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Creation
Creation is a provocative exploration of what it means to be free. Set in a dystopian future, several creative-minded individuals remind us all to never take for granted the product of our own work and imagination. Creation is inspired by Ayn Rand's Anthem and Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go.
106 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 6, 2013
Wow! This is a short book, a novella, but it's 100 pages or so are breathtakingly beautiful. Personally, I'd put it in the same category as dystopian classic, The Giver, which has a similar message and feel to it. The writing was REALLY strong, the right combination of simplicity and artistry, and the only reason I wavered between 4 and 5 stars was that, due to the shortness of the novella, the world couldn't be developed more. The concepts and plotlines could easily be extended into a full length dystopian series, should Ms. Mellon choose. In the end, I had to rate it 5 stars because of how entranced I was by the world created by the author.
If I had to guess, I'd say Kay Mellon has a bright future ahead of her, especially considering she's only 20.
If I had to guess, I'd say Kay Mellon has a bright future ahead of her, especially considering she's only 20.
July 30, 2013
If, as an artist, you were placed in a society without money, with all your needs provided, and told to create, what would you think? I think most of those who feel the need to dance, to write, to sing, to draw would love this. But anything can be twisted, and it's this world of forced creation that Creation draws us into.
In Creation, all the creators (the writers, dancers, painters, etc) live in a seemingly ideal society where their only focus is on creating new works. But it's not as it seems - when they run dry, they're sent to the Community. And there are topics that they can't create about - like money or war.
The narrator is a Writer. And as one of her friends gets sent to the community, she starts getting strange memories, of real trees - things that have only existed in the creations so far. And well, you can probably imagine how it goes.
What I liked about this story was the set-up. The world was really interesting, and it's a pity that finding out about the true state of society is now part of the plot. So no worries, I won't give any spoilers away!
The only thing I didn't like about the book was that it's too short! It ended at a place where I think most books would be in the middle. I'd really love to read more about this!
Disclaimer: I got this book as part of the Enchanted Book Blog Tours stop. I was not required to give a positive review, just my honest opinion.
This review first appeared Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
In Creation, all the creators (the writers, dancers, painters, etc) live in a seemingly ideal society where their only focus is on creating new works. But it's not as it seems - when they run dry, they're sent to the Community. And there are topics that they can't create about - like money or war.
The narrator is a Writer. And as one of her friends gets sent to the community, she starts getting strange memories, of real trees - things that have only existed in the creations so far. And well, you can probably imagine how it goes.
What I liked about this story was the set-up. The world was really interesting, and it's a pity that finding out about the true state of society is now part of the plot. So no worries, I won't give any spoilers away!
The only thing I didn't like about the book was that it's too short! It ended at a place where I think most books would be in the middle. I'd really love to read more about this!
Disclaimer: I got this book as part of the Enchanted Book Blog Tours stop. I was not required to give a positive review, just my honest opinion.
This review first appeared Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
January 24, 2013
I won this book for free from the Goodread's First Reads giveaway.
"Creation" is a short book (about 100 pages) and is alluring from the beginning until the end. I find it very rare to find a story as unique as this one. The author did an amazing job with the plot and the characters.
I find this review a little hard to give without giving away the plot of the book; I do not want to spoil it for anyone. All I can really say is I love it and I recommend it for everyone! Such an intriguing book!
"Creation" is a short book (about 100 pages) and is alluring from the beginning until the end. I find it very rare to find a story as unique as this one. The author did an amazing job with the plot and the characters.
I find this review a little hard to give without giving away the plot of the book; I do not want to spoil it for anyone. All I can really say is I love it and I recommend it for everyone! Such an intriguing book!
June 16, 2015
The first half of this book is so confusing, it wasn't until about 60% that the pieces started clicking together. I understand that with the amount of pages there really wasn't room for the world building but I wish I understood more.
This could certainly be turned into a novel and a great one at that. The writing was excellent.
This review can also be found on my page The Fiction Fanatics
This could certainly be turned into a novel and a great one at that. The writing was excellent.
This review can also be found on my page The Fiction Fanatics
May 23, 2014
To be honest, I didn't like this book. It was hard to read because the sentences didn't flow smoothly. I felt like I was stuck sometimes. Towards the end, I began shortening phrases to make the reading more smooth. The sentence formation took a lot away from the story.
I also felt that there wasn't a well-formed antagonist in this story to make it more interesting. There was vague references to the government but that was it.
This book left a lot to be desired.
I also felt that there wasn't a well-formed antagonist in this story to make it more interesting. There was vague references to the government but that was it.
This book left a lot to be desired.
May 8, 2012
I won this book in a Goodreads First Readers giveaway. I liked the way this author wrote this book. It was short and to the point. This book really makes you think about how to great it is to live in a time and place where we are able to choose our own paths and create as we wish.
December 16, 2012
Creation is a fantastic, absorbing novella that I will be recommending to readers and non-readers alike. It's an intriguing, page-turning story, with no room for dull moments. I'm hungry for more!
January 4, 2013
The first few pages of this book are confusing. Give it a chance and you will not be disappointed! Very interesting!
July 31, 2013
Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
Actual rating: 4,5 stars
I started reading Creation thinking nothing much about it. The blurb didn’t say much, so I had zero expectations. Turns out this book was a pleasant surprise. It’s a very short read, at only 42 pages in .pdf format, but it’s a thought-provoking, provocative story that explores boundaries of freedom and creation, and dares to explain what it means to truly be free. The story is set in a dystopian future where creatvitiy is harnessed for the greater good, it’s forbidden to prefer one artistic piece above another, and those who think they’re more talented than others are severely punished. It’s not a bright future, not one I’d want to live in, but it shows us how often creativity is taken for granted, sometimes by the artist, but more often by the general public.
In the future, all artistic, creative people are forced to say in one house, where they fill their days writing manuscripts, working on paintings, practicing ballets, or writing symphonies, etcetera. They’re stacked in the house alphabetically, and our main character is in the room with the ‘J’s, Janet, Jess, etc. Creativity is used solely for the greater good, and the individuals themselves have no gain from it. Every masterpiece they write is taken away, every painting they finish is stolen from them. It’s a frustrating world, where not even creativity is truly free anymore.
The story was interesting, but even more so was the commentary in the novel, the silent and thoughtful punch to today’s society, especially online, where ideas are stolen in the hundreds, where talented artists get their art copied and misused every single day. A short, fast-paced read that made me think for a long time about the true meaning of creativity.
Actual rating: 4,5 stars
I started reading Creation thinking nothing much about it. The blurb didn’t say much, so I had zero expectations. Turns out this book was a pleasant surprise. It’s a very short read, at only 42 pages in .pdf format, but it’s a thought-provoking, provocative story that explores boundaries of freedom and creation, and dares to explain what it means to truly be free. The story is set in a dystopian future where creatvitiy is harnessed for the greater good, it’s forbidden to prefer one artistic piece above another, and those who think they’re more talented than others are severely punished. It’s not a bright future, not one I’d want to live in, but it shows us how often creativity is taken for granted, sometimes by the artist, but more often by the general public.
In the future, all artistic, creative people are forced to say in one house, where they fill their days writing manuscripts, working on paintings, practicing ballets, or writing symphonies, etcetera. They’re stacked in the house alphabetically, and our main character is in the room with the ‘J’s, Janet, Jess, etc. Creativity is used solely for the greater good, and the individuals themselves have no gain from it. Every masterpiece they write is taken away, every painting they finish is stolen from them. It’s a frustrating world, where not even creativity is truly free anymore.
The story was interesting, but even more so was the commentary in the novel, the silent and thoughtful punch to today’s society, especially online, where ideas are stolen in the hundreds, where talented artists get their art copied and misused every single day. A short, fast-paced read that made me think for a long time about the true meaning of creativity.
August 3, 2013
This was originally posted on my blog
This book, while really short, was amazing. I don't usually read like far-end dystopias such as this (very in line with The Giver and such) but this novella really took the reader into the story.
The first part is confusing, throwing the reader right into the middle of the story. I guess it's pretty common in books lately, especially books set in either fantasy lands or dytsopias. But once you get the gist of the background and the characters it becomes clearer and the story flows nicely.
The writing is smooth and mysterious, perfectly pitched. I've never realized how much I was craving good writing style until now. The world building within those few pages was incredible, as well as the idea in itself being wonderful. There were many references to modern-day technology, that grounded the book and really connected itself to reality, giving the ook a sort of immediacy.
What I didn't really like was that the book was so short, giving us much less time for character development and extended world building (meaning, outside of the immediate setting). I hope there will be another book. Really.
...And...that's it, I guess. I don't really have that much to say about a short story, especially one of such high quality.
This book, while really short, was amazing. I don't usually read like far-end dystopias such as this (very in line with The Giver and such) but this novella really took the reader into the story.
The first part is confusing, throwing the reader right into the middle of the story. I guess it's pretty common in books lately, especially books set in either fantasy lands or dytsopias. But once you get the gist of the background and the characters it becomes clearer and the story flows nicely.
The writing is smooth and mysterious, perfectly pitched. I've never realized how much I was craving good writing style until now. The world building within those few pages was incredible, as well as the idea in itself being wonderful. There were many references to modern-day technology, that grounded the book and really connected itself to reality, giving the ook a sort of immediacy.
What I didn't really like was that the book was so short, giving us much less time for character development and extended world building (meaning, outside of the immediate setting). I hope there will be another book. Really.
...And...that's it, I guess. I don't really have that much to say about a short story, especially one of such high quality.
June 16, 2013
I started reading this book prior to doing an interview with the author on my blog, and was heartily dismayed when my Kindle ran out of battery at 83% of the way. Came straight home and plugged that sucker in and immediately started reading again. Kat Mellon has built an incredible world that is both an on-the-surface dystopian adventure, as well as a thoughtful commentary on what it means to be a writer and a creator. The prose is polished and extraordinary. The only gripe I had was the giant deus ex machina coincidence that comes towards the end of the book, but it is a small gripe in an otherwise excellent read. Great story!
June 14, 2013
Prosecution:
None!
Defense:
Short, sweet, and to the point. Creation had notes of Ayn Rands' Anthem and Lois Lowrys' The Giver, with its own special twist. The idea of housing all of the "creative" people together under one house and using their creations to better the rest of society did have a Utopian feeling but was a little eery.
To read my verdict, please go to From Bows to Books..♥
None!
Defense:
Short, sweet, and to the point. Creation had notes of Ayn Rands' Anthem and Lois Lowrys' The Giver, with its own special twist. The idea of housing all of the "creative" people together under one house and using their creations to better the rest of society did have a Utopian feeling but was a little eery.
To read my verdict, please go to From Bows to Books..♥
May 18, 2014
I don't know how to review this book, because to write about what the core of what the book meant to me would be to reveal the ending and be extremely spoilerish. And you wouldn't want that with this book, seriously.
I was fascinated with the world Mellon created, the sense of the surreal in her writing and the way it makes you look at the world with fresh new eyes - a little Pratchett-ish in that sense, only not in a humourous way.
It's beautiful prose. *tears*
I was fascinated with the world Mellon created, the sense of the surreal in her writing and the way it makes you look at the world with fresh new eyes - a little Pratchett-ish in that sense, only not in a humourous way.
It's beautiful prose. *tears*
February 26, 2016
This novella was not my usual cup of tea, but I still liked it. The world Kat created, a society in which the people didn’t know about anything outside Creation, is simple in all its complexity. She successfully creates a world where people work to create every piece of literature, every painting, every sheet of music that the outside enjoys. This piece has the feel of dystopia that I think most readers might enjoy.
February 15, 2012
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book. I won't spoil anything, but...
This is amazing.
Creation is an inspiring read, and leaves you with that happy, satisfied feeling that only few books can offer. I love, love this!
This is amazing.
Creation is an inspiring read, and leaves you with that happy, satisfied feeling that only few books can offer. I love, love this!
August 7, 2014
I'm not sure what that was....it was an interesting premise, but way too short and undeveloped. I feel so disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews