Matched (Matched, #1) in Ask Ally Condie

Oct 14, 2011 Colleen rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, dystopia

The story of a dystopian utopia and one girl's simultaneous realization that her society is not what is seems and that love is not a matter of statistics. This story is great for those who enjoyed the hunger games and other dystopian novels. It's interesting, well-written, and engaging. I can't wait for the sequel. ...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Anastasia Adams rated it really liked it

In anticipation for the final book coming out, it will be a crime not to read this incredible story yet again for the third time. What surprises me the most that each time I read it, new emotions spiral out of control. There are words between the lines, beautiful words some even poetic. I love Cassia, she is so heroic and her character reminds me of Katniss. I hope they male movies about this. That really would be epic.

The similarities between this book and Hunger Games in inevitablebut I am sur ...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Berenice rated it really liked it

Welcome to the Society where you wont be over crowded by the extensive information that your normal world has, the Society has chosen the 100 best songs, best poems, best paintings, etc. They take away the tedious task of finding your other half, they have a sorting system that will match you with your most compatible partner. You don't have to worry about cooking your meals they have planned the best diet for you, and forget about choosing what to wear when you go out, they've taken care about Welcome to the Society where you wont be over crowded by the extensive information that your normal world has, the Society has chosen the 100 best songs, best poems, best paintings, etc. They take away the tedious task of finding your other half, they have a sorting system that will match you with your most compatible partner. You don't have to worry about cooking your meals they have planned the best diet for you, and forget about choosing what to wear when you go out, they've taken care about that to, you'll just wear the same as everyone else. And forget about diseases like cancer and such, they've been eradicated, just be ready to die by your eightieth birthday.
This is the world that Cassia Reyes lives in, she like every other citizen belives that the Society has their best interest at mind. But things start to change after her matched ball, where her future partner is decided and is no other then her best friend Xander and everything seems to be perfect, she discovers he is not her only match and not only that it's also someone she knows, Ky Markham his face pops out of the flash that contained her perfect match info.
Soon the Society finds Cassia and tells her that there was an error in the system and that she should not worry about it, that she should ignore the fact that it was Ky's face she saw and not Xander's. But Cassia can't shake it off, and soon she starts to wonder about the was things work in the Society. She will soon face the decision between Xander and Ky, between the world she knows and was raised to be a part of, or the path that no one has dared walk.

I really liked this book, the story kept moving and it felt like it was all flowing. I liked the fact that we could see the story unravel it self and Cassia grow at the same time. Not only that but the fact that there is a connection with her, there is a moment in the book where I got that knot in my throat that threatens me every time I want to cry.
With Ally Condie's writing style I doubt you'll grow bored of the book, even though for me the whole story flows perfectly for some the beginning might be a little slow but i assure you it's worth it, and the way the books captures you will leave you waiting for the second part of this series. ...more

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Oct 15, 2011 Darlene rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-wishlist, romance, young-adult, library-ebook, library-overdrive, dystopia, ebook, series, book-1, teen-girls

Actually, the library sent Crossed which is the sequel. I have Matched on hold and will start it immediately when I get it. Hopefully, it will be before Crossed is due back.

***

Later:

I finally got the library copies of Matched. Unfortunately theirs is not a Kindle copy. The readable version is one I had to read on my computer, Adobe Digital Edition. I have trouble reading with white background and I couldn't adjust the font either. BUT the library Overdrive MP3 version came to me at the same time Actually, the library sent Crossed which is the sequel. I have Matched on hold and will start it immediately when I get it. Hopefully, it will be before Crossed is due back.

***

Later:

I finally got the library copies of Matched. Unfortunately theirs is not a Kindle copy. The readable version is one I had to read on my computer, Adobe Digital Edition. I have trouble reading with white background and I couldn't adjust the font either. BUT the library Overdrive MP3 version came to me at the same time. This version might be well worth the money spent for the Audible version.

The narrator, Kate Simses, has a sweet light voice but she is versatile enough to bring forth the other characters. I got the sense of innocence from her voice and the depth of the emotional confusion that Cassia, the main character, must go through as she learns that the perfect society--isn't. She, also, pulled out the confusion of love for two guys. -- But I hated the music brought in to enhance the story. Ugh! Hokey!

That said, I would have bought the Kindle version but it was too expensive. If my eyesight could handle the paperback for the same price I could have shared with friends. And this is a good enough book I would like to share it with others. But Kindle version is un-loan-able. At least it has text-to-speech. I don't know who sets up these things. If it is the publisher, shame on you! This author has put out a GOOD BOOK! I don't mind that it costs so much as it has been well edited and is fun. Her book, though of similar genre to other dystopias, takes a different point of view. It is more poetic and shows abilities that our next generation may actually lose if someone doesn't point it out. If the author set up this selfish mode making Kindle not lendable, I believe you are missing your own points. In this day and age with so many out of work, it would be nice to be able to share. If that person likes your work, and it IS likable work, then, when they finally have the money they will not only buy your 1st book, but maybe buy and gift the trilogy for themselves and others in their lives.

About the book (sorry I had to get the above out of my system!), I started reading (more listening than reading) it yesterday morning, and except for a couple interruptions, I couldn't put it down until I finished it at 3 AM. It wasn't angsty or tension-based. It was more of a quiet education of things that could go wrong in society if we as a people don't pay attention. It makes you remember how the arts are the Spring of life. That our strives for health and efficiency can actually lower what is good about our lives today. That too many choices are just the right amount of choices. And hey, what's wrong with loving more than one person? If you love them and they love you and you can get past the childishness of jealousy, you all are better off for it.

This book is set up so that your young teen, maybe even a pre-teen could read it. It might be a fun read aloud (or listen to the audio version) for a family as there are many points of education presented.

Finally: it is only due to the lending not enabled that I didn't buy the book (and I am still thinking about it, anyway) and that also led to less than a five star rating. ...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Moedawg63 rated it liked it

The first 120 pages or so I was not really into it, to be honest. It didn't have that compulsively readable quality that a lot of other books in this genre possess. Once I sat down with it for a good chunk of time at once, though, I enjoyed it more. To me, this story is much more about the romance than about the dystopian setting and once you can accept that, you can enjoy the romance part for what it is. The main character is kind of bland but her love interest is better developed and likeable. ...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Jen rated it really liked it

I really liked how this book made me rethink my perspective on fairness. I really wasn't expecting that, so I was pleasantly surprised. ...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: juvenile-young-adult, scifi-fantasy, dystopia

Although YA dystopian novels are becoming quite common, it is still a nice angle to make the reader think about the world as they know it, and the gray lines between good and bad. I enjoyed this book, although maybe I've read too many YA novels that deal with the girl who has 2 boys liking her. It starts to get old. ...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Derek rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult

Liked it. They dystopian YA theme is starting to wear a little thin for me but this is certainly one of the better written books in the genre. If you are a teenage girl or a fan of dystopian futures, give this book a try!

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Jun 28, 2011 Rebecca rated it really liked it

Angsty, like most young adult fiction that seems to be popular today, but there's enough other stuff in the story and in the scene-setting that it's not annoying. Condie does a great job of drawing the reader into the story and the dystopian Society by slowly revealing increasingly disturbing aspects of life. I'm looking forward to reading the next one. ...more

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