Review: Matched by Ally Condie
Just to prove that I don't just write blog posts when I am releasing a book, I'm going to share my review of Matched by Ally Condie, which I was drawn to because of its similarities with The Hunger Games.
It seemed like a great twist, turning the reaping into something love related, and the beginning of the book is chock-full of obvious references, like the line: "May you have optimum results," mimicking THG's "May the odds be ever in your favor." That line never appears again in Matched, and really has no consequence whatsoever. Even the Capitol has its counterpart in the Society. Apparently things are scary when you capitalize them. Unfortunately though, the deliberate homage to The Hunger Games created an extreme contrast with what actually happens in Matched.
The whole time I read the book, I kept waiting for the action. The clearly oppressive Society was about to meet its match in the young, lovesick Cassia Reyes, and then it would be a battle to the death until one came out on top. But instead nothing of the kind happens, and readers must instead consider how each tiny action with Xander or Ky tugs on Cassia's heartstrings. It would've been fine if the beginning of the book had let me know this story was just about teens in an ultra-conservative society. I'd probably have enjoyed the everyday teen life of the future a lot more if I didn't feel like they should all be running through the woods for their lives.
My expectations based on the beginning of the book aside, I had an easy time reading Matched. I was interested to know the spark that made Casssia and/or her family and/or her boyfriends break away from the Society, but unfortunately that was withheld. From where the story goes, it seems like the Society is pushing them to break away, thus depriving them of choosing to do so themselves. Freedom of choice is a big part of the romantic side of the story, and I would be impressed if this is what Ally Condie intended for this half as well.
Digging into the romance, I actually do think making points out of those tiny interactions is a good way to form the building blocks of a relationship between characters, but having Cassia hop back and forth between men like it was nothing troubled me. She didn't even seem to be aware that she was leaping in two different directions sometimes even on the same page. Obviously she had to make a choice different from what the Society wanted for the story to work, but I can't say I was excited about the prospect of her being with Ky even though they shared some interests I enjoy.
I'm glad I read this book to get a sense of the continuing legacy of The Hunger Games trilogy, but this story doesn't do as much to capture a reader's attention. The twists are too narrow in scope, and the present tense really isn't necessary because of the lack of action. It did make me want to take a crack at writing something dystopian though. Maybe after The Inevitable Trilogy is over. Hmm. Matched gets 3 stars from me.
