The Selection (The Selection, #1) in The Wide Web of Friends in YA Books

Dec 23, 2011 M. rated it did not like it

Shelves: no-thank-you, to-not-read

I'm giving this book one star on principle alone. And no, you don't need to read a book all the way through to know if it's good or not or if you like it or not. I have attempted to read many books in my life that I couldn't finish. Sometimes I just couldn't connect with the characters or story, but that didn't mean the writing was a bad. It's just a matter of personal taste.
I have to say that the plot of this book was very unoriginal and very anti feminist for my taste but, I was willing to rea ...more

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Dec 08, 2016 Bror (Abrar) rated it liked it

I felt like something was missing. But i'll read the next one. ...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Danae rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2013

So we are in future USA, now named Illea, after another world war that left the country starving. The result is that people are divided in castes. Each caste has a number.
The ones is the royal family.
Twos and threes are rich.
Fours can manage.
Fives, it's the caste of the artists, they don't starve but you can't call them comfortable.
And then we have sixs, sevens and eights who are poor and straggle with every day's bread.
Nobody can't skip between castes but women through marriage to a man fro So we are in future USA, now named Illea, after another world war that left the country starving. The result is that people are divided in castes. Each caste has a number.
The ones is the royal family.
Twos and threes are rich.
Fours can manage.
Fives, it's the caste of the artists, they don't starve but you can't call them comfortable.
And then we have sixs, sevens and eights who are poor and straggle with every day's bread.
Nobody can't skip between castes but women through marriage to a man from different caste, something that doesn't happen often. They have to find something to do suitable to their castes.
Our heroine is America, named after the old country, she is a five, and therefore a singer. She also plays the piano, violin and guitar.
She is very talented, and according to others she is very beautiful- she doesn't believe it (as every heroine these days).
She is having a secret realationship with Aspen. Aspen is a six.
When women get married, they become the caste of their husband. So Aspen feels guilty because if they got married America will have to stop singing and start serving as a maid.
Then comes the selection, every girl in the country gives her name, photos and biography so thirty five of them would be selected to go to the palace and compete for the prince of Illea and the throne.
America doen't want to put her name to the lottery, her mother convince her and she believes that she won't get picked until her name gets announced.
She goes to the palace and there she meets Prince Maxon and he isn't what she expected, (cliche but always working, at least for me).
It is a good book, like a fairy tale with a poor girl and a prince charming. Well classic fairy tales became classics for a reason.
It's not like hunger games. Not even close. I can see why someone would think that, Illea instead of Panem and the selection instead of the hunger games, it's ridiculous. But Katniss was a hero, America is a teenage girl with a more complicated love life.
And I loved Prince Maxon he is so sweet. <3 ...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Angela rated it it was amazing

I LOVED this book! I was completely and utterly swept away. I'm rooting for Maxon ALL THE WAY!! ...more

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Jun 15, 2013 Parmida Reads rated it it was amazing

MAXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Sep 15, 2012 Aden rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was really good. I can not believe that it ended the way it did. Now I have to go and wait to get the second book. I mean, come on why did it have to end in a clifhanger I was so hoping to find out how it was gonna end. Oh well... I'll just suck it.

Updated from Blog-
Ok, so this book sounded so awesome when I read the summary ^^^^. I was all like, 'OMG. This is beyond awesome. I can not believe this library had it. I am so gonna read this.'

So then I started reading it. I was at first (since ...more

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Nov 16, 2012 Ellie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, ebook

When I first read the summary to this book, I expected it to be something similar to The Hunger Games but more into cattiness instead of actual brutality...and I wasn't wrong. The Selection began a little slow for me, but for some reason that took fed the girly girl in me and I started to like America the more she interacts with Maxon.

The whole concept does seem a little weak compared to other book series' but that's what I find charming about it. It's not pretentious in it being a princess comp When I first read the summary to this book, I expected it to be something similar to The Hunger Games but more into cattiness instead of actual brutality...and I wasn't wrong. The Selection began a little slow for me, but for some reason that took fed the girly girl in me and I started to like America the more she interacts with Maxon.

The whole concept does seem a little weak compared to other book series' but that's what I find charming about it. It's not pretentious in it being a princess competition, with an added layer of political turmoil on top. I like the fact that the book focuses on the inner issues that the Selection girls are going through instead of the general political issues. We see two sides of the coin, with America championing the "poor" and Maxon representing the privileged. It was nice to see them interact with each other with very few hitches. The whole "we're two different so we can't be decent with each other and get along at all" is starting to get old with these young adult romances.

It's set in a fantasy world, an alternate reality where China invaded the US, but it's still somehow realistic in the issues that the characters tackle. There's the castes, pageantry hoopla, the complexities of "reality shows", all presented in a realistic plate.

The characters represent different personalities that one might encounter in an actual pageant, but what struck me the most was Prince Maxon. His personality was genuine and regal, almost too perfect except for certain times when he loses his cool and that just adds more to his realism. Aspen and America breaking up seemed a little underwhelming, and then having to hear that America's suspicions were wrong was a little frustrating but I stand by her decision in the end. She's not just doing this for her family, but also for herself and the best thing she can do is to see herself through it.

I'm really excited to read the second book, and i'm hyping myself up for The One. The whole concept seems a little unconventional as far as dytopic/fantasy Young Adult books go but I guess that's what I like about this series. ...more

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Mar 01, 2013 kento rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, reviews, 2013

Actual rating: 3.5

Like everyone else, the reason I read this book was because of its cover. It's gorgeous and eye-catching and I loooove it! Who doesn't anyway?

While reading this book, I couldn't help but think of The Hunger Games (I haven't seen The Bachelor yet). They may be in some ways similar, but I should say this doesn't involve killing the people you compete with.

The story revolves around America Singer, a seventeen-year-old girl who, by the pressure of her family and her secret lover A Actual rating: 3.5

Like everyone else, the reason I read this book was because of its cover. It's gorgeous and eye-catching and I loooove it! Who doesn't anyway?

While reading this book, I couldn't help but think of The Hunger Games (I haven't seen The Bachelor yet). They may be in some ways similar, but I should say this doesn't involve killing the people you compete with.

The story revolves around America Singer, a seventeen-year-old girl who, by the pressure of her family and her secret lover Aspen(view spoiler), reluctantly joins the Selection, a competition for the crown and for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon of Illea. Even though she is against it, America obeyed so as to give her family a chance to experience a life Fives weren't meant to have.

She then stays at the palace develops a close friendship with the Prince. Because of their closeness, America had a chance to get to know Prince Maxon even more, learning that he was a lot different from the person at first she thought him to be--boring, stiff, and a pervert. She then starts to like the Prince (slightly), but still she couldn't forget about her love for Aspen.

The characters were okay, some were likable and some were not. The heroine, America Singer--I like her. Besides her being a redhead, her strong-willed personality made me admire her. And then there's Prince Maxon--smart, attractive, and a true gentleman (IDK but while I was playing the book scenes in my head I imagined him to be Logan Lerman, only he's not a blonde like what the book describes). Who wouldn't like him? And of course Aspen. I can't blame him for feeling insecure but I really don't like him. Obviously I'm Team Maxon!

The book was great though quite predictable. It was a fast, enjoyable read, but for me it lacked something. Maybe I was looking for more conflict or action. The rebels occasionally invading the palace seems not enough. I know this book is more of a love story but I think there should be something more exciting besides those kisses, hugs, and cheesy lines. ...more

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Jul 23, 2013 Szidonia rated it really liked it

Shelves: favourite-books

I finished it in a day, and loved it. It reminded me of the bachelor, but so much better and with a really likeable narrator.

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Apr 12, 2012 Ifrah rated it really liked it

Hunger Games meets The Bachelor.
I just wish the pace was a bit faster, the ending more exciting, and the ending was more conclusive instead of a "coming up next" thing. the ending is done in a way where you cant just read this book and feel like you've read a story. It is done in a way where you gave to read the other book to find out what happens. ...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Angele | adominiquereads rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, dystopia-utopia, owned-books, royalty, r-arranged-marriage

I haven't expected this. I should I have read it sooner before! And now, I'm regretting it.
Sure, it's like Hunger Games meets The Bachelor thing, but I wasn't disappointed. It's not what I've expected. ...more

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