous cover and chilling plot!

Read more of my reviews at Falling Books!(less)

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Apr 28, 2012 Mitchii rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian-post-apocalyptic, science-fiction, young-adult, romance, arc-or-galley, 2012-reads

My interest in this book fluctuated the whole time. From bored, disbelieved to fascinated then lost. But all things considered I think The Glimpse was still a decent read. It didn’t excite me like other dystopian books I have read before but honestly, there were times that it was really engaging but I’m completely saddened that it did not sustain it.

I was about to take the issue of how the book incorporated mental illness seriously. But just like love is an illness in Delirium, I’m giving this o...more My interest in this book fluctuated the whole time. From bored, disbelieved to fascinated then lost. But all things considered I think The Glimpse was still a decent read. It didn’t excite me like other dystopian books I have read before but honestly, there were times that it was really engaging but I’m completely saddened that it did not sustain it.

I was about to take the issue of how the book incorporated mental illness seriously. But just like love is an illness in Delirium, I’m giving this one a free pass. Even though my history in psychology is not in the clinical side, I just couldn’t entirely pretend that I’m clueless. Diagnosis of mental illness is more complex; there are lots of thing to consider. The book however generalizes this that for me felt different and in the process loses my strong prenotion. This is just me, but I would have preferred if it uses the already existing categories of mental disorder instead. In the book, it classified schizophrenia, depression (mood/affective) and anxiety as the big three. But after I finished the book all these things in my head had taken a backseat; especially after I found out about the ‘glimpse.’ Then it mentioned shaman and the spirit world that completely removed the crease in between my eyebrows and all those serious thoughts. I'm somehow relieved. Another thing is that story itself slammed down the idea of a test identifying which are pures which are not (I’m also not comfortable with the term ‘crazies’) (view spoiler) But all in all, the way it handled the subject was one of the major factors why I find it less entertaining.

Now going back, the story was passable. Ana the main heroine was daughter of a famous geneticist Ashby Barber who also one of the people behind the pure test. Then it was found out that she’s not actually pure and realized that her father altered her test result. In the long run, we found out what her father role in the grander scheme of things. And some other secrets about their government. And I must say that part where I was really interested.

It also reminded me of some other books, like Delirium and Matched. The binding reminded me of the matching procedure in Matched. And because of that I can’t help comparing the characters from that book to this one. Jasper reminds me of Xander. And Cole, yes, you guessed it right; he’s kinda like Ky for me. Like him, Cole opened a lot of secret doors to their society. The ugly truths. If you follow the pattern (did I mention it’s a love triangle?) you probably have a hunch who she chose. So no denying that I liked the romance (I’m hopeless romantic what can I say.) That’s also one of those times that I enjoyed. But that said this made the characters tad unoriginal to me.

It was a fine read. It offers nothing new. However, I think the idea of a society that focuses on mental health was interesting. It just that the execution failed to impress me. Needless to say, to those who love dystopian/romance books I think this will suit your palate.

**Thanks Netgalley and Faber & Faber for the eARC**(less)

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Jun 03, 2012 Jen Ryland added it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Source: e-ARC from NetGalley.

In the world of the Glimpse, every British citizen is genetically tested, and anyone with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia, depression or anxiety is forced to live as a so-called "Crazy" in overcrowded central London, or, if they're truly mentally ill, in a "Loony Bin." Citizens who don't exhibit any genetic tendency for any of those conditions are considered "Pure" and are cloistered, forced to "bind" and "join" to each other, i.e. reproduce and have "Pure...more Source: e-ARC from NetGalley.

In the world of the Glimpse, every British citizen is genetically tested, and anyone with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia, depression or anxiety is forced to live as a so-called "Crazy" in overcrowded central London, or, if they're truly mentally ill, in a "Loony Bin." Citizens who don't exhibit any genetic tendency for any of those conditions are considered "Pure" and are cloistered, forced to "bind" and "join" to each other, i.e. reproduce and have "Pure" children.

The Glimpse seems to be, in part, a kind of what-if based on the Human Genome project, a real-life 2003 endeavor that mapped the human genome. I do think the topic of genetic information and how it could be used against us is a fascinating one. But I'm not sure that the political system described in the book made any sense, even in a dystopic society.

[Total random aside: given the fact that the book takes place only a few decades in the future, I also wondered about the royal family. As Princess Diana publicly battled depression, her children would presumably be labeled "Carriers" in the world of this story. I got all distracted picturing William and Harry and their children cast out of the palace as "Crazies."]

Ana, the main character, is the daughter of the geneticist who designed the "Crazy" test. Thus, he is able to fake Ana's test results and pretend she's "Pure" even though her mother was depressed and committed suicide. Ana is supposed to be bound to Jasper, the son of the CEO of a Big Pharma company. Binding to him is her last chance to lead a "Pure" life rather than a "Crazy" one. But Jasper disappears, and Ana becomes involved with Cole, a resistance fighter.

Ana was a mass of contradictions. I'm all for books where the main character starts out shy or uncertain and then grows strong and confident. Ana sort of veers between the two. One minute, she's a sheltered Pure, watching the "Crazies" out of the window of her chauffeured car. Then, she's sneaking into the "Crazy" part of the city, where she's like a Navy SEAL as she dives to the bottom of a murky river and rescues a suicidal child. Next, she's successfully impersonating a lawyer in court. After that, she literally passes out like a wilting Victorian maiden upon receiving some shocking news.

Jasper isn't in the book enough to give the love triangle much viability; I don't feel I really got to know him as a character. Cole has shamanistic powers that I didn't quite understand and which didn't seemed to have much to do with the plot, except to tell him that he should be in love with Ana.

I thought some of the ideas in this book definitely had the potential to be interesting and thought-provoking. If you're a die-hard fan of the dystopian genre, give The Glimpse a try -- and let me know what you thought! (less)

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Jul 02, 2012 Shannon (aka Readergirl) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: debut-author-challenge, own-arc

When I first started reading this story, I was pretty certain I knew where it was all going. I had it pegged, knew the romance, had things predicted in my head, etc. How wrong I turned out to be. The author managed to really surprise me more than once here.

First of all, the characters. I felt so bad for Ana, especially at the beginning, but I loved how she didn't let her past or her circumstances completely throw her into pity mode. She still has fears, but she fights through them and is able t...more

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May 25, 2012 Bookish♥Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: singles-para, read-in-2012, didnt-like

♥ My reviews can be found on Blogger --> Bookish Sarah ♥

- - -

Since I find it terribly difficult to write a blurb for a book I dislike, I'm going to just copy down the synopsis from Goodreads to make this review easier on myself.

So, from Goodreads: In a near future, society is segregated according to whether people are genetically disposed to mental illness. 17-year-old Ana has been living the privileged life of a Pure due to an error in her DNA test. When the authorities find out, she faces...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Rebecca Thomson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Glimpse is set in the not so distant future; where, as you can expect, mankind has destroyed and then rebuilt itself. In this rebuilt society people are divided based on a test conducted when they enter school. You are either Pure- with no genes that suggest mental illness- or you are a Crazy which means you are either a Carrier with the chance of passing on illness to your children, a Sleeper (meaning you could have one of the major illnesses but it is lying dormant) or you could be Active...more The Glimpse is set in the not so distant future; where, as you can expect, mankind has destroyed and then rebuilt itself. In this rebuilt society people are divided based on a test conducted when they enter school. You are either Pure- with no genes that suggest mental illness- or you are a Crazy which means you are either a Carrier with the chance of passing on illness to your children, a Sleeper (meaning you could have one of the major illnesses but it is lying dormant) or you could be Active (meaning you are being affected by whichever illness you suffer from).
Ariana Barber (nicknamed Ana), the main character, discovers that her father somehow changed her test results fooling everyone into believing she was pure. That is until Ana requests to see her mother's death certificate, which then leads to an investigation which reveals that Ana is in fact a Crazy.
From the moment she is declared Crazy Ana's life changes dramatically. She is trained to answer strict personality tests and brought up to have a strict control of her emotions. She is constantly conditioned by her father until she becomes hollow, simply following the rules and going along with everyone else. Trying to fit in.
That is of course until Jasper-the boy she was due to be joined to (same idea as marriage only permanent)- mysteriously disappears.
Ana ventures out into the terrifying City (land of the Crazies) in search of Jasper but as she digs deeper into the strange circumstances of Jaspers disappearance Ana discovers some very big secrets that were held from her, secrets that make returning to her old life impossible.
My opinion:
I thoroughly enjoyed how easily Claire Merle managed to twist the story just as I thought everything was starting to make sense. It had just the right amount of romance to be cute but not annoyingly so, with plenty of excitement demanding my attention with every page I turned. Definitely an interesting storyline, I would recommend to anyone that likes dystopia fiction. Especially if they tended to read a lot of YA fiction.
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Sep 15, 2012 Maya rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, ya

Firstly, I just want to mention that I loved the cover of this book. I don't usually mention covers in my reviews, as it's the content that's important, but I think this is simplistic and pretty but also relevant to the actual story.

After reading the blurb of this, I thought it would be pretty predictable, but I was so wrong! There were several surprising twists and turns, and a couple of aspects I really hadn't anticipated, including magic! Also, at first I didn't really get the name of the bo...more Firstly, I just want to mention that I loved the cover of this book. I don't usually mention covers in my reviews, as it's the content that's important, but I think this is simplistic and pretty but also relevant to the actual story.

After reading the blurb of this, I thought it would be pretty predictable, but I was so wrong! There were several surprising twists and turns, and a couple of aspects I really hadn't anticipated, including magic! Also, at first I didn't really get the name of the book, but it does become clear about halfway through.

Ana reminded me of Aria from Under The Never Sky a bit, as they both live in the supposedly best community, but later discover that everything they believe in is a lie. A couple of the decisions she makes are a bit stupid, and I found myself getting a bit annoyed at her sometimes. I wasn't really sure about her at first, but I started to like her more as the story developed and she began to think for herself.

I thought that Ana's father was a fascinating character, it was obvious that he loved Ana, but he didn't really trust her to take care of herself. It was interesting how he simultaneously liked seeing her show emotion, but, for her own protection, didn't want her to show emotion in public.
Other characters who I found interesting were Lila and Tamsin, and I wish the author had gone into them a little more.

For me, the book was less about mental health and more about the way that the government used lies and propaganda in order to control everyone. The people locked away are not sick, at least not at first, but are considered by the government to be potentially problematic. The author

The book did confuse me at times, and in a few places I had to turn back pages and re-read parts, particularly in the beginning. This was a bit of a shame, as it stopped me getting into it properly. Despite this, I think The Glimpse is a very gripping novel, and I am looking forward to the sequel.

You can see more of my book reviews at http://what-should-i-read-next.blogsp...
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Jul 14, 2012 Hannah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Just when I think I'm done with the genre, dystopia just pulls me right back in then spits me back out. I'm starting to think that I might be a masochist. I guess I hope that eventually I'll stumble onto another Hunger Games, but whatever. Either way, this book was an epic fail.
I got confused at the beginning, because it kept jumping around timewise, but I stuck with it, hoping that was the only problem I'd have with it. It wasn't.
Ana doesn't reach out and grab me like a heroine should, and hone...more

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