Review Time!! Gone by Michael Grant

(From Goodreads)

In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

Initial Thoughts:

• This was a bit of a slow start for me, and it took me much longer to finish than my norm. 
• I found some of things rather cheesy and it made it hard to read.
• The whole no adults in the world now what's going to happen has been told many times so I was worried it would be boring.

Things I Liked:

• I really enjoyed the different character perspectives in this book! Sometimes that can be very overwhelming, but it totally worked here. Being able to see the story from different characters eyes allowed me to understand what was going on in the entire city. There are some moments when the main protagonist are not in the city and so it would have been very frustrating to just not know what was happening there.
• The writing style did take me awhile to get into, but in the end I enjoyed it. Michael Grant has a certain way of writing that makes you feel like it's a movie. He gives a lot of kind of aerial views of Perdido Beach and the different settings that felt cinematic to me. It was very different from the types of things I have been reading this year! Also each chapter is labeled by a countdown of hours and that was a total anticipation builder while reading.
• Sam, the male protagonist, was a sweetheart. I like that he was an natural hero/leader who really just wanted to be a normal kid freaking out with the rest of them. He grew so much throughout the book  and I was cheering him on the whole way. Overall, the all character development in this book was awesome, and that is saying something considering the amount of characters we meet!

Some Criticisms:

• I mentioned this in my initial thought, and it was kind of a big thing for me. Sometimes things just felt sooooo cheesy. The name of the small town where this story takes place is Perdido Beach. "Perdido" translated from Spanish means lost. The antagonist of the story being named Cain, the girl who devotes herself to taking care of the little kids being named Mary, I just thought it was cheesy. More than anything it made me role my eyes. Still, I get how for some this could be really cool. 
• Kind of related to what I just said there is this scene in the beginning of the book where Sam is describing the town. Basically your getting a kind of tour and it was like oh there's the school, the grocery store, the beach, oh yeah and the nuclear power plant..anyway. Another moment that made me role my eyes in this book because it just felt so cheesy to me. Again these are just small things I didn't like, but you might be into.
• Last thing I feel is worth mentioning! I went into this book knowing it's a long series. There are five more books and they all all equally long. If your not the kind of person who likes a long drawn out  then this might not be the series you want to get into. It's a long story and this book is a lot about character exploration so it is legitimately drawn out!

Overall:

I really enjoyed this book! I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. The cheesy bits did make it loose a star, but I fully plan on continuing on with this series. I'm excited to watch these character's and this world develop. Hopefully in the end we get some answers for all these burning questions.

Review Time: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart tells two overlapping, intertwining stories, both of which center around Okonkwo, a “strong man” of an Ibo village in Nigeria. The first of these stories traces Okonkwo's fall from grace with the tribal world in which he lives, and in its classical purity of line and economical beauty it provides us with a powerful fable about the immemorial conflict between the individual and society. 

The second story, which is as modern as the first is ancient, and which elevates the book to a tragic plane, concerns the clash of cultures and the destruction of Okonkwo's world through the arrival of aggressive, proselytizing European missionaries. These twin dramas are perfectly harmonized, and they are modulated by an awareness capable of encompassing at once the life of nature, human history, and the mysterious compulsions of the soul.

Things Fall Apart is the most illuminating and permanent monument we have to the modern African experience as seen from within

                                       Rating: 3 Stars

I had been wanting to read this book for quite awhile. A professor had suggested it, saying it was a great piece of African Literature. It took awhile, but I finally managed to pick it up. I really went into this book not knowing what to expect. The setting and writing style were so different than what I'm used to. Overall, it was a difficult and often confusing read. 

The main character in this story is named Okonkwo, one of the hot shot ex wrestlers from the village. He prides himself on being a strong self made man. Through his beliefs and values we are able to be introduced to those of the village. This man is is filled with pride and full of expectations for his young sons. 

To back track a bit, there are some things to be aware of in this novel. There is no sugar coating the customs of the village. They have multiple wives, who they beat. Women are expected to serve and not speak. They believe in many gods and perform blood sacrifices to them, both human and animal. It is a completely different world from the one we live in. 

The pacing of this novel was slow. It was hard for me to get into it, and keep reading. There were so many disgusting depictions of women in this society that I almost stopped reading it multiple times. It was especially difficult to accept the way women were so casually beat. 

The story itself depicts both Okonkwo's fall from grace and the arrival of missionaries in the village. It becomes, in three end, a story of how old ways can change. As things get worse and worse for Okonkwo, I actually began to feel sorry for him and the village.

It was interesting to see how even though I hated the customs of this village, I still hated to watch them being torn away. The author certainly proves a point in his depiction of this cultures fall. 

In the end I decided to gives this book 3 out of 5 stars. It was very slow, difficult to follow, and even more difficult to enjoy. Still, I recommend this book to any open minded souls. I think it is an important book, and I'm glad I read it.

Review Time!! Messenger by Lois Lowry

For the past six years, Matty has lived in Village and flourished under the guidance of Seer, a blind man, known for his special sight. Village was a place that welcomed newcomers, but something sinister has seeped into Village and the people have voted to close it to outsiders. Matty has been invaluable as a messenger. Now he must make one last journey through the treacherous forest with his only weapon, a power he unexpectedly discovers within himself.


                                   Rating: 5 Stars 

Oh goodness...prepare for the gushing! Warning there is no way to make this without Giver or Gathering Blue spoilers so don't read this is if you haven't read those. 

Right off the bat, this is a really fun book for fans of this series. This one is told through the eyes of Matty. Matty has really changed since his days in the Fen (rough neighborhood from Gathering Blue). He now lives with Seer (Kira's father) and is a messenger for the community. One of the few people who can travel into Forest, Matty is still pretty fierce.

I LOVED getting to see Matty's growth in this novel. I enjoyed reading about his experience becoming apart of this community. Another character I enjoyed getting to know better is Seer. We get so little of him in Gathering Blue and I was so happy to learn more. Possibly the most exciting thing about this book is Jonas. It's hard to describe how happy I was to learn about his important role in this community and how he has learned and grown. 

Compared to Gathering Blue I felt like the pacing of this book was fast. The plot was organized in a way that always kept me guessing and waiting for more! This was a re read for me, but I seemed to have remembered very little. Very often I caught myself gasping or crying. 

I won't spoil the ending for you, but OMG OMG OMG. That's all I'll say...

Highly recommend this one for readers of The Giver and Gathering Blue. It was amazing, 5 stars, so amazing!

Review Time!! Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

In her strongest work to date, Lois Lowry once again creates a mysterious but plausible future world. It is a society ruled by savagery and deceit that shuns and discards the weak. Left orphaned and physically flawed, young Kira faces a frightening, uncertain future. Blessed with an almost magical talent that keeps her alive, she struggles with ever broadening responsibilities in her quest for truth, discovering things that will change her life forever.

As she did in The Giver, Lowry challenges readers to imagine what our world could become, and what will be considered valuable. Every reader will be taken by Kira's plight and will long ponder her haunting world and the hope for the future.

                                                                     Rating: 5 Stars   

                        

Being born with a twisted leg, Kira, should not have been allowed to live. In this harsh distopian society the injured, disabled, and old are not allowed. If you are of not use to the society then you have no right to live. A startling contrast to it's previous companion novel, The Giver, Lois Lowry dives into the darkest parts of humanity.

This is probably the 5th time I re-read this book. Kira is one of my favorite female protagonist. She is a strong, independent, no frills female lead. Her narration is simple and honest.

The supporting characters in this story are equally enjoyable. Matt is the embodiment of every reckless little boy you love. His presence is the story allows us to see the compassionate side of Kira. Even in the horrible cruelty they exist in these characters still have moments of joy.

What I love about Lois Lowry's writing is how vague she is. Giving just enough detail and then leaving the rest to my imagination. Really it's one of those love it or hate it qualities, but for me it works. This style let's me have a wonderfully interactive reading experience. I can see the society for its brutality, and enhance it to my own specific fears.

There are plenty of distopian novels now a days, but you can't claim to understand harshness until you read Gathering Blue. Simple and thought provoking. I HIGHLY recommend this book to readers of The Giver. It's filled with lovely little hints to everyone's future.

Review Time: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

This was a reread for me.  It was wonderful to experience this book for the second time. My rereading of it did not, in anyway, affect the emotions that come along with reading this book. I still found myself shocked, and in tears through certain passages. Never has a book so rightfully earned its 5 stars on Goodreads.

The Giver is set in a Utopian world. Different from the distopian novels that are so popular in the YA world today, . The main character Jonas is intelligent and curious. In this world children receive their job assignments when they are 12 years old. When Jonas is selected as the communities new Receiver, he is unsure what to expect.
This story is set in an exquisitely well crafted society. Lowry leaves no stone unturned when describing the way food, family, and jobs are handled in her world. Lowry uses her "perfect" world to explain how control and safety can also mean sacrifices. Choices are nonexistent, neither are feelings. Jonas, the main character, takes us on a fascinating journey to find out what this means for humanity. How important are feelings like anger and love? Are they more important than safety, and comfort? 

The Giver is a must read for everyone. It stands strong as one of my favorite books of all time, and for good reasons. It forces the reader to question the world around them. Thought provoking does not even begin to describe it.