YA Apocalyptic and Dystopian Fiction discussion

Post your thoughts and feelings about our current monthly read, Matched!
Beware, there will be spoilers!

I actually started this a little early, I have a lot going on this month. But I was able to finish this over the weekend.

Anyway, I have to say this book was...cute.
Not entirely gripping; you know that feeling when you're at work, or in class, and all you can think about is when you can sit and loose yourself in whatever you're reading? Yeah, never felt that.

I did, however, appreciate that way the author wrote this book. She has a gift with words and making phrases come to life...makes you step back and say "Yes! I see!"

Not unhappy I read it but I don't feel like I've lost any portion of my life, either.

Ashley wrote: "I actually started this a little early, I have a lot going on this month. But I was able to finish this over the weekend.

Anyway, I have to say this book was...cute.
Not entirely gripping; you..."

I felt the same way when I read it. It didn't keep me up at night, but I didn't dislike it. I just can't put my finger on what was missing that made it forgetful for me. Maybe the lack of action? I'm not sure, but I actually got most excited at the end of the book...lol. I have a feeling that the second book will be much more gripping than the first.

I read this book a long time ago, but I'm re-reading it now! It again surprises me how amazing it is. It's not "hunger-games-amazing", but it's still very good. I felt that it was a bit slow in the middle, but after you got past that chunk it was insanely good. I don't think that it was "cute". I thought it was intriguing, and interesting.

I'm halfway through the book now and while I agree that it is not nearly as entertaining as the Hunger Games - it has me intrigued enough to keep on reading. Good to kow that it picks up toward the the end!

So far I feel like I don't enough about Xander and Cassie's relationship, that makes them "best friends". His character is very bland to me which is maybe why I'm rooting for Ky.

I believe that the author wants you rooting for Ky, instead of Xander. And that this is why she doesn't go deeper into his character.

I read this a while ago and I wasn't impressed. I thought the Cassia was somewhat weak, too accepting of her culture until the end. A few other things bothered me too, as Gracie said, she's a little too quick to ditch Xander. I felt the timing or plotting could've been fixed too. I know Cassia is excited/nervous about the matching ceremony, but she doesn't have a thought for her grandfather until the next day, even though he's going to die soon? I think that would be nagging at me just a little bit.

Another rule of writing is don't use a mirror to describe how your character looks. What does Cassia do? Look in a compact. And considering right before I read this, I read the Giver by Lois Lowery, I think the author must have before she wrote this because the worlds were very similar.

I didn't find this concept or the characters original enough that I will pursue reading the subsequent books. I might read something else by Allie Condie in the future because her writing was lovely.

Maybe the sequel?

This book had been recommended to me by many of my friend who know I enjoy this type of book, however Matched just didn't really seen to hit the mark for me... I'm wondering if it is targetted at a younger 'young adult' audience (14-15 year olds) as opposed to the likes of hunger games and gone etc which are for the older 'young adult' audience. I was just left feeling a little underwhelmed. For me it didn't meet the hype that it received.

I read this quite awhile ago and I guess I didn't really think it was that great or I'd remember a whole lot more about it! I do agree with Leah who said it seemed to be targeted to a younger YA audience. I also remember it being a little slow and boring. I do want to finish the series because I'll read any of this type of book I can get my hands on and I also didn't find it terrible, just not really that memorable.

Based on the plot description, I understood going into this that a great deal of the story would revolve around a love triangle. However, I was sad to see that it did not have much else. I would have been interested to see a bit more in terms of world building and character development (especially of her family since they didn't seem like real people to me).

It felt a bit like a rip off of The Giver at first, to me. Seemingly Utopian society, one tiny misstep sends a kid seeing how it's really all EVIL and BAD. I also found it a bit rushed that Cassia went from "OMG! I got matched with Xander!" To, "Wait, I saw Ky's picture, now he's all intruiging to me". I did enjoy it, though, and I am looking forward to reading Crossed. It was a sort of interesting commentary on free will and the choices one makes and how they can be influenced without one ever knowing it.

I am currently reading this, about halfway through. I will return for a review! :) So far I like it quite a bit. The rules of the society irritate the heck out of me I'll say that much!

Michelle wrote: "I am currently reading this, about halfway through. I will return for a review! :) So far I like it quite a bit. The rules of the society irritate the heck out of me I'll say that much!"

Just finished this the other night and have started on the second book in the series! Can't wait to see which book is picked for December!