Just won this book from First Reads, I'm so excited to get it in the mail and start :)
Finally had a chance to sit down and finish this. I was actuallyJust won this book from First Reads, I'm so excited to get it in the mail and start :)
Finally had a chance to sit down and finish this. I was actually surprised by how much I liked this book, it kind of crept up on me and it wasn't until I finished that I realized how much it had gotten under my skin. I tend to not include synopsis of the book in my reviews, so below are simply my reactions to the text.
At first I have to admit that it took me awhile to get into it simply because of the structure. There are no chapters, no quotation marks, and quite a few sentences that could go on for as long as a page. Once I became accustomed to it however, the structure lent itself well to the story and characters. It reads like a train of thought and memory, which is exactly what it is.
One of my favorite things was that though many important events in our countries history pass through the household or affect the brothers, the story is still truly about their reclusive lives and the friendship and loneliness and everything else that goes along with it. Much of this is felt by the reader as Homer seems to be somewhat willfully ignorant of the strange nature of their lives, while simultaneously explaining in great detail that exact strangeness.
I will definitely be picking up another Doctrow book....more
Interesting premise, though it seemed a bit familiar. That could be because I've recently read Incarceron and several other 'escape' books. StrangelyInteresting premise, though it seemed a bit familiar. That could be because I've recently read Incarceron and several other 'escape' books. Strangely I found myself growing more attached to the supporting cast than to Alex (the main character and our narrator), so I enjoyed the book much more once the cast was fleshed out with the various personalities. I will be picking up the second book when it comes out, this one ended on a major cliffhanger....more
Good for a younger audience as I have found with many of Haddix's books. While I could appreciate it for what it was, it was so clearly aimed at childGood for a younger audience as I have found with many of Haddix's books. While I could appreciate it for what it was, it was so clearly aimed at children, and children from a more modern generation at that, that it pulled me out of the story. Her books would be ones I would happily recommend to young girls and boys....more
**spoiler alert** This is the first time I'll have to use the spoiler warning in a review, as I generally don't feel the need to give key plot points**spoiler alert** This is the first time I'll have to use the spoiler warning in a review, as I generally don't feel the need to give key plot points away. However after finishing this book I couldn't NOT say something about the heartbreaking ending. I feel like I should have expected Callum's death throughout the whole thing, or at least known better than to expect a happy ending, but somehow I willfully ignored the fact that this book is about incredibly real challenges and issues that we have faced - and in many ways continue to face - today. Many of those stories did not have happy endings. So while I know that Blackman's ending serves a purpose, it still breaks my heart.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, in a heart aching wish I could be there to fight and change the world sort of way. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars was that for me it dragged a bit at times, leading to a few instances of putting the book down and not coming back to it for a few days. Highly recommend not just for YA- I frequently see it billed as YA fare - but for readers of all ages. ...more
This was my favorite book in the series yet. It seems that in each book Mercy has been more fully developed, and I feel like even the writing has imprThis was my favorite book in the series yet. It seems that in each book Mercy has been more fully developed, and I feel like even the writing has improved. Definitely dealt with some harder subject matter, but in a way that was meaningful instead of just for shock value. I'm looking forward to jumping into book 4....more
Interesting concept for a novel, but I think I would have enjoyed this much more as a younger reader. Still, I may pick up the next in the series to sInteresting concept for a novel, but I think I would have enjoyed this much more as a younger reader. Still, I may pick up the next in the series to see where it goes from here.
Good distopian fiction for younger readers, as it is not quite as dark as some can get, and is told through the eyes of a 12 year old boy....more
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