January 2021 BOTM - Matched by Ally Condie

[Ann T, Adult Moderator]

Our Group Read for January was voted on and Matched by Ally Condie was the winner. Grab your copy, read, and join in the discussion of the book, happening here. Enjoy the beginning of the New Year.

[Allyson, Group Moderator]

Yay!! I can't wait until my copy comes in!! 😃

[alvie]

Yes!! This is a great clean read. I’ll see if I can pick up a copy at our local used bookstore!!

[sumayyah]

I don't think I'll be joining as I realized it would be a love triangle and I just don't like those very much or I have to be in the mood, which I am not. Have fun everyone!

[Elisabeth aka Elsie(Taylor's version)]

I don’t like love triangles as well, but I’ll give it a try;)

[Mia]

sumayyah wrote: "I don't think I'll be joining as I realized it would be a love triangle and I just don't like those very much or I have to be in the mood, which I am not. Have fun everyone!"

I agree, I can't bring myself to read romances either for the same reason 🙈 It isn't at the library or anything, so if I read it, I'll have to commit and buy it. We'll see!

[alvie]

100% agree about the love triangles. They get old after a while 😂

[Ann T, Adult Moderator]

I am a sucker for book series so I will start it and see where it goes. Just a question for those with the love triangle aspect... aren't we already reading a love triangle with The Ascendance Series (Jaron, Amarinda, Imogen, Tobias). While understanding the triangle has been resolved, just want your thoughts.

My other comment is, while I don't know who voted for what in our poll, most of our members who did vote are also the ones that comment the most. So how did this book get the highest votes especially after comments above. I am just curious.

[Mia]

Ann T wrote: "I am a sucker for book series so I will start it and see where it goes. Just a question for those with the love triangle aspect... aren't we already reading a love triangle with The Ascendance Seri..."

I'm personally not 100% opposed to love triangles, but I'm not a huge fan when they're the main focus / plot of the book! The main focus for Ascendance seems to be in Jaron, and Imogen wasn't that involved until book three. I dont know about anyone else, but hey :)

I'm not sure for the voting - there were 4 people to vote for Matched, with 3 for a few others, so I suppose it was an almost even vote 🤷‍♀️

[Allyson, Group Moderator]

I know what y'all are saying about the love triangle thing. While I won't let that stop me from reading a book it's not my favorite thing to read about. If you can look past that, however, these books are amazing!!

That is a very interesting point, Ann. I didn't vote for this book as I just recently read it but since it won I will be reading it again.

[Mia]

Yes, don’t get me wrong I didn’t vote for it either but I’m more than happy to give new things a go!
The only way I can read is by buying it (likely on kindle for £4.99) as it isn’t at my library - does anyone know any other websites or ways to read it that will cost less?? (Non-dodgy ways that is 😂)

Id like to read it and try it out but am not sure if I want to commit to buying it!!

[Allyson, Group Moderator]

Mia wrote: "Yes, don’t get me wrong I didn’t vote for it either but I’m more than happy to give new things a go!
The only way I can read is by buying it (likely on kindle for £4.99) as it isn’t at my library ..."

Do you like to listen to audiobooks? I have a free app called Libby and that's how I'm going to get my copy and listen to it.

[Mia]

Allyson wrote: "Mia wrote: "Yes, don’t get me wrong I didn’t vote for it either but I’m more than happy to give new things a go!
The only way I can read is by buying it (likely on kindle for £4.99) as it isn’t at..."

I have Libby, but I think it might be based on the library you're set up with - I dont have any format of Matched on there :((
Could I listen on Youtube or is that (kind of) illegal? 😂

[Ann T, Adult Moderator]

YouTube is a public domain so I think it would be legal and you are safe in that respect. No officers will come knocking on your door in the middle of night. Unless they want to listen in too. ;)

[Mia]

Ann T wrote: "YouTube is a public domain so I think it would be legal and you are safe in that respect. No officers will come knocking on your door in the middle of night. Unless they want to listen in too. ;)"

Haha I'd like to see that 😂

Update on the situation - the one on youtube I think is some sort of lesson? She keeps stopping to discuss the meaning of each extract. I think I'll have to get it on Kindle, but will wait until you've all started to make sure it's worth it :)

[Allyson, Group Moderator]

What a bummer, Mia!
Haha!! 😂 That would the funniest thing!!

[sumayyah]

Ann T wrote: "I am a sucker for book series so I will start it and see where it goes. Just a question for those with the love triangle aspect... aren't we already reading a love triangle with The Ascendance Seri..."

You make a valid point Ann. I agree with Mia on this one though, the ascendance trilogy one didn't bother me as much because it wasn't the main focus. So I would normally read this regardless of the love triangle but the thing is that I read the synopsis and saw that the main character is literally trying to choose between two guys and... that just isn't appealing at the moment. But maybe I'll get it anyways since my moods are swinging. As for the poll, well I'm not sure who voted for this one but it wasn't me xD

[sumayyah]

Mia wrote: "Ann T wrote: "YouTube is a public domain so I think it would be legal and you are safe in that respect. No officers will come knocking on your door in the middle of night. Unless they want to liste..."

The only way I know is by searching up the book name plus PDF but that may or may not be legal...heh

So, in other words, I got zilch, all the best in your search!

[alvie]

Yeah. Books centered solely on romance always bug me, but the last book in this trilogy was a nice little break from that in my opinion. :)

[ClaraBelle]

I won’t be reading this BOTM as it’s not my cup of tea. But happy new year to y’all!

[[deleted user]]

Oo I loved this book when I read it! I hope y'all enjoy it!

[Elisabeth aka Elsie(Taylor's version)]

I’m starting it today, I hope I like it too!

[Ann T, Adult Moderator]

Started last night and in about 100 pages this morning. It has a The Giver feel to it. Anyone else think this?

[Elisabeth aka Elsie(Taylor's version)]

Oh yes! That was one of the first things I thought when I started reading it. But it still intrigued me.

[Allyson, Group Moderator]

I sadly haven't read The Giver yet so I wouldn't know.

[Elisabeth aka Elsie(Taylor's version)]

You should read it! It’s definitely worth it! It also has a movie which I liked as much as the book.

[Ann T, Adult Moderator]

Allyson wrote: "I sadly haven't read The Giver yet so I wouldn't know."

The Giver series is AMAZING!!! I will be rereading it this year.

[Mia]

Ooh I might add that to my list and see if I can get ahold of it! Is matched any good so far? Still keeping an eye out for if I should buy it 😂

[Allyson, Group Moderator]

Is The Giver in the series with Number the Stars? I loved that book!! 😍

[Elisabeth aka Elsie(Taylor's version)]

I haven’t read much, maybe near 15% but it really intrigued me that far... I think the writing is very beautiful.

[Allyson, Group Moderator]

I'm finishing another book today and then I'll probably read this book next! 😄

[Elisabeth aka Elsie(Taylor's version)]

I think Number The Stars is not from the giver series though I didn’t read the rest because they aren’t published in my country but as much as I know, they’re more like standalones, I mean, the world and the setting is the same but the characters are different... I may be mistaken though, as I said, I haven’t read them still.

[Ann T, Adult Moderator]

Allyson wrote: "Is The Giver in the series with Number the Stars? I loved that book!! 😍"

No. The Giver series includes The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son. It is based in an Utopia world, very similar to Matched so far.

[Allyson, Group Moderator]

Okay! I'll have to read that series soon then! 😃

[Ann T, Adult Moderator]

I am a researcher of books when other works of art are mentioned. Here are some links to the poems and art:

Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas: https://poets.org/poem/do-not-go-gent...

Crossing the Bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson: https://poets.org/poem/crossing-bar

Chasm of The Colorado by Thomas Moran:

[Allyson, Group Moderator]

Wow!! Thanks so much, Ann! 😃 That's really cool!

[sumayyah]

Elisabeth wrote: "You should read it! It’s definitely worth it! It also has a movie which I liked as much as the book."

Really?? I couldn't stand that movie or the acting 😓

[Mia]

Elisabeth said it's going really well so I think I might give it a go! I think I'll try the free trial of audible and cancel it after listening to the book😄

[Elisabeth aka Elsie(Taylor's version)]

Good idea!😄

[Allyson, Group Moderator]

That's great, Mia!! 😄

[Mia]

Elisabeth wrote: "Good idea!😄"

So I'm about chapter 7 now (listening on 1.6 speed to get through it a bit faster haha) and it's not bad. It seems to be mainly world building so far so not lots of plot yet, but I don't mind as it's still so close to the start. The world itself seems kind of your typical dystopia, and I don't love the voice of the audiobook 😂

I've seen quite a few people have started - what do you all think so far? (or anyone that's read it already haha)

[[deleted user]]

Personally I liked it a lot!

[Allyson, Group Moderator]

I thought the first half was so boring that I had it turned up to at least 2.5. 😂 But after the first half it got amazingly good!! I hope to read it a little slower the second time.

[Mia]

2.5?? You must be superhuman 😂😂

[Mia]

Also, I finished it yesterday and thought it was okay - relatively predictable being a dystopian but an easy read all the same. not bad 🤷‍♀️

[Elisabeth aka Elsie(Taylor's version)]

I want to finish it today, maybe since I read almost only fantasy and dystopian, this book was something like a break from the action and tension, and is very comfortable to me, but one of the things I loved from the beginning of the book was the relationship between the main character and her family. At first I was like, WAIT she has TWO parents? Even a brother? Like, in most of the YA books, the main character’s parents are either dead or they’re just some jerks who doesn’t care about their children.

[Mia]

Elisabeth wrote: "I want to finish it today, maybe since I read almost only fantasy and dystopian, this book was something like a break from the action and tension, and is very comfortable to me, but one of the thin..."

Haha I agree, seeing a full family was so strange!! 😂 but yes, it was actually a break from so much tension and violence too

[Cassia]

I loved this book, I read it for the first time around 4 years ago, and haven't reread it in a while, so I am going to give it a go and see what I think now.
From what I remember though the whole love triangle thing was not even that much of a storyline?

[Cassia]

Is anyone going to give the 2nd and 3rd ones a chance?

[Mia]

Cassia wrote: "I loved this book, I read it for the first time around 4 years ago, and haven't reread it in a while, so I am going to give it a go and see what I think now.
From what I remember though the whole ..."

Yes!! I 100% agree, that was the main issue I had with it - she didnt need to go for ky as she already loved xandar so it felt a little needless with no direction until the end 🤷‍♀️