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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking
It was such a fast-paced and interesting novel with a very unique setting.
I loved the twists and turns in this story. The best twist at the end — the walled city actually existed. The storyline was fictional, but the actual existence of such a cluster of ramshackle buildings on the edge of a city was real. It gave the story more charm for me. Couldn't explain to you exactly why.
I loved how there wasn't some easy simple solution to this story. Plans that were made by the protagonists did not follow through, and this left these characters having to always be thinking on their feet and pushing through their pain. This story was filled with strength and so much courage and I loved it. I loved how different each of the characters of this book were from one another. They all showed strength in a different unique way, overcoming each of their own shortcomings in order to fight for their beliefs. I was rooting for every single one of these characters, hoping they were gonna make it.
The suspense of this book was sometimes absolutely amazing. yeah, i could kinda guess what was gonna happen, but that didn't take away from the anticipation I felt and the need I had to see what happened next. So many times, these characters were pushed into such rough spots, and they were forced to make quick hard decisions, and I just loved it.
I had a problem with some of the author's comparisons in this book. When I speak of comparisons, I'm talking about the literary devices Graudin would use. There was great action, world building, character development, history, and an awesome story line, however I felt that her descriptions of the setting of the walled city were somewhat lacking and rather basic. Whenever the setting was being described, or even the descriptions of the emotions of the characters, I just found that simple similes were often over used and therefore the depth of the emotion of this book was not achieved. There was so much potential for the range of emotions felt by these characters were the descriptions could have beautifully pulled the reader in and allowed them to experience the circumstances better if the descriptions of said circumstances were handled with more tact, subtlety, and imagery; including that of all the five senses. The descriptions that were used, were short and terse, and when there were multiple of them being used, there wasn't really any flow that might have allowed for smooth transitions between the descriptions so that reading the descriptions became a choppy and awkward task.
I also had an issue with the "falling in love at first sight"cliche that was going on between two characters in this book. Its cliche, and I've read it a million times in cheesy romance stories, and with a story line as spontaneous and exciting as this, a more complex love story i think would have been expected and as there wasn't, a certain element of this books potential was lacking for me.
Over all, I really did enjoy reading this book and the issues I had with it were pretty minor. Graudin created a great story off of an urban reality.
I loved how there wasn't some easy simple solution to this story. Plans that were made by the protagonists did not follow through, and this left these characters having to always be thinking on their feet and pushing through their pain. This story was filled with strength and so much courage and I loved it. I loved how different each of the characters of this book were from one another. They all showed strength in a different unique way, overcoming each of their own shortcomings in order to fight for their beliefs. I was rooting for every single one of these characters, hoping they were gonna make it.
The suspense of this book was sometimes absolutely amazing. yeah, i could kinda guess what was gonna happen, but that didn't take away from the anticipation I felt and the need I had to see what happened next. So many times, these characters were pushed into such rough spots, and they were forced to make quick hard decisions, and I just loved it.
I had a problem with some of the author's comparisons in this book. When I speak of comparisons, I'm talking about the literary devices Graudin would use. There was great action, world building, character development, history, and an awesome story line, however I felt that her descriptions of the setting of the walled city were somewhat lacking and rather basic. Whenever the setting was being described, or even the descriptions of the emotions of the characters, I just found that simple similes were often over used and therefore the depth of the emotion of this book was not achieved. There was so much potential for the range of emotions felt by these characters were the descriptions could have beautifully pulled the reader in and allowed them to experience the circumstances better if the descriptions of said circumstances were handled with more tact, subtlety, and imagery; including that of all the five senses. The descriptions that were used, were short and terse, and when there were multiple of them being used, there wasn't really any flow that might have allowed for smooth transitions between the descriptions so that reading the descriptions became a choppy and awkward task.
I also had an issue with the "falling in love at first sight"cliche that was going on between two characters in this book. Its cliche, and I've read it a million times in cheesy romance stories, and with a story line as spontaneous and exciting as this, a more complex love story i think would have been expected and as there wasn't, a certain element of this books potential was lacking for me.
Over all, I really did enjoy reading this book and the issues I had with it were pretty minor. Graudin created a great story off of an urban reality.
Honestly, who did not want this book after all the BEA buzz around it? I was so excited when Little, Brown approved me for an ARC and read it right away. It was such a great read--so much so that I wasn't sure what to say about it afterwards. I could join the chorus and say how beautiful the writing is (it so is!) or how phenomenal the world building is (truly!) and how tight and intense the pacing was (oh my God, I couldn't stop reading if you tore this one out of my hands!) or how gorgeous the cover is (because I have eyes).
The Walled City was all of that, and yet, it felt like something more. Something I couldn't quite put into words. And then I took a glance at Ryan's note in the back:
The Walled City was real.
Even though the city was closed down by the government, the human trafficking still continues. The characters I came to fall in love with: Mei Yee, sold for her beauty and youth and Jin, whose resilience to survive behind the walls in the search for her stolen sister could very well be real. It was chilling and heartbreaking.
So, rather than give a reader review, I want to devote this space on my blog to promote how we all can learn more about this issue. Ryan suggests visiting the International Justice Mission at www.ijm.org.
Read this one, because The Walled City will open your eyes and have you Googling for more information and seeking ways you can help.
http://valeriefm80.blogspot.com/2014/07/for-your-tbr-pile-walled-city.html
The Walled City was all of that, and yet, it felt like something more. Something I couldn't quite put into words. And then I took a glance at Ryan's note in the back:
The Walled City was real.
Even though the city was closed down by the government, the human trafficking still continues. The characters I came to fall in love with: Mei Yee, sold for her beauty and youth and Jin, whose resilience to survive behind the walls in the search for her stolen sister could very well be real. It was chilling and heartbreaking.
So, rather than give a reader review, I want to devote this space on my blog to promote how we all can learn more about this issue. Ryan suggests visiting the International Justice Mission at www.ijm.org.
Read this one, because The Walled City will open your eyes and have you Googling for more information and seeking ways you can help.
http://valeriefm80.blogspot.com/2014/07/for-your-tbr-pile-walled-city.html
2.5 stars!
Finally! Finished the book! The setting and the premise of this books is so good, but the pace is so sloooow. I cannot feel any attachment to the characters and the felt underdeveloped. At the same time, I also failed to understand and imagine the surroundings of the book, how cramped and filthy it was.
Overall, I'm not a big fan of this book.
Finally! Finished the book! The setting and the premise of this books is so good, but the pace is so sloooow. I cannot feel any attachment to the characters and the felt underdeveloped. At the same time, I also failed to understand and imagine the surroundings of the book, how cramped and filthy it was.
Overall, I'm not a big fan of this book.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
I love Graudin's writing, that much is for sure.
Though I must admit that I didn't love this book as much as the Wolf by Wolf series, it is still a good read.
It's very fast paced, great to get you out of a slump! The plot is not too complicated but it is exciting and tense enough to keep you invested and wanting to know more.
Though I must admit that I didn't love this book as much as the Wolf by Wolf series, it is still a good read.
It's very fast paced, great to get you out of a slump! The plot is not too complicated but it is exciting and tense enough to keep you invested and wanting to know more.
*3.5 stars*
I really, really enjoyed the book! I loved the diversity and the story, especially the fact that it's a standalone book. ALONE. BY ITSELF. The story had an ending that I quite liked and I'm happy that it ended the way it did.
I loved our three mains and their development. The reason that I didn't rate it any higher is only because I wasn't ENTHRALLED. If that makes sense.
I really, really enjoyed the book! I loved the diversity and the story, especially the fact that it's a standalone book. ALONE. BY ITSELF. The story had an ending that I quite liked and I'm happy that it ended the way it did.
I loved our three mains and their development. The reason that I didn't rate it any higher is only because I wasn't ENTHRALLED. If that makes sense.
I knew absolutely nothing going into this book except that it was written by Ryan Graudin and I loved Wolf by Wolf so I had to give this try.
I love the 3 perspectives. Every crumb of information dropped about each character, I gobbled up.
What I didn’t realize until the end, is that the Walled City itself is based on a real Walled City that existed in Hong Kong. The author acknowledges that this story is not historical fiction, just merely based on the idea of said city in Hong Kong but the essential of life of the city was true.
I’m glad I finally picked up this book. It was something different than what I’m used to reading though it still had a dystopian vibe.
I love the 3 perspectives. Every crumb of information dropped about each character, I gobbled up.
What I didn’t realize until the end, is that the Walled City itself is based on a real Walled City that existed in Hong Kong. The author acknowledges that this story is not historical fiction, just merely based on the idea of said city in Hong Kong but the essential of life of the city was true.
I’m glad I finally picked up this book. It was something different than what I’m used to reading though it still had a dystopian vibe.
"There are moments you wait for. And then there are moments you wait for. Moments that you spend every other moment preparing for. Points of your life that click and turn. Push you in a completely new direction."
Have you ever read a book so beautiful and RAW that was in your grasp, but every time when something good happens it goes completely in reverse, spins out of control, and you wish you could hold onto it for a minute longer? But then, something happens and it's like the ocean, pushing and pulling you, through the calm, vast, and rough waters?
THAT was this book. Words, words, words. This book was so amazing and I did not hate anything that I read out of this book. The characters were so intricately woven together and connected in ways I didn't know characters could be. Even through the good and bad, the characters were pieced in an unprecedented way, causing me to come out of my book slump.
I want to know more of what happens in this book, I do. But if a sequel doesn't come out, I'll be satisfied with what I have. The detailed pieces, the small or big, were pronounced in a way that was easily understood. Please read this. I think it most definitely has become one of my favorite books of 2016.
Have you ever read a book so beautiful and RAW that was in your grasp, but every time when something good happens it goes completely in reverse, spins out of control, and you wish you could hold onto it for a minute longer? But then, something happens and it's like the ocean, pushing and pulling you, through the calm, vast, and rough waters?
THAT was this book. Words, words, words. This book was so amazing and I did not hate anything that I read out of this book. The characters were so intricately woven together and connected in ways I didn't know characters could be. Even through the good and bad, the characters were pieced in an unprecedented way, causing me to come out of my book slump.
I want to know more of what happens in this book, I do. But if a sequel doesn't come out, I'll be satisfied with what I have. The detailed pieces, the small or big, were pronounced in a way that was easily understood. Please read this. I think it most definitely has become one of my favorite books of 2016.