Book Review: Matched

Title: Matched (Website | Tumblr)
Author: Ally Condie (Website | Goodreads)
Series: Matched #1
Publisher: Speak
Published date: September 20th 2011
Pages: 369 pages
Format: Paperback
Rating: 3/5 Noodles


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 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.

**** 

I was disappointed with this book. I've heard many good things about this book and, that's why I have high expectations with this book. Matched didn't meet my expectations. Even though I am disappointed, I enjoy this book. I enjoy the idea of the perfect society and everything. A society that decides what will you eat, what to wear, where you work, and who to love.

Characters aren't that great. Characters didn't stay in my mind for so long, for a second, I already forget them. I want characters that will stay in my mind for a long time, you know. Characters that stay in my mind even I'm sleeping, staying in my dreams. Characters that can stay in my heart for a long time. 

The love triangle is the usual love triangle. Your best friend is there then suddenly you find someone better than your best friend. Afterwards you fell in love with that guy whom you just saw for the first time. This kind of love triangle is usual, I want something new.

The plot is quite predictable. Long introduction and nothing really happened. I liked the parts about pills, and poems. I liked the "Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night" poem and the different artifacts. As I said before, I liked the idea of perfect society. Condie created a perfect dystopian world.

The ending is a cliffhanger. I'm looking forward to read the next book, Crossed. I don't have a copy of Crossed, yet, but I will buy as long as I have money (I'm poor). 

Overall, the book is good but the cover is better than the story. I'm sorry to the fans of this book, don't hate me. I'm just being honest. I will definitely buy the second book, because I've heard that it is better than the first book. :))

Favorite Quote/s:

“Every minute you spend with someone gives them a part of your life and takes part of theirs.”

“Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that.” 

“Is falling in love with someone's story the same thing as falling in love with the person himself?” 

Book Review: Mockingjay

Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins ( Website )
Series: The Hunger Games #3
Publisher: Scholastic
Published date: August 24th 2010
Pages: 390 pages
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4/5 Noodles


From Goodreads:

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains--except Katniss.

 

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

****

 THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS 

Mockingjay disappoints me maybe because my expectations were too high. Characters change so fast. The first few pages were so boring that made me sleepy, and I can't force myself to stay awake to read this because sleeping is my favorite activity. Hahaha. But still, I really liked this book, there are some scenes that kept me from reading this book. Suzanne Collins knew how to keep the readers reading the book even if the readers need to rest or something. 

I liked Katniss in THG and in Catching Fire because she's a strong person, physically and mentally. She changed a lot in this book. She became weak and I don't understand her feelings. She agreed on having the last Hunger Games and she said it was for the death of her sister, Prim but I don't think that Prim would agree with her.

Rue and Mags were my favorite characters in previous books(The Hunger Games and Catching Fire). Now, Buttercup is my favorite character aside from Katniss and Peeta. I like Buttercup because he stays with Katniss in the end even though the hate each other, and he still love Prim.

I liked how the book ended. No Snow(Yes! Yes!). No Coin. No more Hunger Games(Weeeee! ^_^). I gave 4 noodles for this book because there are some things that disappointed me, but still I enjoyed reading this book. :)

Favorite Quote/s:

“It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.” 

"Fire is catching! And if we burn, you burn with us!” 

“There are much worse games to play.”  

“Some walks you have to take alone.” 

Book Review: Catching Fire

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins ( Website )
Series: The Hunger Games #2
Publisher: Scholastic
Published date: March 2010
Pages: 391 pages
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5/5 Noodles


From Goodreads:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Suzanne Collins continues the amazing story of Katniss Everdeen in Catching Fire, the second novel of the phenomenal Hunger Games trilogy.

****

Oh, I don't know what to say about this book. I'm speechless. This is one of the great books I've ever read. The story took after Katniss and Peeta won the 74th Hunger Games.

The characters became more stronger and more amazing. I'm still in love with Katniss, she is so strong and everything. President Snow is more creepier than the first book. I hate Snow so much, I want to go in Capitol and kill him in front of all people. Haha.

The plot is simply amazing. Full of twists and all. When the Quarter Quell is announced, I was shocked and I can't move on on that part. President Snow is so @!#*!~

I liked Cinna in the first book and I liked him more in this book. The dress of Katniss during the parade is so amazing and her dress during the interview is fvcking awesome! In the 74th Hunger Games, Rue is my favorite tribute but here in 75th Hunger Games, Wiress and Mags are my favorite tributes.

Collins did a great job in making the idea of arena. Collins is super amazing! I'm excited about the upcoming Catching Fire movie. The ending is such a cliffhanger. This really deserves 5 out of 5 noodles.

Favorite quote/s:

“I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now and live in it forever.”   

“My nightmares are usually about losing you. I'm okay once I realize you're here.”  

“The bird, the pin, the song, the berries, the watch, the cracker, the dress that burst into flames. I am the mockingjay. The one that survived despite the Capitol's plans. The symbol of the rebellion.”  

Book Review: The Hunger Games

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins ( Website )
Series: The Hunger Games #1
Publisher: Scholastic
Published date: December 2009
Pages: 374 pages
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5/5 Noodles


From Goodreads:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

****

The Hunger Games is a fast paced book that brought me me back in being a bookworm. When I started reading this book, I can't control myself flipping the pages and continue reading. I am a slow reader but this book made me a fast reader. This is simply amazing!

I like Katniss because she's a girl with strong personality and all. She's willing to do anything for her sister and for her mother. She's brave because she takes her sister's place in the reaping. You can also see that she's a smart person because the way she played the game and all. I admire her for being strong, brave and smart. I also like Peeta, he has a strong personality also, I became crazy when he says that the girl her love is with her during the interview with Ceasar. All the characters have strong personalities. Oh btw, I also like Cinna, Effie and Rue. Rue is my favorite tribute aside from Katniss and Peeta.

In all, The Hunger Games is really amazing! I'm really excited about reading the next book, I'm excited to know what will happen to the star-crossed lovers during their tour. I'm so excited!

Favorite quotes:

“Remember, we're madly in love, so it's all right to kiss me anytime you feel like it.” 

“You don’t forget the face of the person who was your last hope.”

“Destroying things is much easier than making them.”  

Book Review: Across the Universe

Title: Across the Universe ( Website | Tumblr)
Author: Beth Revis ( Website | Blog | Twitter )
Series: Across the Universe #1
Publisher: Razorbill

Published date: January 11th 2011

Pages: 398 pages

Format: Paperback

Rating: 5/5 Noodles

From Goodreads:

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder. 

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules. 

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next. 

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming. 

****

Oh my book! Sci-fi with a touch of dystopian and mystery! Wonderful book! The first chapter is horrible because I can't imagine how Amy and her parents were cryogenically frozen. It is also heart-wrenching because I can't imagine to wake up without my parents. Asking me to stay with them or leaving them. Watch them go through experience of freezing.

I like the idea of Godspeed, an airship floating in the universe searching for Centauri-Earth. Godspeed is really amazing. The technologies on the ship is really amazing! The wi-com, the floppies, and the holes where your can get your food, were all amaaaaaaazing. 

I like how the author put two different point of views in the book, because you can be in touch with their feelings and all. 

I like all of the twists and revelations in each chapter. I was puzzled by its secrets, lies, and betrayals. As I finish the book, all of the questions in my head is answered. I hate Elder because I thought that Elder was the one who's unplugging all of the cryogenically frozen passengers but as I reach the end, I like him because I know that he's not the one who's unplugging all of those passenger. I hate eldest because he's so insane. I hate  Eldest so much!

I really like this book! I like all of the ideas that the author put on this book, especially the Godspeed. Godspeed is really amazing! This book really deserves 5 out of 5 noodles. I frexing want to read the second installment of this book, A Million Suns. 

Favorite quotes:

“I never thought about how important the sky was until I didn't have one. ~ Amy”  

“Dreams are like that: they go in and out of memories and scenes, but they are never real. They're never real, and I hate them because they aren't." ~ Amy”