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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Wow! [b:Wither|8525590|Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1)|Lauren DeStefano|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311109085s/8525590.jpg|13392566] was just so amazing I read it in two days. It was original, interesting, exciting, creepy, heartbreaking and exhilarating all at the same time! The characters are beautifully crafted, especially Rhine and her sister wives. I fell in love with all three girls at once, relishing in their bond. Linden is someone you just feel sorry for and I think I fell for Gabriel within minutes. Overall this story is something I could read over and over again, never getting bored of the dystopian world created by [a:Lauren DeStefano|4103366|Lauren DeStefano|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1305725851p2/4103366.jpg]. I loved it!
In Rhine's world, men are dying off at age twenty-five and women at age twenty. This has thrown her society into chaos, and now girls are forced into polygamous marriages as teenagers. Rhine is sixteen when she is abducted and sold to be a bride to a wealthy man named Linden Ashby. Together with Linden's two other wives, Jenna and Cecily, the girls explore their huge new home with different eyes. Jenna and Rhine see only a prison. Young Cecily sees the elegant splendor of high-society, and loves being waited on twenty-four hours a day. But when Rhine begins to speak with Gabriel, a lowly servant boy, she realizes there is something much more sinister going on in the mansion. Between Gabriel and her forced husband, Rhine will fight feelings of wanting to stay and needing to escape.
Wow, what an incredible book! A very powerful beginning and world set-up. Though it feels cliche to say it, this book totally grabbed my attention from the very first chapter, with the feeling of dread spilling out from the pages. I wanted to slow down and savor every single word at the same time I wanted to rush through and get to the next chapter as fast as possible to know what happens next. My favorite part was definitely the stunning descriptions of color that created such a vivid picture of what Rhine's world looked like. Color is an important factor in the plot, and Lauren DeStefano does an expert job filling it in. Especially the gorgeous dresses that were made for Rhine and the beautiful holograms everywhere. *sigh* Rhine was a great female character, handling the unknown information and terrible situations with real, down-to-earth emotion and actions. And the romance between Rhine and Gabriel was so tender and urgent that I whimpered for more. Wither left me panting for the next book in the planned trilogy, which can't get here soon enough!
Wow, what an incredible book! A very powerful beginning and world set-up. Though it feels cliche to say it, this book totally grabbed my attention from the very first chapter, with the feeling of dread spilling out from the pages. I wanted to slow down and savor every single word at the same time I wanted to rush through and get to the next chapter as fast as possible to know what happens next. My favorite part was definitely the stunning descriptions of color that created such a vivid picture of what Rhine's world looked like. Color is an important factor in the plot, and Lauren DeStefano does an expert job filling it in. Especially the gorgeous dresses that were made for Rhine and the beautiful holograms everywhere. *sigh* Rhine was a great female character, handling the unknown information and terrible situations with real, down-to-earth emotion and actions. And the romance between Rhine and Gabriel was so tender and urgent that I whimpered for more. Wither left me panting for the next book in the planned trilogy, which can't get here soon enough!
Decently entertaining read but the dystopian plot makes no sense whatsoever, to an absurd extent. I'm not usually too much of a stickler for plot holes, but in this book it was distractingly bad.
For instance- in order to, I don't know?, avoid dealing with the international complexities of a dystopian future? the author uses the following plot device: "the world had once been made up of seven continents and several countries, but a third world war demolished all but North America, the continent with the most advanced technology." Yes, that is an actual quote. Do we get to know what kind of technology was so instrumental to avoiding annihilation? Are we simply to believe North America is just unequivocally superior to all other nations in every single *Technology* known to humankind? Silly reader, this is not that kind of book, where questions are raised and reasonable answers are provided.
So instead, the story is set in a future U.S. where people live only to their 20s and where kidnapping girls into a life of polygamous decadence is somehow supposed to cure this medical condition, and also one where we just have to surmise that all people of color in the U.S. just like, vanished one day, and apparently no one noticed, because not a single such person is ever seen or discussed. All this is ok though, because all of the main characters have fun daydreams about what India, Japan, and other exotic countries must have been like. In one oh-so-cute moment:
"Rose and I talk about happier things too, like cherry blossom trees. I even come to trust her enough to tell her about my father's atlas and my disappointment at having missed the world in its prime. As she braids my hair, she tells me that if she could have lived anywhere in the world, she would have chosen India. She would have worn saris and positively covered herself in henna, and maybe she would have paraded in the streets on an elephant shrouded in jewels."
These girls can't really engage in culturally appropriative activities because all non-white cultures and people are dead, but they sure wish they could!
For instance- in order to, I don't know?, avoid dealing with the international complexities of a dystopian future? the author uses the following plot device: "the world had once been made up of seven continents and several countries, but a third world war demolished all but North America, the continent with the most advanced technology." Yes, that is an actual quote. Do we get to know what kind of technology was so instrumental to avoiding annihilation? Are we simply to believe North America is just unequivocally superior to all other nations in every single *Technology* known to humankind? Silly reader, this is not that kind of book, where questions are raised and reasonable answers are provided.
So instead, the story is set in a future U.S. where people live only to their 20s and where kidnapping girls into a life of polygamous decadence is somehow supposed to cure this medical condition, and also one where we just have to surmise that all people of color in the U.S. just like, vanished one day, and apparently no one noticed, because not a single such person is ever seen or discussed. All this is ok though, because all of the main characters have fun daydreams about what India, Japan, and other exotic countries must have been like. In one oh-so-cute moment:
"Rose and I talk about happier things too, like cherry blossom trees. I even come to trust her enough to tell her about my father's atlas and my disappointment at having missed the world in its prime. As she braids my hair, she tells me that if she could have lived anywhere in the world, she would have chosen India. She would have worn saris and positively covered herself in henna, and maybe she would have paraded in the streets on an elephant shrouded in jewels."
These girls can't really engage in culturally appropriative activities because all non-white cultures and people are dead, but they sure wish they could!
First off... this book is well written. Well written but poorly imagined, if that makes any sense. It's actually kind of a weird balance and shows you how far good writing can carry an only half thought out plot.
I'll start out with the good before getting into my gripes about the world building. I loved all of the characters. Every single one made me actually feel something for them. From the bratty 13-year old sister wife to the young domestics, naive to the world and of course Rhine the main character and heroine (sort of). Every character was well fleshed out and beautifully written that I was really rooting for them.
But, that can only take you so far. All of these wonderful characters were living in an underdeveloped and inconsistent world. The main problem popped up right away. The whole premise of the book is that a virus is killing everyone who reaches 20 for women and 25 for men. That makes no sense! Have you ever heard of a sickness of any kind that has anything to do with age. Especially to such a specific extent.
That's where this book goes wrong. Stories ranging from dystopian to post-apocalyptic (in a way, Wither is both) are supposed to show you how our society can go wrong. It felt like the world in Wither was just designed to catch your attention (Ooo ahh, polygamy and child brides) and lacked the base in modern society that usually gives these books their haunting edge.
And here's the spoiler! It's not even a major point, just something that really bugged me. At one point Rhine is talking to her endearingly bumbling husband and finds out that he has no idea that his father had a dozen girls kidnapped and some of them murdered so that Linden (Rhine's husband) could have his three brides. He just thought that becoming a bride was something some young girls chose for themselves. In this moment Rhine is thinking "why tell him? he won't believe me anyways," and seriously... that's absurd!!! Linden seems to really love her and I think would have chosen to help her. Maybe not, but it was at least a possibility. If you're imprisoned and desperate to escape, you at least take the chance!!!
Anyways... despite all my rants about this book I still enjoyed it and I think it's worth a read based on the prose alone. It's well written enough to make up for all the gaping holes.
I'll start out with the good before getting into my gripes about the world building. I loved all of the characters. Every single one made me actually feel something for them. From the bratty 13-year old sister wife to the young domestics, naive to the world and of course Rhine the main character and heroine (sort of). Every character was well fleshed out and beautifully written that I was really rooting for them.
But, that can only take you so far. All of these wonderful characters were living in an underdeveloped and inconsistent world. The main problem popped up right away. The whole premise of the book is that a virus is killing everyone who reaches 20 for women and 25 for men. That makes no sense! Have you ever heard of a sickness of any kind that has anything to do with age. Especially to such a specific extent.
That's where this book goes wrong. Stories ranging from dystopian to post-apocalyptic (in a way, Wither is both) are supposed to show you how our society can go wrong. It felt like the world in Wither was just designed to catch your attention (Ooo ahh, polygamy and child brides) and lacked the base in modern society that usually gives these books their haunting edge.
And here's the spoiler! It's not even a major point, just something that really bugged me. At one point Rhine is talking to her endearingly bumbling husband and finds out that he has no idea that his father had a dozen girls kidnapped and some of them murdered so that Linden (Rhine's husband) could have his three brides. He just thought that becoming a bride was something some young girls chose for themselves. In this moment Rhine is thinking "why tell him? he won't believe me anyways," and seriously... that's absurd!!! Linden seems to really love her and I think would have chosen to help her. Maybe not, but it was at least a possibility. If you're imprisoned and desperate to escape, you at least take the chance!!!
Anyways... despite all my rants about this book I still enjoyed it and I think it's worth a read based on the prose alone. It's well written enough to make up for all the gaping holes.
I loved this book so much. I just couldn't put it down! This is one of the books that has inspired me to continue writing. This world is one that I have never read before. Anticipation is still coursing through me after I read it.
3.5 Stars. I've got lots of mixed feeling about this book. At some times it was addicting, at other it felt numb, and at other times, everything happened so quickly it didn't even register.
This is essentially an updated, watered-down version of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. The protagonist is a 16 year old girl named Rhine who was kidnapped shortly before the start of the novel, and is soon forced into a marriage alongside two other teenage girls. Due to a virus created by 21st century scientists, all women die at age 20, and men die at 25. This crisis has caused polygamy to become an accepted practice, while scientists search for a cure.
Wither does a good job building a believable relationship between Rhine and her two sister-wives. Despite being very different people, their friendship is established in a very natural way and is probably the best thing about the novel. Aside from that,the characterisation is very limited. Their husband, Linden, comes across as a bit of a wet blanket. His father, Vaughn, is a simple 2D villain. Rhine's eventual love interest is less of a character, and more like a plot device.
All in all, it's an interesting premise, but the execution is a little lacking. Check out the Handmaid's Tale for a better version of this.
Wither does a good job building a believable relationship between Rhine and her two sister-wives. Despite being very different people, their friendship is established in a very natural way and is probably the best thing about the novel. Aside from that,the characterisation is very limited. Their husband, Linden, comes across as a bit of a wet blanket. His father, Vaughn, is a simple 2D villain. Rhine's eventual love interest is less of a character, and more like a plot device.
All in all, it's an interesting premise, but the execution is a little lacking. Check out the Handmaid's Tale for a better version of this.
Raptada é o início de uma história que trás consigo uma nova perspectiva relativamente à evolução humana. Frisando as repercussões sociais de um desenvolvimento científico fracassado, esta narrativa evidência os conceitos de tempo e felicidade de forma absolutamente inovadora e, em grande parte, chocante.
Dotado de cenários tão belos quanto estéreis, este livro conta-nos o princípio do fim de protagonistas jovens e com uma maturidade forçada devido ao drástico destino que tomou conta da humanidade resumindo a vida a uma flor frágil e artificial onde a mulher tem o papel principal e, ainda assim, descartável.
Conhecemos Rhine no dia em que é bafejada pela sorte, escapando da morte, no exacto momento em que é proclamado o seu futuro para o resto da sua curta existência. Ela tem dezasseis anos e aos vinte morrerá como todas as raparigas da sua geração, como Cecily e Jenna, todas elas jovens de idades diferentes e com diferentes passados mas com um único ponto em comum, todas elas serão irmãs-esposas e todas elas irão, forçadamente, casar com o Governador da Casa Linden.
Entre os dramas emocionais de um casamento polígamo, a busca pela cura para o vírus genético e a ilusão de perfeição social a que todos parecem ter fechado os olhos Rhine irá manter a esperança de voltar para o seu irmão gémeo e, quem sabe, nos próximo quatro anos, tentar ser feliz.
Esta é a premissa trágica deste primeiro livro da trilogia O Jardim Químico, simples e fatídica contrariando a complexidade de sentimentos das curtas vidas expostas ao longo das suas páginas.
Tudo neste livro é intenso, todos os pormenores são marcados pela finitude das personagens, o que altera completamente a noção de tempo que o leitor habitualmente tem quando encara o desenvolvimento da acção. Embora se trate de um livro introdutório, que deixa muitas questões em aberto, as revelações são constantes e quando mais conhecimento é recebido em relação ao absurdo presente, mais acresce a expectativa em relação ao final. Algo muito bem conseguido por parte da autora.
No que respeita às personagens da história é interessante verificar a disparidade entre elas, a multiplicidade de informação que oferecem na sua curta existência pois, embora a sua morte esteja cronometrada desde o primeiro momento, e a humanidade de encontre arruinada, a verdade é que todos continuam a viver normalmente, subjugados, perante este cenário catastrófico mas, ainda assim, repleto de emoções, de medos, de anseios e desejos quase vãos, como no caso de Rhine. As opções, enquanto órfãos precoces de pais também eles precoces, na sua maioria, são impressionantes e todas as cenas presenciadas, do casamento à submissão a que estão expostas as intervenientes é chocante, assim como choca a falta de conhecimento dos muitos, e supostos, homens de poder também eles ainda jovens, o que aproxima quem lê do “vilão” Linden, também ele uma peça nas mãos daqueles que procuram a eternidade e só conseguem assistir à morte das gerações vindouras.
De uma perspectiva mais reflexiva, esta é uma história repleta de pormenores cativantes e contraditórios. A tecnologia que deveria maravilhar parece abstracta, a beleza extrema é preenchida de futilidade inebriante e o mundo, a vida limitada que se resume a um simples estado de sobrevivência, é tão cruel quando a passagem do tempo que retira toda a esperança e valor ao interlúdio entre nascer e morrer. Não há essência e o leitor estará perante um arco-íris opressor, sem cor.
Opinião completa: http://historiasdeelphaba.blogspot.pt/2012/08/raptada-o-jardim-quimico-1-lauren_5.html
Dotado de cenários tão belos quanto estéreis, este livro conta-nos o princípio do fim de protagonistas jovens e com uma maturidade forçada devido ao drástico destino que tomou conta da humanidade resumindo a vida a uma flor frágil e artificial onde a mulher tem o papel principal e, ainda assim, descartável.
Conhecemos Rhine no dia em que é bafejada pela sorte, escapando da morte, no exacto momento em que é proclamado o seu futuro para o resto da sua curta existência. Ela tem dezasseis anos e aos vinte morrerá como todas as raparigas da sua geração, como Cecily e Jenna, todas elas jovens de idades diferentes e com diferentes passados mas com um único ponto em comum, todas elas serão irmãs-esposas e todas elas irão, forçadamente, casar com o Governador da Casa Linden.
Entre os dramas emocionais de um casamento polígamo, a busca pela cura para o vírus genético e a ilusão de perfeição social a que todos parecem ter fechado os olhos Rhine irá manter a esperança de voltar para o seu irmão gémeo e, quem sabe, nos próximo quatro anos, tentar ser feliz.
Esta é a premissa trágica deste primeiro livro da trilogia O Jardim Químico, simples e fatídica contrariando a complexidade de sentimentos das curtas vidas expostas ao longo das suas páginas.
Tudo neste livro é intenso, todos os pormenores são marcados pela finitude das personagens, o que altera completamente a noção de tempo que o leitor habitualmente tem quando encara o desenvolvimento da acção. Embora se trate de um livro introdutório, que deixa muitas questões em aberto, as revelações são constantes e quando mais conhecimento é recebido em relação ao absurdo presente, mais acresce a expectativa em relação ao final. Algo muito bem conseguido por parte da autora.
No que respeita às personagens da história é interessante verificar a disparidade entre elas, a multiplicidade de informação que oferecem na sua curta existência pois, embora a sua morte esteja cronometrada desde o primeiro momento, e a humanidade de encontre arruinada, a verdade é que todos continuam a viver normalmente, subjugados, perante este cenário catastrófico mas, ainda assim, repleto de emoções, de medos, de anseios e desejos quase vãos, como no caso de Rhine. As opções, enquanto órfãos precoces de pais também eles precoces, na sua maioria, são impressionantes e todas as cenas presenciadas, do casamento à submissão a que estão expostas as intervenientes é chocante, assim como choca a falta de conhecimento dos muitos, e supostos, homens de poder também eles ainda jovens, o que aproxima quem lê do “vilão” Linden, também ele uma peça nas mãos daqueles que procuram a eternidade e só conseguem assistir à morte das gerações vindouras.
De uma perspectiva mais reflexiva, esta é uma história repleta de pormenores cativantes e contraditórios. A tecnologia que deveria maravilhar parece abstracta, a beleza extrema é preenchida de futilidade inebriante e o mundo, a vida limitada que se resume a um simples estado de sobrevivência, é tão cruel quando a passagem do tempo que retira toda a esperança e valor ao interlúdio entre nascer e morrer. Não há essência e o leitor estará perante um arco-íris opressor, sem cor.
Opinião completa: http://historiasdeelphaba.blogspot.pt/2012/08/raptada-o-jardim-quimico-1-lauren_5.html
Why was the entire book summed up in the synopsis? I expected more
3.5 Stars
Gorgeous cover, good/interesting concept and great use of language.
The story isn't full of action but is more of an ethereal journey in a weird world that we couldn't even imagine. The science and logic isn't really there but the emotions are. A good fast read if you're in the mood for an interesting story.
Gorgeous cover, good/interesting concept and great use of language.
The story isn't full of action but is more of an ethereal journey in a weird world that we couldn't even imagine. The science and logic isn't really there but the emotions are. A good fast read if you're in the mood for an interesting story.