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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Primo libro della Skinjacker Trilogy.
Sono davvero soddisfatta. E' bello trovare un libro che si rivolge a un pubblico giovane e che non gli propona i soliti giochini e banalita'. E' forse un po' ingenuo come romanzo, ma riuscito e originale. Partendo da una cosa basilare: se i protagonisti sono all'inizio due, non fanno tutto insieme e non sono destinati alla trita storia d'amore casuale. Sono due persone che fanno amicizia, soffrono, litigano, vanno ognuno per la proprioa stada e vivono la loro avvventura a volte in compagnia e a volte da soli. Nel finale c'e' un ribaltamento completo e plausibilissimo delle premesse iniziali, e si capisce benissimo che e' stato studiato e preparato dall'inizio e che da un nuovo senso a tutta la storia. Bellissimo l'epilogo, che ci fa capire come nascono le leggende: Mary, che non vuole che i bambini passino oltre Everlost inveta la storia dell'orco cioccolata. Un bel romanzo che ci parla di vita e morte, di destino, di altruismo e di egoismo.
27 gen 2011, 12:33:37
Sono davvero soddisfatta. E' bello trovare un libro che si rivolge a un pubblico giovane e che non gli propona i soliti giochini e banalita'. E' forse un po' ingenuo come romanzo, ma riuscito e originale. Partendo da una cosa basilare: se i protagonisti sono all'inizio due, non fanno tutto insieme e non sono destinati alla trita storia d'amore casuale. Sono due persone che fanno amicizia, soffrono, litigano, vanno ognuno per la proprioa stada e vivono la loro avvventura a volte in compagnia e a volte da soli. Nel finale c'e' un ribaltamento completo e plausibilissimo delle premesse iniziali, e si capisce benissimo che e' stato studiato e preparato dall'inizio e che da un nuovo senso a tutta la storia. Bellissimo l'epilogo, che ci fa capire come nascono le leggende: Mary, che non vuole che i bambini passino oltre Everlost inveta la storia dell'orco cioccolata. Un bel romanzo che ci parla di vita e morte, di destino, di altruismo e di egoismo.
27 gen 2011, 12:33:37
I liked this book well enough, but after reading Scythe I was expecting more from this author. The idea was incredibly interesting and not something that I had ever seen before. However, I did not develop any sort of emotional connection to any of the characters and some of the content really did not fit the YA classification, but felt more like something from a Middle Grade novel. That being said, because the concept is fresh and the books are not very long I will likely finish the series.
It begins with two strangers, Nick and Allie, who die in a car wreck. They end up in Everlost, which is an alternative reality of the world we live in. They can still see everything that exists in the world, although it's changed some... and certain things that have passed over into Everlost now seem more real than the real world.
The entire story spends a great deal explaining everything, which makes sense since we (the readers) are entering and discovering this new world and new way of being WITH Nick and Allie. I won't summarize the story here, because that seems pointless, but I will give my thoughts on it.
I love how creative Shusterman is with his books. Although some elements of the book seemed more childish, the overall story and the details make up for it. I loved the quoted readings from Mary and Allie's books throughout the story. I enjoyed and appreciated the variety in the story... pirate ships, the Hindenberg, the Twin Towers, Roswell, New Mexico... all incorporated into the story.
One aspect that I kept stumbling on was the names. They are important to the story, as over time the kids would forget their names and instead their nicknames would stick... and the nicknames usually reflected on their appearance (Pinhead, Speedo, Lief, Hershey). However, it seems odd that one would forget their own name (and rather quickly it seemed) yet remember everyone else's names (or nicknames). It also seems odd that some characters (Leaf) had forgotten pretty much everything about their life when they had been alive, yet others can recall how they died, etc. The varying levels of memory was not very consistent.
Also, going along with the memory aspect, sometimes people forgot what they looked like and their appearance would begin to change as well. McGill (a villain in the story) has literally become a monster and WANTS to appear that way... he had forgotten what he looked like. It's only when someone is shown a picture or reminded of how they look (or SHOULD look) that they alter their appearance back.
Overall, I really liked the creativity of the story, and the pacing. I'm looking forward to the next one.
The entire story spends a great deal explaining everything, which makes sense since we (the readers) are entering and discovering this new world and new way of being WITH Nick and Allie. I won't summarize the story here, because that seems pointless, but I will give my thoughts on it.
I love how creative Shusterman is with his books. Although some elements of the book seemed more childish, the overall story and the details make up for it. I loved the quoted readings from Mary and Allie's books throughout the story. I enjoyed and appreciated the variety in the story... pirate ships, the Hindenberg, the Twin Towers, Roswell, New Mexico... all incorporated into the story.
One aspect that I kept stumbling on was the names. They are important to the story, as over time the kids would forget their names and instead their nicknames would stick... and the nicknames usually reflected on their appearance (Pinhead, Speedo, Lief, Hershey). However, it seems odd that one would forget their own name (and rather quickly it seemed) yet remember everyone else's names (or nicknames). It also seems odd that some characters (Leaf) had forgotten pretty much everything about their life when they had been alive, yet others can recall how they died, etc. The varying levels of memory was not very consistent.
Also, going along with the memory aspect, sometimes people forgot what they looked like and their appearance would begin to change as well. McGill (a villain in the story) has literally become a monster and WANTS to appear that way... he had forgotten what he looked like. It's only when someone is shown a picture or reminded of how they look (or SHOULD look) that they alter their appearance back.
Overall, I really liked the creativity of the story, and the pacing. I'm looking forward to the next one.
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Hmm, not as good as Unwind, but better than the Unwind sequels.
The weakest part of the book is Shusterman’s choice of protagonists - Nick and Allie are both dull and annoying, with Allie leaning more towards being an atrocious waste of a human being and Nick more of a sanctimonious huffy blowhard. Much like the protagonists of the Unwind sequels, actually - which implies that Shusterman maybe needs to recycle a bit less (and improve his protagonists).
However, others are quite good - Mary especially, the Mcgill, Lief, Vari, Pinhead, Meadow. I have a feeling that even though Allie will continue to be an obnoxious little snot in the sequels, the fact that she’s the heroine will excuse her from having her faults being carefully examined. Unlike, say, the Villains of the piece.
The premise is quite original, relatively speaking when you look at the wasteland of most of modern fiction. The plot’s well-executed as well and while it doesn’t end in a way that could potentially be a final conclusion in and of itself (which is how I feel about Unwind), neither does it meander around and refuse to have stuff happen just so that the ending will be sequel bait. The latter happens way too often with these YA authors and makes it obvious that they don’t really have the story for a trilogy but are hungry for those coins so create a frustratingly unsatisfying first book in the hopes that readers will come back later for some actual plot.
Both the truth about the Mcgill and the truth about Mary make sense in the context of the preceding pages, and deserve to have sequels fully exploring the implications and consequences for everyone involved. Hopefully the reader gets to spend more time in their heads rather than those drippy “heroes.”
And one last minor note: I’m a fan of the excerpts from Mary’s various books about living as an Afterlight. They’re so her.
The weakest part of the book is Shusterman’s choice of protagonists - Nick and Allie are both dull and annoying, with Allie leaning more towards being an atrocious waste of a human being and Nick more of a sanctimonious huffy blowhard. Much like the protagonists of the Unwind sequels, actually - which implies that Shusterman maybe needs to recycle a bit less (and improve his protagonists).
However, others are quite good - Mary especially, the Mcgill, Lief, Vari, Pinhead, Meadow. I have a feeling that even though Allie will continue to be an obnoxious little snot in the sequels, the fact that she’s the heroine will excuse her from having her faults being carefully examined. Unlike, say, the Villains of the piece.
The premise is quite original, relatively speaking when you look at the wasteland of most of modern fiction. The plot’s well-executed as well and while it doesn’t end in a way that could potentially be a final conclusion in and of itself (which is how I feel about Unwind), neither does it meander around and refuse to have stuff happen just so that the ending will be sequel bait. The latter happens way too often with these YA authors and makes it obvious that they don’t really have the story for a trilogy but are hungry for those coins so create a frustratingly unsatisfying first book in the hopes that readers will come back later for some actual plot.
Both the truth about the Mcgill and the truth about Mary make sense in the context of the preceding pages, and deserve to have sequels fully exploring the implications and consequences for everyone involved. Hopefully the reader gets to spend more time in their heads rather than those drippy “heroes.”
And one last minor note: I’m a fan of the excerpts from Mary’s various books about living as an Afterlight. They’re so her.
Another Shusterman series I had not taken the time to read. What a mistake to have waited so long. He introduces an intriguing concept -- lost souls of children and teens who somehow missed going to heaven, that bright light at the end of the tunnel, and ended up in Everlost. They lose everything -- their names, their faces...but they are safe and happy...or so Mary tells them.
Allie and Nick accidentally cause each other to be knocked off their trajectory to heaven. They have to learn the rules of Everlost quickly. I appreciate how Shusterman lets these rules reveal themselves slowly. THINGS can end up in Everlost -- building that are loved by someone, birthday cakes made with reverence. Even cars and trains (and the Hindenburg)that are sadly missed. The scene when Allie discovers the Twin Towers was so moving and reflective.
Allie and Nick find different reasons to fight the system of Everlost, and are set up for the next book -- Allie so want to go home, to be human again. She learned the risky art of skinjacking -- swooping into the bodies of unsuspecting humans. Nick discovers a way to 'release' the trapped children -- IF they are ready.
Mary seems too good to be true, and her motives are revealed at the end. Lots of questions still need to be addressed...two more books to go.
Allie and Nick accidentally cause each other to be knocked off their trajectory to heaven. They have to learn the rules of Everlost quickly. I appreciate how Shusterman lets these rules reveal themselves slowly. THINGS can end up in Everlost -- building that are loved by someone, birthday cakes made with reverence. Even cars and trains (and the Hindenburg)that are sadly missed. The scene when Allie discovers the Twin Towers was so moving and reflective.
Allie and Nick find different reasons to fight the system of Everlost, and are set up for the next book -- Allie so want to go home, to be human again. She learned the risky art of skinjacking -- swooping into the bodies of unsuspecting humans. Nick discovers a way to 'release' the trapped children -- IF they are ready.
Mary seems too good to be true, and her motives are revealed at the end. Lots of questions still need to be addressed...two more books to go.
It was interesting enough that I read to the last page but I wasn't rushed to find out what was going to happen in the least.
May look up the other books, but more likely just other books by Shusterman.
May look up the other books, but more likely just other books by Shusterman.
The story started slow , even a little boring fortunatly i kept going through it and I was hoocked the story is about Nick and Allie who died and found themselves in a strange place called Everlost halfway between life and death.
Very interesting book...a sort of Lord of the Flies set in Purgatory. Nothing overtly creepy has happened yet but you can hear it in the walls so to speak.