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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
You can find more of my reviews here on my blog: Take Me Away...
When I heard about this one I was INSTANTLY excited. Like you have no idea. I automatically want to read any type of re-telling, but this one was guaranteed to be unique. And it definitely was. I'm pretty sure I won't ever read anything like this ever again.
The best thing about this book was the uniqueness of it. I found out about it through the Re-Tellings web that the Epic Reads girls made and I'd been thinking about it ever since. The story was laced with some of the original events (or really things that I remembered from the movies) as well as some new things that were captured in this story. I was a little worried about the way they said things like iPhone and other electronics, thinking it would date the story, but it actually didn't. It gave a little more to the story. That way we were able to see how things had evolved so much in the time that Cade had been gone.
One thing I wasn't impressed with was the way the characters were so quick to disbelieve him. No one ever went to try and prove him right or wrong, they just jumped to saying he was lying. It made me a little upset because then they would have seen. And then when everything came out, it just seemed like there was nothing and they were still treating him like a suspect. I really hated how they treated him. Just because it's different doesn't mean its wrong geesh.
Last but not least, I did not like how the synopsis basically tells the entire story. Yeah it tells the small things, but in the story that's really it. There's no huge climax event and there's no OMG moments in the middle. It's basically cut and dry. But then again, that's basically how the real story was.Which is the main reason my rating isn't higher. But even still, I did enjoy it.
Although there were somethings that were wrong with this re-telling, there were still some things I enjoyed as well.
When I heard about this one I was INSTANTLY excited. Like you have no idea. I automatically want to read any type of re-telling, but this one was guaranteed to be unique. And it definitely was. I'm pretty sure I won't ever read anything like this ever again.
The best thing about this book was the uniqueness of it. I found out about it through the Re-Tellings web that the Epic Reads girls made and I'd been thinking about it ever since. The story was laced with some of the original events (or really things that I remembered from the movies) as well as some new things that were captured in this story. I was a little worried about the way they said things like iPhone and other electronics, thinking it would date the story, but it actually didn't. It gave a little more to the story. That way we were able to see how things had evolved so much in the time that Cade had been gone.
One thing I wasn't impressed with was the way the characters were so quick to disbelieve him. No one ever went to try and prove him right or wrong, they just jumped to saying he was lying. It made me a little upset because then they would have seen. And then when everything came out, it just seemed like there was nothing and they were still treating him like a suspect. I really hated how they treated him. Just because it's different doesn't mean its wrong geesh.
Last but not least, I did not like how the synopsis basically tells the entire story. Yeah it tells the small things, but in the story that's really it. There's no huge climax event and there's no OMG moments in the middle. It's basically cut and dry. But then again, that's basically how the real story was.Which is the main reason my rating isn't higher. But even still, I did enjoy it.
Although there were somethings that were wrong with this re-telling, there were still some things I enjoyed as well.
Wild is going to be one of those books were everything hinges on the reader liking the writing style. If you can't get into the writing style you are going to have a very hard time liking this book. I on the other hand had no issues with the writing style. I actually thought it suited quite well the tone of the whole book.
Wild read almost like a documentary kind of, but in a good way? I'm not sure how to explain it. It covers all the major characters and their interactions during those certain events were the rest of the story line hangs on. It would jump from a scene with Tarzan, to one showing how the police investigation is going, to how Dara is dealing with it and whole all these little things shape up to be Tarzan's story.
Sure, Cade (Tarzan) and Dara's relationship evolves very quickly, but it somehow didn't seem unnatural or weird to me. It felt right. I could understand where their feelings were coming from and why. So it didn't bother me.
There were quite a few characters that I wasn't too happy about like Dara's sister, but overall, they were all fully rounded characters, and you get to see their depth with the way they handle this very strange situation and the press attention it comes with.
In my opinion I thought it was a wonderfully done Tarzan retelling, but again, if you find out the writing style isn't for you then you probably won't be enjoying this as much as I did.
*A copy was provided through Edelweiss and HaperTeen for review consideration*
Wild read almost like a documentary kind of, but in a good way? I'm not sure how to explain it. It covers all the major characters and their interactions during those certain events were the rest of the story line hangs on. It would jump from a scene with Tarzan, to one showing how the police investigation is going, to how Dara is dealing with it and whole all these little things shape up to be Tarzan's story.
Sure, Cade (Tarzan) and Dara's relationship evolves very quickly, but it somehow didn't seem unnatural or weird to me. It felt right. I could understand where their feelings were coming from and why. So it didn't bother me.
There were quite a few characters that I wasn't too happy about like Dara's sister, but overall, they were all fully rounded characters, and you get to see their depth with the way they handle this very strange situation and the press attention it comes with.
In my opinion I thought it was a wonderfully done Tarzan retelling, but again, if you find out the writing style isn't for you then you probably won't be enjoying this as much as I did.
*A copy was provided through Edelweiss and HaperTeen for review consideration*
Oh, this was such an awesome book! Loved these characters, and yeah, Cade and Dara were so great, loved reading about them!
This was really good but some parts were slow. Also, I love the orignal Tarzan soooo much that any retelling couldn't match it
A lot about this book is very much not what I usually enjoy, but I found the prose engaging, which was enough to keep me reading. I'm fascinated by feral children and expected this would be more romance than adaptation. I was right on that count, so it wasn't too disappointing. Unfortunately, it also wasn't too *interesting*.
If you're not on a 12-hour travel day, probably give this one a miss. That said, it has its moments, is not badly written, and is not a downer.
If you're not on a 12-hour travel day, probably give this one a miss. That said, it has its moments, is not badly written, and is not a downer.
I've wanted to read this book ever since I first heard of it (I'm not a fan of the cover) because it is a retelling of Tarzan. I haven't read the original novel, but I've seen quite a few films about it, like the Disney one (my favorite) so I had to read this book.
Even though I'm not a fan of duel POVS in YA (mainly because it happens way too much) I enjoyed Cade and Dara's POVS (AKA Tarzan and Jane). Plus Mallory did a great job with the setting, where Cade has been living in a national forest instead of the Amazon. I think that helped modernize the story without losing anything.
I loved how the ending was open ended and I am now hoping for a second novel! :)
I recommend checking this out if you enjoyed the film.
Even though I'm not a fan of duel POVS in YA (mainly because it happens way too much) I enjoyed Cade and Dara's POVS (AKA Tarzan and Jane). Plus Mallory did a great job with the setting, where Cade has been living in a national forest instead of the Amazon. I think that helped modernize the story without losing anything.
I loved how the ending was open ended and I am now hoping for a second novel! :)
I recommend checking this out if you enjoyed the film.
FIRST THOUGHTS:
A Tarzan inspired tale? THAT is what immediately sold me on Wild. Unfortunately, it wound up not quite working for me. I didn't really connect well with the characters, though there were moments where it got SO CLOSE. Plus, there felt like there were too many things going on! I do think the logic of Cade's history was interesting.
REVIEW:
Oh, Wild. I really wanted to like this book, friends. Right off the bat, I was interested in seeing Mallory’s execution of this Tarzan-inspired tale. I mean, come on, what’s not interesting about a boy who grew up in the wild without any human interaction for years?
Admittedly, there are ways in which Mallory’s story was successful. But there were far more ways in which it didn’t quite work, at least for me.
Here are the things I liked about Wild:
Mallory’s spin on Tarzan, AKA Cade’s life in the wild – I’m not quite sure what I was expecting Cade’s life to be like. But I think Mallory did a decent job of setting his history against the backdrop of a life in the forest, secluded from humanity with only his parents for company. The ways they learned to survive and adapt were really fascinating. It did remind me a bit of Searching for Sky, because of the survival and adaptation to the real world elements.
The reason Cade grew up in the wild – I actually came up with a couple of theories, but the real reason he was hidden away with his parents? It’s really fascinating, and really believable. I mean, it’s obviously extreme, but once you learn what it is, it makes a lot of sense.
Dara’s photography – I do like that Dara’s major hobby was photography, and capturing moments and essences through her lens. I don’t profess to be an excellent photographer, but it’s always fun to try and capture the feeling of a particular experience.
Sofia, Dara’s BFF – Honestly, Sofia is probably my favorite character! She’s an excellent best friend to Dara, and ally for her and Cade. Plus, her sass, humor, bluntness and understanding made her A-OK in my book.
Here are the things that I didn’t like about Wild:
How Cade’s case was handled – This was a big issue for me, and I know it was the same for Rachel, too. It’s kind of hard to believe that the procedure involved in figuring out who Cade was did not involve a DNA sample of any sort right away. Investigations were grossly mishandled, especially in terms of tips too. I’m not sure if this was because it was set in a small town, but still, it felt wrong.
Dara’s family + Josh – Okay, seriously, I just did not like any of the other people in Dara’s life. Her parents are seriously not helpful to Cade or to Dara, nor do they even try to understand the connection they have. Her younger sister Lia also happens to be majorly pretentious and a bit of a bitch, though there was a moment that made me gain some serious respect for her. And Josh, well, I did feel a bit bad for him, but I also kind of hated that he was oblivious to things, too.
Dara – I was fascinated by her interest in photography, as mentioned. But sometimes, she did things that I just could not fathom. I get being “connected” to Cade after what happened, but to really go through all this crazy trouble (and trouble she knew she was walking into?). It’s a little nuts, if you ask me. Plus, I never really connected with her character or her troubles.
The romance – Oh boy. I can understand instant attraction between Dara and Cade. But to have them feel strongly romantic towards each other? That’s a little too fast, too much, too soon. Their rapport would have been nice if they’d just been friends first, or maybe friends all the way up until the very end. Speaking of…
The ending – Oh boy. The way things end here is a touch too extreme, if you ask me. I honestly couldn’t fathom why the situation called for such a dramatic conclusion!
Pacing – The way a story moves is really important, since it can’t be too fast or too slow. It jumped around a lot in this novel, from going pretty fast to slowing down a ton. I seriously couldn’t wrap my head around it, and kept getting knocked out of the story because of the pacing.
Here is what I’m fairly neutral about in Wild:
Cade – I just can’t bring myself to actually dislike Cade. I could really understand his reactions and emotions, especially considering he’s lived such a sheltered life since he was little! But I also found him hard to really connect with, since he’s definitely very closed off and detached. It was, admittedly, really cool to see all of his survival skills in action!
In sum, there are certainly things to appreciate about Wild. It had a lot of potential to be awesome, but ultimately, it just wound up not being my personal cup of tea.
A Tarzan inspired tale? THAT is what immediately sold me on Wild. Unfortunately, it wound up not quite working for me. I didn't really connect well with the characters, though there were moments where it got SO CLOSE. Plus, there felt like there were too many things going on! I do think the logic of Cade's history was interesting.
REVIEW:
Oh, Wild. I really wanted to like this book, friends. Right off the bat, I was interested in seeing Mallory’s execution of this Tarzan-inspired tale. I mean, come on, what’s not interesting about a boy who grew up in the wild without any human interaction for years?
Admittedly, there are ways in which Mallory’s story was successful. But there were far more ways in which it didn’t quite work, at least for me.
Here are the things I liked about Wild:
Mallory’s spin on Tarzan, AKA Cade’s life in the wild – I’m not quite sure what I was expecting Cade’s life to be like. But I think Mallory did a decent job of setting his history against the backdrop of a life in the forest, secluded from humanity with only his parents for company. The ways they learned to survive and adapt were really fascinating. It did remind me a bit of Searching for Sky, because of the survival and adaptation to the real world elements.
The reason Cade grew up in the wild – I actually came up with a couple of theories, but the real reason he was hidden away with his parents? It’s really fascinating, and really believable. I mean, it’s obviously extreme, but once you learn what it is, it makes a lot of sense.
Dara’s photography – I do like that Dara’s major hobby was photography, and capturing moments and essences through her lens. I don’t profess to be an excellent photographer, but it’s always fun to try and capture the feeling of a particular experience.
Sofia, Dara’s BFF – Honestly, Sofia is probably my favorite character! She’s an excellent best friend to Dara, and ally for her and Cade. Plus, her sass, humor, bluntness and understanding made her A-OK in my book.
Here are the things that I didn’t like about Wild:
How Cade’s case was handled – This was a big issue for me, and I know it was the same for Rachel, too. It’s kind of hard to believe that the procedure involved in figuring out who Cade was did not involve a DNA sample of any sort right away. Investigations were grossly mishandled, especially in terms of tips too. I’m not sure if this was because it was set in a small town, but still, it felt wrong.
Dara’s family + Josh – Okay, seriously, I just did not like any of the other people in Dara’s life. Her parents are seriously not helpful to Cade or to Dara, nor do they even try to understand the connection they have. Her younger sister Lia also happens to be majorly pretentious and a bit of a bitch, though there was a moment that made me gain some serious respect for her. And Josh, well, I did feel a bit bad for him, but I also kind of hated that he was oblivious to things, too.
Dara – I was fascinated by her interest in photography, as mentioned. But sometimes, she did things that I just could not fathom. I get being “connected” to Cade after what happened, but to really go through all this crazy trouble (and trouble she knew she was walking into?). It’s a little nuts, if you ask me. Plus, I never really connected with her character or her troubles.
The romance – Oh boy. I can understand instant attraction between Dara and Cade. But to have them feel strongly romantic towards each other? That’s a little too fast, too much, too soon. Their rapport would have been nice if they’d just been friends first, or maybe friends all the way up until the very end. Speaking of…
The ending – Oh boy. The way things end here is a touch too extreme, if you ask me. I honestly couldn’t fathom why the situation called for such a dramatic conclusion!
Pacing – The way a story moves is really important, since it can’t be too fast or too slow. It jumped around a lot in this novel, from going pretty fast to slowing down a ton. I seriously couldn’t wrap my head around it, and kept getting knocked out of the story because of the pacing.
Here is what I’m fairly neutral about in Wild:
Cade – I just can’t bring myself to actually dislike Cade. I could really understand his reactions and emotions, especially considering he’s lived such a sheltered life since he was little! But I also found him hard to really connect with, since he’s definitely very closed off and detached. It was, admittedly, really cool to see all of his survival skills in action!
In sum, there are certainly things to appreciate about Wild. It had a lot of potential to be awesome, but ultimately, it just wound up not being my personal cup of tea.
The first bit reminded me of the movie Captain Fantastic, with the similar premise of people hiding out from the modern world in the forest. I can't say there were a whole lot of surprises in this book. Things pretty much play out exactly the way you expect them too. But the characters were likeable and it isn't a plot that's been done entirely to death (yet) so it wasn't a slog to get through or anything.
You can find more of my reviews here on my blog: Take Me Away...
When I heard about this one I was INSTANTLY excited. Like you have no idea. I automatically want to read any type of re-telling, but this one was guaranteed to be unique. And it definitely was. I'm pretty sure I won't ever read anything like this ever again.
The best thing about this book was the uniqueness of it. I found out about it through the Re-Tellings web that the Epic Reads girls made and I'd been thinking about it ever since. The story was laced with some of the original events (or really things that I remembered from the movies) as well as some new things that were captured in this story. I was a little worried about the way they said things like iPhone and other electronics, thinking it would date the story, but it actually didn't. It gave a little more to the story. That way we were able to see how things had evolved so much in the time that Cade had been gone.
One thing I wasn't impressed with was the way the characters were so quick to disbelieve him. No one ever went to try and prove him right or wrong, they just jumped to saying he was lying. It made me a little upset because then they would have seen. And then when everything came out, it just seemed like there was nothing and they were still treating him like a suspect. I really hated how they treated him. Just because it's different doesn't mean its wrong geesh.
Last but not least, I did not like how the synopsis basically tells the entire story. Yeah it tells the small things, but in the story that's really it. There's no huge climax event and there's no OMG moments in the middle. It's basically cut and dry. But then again, that's basically how the real story was.Which is the main reason my rating isn't higher. But even still, I did enjoy it.
Although there were somethings that were wrong with this re-telling, there were still some things I enjoyed as well.
When I heard about this one I was INSTANTLY excited. Like you have no idea. I automatically want to read any type of re-telling, but this one was guaranteed to be unique. And it definitely was. I'm pretty sure I won't ever read anything like this ever again.
The best thing about this book was the uniqueness of it. I found out about it through the Re-Tellings web that the Epic Reads girls made and I'd been thinking about it ever since. The story was laced with some of the original events (or really things that I remembered from the movies) as well as some new things that were captured in this story. I was a little worried about the way they said things like iPhone and other electronics, thinking it would date the story, but it actually didn't. It gave a little more to the story. That way we were able to see how things had evolved so much in the time that Cade had been gone.
One thing I wasn't impressed with was the way the characters were so quick to disbelieve him. No one ever went to try and prove him right or wrong, they just jumped to saying he was lying. It made me a little upset because then they would have seen. And then when everything came out, it just seemed like there was nothing and they were still treating him like a suspect. I really hated how they treated him. Just because it's different doesn't mean its wrong geesh.
Last but not least, I did not like how the synopsis basically tells the entire story. Yeah it tells the small things, but in the story that's really it. There's no huge climax event and there's no OMG moments in the middle. It's basically cut and dry. But then again, that's basically how the real story was.Which is the main reason my rating isn't higher. But even still, I did enjoy it.
Although there were somethings that were wrong with this re-telling, there were still some things I enjoyed as well.