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A review by pamcullen
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
adventurous
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? Yes
3.5
I liked how the book addresses the topic of beauty that the world chases, simply because society imposes that pressure on us. Even though this book is from 2005, reading it in 2024, in a context where the pressure to reach an ideal of beauty and youth is stronger than ever —especially on social media, where celebrities influence us, even if indirectly— really opens your eyes.
In the book, it is the government that imposes the beauty standard necessary to be accepted. Just like in real life, these "pretty" people are empty. In the story, this happens because the government doesn’t want people to think for themselves or have access to important information, out of fear of a revolution.
In real life, I think the same thing often happens. We see celebrities who put all their effort into being beautiful and dressing well, but who don’t have well-formed opinions on relevant topics. It’s as if their entire vocabulary revolves around makeup, the gym, and clothes. I think this happens because society often doesn’t demand intelligence from these people, since being attractive seems to be enough.
Going back to the book, I really liked Tally. I always understood that her obsession with becoming “pretty” was due to the society and government she grew up in, as she didn’t know any better.
We, however, still have a choice.
In the book, it is the government that imposes the beauty standard necessary to be accepted. Just like in real life, these "pretty" people are empty. In the story, this happens because the government doesn’t want people to think for themselves or have access to important information, out of fear of a revolution.
In real life, I think the same thing often happens. We see celebrities who put all their effort into being beautiful and dressing well, but who don’t have well-formed opinions on relevant topics. It’s as if their entire vocabulary revolves around makeup, the gym, and clothes. I think this happens because society often doesn’t demand intelligence from these people, since being attractive seems to be enough.
Going back to the book, I really liked Tally. I always understood that her obsession with becoming “pretty” was due to the society and government she grew up in, as she didn’t know any better.
We, however, still have a choice.