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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
loved it! a great blend of YA, sci-fi, AND mystery. i loved all the little details of life aboard the ship. i'm sure that the whole series will prove to be must-reads.
on another note, if you liked this book especially for the details of the world aboard the ship, you may also like the rama series by arthur c. clarke. start with [b:Rendezvous With Rama|112537|Rendezvous with Rama (Rama, #1)|Arthur C. Clarke|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41A3XG7MN8L._SL75_.jpg|1882772] and work your way through.
on another note, if you liked this book especially for the details of the world aboard the ship, you may also like the rama series by arthur c. clarke. start with [b:Rendezvous With Rama|112537|Rendezvous with Rama (Rama, #1)|Arthur C. Clarke|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41A3XG7MN8L._SL75_.jpg|1882772] and work your way through.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I've been having a hard time writing this review. I just sit here and sit here, and I fuck around on the internet, and then I make a sandwich and eat it, and then I annoy my cats by shoving my face into their warm tummies. Then I come back here and sit some more. Look, I'm a wordy person. Words just flow out, and the trouble I usually have is keeping the flow at a minimum, and attempting to organize the chaos that results. But I'm coming up dry on this one . . . I feel nothing for this book, not even disappointment.
Across the Universe takes place aboard the spaceship Godspeed, a colonizing ship on a deep space mission to find a "new Earth." The journey will take 300 years, so the colonists have been cryogenically frozen, to be revived when they reach their destination. But something goes wrong for 16 year old Amy: she's woken up about fifty years too soon, and she faces a claustrophobic life aboard a ship with people who are very different from what she's used to. The book alternates chapters between Amy's point of view, and the future leader of the ship, a boy called Elder. But when other colonists are unplugged as well -- only these ones don't survive -- it becomes clear that there are other things happening aboard the good ship Godspeed than even its passengers are aware of.
The thing about that whole description I just wrote up there is that maaaaybe if you're a really good guesser you can predict the outcome of the plot, but only maybe. The thing about reading the actual book? You can see plot twists coming a mile away, and that robs the book of a lot of its enjoyment. A vast majority of the pleasure one gets from reading a book centered on a mystery is being surprised by the outcome, but when every move is telegraphed pages and even chapters ahead of time, that pleasure evaporates. It's like watching a puppet show from the side instead of the front: you see everything that's going on behind the scenes, and it's not that what's going on is bad, it's just, where's the fun, you know?
The world-building in this book is actually pretty good, and if it had been presented in a different way it would have been great. Aside from the predictability of the plot (and not just the YA romance thing, because let's be honest here, a large part of THAT pleasure does come from predictability), I also had issues with the rhythm of the thing. Most great books have structure (let's ignore those geniuses who take pleasure in successfully exploding traditional storytelling structures into literary anarchy, those guys are so annoying sometimes), and not just in a beginning, middle, climax, resolution kind of way. I'm talking about on the sentence level. Each sentence, and each word within a sentence, has a cadence. Words form sentences and sentences form chapters, and chapters flow together one at a time. Crucial bits of information are witheld until just the right moment, emotions are wound up and plucked, played upon like the taut string of a violin. Great books are musical. Revis's book was missing that rhythm for me. Everything felt slightly off tempo. The story was there, the character development was there, even the words and ideas were there . . . they just don't feel like they're in the right order.
I love sci-fi. It rings my fucking bell. I love a good mystery. I love -- yeah I do -- I love a good romance. But not once were my overactive emotions plucked. Not once was I pounded on like a drum. Not once were the ivories of my innermost feelings tickled. Not once did I burst into tears or goosebumps (or both) during a pitch perfect crescendo of melody. I swear to God I will beat this metaphor to death.
It's not that Across the Universe is a bad book, but it certainly isn't great. And honestly? That's probably the worst sin a book can commit. Great books live forever because we remember them and talk about them and share their stories with people we love. Bad books often have just as much sharetime -- we remember bad books, and we talk about them, even if we don't love them (and love to hate doesn't count). This book? It's not bad or good enough to be remembered, and that totally sucks for it. Sorry, book. (Will however, still be reading the sequels, because a) I have that thing where I can't quit things, and b) Who knows? It might get better. This is, after all, a first book.)
Also, it turns out that writing about not being able to write about writing is still writing. And now, as a reward for myself, more kitty tummy!
Across the Universe takes place aboard the spaceship Godspeed, a colonizing ship on a deep space mission to find a "new Earth." The journey will take 300 years, so the colonists have been cryogenically frozen, to be revived when they reach their destination. But something goes wrong for 16 year old Amy: she's woken up about fifty years too soon, and she faces a claustrophobic life aboard a ship with people who are very different from what she's used to. The book alternates chapters between Amy's point of view, and the future leader of the ship, a boy called Elder. But when other colonists are unplugged as well -- only these ones don't survive -- it becomes clear that there are other things happening aboard the good ship Godspeed than even its passengers are aware of.
The thing about that whole description I just wrote up there is that maaaaybe if you're a really good guesser you can predict the outcome of the plot, but only maybe. The thing about reading the actual book? You can see plot twists coming a mile away, and that robs the book of a lot of its enjoyment. A vast majority of the pleasure one gets from reading a book centered on a mystery is being surprised by the outcome, but when every move is telegraphed pages and even chapters ahead of time, that pleasure evaporates. It's like watching a puppet show from the side instead of the front: you see everything that's going on behind the scenes, and it's not that what's going on is bad, it's just, where's the fun, you know?
The world-building in this book is actually pretty good, and if it had been presented in a different way it would have been great. Aside from the predictability of the plot (and not just the YA romance thing, because let's be honest here, a large part of THAT pleasure does come from predictability), I also had issues with the rhythm of the thing. Most great books have structure (let's ignore those geniuses who take pleasure in successfully exploding traditional storytelling structures into literary anarchy, those guys are so annoying sometimes), and not just in a beginning, middle, climax, resolution kind of way. I'm talking about on the sentence level. Each sentence, and each word within a sentence, has a cadence. Words form sentences and sentences form chapters, and chapters flow together one at a time. Crucial bits of information are witheld until just the right moment, emotions are wound up and plucked, played upon like the taut string of a violin. Great books are musical. Revis's book was missing that rhythm for me. Everything felt slightly off tempo. The story was there, the character development was there, even the words and ideas were there . . . they just don't feel like they're in the right order.
I love sci-fi. It rings my fucking bell. I love a good mystery. I love -- yeah I do -- I love a good romance. But not once were my overactive emotions plucked. Not once was I pounded on like a drum. Not once were the ivories of my innermost feelings tickled. Not once did I burst into tears or goosebumps (or both) during a pitch perfect crescendo of melody. I swear to God I will beat this metaphor to death.
It's not that Across the Universe is a bad book, but it certainly isn't great. And honestly? That's probably the worst sin a book can commit. Great books live forever because we remember them and talk about them and share their stories with people we love. Bad books often have just as much sharetime -- we remember bad books, and we talk about them, even if we don't love them (and love to hate doesn't count). This book? It's not bad or good enough to be remembered, and that totally sucks for it. Sorry, book. (Will however, still be reading the sequels, because a) I have that thing where I can't quit things, and b) Who knows? It might get better. This is, after all, a first book.)
Also, it turns out that writing about not being able to write about writing is still writing. And now, as a reward for myself, more kitty tummy!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Started and finished date - 12.05.25 to 15.05.25.
My rating - Four Stars.
I really enjoyed book and the cover of book was stunning. The writing was fine but it took bit some time get used also the ending was okay. The atmosphere was okay bit bland and the paced of plot was well structured also this book was steady paced. I like the characters but I think some characters needed to flash out bit more.
My rating - Four Stars.
I really enjoyed book and the cover of book was stunning. The writing was fine but it took bit some time get used also the ending was okay. The atmosphere was okay bit bland and the paced of plot was well structured also this book was steady paced. I like the characters but I think some characters needed to flash out bit more.
i was obsessed with this book in highschool and i loved my reread. its starting to hit a little too close to reality though…
You know, I'm usually not a big science fiction fan, but I quite liked this one. It was pretty cool and a fairly quick read. Once I was reading, I flew through the pages and before I knew it, I was half way through it. The blurb doesn't give much away though so I didn't know what to expect at first, but in the end, I'm glad I gave this a try.
Amy and her parents were frozen and they were supposed to be awakened 300 years later when they would arrive to a new planet. But fifty years before Amy's supposed to be awakened with her parents, someone wakes her up. Nothing makes sense on this ship with weird people that don't seem to feel anything. But there is someone that she can talk to. Elder, the future leader of the ship. And when other people are unplugged from their cryo cells and die, they're working together to find the truth behind it all. Nothing is what it seems on this ship and who can Amy really trust with a killer lurking around the corner?
The writing was good, I got through the chapters really quick and it kept me hooked all the time. I just needed to know what happened next after every chapter. There are two narrations, Amy and Elder and I liked both of them. It gave me an extra perspective for the mystery and weird stuff that's happening on the ship. Is there romance? Yeah, but it wasn't really that big. There is much more going on and that's what the book focuses on and I liked that. The romance was secondary.
I liked Amy, she's feisty and doesn't let anyone control her. And Elder too. He doesn't want to be like everyone else and he questions the things that are happening on the ship. The other characters were good too. Harley is just a great character! There were a few I didn't trust right off the bat. Eldest, the current leader of the ship and Orion. I just didn't trust them. At all. I was afraid there were going to be too many characters because of how many people are on the ship, but the author only focuses on the ones that are important to the story.
There's not really a big cliffhanger, but the end does leave me curious for the next book, which I'll hopefully read soon. I didn't love this book, but I really liked it, it's one of my favorites as far as science fiction goes and I definitely recommend it to fans of science fiction with a bit of romance.
Amy and her parents were frozen and they were supposed to be awakened 300 years later when they would arrive to a new planet. But fifty years before Amy's supposed to be awakened with her parents, someone wakes her up. Nothing makes sense on this ship with weird people that don't seem to feel anything. But there is someone that she can talk to. Elder, the future leader of the ship. And when other people are unplugged from their cryo cells and die, they're working together to find the truth behind it all. Nothing is what it seems on this ship and who can Amy really trust with a killer lurking around the corner?
The writing was good, I got through the chapters really quick and it kept me hooked all the time. I just needed to know what happened next after every chapter. There are two narrations, Amy and Elder and I liked both of them. It gave me an extra perspective for the mystery and weird stuff that's happening on the ship. Is there romance? Yeah, but it wasn't really that big. There is much more going on and that's what the book focuses on and I liked that. The romance was secondary.
I liked Amy, she's feisty and doesn't let anyone control her. And Elder too. He doesn't want to be like everyone else and he questions the things that are happening on the ship. The other characters were good too. Harley is just a great character! There were a few I didn't trust right off the bat. Eldest, the current leader of the ship and Orion. I just didn't trust them. At all. I was afraid there were going to be too many characters because of how many people are on the ship, but the author only focuses on the ones that are important to the story.
There's not really a big cliffhanger, but the end does leave me curious for the next book, which I'll hopefully read soon. I didn't love this book, but I really liked it, it's one of my favorites as far as science fiction goes and I definitely recommend it to fans of science fiction with a bit of romance.
you know what? this book was intriguing. It wasn't [i]amazing[/i] but it wasn't awful either. I did enjoy the different view points from the two main characters and if there's a sequel - which after doing some quick investigating it looks like there are two more books - so more like WHEN the sequel come out...I think I'd like to read it. I'm not anxiously waiting for it, but I'd be okay with reading it.
Trigger warning - sexual assalt
I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. I really loved Amy and Harley. They were my favorites. A few things bugged me but over all it was a really good sci fi book. I didn't like how Amy called her father "daddy" it made her character unbelievable at times and took away from her in my opinion. I also didn't like elder as much. He was kindof annoying but by the end I liked him more. I am excited for book two!
My Booktalk - https://youtu.be/4R3RNft7d0Y?list=PLwZmb6ARxfkgXGWoflg0QxswVNIKYaHNr
I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. I really loved Amy and Harley. They were my favorites. A few things bugged me but over all it was a really good sci fi book. I didn't like how Amy called her father "daddy" it made her character unbelievable at times and took away from her in my opinion. I also didn't like elder as much. He was kindof annoying but by the end I liked him more. I am excited for book two!
My Booktalk - https://youtu.be/4R3RNft7d0Y?list=PLwZmb6ARxfkgXGWoflg0QxswVNIKYaHNr
FINALLY got this at Borders. Now, I can play with the reversible jacket ALL I WANT.
REVIEW TIME!
This time, I'm actually going to write a decent, long review. The past few I've been slacking, and I apologize for that. Without further ado . . .
MY REVIEW!
It's . . . explosive. *snickers*
Across the Universe is going to be an extremely difficult book to point out flaws in, because I was enraptured in the wonderful and beautiful story the entire time I was reading it, and I didn't have time to look for flaws (well, there was one typo: "cryo" was changed to "cyro."
(Oops. Not pyro.))
As I was saying, the first chapter starts off with a bang, and the intensity doesn't lower at all throughout the almost-400 pages of the book. I don't know about you, but I LURVED all of the characters.
Especially Amy. She was just this fireball . . .
. . . of awesomeness and joy and wonder and PASSION!
[bc:Passion|9369720|Passion (Fallen, #3)|Lauren Kate|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1294334258s/9369720.jpg|10958266]
Elder was pretty awesome, too. I like how all of the non-corrupt characters really love fighting what they believe in.
From the very first page, I was completely in love with the story, and if I wouldn't have had to, I wouldn't have put it down. It was THAT good. I really cared about the characters, really developed a sense of respect for them. I love how in this book, the lines between right and wrong, good and bad, blur, and you don't know which is which for a while, because the main characters don't.
The plot, characterization, writing, and organization all earn solid five stars from me, because I thought this book was incredible, and while it did remind me a bit of [b:Glow|10174795|Glow (Sky Chasers, #1)|Amy Kathleen Ryan|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312847982s/10174795.jpg|15073624] (they're both different enough in their own ways to where they don't just seem like carbon copies), I really enjoyed both of them and can't wait for each of their respective sequels.
And, just for the heck of it:
REVIEW TIME!
This time, I'm actually going to write a decent, long review. The past few I've been slacking, and I apologize for that. Without further ado . . .
MY REVIEW!
It's . . . explosive. *snickers*
Across the Universe is going to be an extremely difficult book to point out flaws in, because I was enraptured in the wonderful and beautiful story the entire time I was reading it, and I didn't have time to look for flaws (well, there was one typo: "cryo" was changed to "cyro."
Spoiler
(Oops. Not pyro.)As I was saying, the first chapter starts off with a bang
Spoiler
Especially Amy. She was just this fireball . . .
. . . of awesomeness and joy and wonder and PASSION!
[bc:Passion|9369720|Passion (Fallen, #3)|Lauren Kate|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1294334258s/9369720.jpg|10958266]
Elder was pretty awesome, too. I like how all of the non-corrupt characters really love fighting what they believe in.
Spoiler
From the very first page, I was completely in love with the story, and if I wouldn't have had to, I wouldn't have put it down. It was THAT good. I really cared about the characters, really developed a sense of respect for them. I love how in this book, the lines between right and wrong, good and bad, blur, and you don't know which is which for a while, because the main characters don't.
The plot, characterization, writing, and organization all earn solid five stars from me, because I thought this book was incredible, and while it did remind me a bit of [b:Glow|10174795|Glow (Sky Chasers, #1)|Amy Kathleen Ryan|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312847982s/10174795.jpg|15073624] (they're both different enough in their own ways to where they don't just seem like carbon copies), I really enjoyed both of them and can't wait for each of their respective sequels.
And, just for the heck of it:
Spoiler