Uglies (Uglies, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jan 30, 2019 BookishStitcher rated it liked it

2.5 stars

Read for a sci-fiction unit in a literacy class, this novel was just okay for me. Tally wasn't a very likable protagonist. The world's obsession in the book with being beautiful was extremely annoying. I have zero desire to continue with this series. ...more

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Jan 03, 2016 Chelsey rated it liked it

Shelves: 3-star-books, not-worth-the-hype, flat-characters, good-concept-bad-execution

This series has taunted me for years. I tried several times to read Uglies in high school, but every time I started I would never finish. In an effort to clean out my book shelf I committed myself to finishing this book and I’m glad I did. I’m not sure why I could never get into the book before, but this time I was hooked pretty quickly.

The concept of this book is really unique, in my opinion. I was so intrigued by New Pretty Town, the Pretties, the Uglies, and how everything worked in this wor This series has taunted me for years. I tried several times to read Uglies in high school, but every time I started I would never finish. In an effort to clean out my book shelf I committed myself to finishing this book and I’m glad I did. I’m not sure why I could never get into the book before, but this time I was hooked pretty quickly.

The concept of this book is really unique, in my opinion. I was so intrigued by New Pretty Town, the Pretties, the Uglies, and how everything worked in this world. I think the creativity in concept and world structure is the strongest point of the book. Honestly, what kept me reading more than characters or plot was just a desire to know more about Special Circumstance, the operation, and what the truth really was.

Unfortunately, the concept of the book fell a little flat and much of the explanations for the world were vague, tired, and quite honestly stupid. I kept reading to find out more about the world, but most of the time the details and explanations disappointed me. The reason Westerfeld gives for civilization collapsing is just implausible and it seemed like he didn’t even try. The explanations for why things became the way they are lazy. The backstory of this could have been so interesting and Westerfeld could have made some powerful statements about beauty and society. Instead, the backstory was swept under the rug or glossed over with lazy reasons.

I probably could have gotten over the lack of backstory, though. What I can’t get over is under developed characters and shitty romance. None of the characters felt very real. Tally was not the special snowflake, pretty- but-I-don’t-know-it girl, which was good. But she wasn’t exactly a good main character either. Sometimes I really liked her, even when she was making bad choices. Other times she was acting so immature when she really shouldn’t have been. But what annoyed me more than anything is that her choices ended up being based on a boy and not what was right. Westerfeld had a chance to make a powerful statement about a girl rebelling against beauty standards and being happy in her own skin, hell she could have still even had the guy in the end! But instead, Tally makes her choices because “aww I feel in love.” And that just sucks. But towards the end of the book, she does begin to make better choices and that gives me hope for her in the next book.

Overall, I settled on 3 stars. I had a lot of problems with the book, but I am still going to read the next one. And I have to give credit for that at least. The concept is so cool and maybe the next book will be better in terms of backstory and characterization. I think this is a great read for pre-teens and young teens. Older teens and adult audiences may be let down, but for a quick YA dystopian read it is not bad.
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Jun 16, 2015 ❤ Aly ❤ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: nov-dec-series-challenge-2015, 2015

I really enjoyed this book. I found myself really liking the characters. It was very different from what I expected. I can't wait to read the next book! ...more

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Aug 06, 2018 Nicole P rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: z-2018-rrrc-reading-addicts, z-2018-tower-team-vi, out-of-this-world, z-2018-book-count-challenge, z-2018-cf-reading-goals, to-be-young

By the end of the book I was wondering if this is where we are heading to as a society. Considering the impact and influence social media and celebrities have on us, especially the young, one can easily see us turning into a society where we will go through numerous operations to physically alter our appearances to be considered 'perfect' and 'normal'. Westerfeld chose a relevant and difficult topic that was well written and thought provoking. ...more

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Aug 01, 2014 Cecily Black rated it liked it

I am not the hugest fan of dystopian novels and this was a book I went back and forth on if I was going to read it or not.

I finally decided to give it a try and I have very mixed feelings about it. Usually when a book is amazing I can't put it down and no matter the length I will finish it in two days tops. This one was a little harder for me to get through and that was how I could tell it wasn't doing much for me.

I liked the descriptions of the different things having to relate to the "Rustie ...more

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Jul 23, 2014 Megalion rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: from-shelfari, year-read-2014

A start of a decent YA dystopian trilogy.

Do you remember the Dr Seuss book about the creatures that had stars on their bellies and therefore were special. And then a guy with a machine came along and made it so that all creatures could have a star... or have it removed?

That's the basic launching point of the premise here but goes a lot further than that.

It's fast paced and full of action. It's a bit thin though I felt as the moral & ethical issues were laid out too baldly that it may seem hea ...more

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