Book Review: 'Matched' by Ally Condie

Matched is a book that has been on my shelf for over a year; and I can't believe I have only just read it! I fell in love with the characters: Cassia, Ky and Xander, and was completely engrossed in the Society that they live in.

On her seventeenth birthday, Cassia meets her Match. Society dictates he is her perfect partner for life.

 

Except he's not.

 

In Cassia's society, Officials decide who people love.

How many children they have.

Where they work.

When they die.

 

But, as Cassia finds herself falling in love with another boy, she is determined to make some choices of her own.

 

And that's when her whole world begins to unravel.

 

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Matched has everything a perfect dystopia novel needs: a main character, Cassia, that you will be rooting for within every chapter, if not for her determination, but for the way everything comes back to the effect it will have on those she cares about, a love triangle that will have you changing your mind almost as many times as you turn the page of the book, a beautifully-written romance that will have you overcome with emotions and a Society that isn't as perfect as it would like you to think. As my first read of 2014, it set the standards high!

 

Ally Condie creates a world where you have no choices, where every decision is made for you by an over-controlling Society. The novel begins on the night of Cassia's Matching Ceremony, where she will see the boy that she will one day get married to and have children with - all when the Society says she can ,of course. Admittedly, Condie builds this world effortlessly, and you become completely immersed in it within pages. You can clearly see the character growth and how Cassia's mind changes about the world she lives in, going from the night she has been waiting for, to realising that she no longer wants that.  I adored the simplicity yet, beauty of the writing and the way poetry and stories were interwoven in the plot. You always had questions about the Society, wondering what they will do or if they would ever notice Cassia's Infractions, all of which allow you to see the cracks forming in the 'perfect' Society - yes, they may have a longer life-expectancy, yes, they may have banished Cancer, but who can make the decision of when you die? Who can just accept that?

 

Matched is a heart-racing and gripping read that I couldn't put down. It has various sub-plots , but you're never confused or thinking about something going on elsewhere. Cassia's personality captures your attention while her questions about who she loves keeps it there - there is a simplicity to the friendship that Cassia and Xander have always have, and how suddenly things change because of one decision, while there is a complexity to Ky that Cassia notices, and that intrigues the reader. The two love-interests are not just that, they have interesting personalities, and different feelings. As you may know, I'm not normally a fan of love-triangles, but I applaud the author for executing this with the right balance of romance and love, with a gritty, captivating plot to co-exist with that!

 

Cassia is one of my new favourite fictional females because of the way you see her, through the course of the novel, not instantly rebelling because she 'just wants to be with another boy.' Instead, she realises she should be able to make her own choices, and she slowly moves against the Society as she unravels the truth about the world she's trapped in but, has tried to fit into to. You are angry at the way someone has already predicted what Cassia will achieve, the way she has a certain amount of time in which she can socialise and the way there is always someone watching. Our protagonist doesn't start rebelling or becoming reckless, instead, it always comes back to protecting others.

 

The detail and thought that has gone into writing this novel is clear as it comes to it's climax, and that's both shocking and surreal. The only reason this is not a five-star is because of one slightly confusing plot-line that saw me have to flick back to re-read a few pages.  This novel is a must-read - and almost an insight to our future where we will have no choices of our own. I finished this book at 1am, and if that is not incentive to go and get yourself a copy, I don't know what is!

 

 

Ages 12+

I'm currently reading 'Crossed' and I think I can honestly say, this is one of my favourite series' out there!
By the way, I just noticed I have reached 40,000 PAGEVIEWS! This is such a surreal achievement for me, and I can't think you enough for reading my blog! :D

My Love/Hate Relationship with Love Triangles

A love-square in Stephenie Meyer's The Host

In Young Adult novels, one of the most popular aspects of a book is the Love Triangle. Lately, they seem to be everywhere. In most novels there is a type of triangle between the main characters and in general, I have a love/hate relationship with them. I don't know what it is, at times I love them, and am thrilled by the romance and excited about what could be coming next and who she/he will choose. Other times, I find them annoying to say the least and repetitive, as they seem to be in every book. When they're well-written, I find myself enjoying them but when I feel like they have just been thrown in, I don't know what to think.

 
Recently, I've been reading The Selection, which has one of my personal favourite love-triangles in, because it fits in with the plot and had me hanging on to every page. Not only that, I never thought there would be one. The love-triangle between Aspen, America and Maxon, is counted as treason so, not only is it romantic, it's fiery. My other favourite love-triangles are Alina, Quinn and Bea, which was completely different to the normal set-up, where there are two males and one female, where both are in love. With Alina, she never had clear feelings for Quinn, whereas Quinn fell for her and Bea still liked Quinn. The complicated route makes it unique and this is why I loved the journey of this triangle. Along with Katniss, Peeta and Gale from The Hunger Games- who I would never miss out and Chaol, Celaena and Dorian from Throne of Glass.

Other popular love-triangles are of course: Edward, Bella and Jacob(The Twilight Saga) and Will, Tessa and Jem(The Infernal Devices-which I am yet to read but have heard a huge amount about). I think it was Twilight that kicked-off the initial obsession with love-triangles.

Peeta, Katniss and Gale make up one of my favourite
 love-triangles

A reason I dislike love-triangles are when they seem to be just thrown into the plot. They're popular, they seem to be in most books, mostly I love them but there are other times when I feel like screaming out "Why is there another love-triangle?". When they are written well, plotted and perfected with characters I love, I tend to enjoy them. I spend hours on Twitter discussing it with Lucy - Chaol and Dorian, Aspen and Maxon, Gale and Peeta. They're fun to discuss but I feel they are over-used lately. Is it that I'm possibly getting bored by so many? I think that every book doesn't needs a love-triangle thrown in to be liked. My favourite books have a story outside of the love-triangle. Throne of Glass and The Hunger Games are perfect examples of this and I'm in love with both books.

But, one of the main reasons, my love/hate relationship exists is the 'Teams'. When it's not the writing that matters, or the way a book is plotted but which Team you are on. And then things can get mean. . Although, I am guilty of choosing a Team, and supporting them. I find it gives you a topic of conversation and someone to route for. I also always seem to fall for the character who doesn't get chosen and ends up with less than a happy ending.

One of the first love-triangles

On the plus side, I do have reasons for why I enjoy love-triangles. The discussions you can have, the excitement and build-up, and if it works up and the character you were routing for ends up 'winning' - it's perfect. It only sets out a heart-breaking ending. Who doesn't like a novel to move you so much you start crying? And the books with well-written love-triangles, have beautiful romances. When I read The Twilight Saga, I enjoyed the back-and-forth between Edward and Jacob(I was Team Jacob, like I said I always choose the wrong guy!)

'When I first started reading YA, I loved them. They pulled me in, they had me gripped to the book and I never knew what the outcome would be but now I feel a little bit tired. Sometimes it feels like they're used just for the hell of it and it won't actually add anything to the story." I feel exactly the same as Rebekah on this topic, expescially when she goes onto to say that it "makes all the difference when I read a love triangle that is done incredibly well". When they're written-well it's thrilling, and that's what a love-triangle is for right?

"Love triangles are just awkward, clumsy and can last a long-time" Is something I can partially agree on. They do last a long-time but I don't find them too awkward, more romantic.(Charlie)

What are your thoughts on book love-triangles?
Who make up your favourite triangles?

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

In a Palace full of rivals, only one can win His heart...
 

For thirty five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them in their Castes and be swept up into a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the Palace, and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. To become the 'One'.

The Selection (The SelectioBut, for America Singer, being part of the Selection is a nightmare. To her, it means turning her back on her secret lover Aspen, leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Being followed around by camera's and having her every step documented. Living in a palace tat is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

When America meets Maxon, all her plans start to crumble. Can the life she's always planned for herself, compare to a future she has never imagined? But this is a fierce competition, and the winner will become Queen.

Just look at the cover? It's beautiful! You really can judge a book by it's cover.

From the first page, you are introduced to the protagonist, America Singer and the future she lives in. Set in dystopia America, now called Illea, the society has been split into Castes based on what type of work you do. What I loved about America was how she was herself throughout the novel and how her character makes you want to read on. She may break her society's rules but she tries to do everything in her family's interest, or somebody's close to her. America is a 'Five', one of the lower castes in the system that goes to 'Eight'. Her caste means she is a performer and, just like her name, sings and is fluent in many different instruments. She grew throughout the competition and made friends, got a stronger personality and despite being confused about her feelings, she was trying. America was completely relatable: She's indecisive, yes, but kind, caring and strong. Who can't help but want to read about her? Maybe it was the way she never wanted to be a part of everything, but just had to accept it-that made me like her so much.

There was quite a wide cast of characters, from America's family to the other Selected girls and the monarchy. There are a few girls that the author really focuses on and I loved how you could also get to know a little about them. There are girls you instantly can't stand and you can clearly see how they manipulate people while others you are secretly rooting for. Prince Maxon, was always very open about his feelings, and you could just see he wanted a confidant. He was gentle, compassionate but wise. Although the Prince, he has his moments which made him real. His fear of crying-girls added humour to both the book and himself which I just loved.I was supporting his character the whole way through.

The scenes are beautifully described and breath-taking whilst the writing keeps you gripped. I couldn't stop turning the pages and never wanted it to end. Personalities grew and so did relationships. I was captivate from start-to-end in this complicated future. The Selection has been noted 'The Hunger Games' meets 'The Bachelor' and as I've read/watched both of these, I agree it has some aspects but can completely stand on it's own. It was perfectly-plotted with a fairytale style and settings I adored.. The realistic emotions and feelings, the twists in the plot, the way it is paced, everything.

 

There was also a love-triangle fitted into this plot as well as the competition itself. This novel was packed with a bit of everything. It's world you can only dream of as a child, but it has it's hidden secrets. It makes you ask questions you want the answers to and one thing you realise is that it's not just the girls that have their own secrets. As for the love-triangle, I'm not normally a huge fan, but this was well-written and unique, exciting and fiery. It's treason - what are they doing? It also left some exciting idea's for the sequel, which, with the rebels only getting closer, the build up will make this a series to watch. This is the type of book that will keep you up until 2am just to finish it, and will have you jaw-dropped and jumping with joy all in one. I felt this could be getting drawn out slightly too long, as I wanted a stand-alone that let you find out who would become the 'One'. For ages 12+ - ****

 

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Who's excited for The Elite, out in 17 days?