Dystopian – Page 6 – My Good Reads

‘Bumped’ – Megan McCafferty

Bumped

A virus has made everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, so teen girls have become a commodity as people will pay them to bear children. This was an interesting idea, but I never really felt as though I got any answers to how this virus came about.

Twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have led very different lives. Melody has secured a contract with a wealthy family to breed, while Harmony has spent her early years living in isolation in a rural religious community that believes surrogacy for profit is a sin.

When Harmony turns up on Melody’s doorstep it changes their lives completely. We learn the two sisters have more in common than they realised, but I read the whole book with a sense of detachment. I found the language and attitudes of the society distasteful, and wasn’t particularly impressed by the resolution.

‘Forget Tomorrow’ – Pintip Dunn

Forget Tomorrow

In this futuristic society once a person gets to their seventeenth birthday they are sent a vision – a memory sent from their future self, which is then used to help people make decisions in their present life. The context of the memory is not given, but it forms a crucial role in shaping the treatment someone receives from that point forwards.

Unfortunately, in Callie’s vision she sees herself murder her sister, Jessamine, and she is then imprisoned. With the help of family friend Logan, who is the somewhat inevitable love interest, Callie escapes and so begins the frantic race to change the course of the future.

As I was reading I was reminded of any number of science-fiction novels/films, but the story was just different enough to keep me interested. The interaction between the characters was interesting, but the thing that really got me curious to read the next instalment in the series was the ending. I did not see that coming!

Thank you to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.

‘The Selection’ – Kiera Cass

Originally published in 2012, ‘The Selection’ is the first in a series that has been amazingly popular. I’ve steered clear for reasons I’m a little embarrassed to admit – the pictures of frilly dresses on the cover and the focus on romance just haven’t appealed to me. Needing a book to fulfil the requirements of a reading challenge meant I decided to pick up this ARC from NetGalley that had been languishing on my Kindle and see what all the fuss was about.

The premise is straightforward. In America of the future – now named Illea – society is divided into eight castes. The Selection is, for want of a better word, a game-show where thirty-five chosen girls compete to win the love of Prince Maxon. Slowly the numbers are whittled down, until the new queen is chosen.

Our heroine, America Singer, comes from Five so she is used to being hungry and feeling out of place. She is in love with Aspen, a family friend, but he convinces her to sign up for the Selection as he’s embarrassed at not being able to provide for her. Make no mistake, we’re in very familiar territory here, and there’s a lot of similarities with a number of popular YA novels of recent years.

Though the idea behind the novel is drawn straight from some awful reality dating show, Cass portrays the girls and their shifting relationships so well. America is a likeable character, and Prince Maxon was a lot more interesting than he first appeared. Watching their relationship develop provided plenty of amusing moments, and it was interesting to watch the process at play. I’m keen to know what role the rebels will play in the rest of the story, and I think there’s an interesting story behind the queen. Much as I was rooting for the romance, I liked the reappearance of Aspen – who I felt should have just got over his pride – and wonder what that will come to signify for America.

Reading this was akin to the experience of eating Haagen-Daazs ice-cream…you know it’s not a healthy treat, thoroughly enjoy it while you’re in the moment and then hope nobody notices what you’ve done! I’m going to have to read the rest of the series to satisfy my curiosity about what happens next.

‘Matched’ – Ally Condie

In this series we see a society where everything is organised for you in an attempt to keep things effective. What you eat, where you live and work, who you marry and even when you die is organised for you. While this brings security, for me it felt claustrophobic and intensely stifling.

The majority of people who live around Cassia and her family accept these interventions in their lives without question. Some cannot reconcile themselves to a world without choice, but for our narrator this realisation is a long time coming!

Cassia has always been someone who follows the rules. She does what she is supposed to and doesn’t question the things that don’t feel quite right. Cassia has known Xander a long time, and they are good friends, so she is pleased when they are Matched (yes, they even sort your relationships for you). However, she then sees a brief glimpse of a second face – another person she knows – and this rouses her curiosity. Who is to say which of the two would be the better match? Why can’t she decide for herself?

What follows was a rather typical story of someone questioning the status quo. Cassia wants to rebel, but is worried about breaking out from the confines she lives within. The love triangle doesn’t really bother anyone, since Cassia can’t make her mind up what she wants for the majority of the novel. It felt like events were rather dragged out on occasion. I would have liked to know more of the past and how this society came into being.

It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the book, but I felt it could have been a lot more powerful.

‘The Program’ – Suzanne Young

A dystopian novel with a bit of a difference.

At this point in time we are led to believe that suicide has become an epidemic. We’re not told why – though it’s laid at the door of our dependence on anti-depressants – but with so many teenagers killing themselves, society has turned to The Program as a way of controlling this problem. Anyone under the age of 18 who shows signs of being depressed/uncertain or even experiencing excessive emotion (tell me if I’m missing something, but I thought that was the expected result of lots of hormones and someone lacking life experiences on which to draw) is enrolled into The Program.

Sloane and her boyfriend James have experienced their fair share of tragedy. Sloane’s brother killed himself, her best friend is taken away as she’s depressed, another friend kills himself and James eventually succumbs to his emotions. One by one, everyone she relies on and interacts with is removed, and it is perhaps inevitable that Sloane is taken into The Program.

The second part of the novel chronicles Sloane’s experiences, and it is here that we get our strongest hints that all is not quite what it seems. Sloane is never entirely sure who to trust, and what feelings are caused by the obscene amounts of drugs pumped into her during this process. She comes to trust Realm, who seems like one of the good guys, but even that isn’t quite as straightforward as we think.

The final part of the novel focuses on what happens when Sloane is returned home. She doesn’t quite feel as she’s meant to, and she has the opportunity to regain some of her memories. Her dilemma is whether it is worth it when those she shared the experiences with have no recollection of the events.
This reminded me a little of ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, though here the actions are placed firmly in the hands of the adults who believe they are acting in their children’ best interests.

The Epilogue really sets up our interest in what comes next. I can’t wait to find out where this goes.

‘The Last Star’ – Rick Yancey

Described by publishers as the final thrilling instalment in The 5th Wave series, but I was left feeling unsatisfied and found it quite a frustrating experience.

I’m so pleased that I had only recently read The Infinite Sea or it would have made even less sense to me.

In this novel, we are told that this is the final push to stop the Others ending humankind. While there were passages that I thought were really well written, and moments of real beauty, there was just so much that seemed to conflict with what had come before or that was simply confusing.

The survivors seemed to spend the novel playing a cat and mouse game that nobody really seemed to know the rules to. Random characters appeared, simply to develop the story, and this was so frustrating.

From some way off I had a feeling about what might happen. Full credit to Rick Yancey for not taking that option – which is where it is clearly signposted as heading – but the actual ending just didn’t work for me. Maybe it’s designed to offer a comment on humanity and our need to trust…but it just was not satisfying.

‘The Infinite Sea’ – Rick Yancey

The second book of The 5th Wave trilogy, and I have to say that I was expecting to see more of Cassie’s story. I was thrown a little by how much to the fore other characters were. The varying perspectives meant, at times, I felt it difficult to keep track of exactly what was happening and how everything linked. However, this doesn’t stop it from being a great read.

In spite of my personal desire to have certain elements given more importance, there was plenty of action to keep me reading.

Ringer was a character that I never felt we knew enough about in the first instalment, though I don’t think she was interesting enough to focus on her to the extent that we are forced to. Perhaps it’s part of a bigger plan, but I must admit to feeling somewhat uncertain about how certain characters fit into the grand scheme. The hints of what is to come do, however, make it sound like we’re in for an explosive finale. Now I just need to wait for my eldest son to finish the book before I can find out what will happen!

‘What’s Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles 1)’ – Kat Zhang

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

This is an intriguing idea, though I was not convinced from reviews I’d read that this would be a novel I’d find satisfying.

Initially I found the novel quite confusing. As a number of readers have commented, there’s a lack of detail to help explain why this world is as it is. However, there are some details given later on, and it’s strongly suggested that more answers will be given in part two of the series. On balance, this lack of detail doesn’t interfere with enjoyment of the story itself.

The creation of two distinct characters is handled well by Zhang. I felt deeply for both girls as they struggle to do something they’ve been brought up to believe is dangerous though it might bring them happiness. It doesn’t ruin the reading experience to know that there are some unscrupulous people who are running experiments on children like Addy, and that a lot of the novel is set in the clinic where these experiments are taking place.

Personally, I felt parts of the novel dragged but the pace picks up towards the end and brings us to a satisfying conclusion.

‘The 5th Wave’ – Rick Yancey

Aliens. Immediately people have certain ideas in their heads about what that means and how we’d react as a race if we were to see aliens come to earth. Yancey plays with that idea a little.

In this novel, aliens have been amongst us for thousands of years, watching us and learning about our race. They have developed a way of implanting their consciousness inside a human embryo. It then exists alongside the human when it is born, slowly assimilating. This idea is downright creepy, and I think the concept behind the waves of attack when they finally come is carefully set-up.

The aliens have a plan to eradicate the human race. The initial four waves of attack have culled the weakest, and so starts the fifth wave. Cue a brash action-packed novel.

From the outset I can see the movie appeal of this novel, and I found this an entertaining read for the most part. I loved the relationship that develops between Cassie and Evan, and think Cassie is a great main character. I’m not sure quite how credible some of the behaviours are from the younger characters in the novel, but my son – very much the target audience for this novel – justified this by saying that humans would have to adapt, and we never know what we’re capable of until we’re forced into that situation.

I felt that the way the narrative was told from different viewpoints was a good way to maintain an air of tension. As we slowly piece elements of the story together it becomes pretty nail-biting. Unfortunately it all felt a little predictable at times, but there’s no doubt about the fact that if you like this sort of thing you will enjoy it.

‘The Prey’ – Tom Isbell

In the start of a trilogy that seems perfectly suited to the big screen, ‘The Prey’ lands us in the Republic of the True America. Rumours abound of radiation sickness, Crazies and mutated animals that everyone is warned about. Sometimes, though, those closest to you are the ones to be most afraid of.

We are introduced to a number of characters, each with their own stories (some of which get developed). We meet Hope and Faith, twins on the run with their father. When he dies, he urges the girls to separate. What does he know that makes this the best choice? We meet Book, a studious boy who seems haunted by his past. There’s also Cat, a mysterious boy running from his own demons.

These characters end up together, where they hatch a daring plan to escape the danger from within the camps they are contained in.

If I’m being honest, this was full of exciting action though it had the sense of scenes written with an eye on movie rights being obtained. I liked the characters and there was enough focus on them developing to keep me engaged. My main gripe is that I cannot imagine that, having been through what they had endured during this book, they would willingly turn their backs on their chance of freedom in order to return from where they came in an attempt to rescue the others.