matched by ally condie (arc)

Written by Darlyn At Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Title: Matched
Author: Ally Condie
Pages: 366
Series: Matched#1
Published: November 30th, 2010
Rating: 3.5/5
Source: Won
Buy at: Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble


Summary (Goodreads):

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My Say:

This book is totally some books that I don't know how to feel. I have a mix feeling of it and have to admit that I'm quite frustrated because it doesn't work for me so much. Don't get me wrong. The idea of the story is very original since I never read anything like it before. I don't usually pick any dystopian novel until last January for The End of Marking Time, which I quite like it (maybe it's a thriller).

When I say it doesn't work for me, it's more related to my feeling of the world the author have created. I like the idea of being matched though. When I read first quarter of the book, it was so good that I'm totally hooked but it decreased my anticipation right before the middle of the story. I was like so suffocated to live in that world and I believe I would understand how stress the citizens of that future were in. The character of Cassia, I totally can't feel any connections with her, like something is lacking. She was intriguing, somehow sometimes I felt like she was asking too much of what the place would give. I know they have very limited freedom and kind of bounded with The Society, but just because of Ky appeared on the screen, she just wavered. Other than that, I totally can't understand why they can't write long hand and can't really recite poems too. But I like it when she and Ky recited one together. I found it very sweet. Condie should really explain it at least in a brief. I know it's in future or like not the same time as ours but, I can only accept 50% of that world she created.

Nonetheless, I'm glad I read the book. It's my first time reading a YA Romance Dystopian, feel quite impressed with the author writing style and plot. I did enjoy her passion of creating different world, a fresh spill of matching couples, different colour of pills with different purposes, human dies at 80 and so many things to explore. Even though this book has only an okay type development, I'm actually looking forward to read the sequel, Crossed. I hope to found who's Cassia's choice either Ky or Xander, but I really hope Xander. Personally, I think Ky is just a distraction (BOO!)

I will recommend it to whoever love Dystopians. It's a worth try to read something out of your comfort zone sometimes. But I totally love the book cover!

16 comments:

  1. Thanks for the great honest review; i've been on the fence over wether of not to read this one.

    Happy World Poetry Day!
    http://blackfingernailedreviews.blogspot.com/

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  2. Nice review! I have mostly read raving reviews of this book, so it was refreshing to read that you didn't like it as much! don't know if this is my type of book

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  3. Hi! I signed up for your awesome fantasy reading challenge! :)...Could you add me to the list? Also, I'd love to have you as a follower on my new book blog!

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  4. oh I am glad you reviewed this book. All I see are raves about it and it's nice to see an honest opinion. I love YA Dystopian genre, but the Hunger Games is my favorite.

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  5. i was thinking of reading this book but the lukewarm reviews are kinda keeping me from picking it up. great review :)

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  6. Hmm, I love reading reviews that are total opposite of mine. It lets me see what things I have missed.

    I always though the reason they couldn't have things from the past including poems is because it creates idealism, free thoughts. That the government only wants you to focus on what they want you too. Weird why I just assumed. Great catch.

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  7. I love dystopia :D So I guess that means it would be a good book for me too. Since it does sound good

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  8. I also had mixed feeling about this book and did not like it as well as I know many others did. I had trouble with the romance more than anything else and I didn't like how it ended, although I know there will be another book. Personally, I much preferred Delirium, which had some similar themes. Great review!

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  9. My cousin read this one and recommended it to me too. I've been reading lots of YA dystopia lately so will probably read this one soon.

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  10. Oooo I love dystopian and your review has me more curious about this book now. Great honest review!

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  11. I came from Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday.

    I saw this book for £7 or £8 on the supermarket shelf. After reading your review, I'm sooo glad I didn't buy it! :) Thank you for sharing!!

    Cherry Mischievous
    www.cherrymischievous.com

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  12. For some reason I can't explain, I'm not in the mood for YA books or dystopian ones even though I do like them.

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  13. Like you Darlyn, I feel kind of mixed about this book .. But I'm planning on reading Crossed anyway !!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog, it's really nice !! I really wanted to like The Body Finder .. so that makes me even more disappointed .. I'll definitely read something else by Kimberly Derting because I enjoyed her writing (but I don't think I'll read Desires of the Dead though).
    Happy reading Darlyn !!

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  14. Even though I've heard such mixed reviews about the book I still really like the sound of it. I still think I'm gonna give it a try but I'll keep your thoughts in mind.

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  15. Hi Darlyn.
    The reason they cannot write in long hand is because it cannot be monitored, so they quit teaching it. Ally does explain this in a kind of roundabout way. Everything on their pods is traced, everything they type, everything they send, it's all monitored. That's why she couldn't put the paper in her disposal at home, because it is scanned before it's destroyed to be sure it doesn't go against the Society. So if they taught people how to use long hand to communicate, think of all that they could learn and communicate against the Society's laws. That's the thing about Dystopians, you need to be able to pick apart and understand what is happening. In 90% of these types of books the government has either taken over complete control of its citizens lives or has crumbled completely. Here, it took over and they only allow what they deem "safe" having taken away all freedoms to keep peace and prosperity.

    Other than that, good review. I would recommend picking up other dystopians though so you can get a feel for what happens in this genre. Maybe something like "Hunger Games" or "Gone" that explains a little more what is happening.

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Thanks for the comments! XOXO ;p

 

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