Matched (Matched, #1) in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Nov 15, 2011 Valencia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, ebook, dystopia, 5-star

I've read some of the reviews of this book, and I can honestly say that with this type of book it doesn't matter where the author got the setting/government of the book it matters in the end the message trying to be conveyed! I don't know about you, but when I read a book I look for it's meaning. I look for the good in the story not reasons to complain. In some way/form/fashion every Dystopian world has some similarities. It doesn't matter how the author portrays it. The only thing that matters I've read some of the reviews of this book, and I can honestly say that with this type of book it doesn't matter where the author got the setting/government of the book it matters in the end the message trying to be conveyed! I don't know about you, but when I read a book I look for it's meaning. I look for the good in the story not reasons to complain. In some way/form/fashion every Dystopian world has some similarities. It doesn't matter how the author portrays it. The only thing that matters is the characters fighting for freedom and the revelations the character has along the path of gaining freedom.

Cassia is a girl who is basically going through the motions of life. In the beginning that is. She doesn't stand out. She doesn't have any super amazing skill. She's just....average. Until she has a reason to be anything but average. If everything seemed perfect to you what reason would you have to fight? It only takes one thing so perfect, wonderful, and beautiful in life to make you want to rebel and fight. When there's only one thing in life that you truly want but are unable to have, is when you will find the will to fight. And that is what happens to Cassia. She finds someone perfect, wonderful, and beautiful to her, but is denied her right to be with him. Yes Zander is perfect, kind, and handsome BUT he isn't right for her and she for him. The only reason that Zander is really hurt is because he has no reason to look for a deeper meaning behind their Match/love. I'm sure that if he looked he would find someone who holds his attraction like Cassia holds Ky's. I don't really see this book as having a love triangle, because everyone knows who has Cassia's heart right from the beginning. Zander is a wonderful friend. I could tell from the start that he wouldn't be anything more to her that a friend. The emotions and the intimacy just weren’t there. There was no growth in the relationship so I was fine with her falling for Ky. Ky has secrets. He had reasons to rebel, to fight. While Zander could possibly fight and cause changes, he was still no Ky. He lacked that passion.

I absolutely loved this story. I spoke volumes to me because it made me think of all the things in life that are set out for me to follow. Go to school. Get good grades. Go to college. Get a job. Get married. Tell my kids the same lines my parents told me. It's just a cycle. This book made me look past all that, and at everything beautiful in life. Everyone now days are only concerned with politics, governments, tragedies, and the like. How many of you stop and look at the trees and flowers and imagine a world where everything is burned to the ground? How many of you like at a group of rebelling teens and imagine a world without opinions or voice or freedom to express yourself. How many of you writers/painters/musician can imagine a world without your art? This is what I thought about while reading this story. Yes there's a lot of bad in this world. BUT there is also a lot of good. No matter how bad this world gets, I would never trade my art or my independence. This book reminds me that it's the little things that matter in life. The little things that give us purpose.
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Jul 29, 2014 Tien rated it liked it

Shelves: dystopia, young-adult, moving-mt-2015

I added this to my TBR because the person who recommended it saw some similarities with another book I like though except for that one particular thing, there wasn’t really much else. However, it’s funny how I kept getting flashes of other dystopian...

The novel opens with Cassia on the train, on her way to her Matching ceremony. I had in my mind of Katniss on her way to the Capital. The way she’s surrounded with all the glamour that is a contract with the drabness of real life. That’s all the re ...more

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Jul 12, 2019 coffee rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, romance, scifi

**spoiler alert**

It was a very interesting book that reminded me of something else that I had read before (No.6) It was hard to really get into but once things started rolling I became hooked.

I really like the whole concept about choices and thinking for ones self and the whole society that was built up was both scary and beautiful. People had their whole lives planned out for them: where you live, who you marry, how many kids you have, where you work, when you die, etc. While it is nice, it's ...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Debbie (Doc) rated it really liked it

Matched (Matched trilogy book 1) by Allie Condie
3 ½ stars rounded to 4

The old saying “Big brother is watching you” is definitely true in this dystopian novel. The officials – the government – oversees everything in this society. From preparing their meals, to determining who they marry are dictated by officials.
Book Cover

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 c ...more

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May 20, 2013 Connie N. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: first-in-series, young-adult, sci-fi

Surprisingly good considering this is totally out of my usual comfort zone. I was intrigued with the whole premise of a new world where everything is determined by statistics and predictions. All the big decisions, of course, are arranged (such as matching for your most perfect mate, what job you have depending on your skills) as well as all the little things (like what your meal and portion size should be, even predicting who will make it to the top of the hill first in hiking "class." There's ...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Michelle rated it liked it

Do you want to know what I find scary? It's not blood, gore, guts, veins in the teeth kinda stories. It's also not things that go bump in the night or jump out at you in a dark alley. What I find scary are stories about dystopian societies that have gone a bit cray-cray! Societies that have dissolved into something far more scarier than a ghost or a random dead body in an alleyway. The Society in this book is a bit frightening. Your ability to make any kind of choice for yourself has been taken ...more

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Nov 10, 2011 Sassafrass rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, z-2011

I thought that this was a great read. The story was interesting, I really came to care about the characters, and I didn't want it to end. I can't wait to read the next installment, but I would hate to be Cassia, she's got a hard decision to make. ...more

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Sep 20, 2013 Joi rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-read

This book was good. I enjoyed the plot and the world.

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Mar 13, 2012 Elle rated it really liked it

Shelves: boty-finalists, ya-fiction, dystopian

I love the quote on the back from Family Circle's review: "If you like a ton of romance with your totalitarian government, this book is for you!" So appropriate. It's like a cross between The Hunger Games and 1984. Yes...1984. I read classics. No really, I do...

I'm very glad I had the sequel handy. I have a feeling that this would be one of those books that would drive me crazy if I had to wait for the next book in the series. ...more

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Apr 21, 2012 Brindi Michele rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, audio-books, young-adult, series, dystopia-sci-fi

There were multiple (multiple!) times while listening to this audiobook that I just wanted to shut it off and put in something else. For some reason I was annoyed from the beginning....not sure if it was the character, the person reading, or the story line....just could not like this book. But, alas, I did not abandon it because I saw so many good reviews I felt I must stick it out. Definitely not worth it.

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