Matched by Ally Condie: Review

Matched
By: Ally Condie
ARC received from publisher for review

Summary (from 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 Review: I've had this book sitting on my shelf for quite some time.  I started it back in July. I had just finished re-reading The Hunger Games and Catching Fire in preparation for Mockingjay.  About a quarter of the way through the book I stopped reading.  I realized that I was reading it with a violent-out-to-get-you-government filter. And Matched just wasn't doing it for me. So, I put it away for awhile to get in the mood. (I think also some of the hype was getting to me, and there was no way it was going to live up to it).

So, during the Christmas/New Years break that I had from work, I picked it up again. And I absolutely loved it.

It was different than The Hunger Games series in that it isn't nearly as brutal or bloody. As with most dystopian novels, Cassia's Society is all about control. However, The Society has created an illusion that through their control everyone is living at their highest potential.  There is never a need for fear or sadness because everything is so strictly monitored.  Their world is not cluttered with information because their books, movies, and songs are carefully selected.  Citizen's food is given in specific portions and with nutritional value to optimize the health of every person.  And, of course, matches are selected based on the compatibility of each party for maximized happiness.

Is Cassia's Society so different from our own? In our efforts to create a healthy society have we overstepped our bounds? I'm thinking of recent lawsuits against McDonalds for causing obesity. Or the laws passed in recent years to ban trans fats from restaurants in California and New York.  While I obviously feel that eating healthy is important, at what point do we take away individual freedom and responsibility because "we know better"?

One of my favorite parts of the book comes when Cassia realizes that the world in which she lives no longer values creation. Quoting from my uncorrected proof copy:

"Standing there looking at my work, however, I realize that all my family has ever done is sort.  Never create.  My father sorts old artifacts like my grandfather did; my great-grandmother sorted poems.  My farmlander grandparents plant seeds and tend crops, but everything they grow has been assigned by the Officials.  Just like the things my mother grows at the Aboretum."

Now, I've never been one for poetry. I don't know that I have the type of mind that can truly appreciate it.  However, I do love music, and books, and the ability that I have to speak my mind however I wish.

Without belaboring the point, this book gave me quite a bit to think about.  I know many people will like the book for the romance. Frankly, both boys are a great fit for Cassia in different ways, so the love triangle really isn't about pitting one against the other (a la Twilight). Cassia's parents are pretty flat, as are her friends. We don't really get much into the heads of other characters besides Cassia and Xander. I am not entirely sure if that was intentional to show that over time people have really become devoid of original thought.

Therefore, count me among the many that will be eagerly awaiting Crossed when it comes out in November.

My Rating:



Profanity: None
Sexuality: None
Violence: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None

Reading Challenges: Dystopia Challenge

Matched Launch Party

If you are in the Provo area, I wanted to let you know about an awesome event going on at the Provo Library tomorrow, December 7, that is sure to be a blast.  Local author Ally Condie will be signing copies of Matched, her newest novel that has received a TON of great buzz. The Provo Library is truly fantastic about reaching out and bringing super authors to our area.

I hope you'll come out and meet Ally and support our local library!

Armchair BEA: On Signed Books

Oh how I love signed books. Actually, I just love signed anything. I have a special shelf on my bookcase that holds just my signed books. So, I thought I would show you a few of the signed books I currently own, and some of the ones that I would have loved to pick up at BEA.

First there is The Thirteenth Reality by James Dashner. Cute, fun book. And I seem to run into James everywhere. Our conversations go like this:

Me: Hey, you remember me?
James Dashner: Yeah, Emily, right?
Me: Yep, that's me. How's it going?
James Dashner: Good
Me: I liked what you had to say on the panel this afternoon.
James Dashner: Thanks!

Pretty much every time. Here is a picture of James and I at a signing. And.. the signed book:

At the same signing I met Jessica Day George. She signed her book Sun, Moon, Ice and Snow for me.

And, just recently I had the opportunity to get a book signed by Mette Ivie Harrison. It was her newest book, Princess and the Snowbird. (Which I sadly have not yet read). I didn't get a picture with Mette because sometimes I'm totally scatterbrained, and this was one of those times. But, here is the signed book.

But, my most prized book of all time is Goose Girl by Shannon Hale.  I won't go into a whole lot of detail about this signing, because I'm going to do a post about the whole event at a later date. But, here is the book and a picture of me with Shannon Hale and her husband Dean. In case you can't read the book, it says "For Emily- who is my biggest fan, but not in a Kathy Bates way."

And now, the books I would LOVE to have signed at BEA. There were so many that I just decided to highlight three:

Matched by Ally Condie

Not only is this cover awesome, but the book sounds sooo amazing. I love dystopia. Love, love, love it!  Luckily, this author is local to me which means I will definitely get this one signed someday. And, I have exchanged emails with her, and she's really nice. A definite plus.

For the Win by Cory Doctorow

I don't have a real reason behind this one.. It just looks awesome.

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

More dystopia. Oh, and it's a book by Maria Snyder. I like all of these things.

So, what signed book do you treasure? What books do you wish you had signed?