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chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement and Suicide
Minor: Murder, Pregnancy, and Deportation
mitta_girl452's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I just finished re-reading this book after I read it when I was maybe 11 or 12?
It's good book with a unique idea and setting that is really timeless.
This book is very interesting with is dialogue about emotion, pain and choice in feeling. It talks about how pain, sadness and anger - all those 'bad' emotions - and happiness, love and joy, - all the 'good' emotions - are intertwined and cannot be separated. There is no way to feel only the 'good' or 'bad' emotions. If you have emotions, you have to feel both.
The people in this community, they don't feel anything, their emotions are dulled, their relationships unfulfilling, but they have no way of knowing that, because they have nothing to compare it to.
For everyone, emotion is something that is so core to us, it is our drive and gives us reasoning and motivation to do things. This community don't have that, and it's very interesting to compare them and the way they live to modern society.
Also brought up is choice. People in this society don't have serious choices. They can't choose their jobs, or their spouses or even their children. Everything is given to them, and they take what they get. Jonas chooses to have choice, but this comes at the cost of the stability, peacefulness and ease of his previous life. This fits alongside modern discussions of free will and responsibility of actions.
Some things I think this book could improve on is length. This book is rather short, and if it was longer, characters could be more fleshed out and developed. Characters like Rosemary, who we barely learn about, could be expanded on, and we could see the actual impact of her actions.
Jonas needs more time to decide he wants to defy the Elders and change the life the people of the community live. When I read about him deciding to do that, it didn't make sense to me, as he didn't really seem to have much reason or motivation to do it.
But that is my only real issue with this book. Other than that, this book is a timeless classic that I would definitely recommend.
It's good book with a unique idea and setting that is really timeless.
This book is very interesting with is dialogue about emotion, pain and choice in feeling. It talks about how pain, sadness and anger - all those 'bad' emotions - and happiness, love and joy, - all the 'good' emotions - are intertwined and cannot be separated. There is no way to feel only the 'good' or 'bad' emotions. If you have emotions, you have to feel both.
The people in this community, they don't feel anything, their emotions are dulled, their relationships unfulfilling, but they have no way of knowing that, because they have nothing to compare it to.
For everyone, emotion is something that is so core to us, it is our drive and gives us reasoning and motivation to do things. This community don't have that, and it's very interesting to compare them and the way they live to modern society.
Also brought up is choice. People in this society don't have serious choices. They can't choose their jobs, or their spouses or even their children. Everything is given to them, and they take what they get. Jonas chooses to have choice, but this comes at the cost of the stability, peacefulness and ease of his previous life. This fits alongside modern discussions of free will and responsibility of actions.
Some things I think this book could improve on is length. This book is rather short, and if it was longer, characters could be more fleshed out and developed. Characters like Rosemary, who we barely learn about, could be expanded on, and we could see the actual impact of her actions.
Jonas needs more time to decide he wants to defy the Elders and change the life the people of the community live. When I read about him deciding to do that, it didn't make sense to me, as he didn't really seem to have much reason or motivation to do it.
But that is my only real issue with this book. Other than that, this book is a timeless classic that I would definitely recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death
building_a_bookdom's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicide, and War
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
thebookfetishist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Objectively speaking, a very well written book, it's just that I subjectively did not enjoy it much. Just not my type of book. Still, a classic that should absolutely be given a try, because of its many important lessons and reflective food's for thought.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
lilifane's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A lot of people loved this book. I was skeptical at first, but it was a great and quick read. The way we are introduced to this dystopian society bit by bit was done really well. Realizing step by step how much has changed and what the citizens of the community don’t experience was fascinating.
I loved the way language, the use and the „precision“ of language played a big part in the story. The words you use really do make a difference.
I also liked the writing and the point of view from an innocent and protected child. The way you suspect some things, but it still hits hard when the main character realizes them.
I’m only disappointed in the ending. I like how it leaves room for thoughts and interpretations, but it came too sudden and stopped abruptly. I will try to read the rest of the quartet, though, because I’m really intrigued by this world and still have a lot of questions.
I loved the way language, the use and the „precision“ of language played a big part in the story. The words you use really do make a difference.
I also liked the writing and the point of view from an innocent and protected child. The way you suspect some things, but it still hits hard when the main character realizes them.
I’m only disappointed in the ending. I like how it leaves room for thoughts and interpretations, but it came too sudden and stopped abruptly. I will try to read the rest of the quartet, though, because I’m really intrigued by this world and still have a lot of questions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, and Suicide
the_book_nook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
oobaswag's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
calypsoscreams's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, and Cultural appropriation