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punwizard's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
papapizza's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
witchywilds's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't so sure about this one until I got about halfway through it. I was having difficulty seeing past the characters ages and felt like maybe Ender in particular was just a little too conveniently genius y'know? "Oh of course he understands this while nobody else does, he's the main character after all and only gets bullied for being so smart and perfect."
Once I hit 50% though, something clicked and I could kind of resonate with the kid. Sure he didn't struggle in class but he struggled in practically every other factor imaginable. Constantly pushed, stressed, moved around and away from any friends he finally managed to make and into the arms of some new bully. Suffering from isolation, from nightmares and dark thoughts of becoming just like his brother, always being younger and weaker than everyone else and looked down on, he actually went through a lot more than I initially gave him credit for.
The last quarter of this book wouldn't let me put it down and I was thrilled with how everything turned out. Incredibly satisfying ending in my mind and will really sit with me even after I read several other stories. Originally I thought of putting this one down but I'm so so glad I sat it out!
Once I hit 50% though, something clicked and I could kind of resonate with the kid. Sure he didn't struggle in class but he struggled in practically every other factor imaginable. Constantly pushed, stressed, moved around and away from any friends he finally managed to make and into the arms of some new bully. Suffering from isolation, from nightmares and dark thoughts of becoming just like his brother, always being younger and weaker than everyone else and looked down on, he actually went through a lot more than I initially gave him credit for.
The last quarter of this book wouldn't let me put it down and I was thrilled with how everything turned out. Incredibly satisfying ending in my mind and will really sit with me even after I read several other stories. Originally I thought of putting this one down but I'm so so glad I sat it out!
0x49d1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
mattaccardo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
ljomccullough's review against another edition
5.0
Just read this book with my daughter. She is in love and going to read everything she can by Orson Scott Card!
travelling_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
“If you try and lose then it isn't your fault. But if you don't try and we lose, then it's all your fault.”
---------------------------------
I love a story set in a strange futuristic dystopia, preferably revolving around a high-technology video game, where the main character bends the rules to the (literal) game and changes the world in consequence. This book would DEFINITELY fall under that very niche category. Another would be Ready Player One. As much as I loved the latter, I am disappointed to say I felt so unconnected from Ender’s Game.
The first problem was the ages of ALL of the characters. You expect me to believe that a 6 year old child has all of these deep insights about human relations and social behaviors? That a 9 year old has the mental and emotional maturity to lead an army, and be cynical about the order of the world? I understand that they are child geniuses brought up in a combat-mindset. I also understand why it needed to be a child for the story to work; any older, and you wouldn’t get the naivete and the fear of authority figures that makes this story work in the first place. But come on now. Have you ever seen a 6 year old?
Secondly, the action sequences (which are of course abundant in a war-school themed story) were described in such a strangely mathematical way that I just could not picture it. I followed the general outlines, but the impressive maneuvers were quite lost on me.
Thirdly, and perhaps the most potent of all, was that it all felt so outdated, and the sexist and homophobic subtext started to annoy me too much by the half point.
In all of this chaos, my favorite parts were strangely the two siblings left behind by Ender. Their manipulative and dangerous characters, their dilemmas, wicked moves to get ahead of the game felt the most relevant and gripping to me.
Knowing how book-to-movie adaptations go, I think I would enjoy this story more in a visual format.
---------------------------------
I love a story set in a strange futuristic dystopia, preferably revolving around a high-technology video game, where the main character bends the rules to the (literal) game and changes the world in consequence. This book would DEFINITELY fall under that very niche category. Another would be Ready Player One. As much as I loved the latter, I am disappointed to say I felt so unconnected from Ender’s Game.
The first problem was the ages of ALL of the characters. You expect me to believe that a 6 year old child has all of these deep insights about human relations and social behaviors? That a 9 year old has the mental and emotional maturity to lead an army, and be cynical about the order of the world? I understand that they are child geniuses brought up in a combat-mindset. I also understand why it needed to be a child for the story to work; any older, and you wouldn’t get the naivete and the fear of authority figures that makes this story work in the first place. But come on now. Have you ever seen a 6 year old?
Secondly, the action sequences (which are of course abundant in a war-school themed story) were described in such a strangely mathematical way that I just could not picture it. I followed the general outlines, but the impressive maneuvers were quite lost on me.
Thirdly, and perhaps the most potent of all, was that it all felt so outdated, and the sexist and homophobic subtext started to annoy me too much by the half point.
In all of this chaos, my favorite parts were strangely the two siblings left behind by Ender. Their manipulative and dangerous characters, their dilemmas, wicked moves to get ahead of the game felt the most relevant and gripping to me.
Knowing how book-to-movie adaptations go, I think I would enjoy this story more in a visual format.
r0b3rta's review against another edition
4.0
I am aware of the controversy surrounding the author and borrowed the book from the library on a recommendation from a friend. The characters were interesting, story was interesting. I liked Ender but really was more interested in some of the other characters - Bean, Alai, Petra. It was good overall.