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The Glimpse

(The Glimpse Duology #1)

Claire Merle (Goodreads Author)

3.51 · Rating details · 2,176 ratings · 308 reviews

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 banishment from her safe Community, a fate only thwarted by the fact that she has already been promised to Pure-boy Jasper Taur ...more

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Paperback, 411 pages

Published June 7th 2012 by Faber & Faber (UK) (first published June 1st 2012)

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2012 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade)

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· 2,176 ratings · 308 reviews

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Aug 13, 2011 Claire Merle rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

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

flag 78 likes · Like · see review

Nov 09, 2011 Literary Ames {Against GR Censorship} rated it did not like it

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

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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Jan 07, 2012 Sophia marked it as to-read

Pre-review.

I think those people who are bashing the book without having read it need to realise that this is a dystopian. In case you're not familiar with the term/genre, that means the book isn't meant to reflect a perfect world where everyone gets treated fairly. The term 'Crazies' is meant to be understood as an unfair slur, and the seperation between those disposed to get a mental illness (it's set in the future, so technology may have improved, to answer the question of 'how is that even po ...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Giselle rated it did not like it

Shelves: ebook, arc

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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Sep 03, 2012 Tomoe Hotaru rated it liked it

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

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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Aug 31, 2011 Jennifer Armentrout rated it it was amazing

I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of this. I'm not a big fan of dystopian novels, but this one blew me away. Breath taking and frighteningly real. ...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Katie_la_geek rated it liked it

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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Mar 23, 2012 Svea rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

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 24, 2012 Rachel Naddeo rated it it was amazing

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 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! ...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Andrea rated it it was amazing

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of this book and I found it utterly un-put-downable. It is a thought provoking, gripping and twisting tale. I loved the brilliantly drawn scary but totally believable near future world where mental health professionals and pharmaceutical giants rule. But also it really was a story with a heart - of finding self belief and where being true to yourself is the most important thing of all. A really really good read!

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Jul 08, 2013 Melanie rated it did not like it

Shelves: could-have-been-so-much-better, love-triangle, take-your-instant-love-and-get-lost, romance, young-adult, f-a-i-l, dystopian-utopian, post-apoc

I really don't want to read book two, but I have a copy so let's do this. No review, but hopefully will have one for The Fall. ...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Sam rated it really liked it

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

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'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! ...more

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May 18, 2012 Hilda rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, arc

I was confused when I first read it. I’m still confused now that I’ve finished it. The Glimpse is a very different take on dystopian genre. Sanity has never been deeply questioned, and people in dystopian worlds usually struggle with physical enemy like war, famine, or lack of natural resources. The Glimpse shows a frightening possibility of economic collapse and how government discriminates people by their DNA tests. I have to say that the idea is very original and it held such amazing premise. I was confused when I first read it. I’m still confused now that I’ve finished it. The Glimpse is a very different take on dystopian genre. Sanity has never been deeply questioned, and people in dystopian worlds usually struggle with physical enemy like war, famine, or lack of natural resources. The Glimpse shows a frightening possibility of economic collapse and how government discriminates people by their DNA tests. I have to say that the idea is very original and it held such amazing premise.

However, there are parts in this book that bugged me. I didn’t understand the world. I had to restart reading it after forty pages because I couldn’t understand the story. Is it just me or the dialogues are really complicated? Sometimes I just hope that the characters would say the reason or fact out loud so I could understand what they mean. The answers in this book are implied, not stated. Sometimes I like it, but most of the time, I was simply lost.

With all the adventures and troubles Ana faced, I should have felt some kind of connection toward her. However, I wasn’t deeply emotionally invested with her. I know she’s smart, but most of the time she has a knack of not thinking ahead. Ana was instantly drawn to Cole, the main interest of this story, and I found their instant romance hard to believe. Maybe they’re meant to be, just like ‘the glimpse’, some sort of prophecy that Cole had seen in his dream, showed. However, I think the time is too short for Ana to hopelessly fall in love with Cole. I also think it very strange that the title of this book is ‘The Glimpse’, since in my opinion we are given very little information about the glimpse. It wouldn’t hurt if Jasper could have a bigger part in this book too.

I usually avoid books which involve mental institution since I always feel sorry for the patients. The mental institution in this book is horrible. I hate the absurd, crazy, and ridiculous treatment they give to the patients. The doctors and nurses are supposed to help, not making the patients worse. It’s impossible to lead a normal life after you’ve experienced living there, just like Ana discovered later.

For me, The Glimpse is a take it-or-leave it book. I like it but there are some flaws I just can’t ignore. If you’re interested in psychology, then you may want to give this book a go. I like reading Ana’s deep thinking, and she’s certainly a very interesting character to watch!

She wondered if what she was doing proved more than any suicidal mother or DNA tests that she belonged among the Crazies. The deceit, the danger, her curiosity – surely a normal Pure girl would be running for her life right now? But Ana was still there. Because, beneath her determination to help Jasper, there was also the fact that she’d been waiting years to take control of her future. Because like a wooden puppet in a fairy tale, when she’d ventured into the City, the strange, dark place had brought her to life. ...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Teri Terry rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dystopian

OK I think 4.5 stars. Why won't they let me give half stars?!
What I really liked about The Glimpse - I didn't predict the plot. At all. And I'm someone who does that a lot... I'm annoying to sit next to in movies, cos I always guess (er... out loud) what will happen next. So reading something where I wasn't doing that was FAB.
Well, there were a few times when I thought, not sure I believe Ana could do stuff she did. But so what? The Man is always saying to me when I'm watching things that I nee ...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Micalea Smeltzer rated it really liked it

The Glimpse is an eerie look at a future that seems just around the corner. I found myself captivated by the story that Claire Merle has weaved. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because at times I found myself lost. I wish there had been more background information. Other than that it was an intriguing story that left me breathless and wanting more. I would recommend this book and will eagerly devour the sequel. (Because there better be a sequel) I thought Ana's evolution throughout the book was v ...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Mary rated it it was amazing

The title of this book is "Glimpse" so you would think that a lot of the novel would elaborate on what the "Glimpse" is, but this novel is really about a futuristic society where pharmaceutical companies have created their own fiefdom using the rest of us a lab rats. The author took headline news and created a what-if that is scarily possible. ...more

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Nov 13, 2011 Sandra Nickel rated it it was amazing

JUST FINISHED THE GLIMPSE!

Dystopian? Yes.
Predictable? No.
Twists and surprises at every turn? Yes.
Horrifying. Yes.
A must read? Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

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Jun 07, 2012 Sarah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dystopian

This review is also posted at Smitten over Books. Actual rating: 4.5.

'We're linked,' she said. 'We could lose each other a thousand times and the universe would still bring us back together. Will you wait for me?'

I was entirely captivated by The Glimpse.

It's the year 2041 and many catastrophes had happened. There have been the 2018 Collapse, the Global Depression and Petrol Wars that lead Britain to close its borders. The Mental Health Care system has so much power over the society and peopl ...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Lisa rated it really liked it

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 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.
...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Lisbeth Avery {Domus Libri} rated it it was ok

Shelves: two-stars, netgalley, own-kindle, 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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Apr 12, 2012 Kevin rated it it was ok

Recommends it for: fans of Matched

Shelves: 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 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. ...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Ally rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, young-adult, series, kindle, netgalley, imports, debuts, 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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Sep 20, 2011 Kate rated it it was amazing

I couldn't put The Glimpse down - it was so exciting.... You will love this book, read it and see!!! ...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Sandy rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs

I’m thinking The Glimpse deserves 4 stars. Let me start by saying that it’s possible (highly likely) that there is quite a symbolic message with this book. Perhaps Claire Merle is commenting on drug companies and how we never really know what it is that we’re taking, or the food industry and how the average person doesn’t understand the chemicals and such used in food production that we’re taking into our bodies. Perhaps it’s nothing more in depth than a message about following blindly after the I’m thinking The Glimpse deserves 4 stars. Let me start by saying that it’s possible (highly likely) that there is quite a symbolic message with this book. Perhaps Claire Merle is commenting on drug companies and how we never really know what it is that we’re taking, or the food industry and how the average person doesn’t understand the chemicals and such used in food production that we’re taking into our bodies. Perhaps it’s nothing more in depth than a message about following blindly after the government and not questioning the structure of society. And of course there’s the possibility that it’s about none of these things or all of them at the same time. Honestly, this may make me sound completely ignorant of me, but I really don’t care what the deeper message is. I enjoyed this book for what it was: a girl who thought she knew what she wanted from her future, was surprised to find that everything she understood as “truths” were lies, and then seeks to forge a future of her own making.

I read this book while I was at the beach this last weekend and I read it pretty quickly. I even tempted car sickness as I continued to read on the trip back home. I was rooting for Jasper and Ana until Ana met Cole. Typically I don’t change sides in the middle of a book, I pick which character I’m rooting for and I stick with him or her until the end. But there’s a first time for everything. And the saying “you can never go home again” comes to mind…Jasper of course would be home. Things would never be the same after his abduction despite the appearance of Cole, so...changing sides doesn't feel like such a betrayal.

It appears that this book is going to be quite controversial. I’ve read (only briefly because of the ridiculousness of some of the arguments against this book) some reviews on Goodreads. One review was from someone who hasn’t even read the book. I’m not trying to get into negativity here on my blog and I’m not trying to “feed the trolls,” but …People, seriously?? It’s FICTION! If anything, it’s a story about how all of the issues being used as an argument against this book are in fact points the book itself is trying to make. The only reason I’m even addressing this is if the reason you might hold yourself back from reading this book is because of the use of terms such as “crazies” or perhaps you take issue with the science associated with this book (or lack thereof) then just think that if the science for preventing mental disorders, or any disorder for that matter, is out there (currently anyway) then we would already be taking advantage of that. So tell yourself this: “This book is a work of fiction. I do not have to analyze every detail. I can sit back and enjoy a story just for the sake of a story. And perhaps the author actually has a message against what this appears to be, but I won’t know until I read it for myself.” And then plunge ahead. If you’re not one of those people who can do that, then by all means, this is not the book for you. No one is twisting your arm to read anything you don’t want to, but please be respectful enough not to review a book you haven’t read.

Now, enough of all that. I enjoyed this book and will be coming back for more. So there. I hope you check out The Glimpse by Claire Merle. And I hope you find yourself able to push yourself into worlds you never dreamed possible. Happy reading.
...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Chantaal rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult, dystopian

Originally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.

The Glimpse is an odd little book. Under the dystopian genre, you can do just about anything you want to create a dystopian world. Make love a disease? Sure. Have people die at age 20/25? Why not! Create a religious state? Go for it! But you have to be careful, well-researched, and most importantly, conscientious when you pick a topic that is sensitive to many readers. When She Woke treated religion very well, presenting both good and bad sides without Originally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.

The Glimpse is an odd little book. Under the dystopian genre, you can do just about anything you want to create a dystopian world. Make love a disease? Sure. Have people die at age 20/25? Why not! Create a religious state? Go for it! But you have to be careful, well-researched, and most importantly, conscientious when you pick a topic that is sensitive to many readers. When She Woke treated religion very well, presenting both good and bad sides without feeling like the author was talking down to the reader from a soapbox. Delirium did a good job in showing how the heroine is shaped by the dystopian environment she grew up in, as did Wither.

Sadly, The Glimpse doesn’t do exactly what it should; it simply beats the reader over the head with “crazies” and “pures” and mental asylums as we follow Ana’s journey. Like most heroines in dystopian YA lately, she’s grown up with an idea of how the world should work, and that should be enough to forgive her for the way she looks down on those with mental illness.

But it isn’t.

Ana is an incredibly frustrating character to follow. From the start, we’re with her as her whole world shatters when she’s told the truth about her mother: that she was a crazy, and Ana was a carrier as well. Except…nothing happens to her. Not until her future husband is kidnapped and she suddenly makes the decision to leave her gated community for the dirty, crazy streets of London. Despite her adventures on her own, from meeting and falling for a supposed terrorist to admitting herself into a horrifying mental asylum, Ana doesn’t seem to grow. Her experiences open her eyes to what the world is really like, yes, but as far as I felt, she never really has a light bulb moment. She doesn’t really change, and that’s not fun to read.

I’d talk about the secondary characters, expect none of them really stuck in my mind or stood out. Jasper was bland and Cole, the supposed terrorist she falls in love with, wasn’t any better.

As for the plot, I couldn’t care one bit. It didn’t move along as fast as it could have, and everything crawls to a stop when Ana ends up in a mental asylum for reasons I won’t go into because they might be considered spoilers. The whole mental asylum section…I have a problem with abuse perpetrated simply for the sake of a) making the character suffer, and b) being shocking.

And after all she goes through, does Ana even think ‘hey, that mental asylum was awful, maybe I should do something about it’, or I don’t know, think something like that? Nope.

That was my main problem with the book — for all that Ana goes through, it doesn’t seem to change her as a character. She sees the world in a different light and can’t stand her situation anymore, but she’s still the same boring character she is at the start of the novel, and I didn’t care less how the novel ended, just that it did. ...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Kristin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: for-review, fantasy, netgalley, ya, dystopia, kindle

4.5/5 stars!
What an amazing debut novel for Claire Merle. I wasn't expecting much and immediately I'm drawn into the action. There's no slow world building, the reader is hanging on for dear life. The setting is London in the not too distant future. The world has been decimated by both the collapse of the economy and the petrol wars. Borders are closed in almost all countries and London has been set up as city with "communities" surrounding it. In the communities is where civilized "Pures" live 4.5/5 stars!
What an amazing debut novel for Claire Merle. I wasn't expecting much and immediately I'm drawn into the action. There's no slow world building, the reader is hanging on for dear life. The setting is London in the not too distant future. The world has been decimated by both the collapse of the economy and the petrol wars. Borders are closed in almost all countries and London has been set up as city with "communities" surrounding it. In the communities is where civilized "Pures" live safely and luxuriously while all the others fend for themselves in the city. I can't go too much into the story because, like I said, from the beginning it just takes off and you're on a ride! I seriously could NOT put this book down.

I can't really classify this book. It's not a light read. There are a lot of twists, lies and plotting going on that you have to keep track of. The gritty parts might be too "real" for those YA readers 17 and under. But also in here is a story of what love really feels like and what you'll do to have that love. Or what you'll overcome to be the person you want to be. It's also about believing and having faith. But mostly it's just a great ride of a book...

My only gripe about the book was that sometimes the story went a wee bit too fast for me. It was almost like a paragraph or a sentence or two was missing. This was the unedited proof I read from Faber and Faber through NetGalley so maybe it is slightly changed in the final publication.

Oh, and wow... absolutely amazing... I'm talking about some of the reviews I've just seen here about this book. I'm so glad I wait to read reviews until after I read a book. I get a kick out of people who can go on and on about how important their opinion is in relation to a book. Yeah, I get it, you're offended. At least read the book. One thing I will say, derogatory language/slang used in the book shouldn't offend. It is what it is; it's FICTION in a world that doesn't exist. You want to talk derogatory language, look into our history, heck, look at old Bugs Bunny cartoons. And yes, history does repeat itself, whether we want it to or not. I was hardly offended and I will admit that I am clinically diagnosed with 2 of the Big3 discussed in the book, in runs in my family. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it...

I hate drawing attention to those types of reviews but I couldn't let them pass. This book deserves to be read and done with an open mind. A mind that remembers that this is a piece of fiction. Ms. Merle gives a very nice Q&A on her website that can answer any questions about how she came up with the idea for the story.

Speaking of which, there is a second and final book. Tentatively the book is called The Fall. After the ending of The Glimpse, I need to know when it's coming out!!! Like, as in, it better be coming out VERY SOON!!!

Thank you Faber & Faber/NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this compelling book. ...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Jessie (Ageless Pages Reviews) added it

Shelves: ya-fiction, sci-fi, arc, netgalley-arc, dystopia-or-postapocalyptic, unfinished-or-couldnt-finish

I couldn't make it past the first four chapters. See this review for the looong list of why. And this one. Don't miss this one, either.

Not for me.
...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Randa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, from-netgalley, dystopian, arc

Rating: 4.5/5
The cover:
This cover is just pure. It is well connected to the story and it represents the love that develops between the two main characters and the barriers they had between them.

The storyline:
This is the first dystopian YA book I’ve ever read and I was lucky enough to have it as my first. In three words: it was amazing.
It is hard to summarize what happens in the story because there is so much going on at the same time. And I’ll probably just spoil the book for you, since I’m in ...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Soumi rated it liked it

Shelves: owned-arcs, young-adult, books-i-reviewed, owned-copy, 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 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. ...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Mitchii rated it liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, young-adult, dystopian-post-apocalyptic, arc-or-galley-review-copies, romance, 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 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** ...more

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About Claire Merle

Claire Merle

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Claire Merle grew up in London and moved to the outskirts of Paris in her twenties. She is the author of four books for Young Adults, including the award-winning fantasy, Shadow Weaver.