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Matched (Matched, #1)

Ally Condie

Start date: July 1, 2012

Finish date: July 31, 2012

Discussion leader: MeMe Belikova First lady Ivashkov

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Dec 04, 2010 Cassandra rated it liked it

Matched. How can the cover be so beautiful and the words inside a major flop?

Matched is a dystopian themed plot. I don't know why they use the word dystopian? I looked it up in the dictionary (I had no idea what dystopian was until like the fifth grade) it means an imaginary bad place where everything is bad as it can be? Uhm, according to Matched its the best place ever Granted that you can never really make your own choice. The main character is Cassia, who is your average happy-go-lucky I-lo Matched. How can the cover be so beautiful and the words inside a major flop?

Matched is a dystopian themed plot. I don't know why they use the word dystopian? I looked it up in the dictionary (I had no idea what dystopian was until like the fifth grade) it means an imaginary bad place where everything is bad as it can be? Uhm, according to Matched its the best place ever Granted that you can never really make your own choice. The main character is Cassia, who is your average happy-go-lucky I-love-my-life-to-no-end everything-is-perfect kind of character. In the beginning of the book, you actually believe this society is amazing. They have this ceremony where the young eighteen year old teenagers (I think they were eighteen, I will explain why later) get matched to the opposite sex. How romantic. It takes a different spin on arranged marriages. I have nothing against arranged marriages, but I would rebel so hard, just because I am all about my space and freedom. (I keep getting off subject.) Any who, Cassia is matched with her childhood friend, Xander (ABSOLUTELY LOVE HIS NAME AND HIM!!! Just saying) Which according to the society, that is rare and also awesome. Cassia feels like everything is how it should be. WRONG! She gets this chip with all of Xander's information on it, because he is her match. Well, upon looking at his picture another picture pops up and its her other childhood friend, Ky. The society's reject. They have another name for him, but its so confusing and just blah. So, she becomes interested and a WHOLE bunch of shit starts happening that seems to make everything go wrong. By the end of the book, you realize how in control the society has over everyone's life. You start to realize the society is bad place.

Opinion Time!!! Now there may be a few spoilers, so if you don't want to spoil anything, DO NOT READ THIS PART! :)
I actually thought this book was okay. In the beginning it was horribly slow and nothing was happening. I was bored out of my mind. If it wasn't for my friend Saniya I would not have finished. I am really glad I did. It was just not what I expected. I will be honest, I had very HIGH expectations for this book. The cover is really pretty and the story was alright. Not too shabby for being the author's first book. Cassia was an alright character, pretty strong willed. I wish she would have rebelled a whole hell a lot more, but I guess that would have taken the story in a different direction. I love Xander a lot. He was sweet, daring, and just a down to earth kind of guy. Now, Ky had me on the fence. I began to love him then, I would just be like really? It was like he was trying too hard to be a sweetie and smooth. For example Ky asks Cassia if she thinks if anyone believes in angels and she all I dunno, do uuu? and then Ky replies. "I believe in you." GAG ME WITH A SPOON! I would have laughed my ass off if someone said that to me? I don't know. I did like Ky, but I wish he would have kicked some tail more. Just my opinion. I like the good romance, and the love triangle thing, but I also like actions. It just adds to the story.

Now for the plot. This is a society that has every control no matter what. Then how can they not win a freakin' war? They are supposed to be technologies to the max and they can't win a war? And how is everyone not questioning WTH about a war? These are supposed to be well-mannered well-behaved and polite society? I am so confused. I was so confused during the whole book. Then something happened at the Burroghs? What? What do you mean something happened at the Burroghs? What the hell is the Burroghs? So, you took the red tablet. So, the red pill doesn't affect Ky and Xander. Why wouldn't Xander tell her what happened?
The author should have put more description of the characters and her surroundings. All I know about Ky was he had blue (and every color in the rainbow?) colored eyes, and that he had red hands. All I know about Xander is that he has blue eyes. And that Cassia LOVES the color green. Uhm. Okay? What about thier hair, looks, etc? What about Cassia? What color eyes did she have? Or was I just so freakin' bored out of my mind in the beginning that I missed all of that? Hmm. Who knows? I just wish I knew more about the characters that is all.

I will read the next book, and hopefully it will be a whole lot more actions packed and gives some answers and have something ACTUALLY happen more than once that makes me go HOLY-. I really do hope.

Overall the book was three stars for the intricate thinking on the Authors part and for this being her first book and it was pretty good.

Cover receives an A- because its beautiful, but a let down because of the words.

I will recommend if only you have nothing else to read and need something to help you wait.
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