Monday

Review: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The Knife of Never Letting Go was a book I had been admiring for months - and one day, it seemed the wait got the better of me and I finally picked it up.

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown.
 
But, Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in a constant, over-whelming, never-ending Noise. This a place where there are no Women, just men. There is no privacy. There are no secrets.
 
Or are there?
 
Just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man, he stumbles over something impossible. Noise. Prentisstown has been lying to him and now he has to run. Coming across the first girl he's seen in his life, there is soon an army against them.
 
The Knife of Never Letting Go is a heart-pounding, action-packed and heart-breaking beginning to the Chaos Walking Trilogy. A read that will hold your attention to the very end, and keep you thinking about it's messages. I just loved this book, and the ending left me speechless.
 
Told through the eyes of Todd Hewitt, this book explores so many issue's around the idea of growing up and introduces you to a complicated world where the truth is what makes you a man. Prentisstown, where this novel is set, is on New World. The idea of the 'Noise' and a place where you can constantly hear men's thoughts is so unique and interesting and at first glance, it seems there are no secrets. As the first few chapters go by, you are thrown straight into a novel where the author keeps your attention by never letting Todd share with you the truth. I mean, the concept of this book is good enough to keep you reading. What if everybody could hear you thoughts in a mess of Noise? What If you thought there were no secrets? And what is your world completely changed, when you discovered something impossible?
 
It also has a really unique writing style, that makes Todd's character much more realistic and believable.
 
Todd was a fantastic protagonist.  Everything he has known is destroyed for him in a matter of minutes. I completely loved his dry sense of humour. The Knife of Never Letting Go becomes the perfect title, as he finds himself stumbling on the route to becoming a man. He stumbles, he's not perfect, and that's where you can relate to him. Viola is the first girl that Todd ever see's himself, and I think their relationship was one of the best to see grow. Viola is a new settler: person making their way to New World to find a better life and her parents are dead. She was someone your routing for, and can completely understand.
 
From detailed and descriptive world-building- you can just slip back into this world. It constantly seemed the people trying to catch Todd were immortal. They kept coming back, no matter what, and I found myself reading through gritted teeth at many times, as I grew to love Todd, Viola and Manchee, when in the end all you want them to do is have a happy ending. Manchee is the best talking dog you will ever discover in book. He sets the book up within the first few sentences:

 "Need a poo Todd"
"Shut up, Manchee"
"Poo. Poo, Todd"
"I said shut it"
 
A talking dog so loveable it adds a type of light-hearted fun over a serious book.  I really doubt anyone will be able to get through this book without finding tears are streaming down their face. There were moments when your heart was pounding, or you took a sudden intake of breath.
 
This was an impossibly good book. My only comment is that I felt Aaron and Mr Prentiss seemed to survive too much and made that a little unrealistic. I really did find myself lost for words when I finished this one. This is a must-read.
 
Rating 4.5
 
By the way, thank you for helping my celebrate my Blogoversary! I will be holding the final giveaway tomorrow. In the meantime, check out the week's posts and enter the first two.

3 comments:

  1. I'm reading this at the moment! I love Manchee ;)

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  2. Awesome Review Sophie! I've heard endless applause for this book and your review made me want to run to my nearest store and buy it. The plot has so much potentional and I'm really glad it did not dissapoint. A talking dog with a sense of humour, could it get any better lol haha.

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  3. yay awesome review! you just convinced me to read it! i kept seeing it in the library but i never knew whether to get it out! now i will. :)

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Sophie Louise