Uglies (Uglies, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

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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Mar 02, 2020 Jamii rated it really liked it

Shelves: borrowed, series, owned, dystopian, empty-shelf-2020

So I really enjoyed this book. The concept was fascinating. Tally starts out as someone who is so entirely accepting of the rules/laws/expectations of her society. It was amazing to watch her transform from this to a rebel heart. Shay was the fun loving, anti society runaway that got Tally caught up in the whole mess she ends up in. The dynamics of the story are well written. My biggest issue it that the ending is rushed compared to the rest of the novel. Also I find Maddies attitude towards Tal ...more

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