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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
Munmun by Jesse Andrews is possibly one of the strangest books I have ever read. The concept of the novel is fantastic, it shows how being rich doesn't automatically make you a better person than those who are poor and that money (or munmun) doesn't always bring happiness. Sadly the execution of the idea is quite disappointing.
The narrative voice, Warner, is illiterate due to being littlepoor and unable to attend school, so the story is written phonetically a lot of the time, with many of the words running together into one. This made it incredibly difficult to read as I had to keep stopping to sound out words. Once I got midway into the story I got used to it but it still threw me on occasion.
Overall I enjoyed Munmun as it was a very interesting story, but I definitely deducted points for the strange spelling and grammar.
Many thanks to Allen & Unwin UK for my free copy of Munmun.
The narrative voice, Warner, is illiterate due to being littlepoor and unable to attend school, so the story is written phonetically a lot of the time, with many of the words running together into one. This made it incredibly difficult to read as I had to keep stopping to sound out words. Once I got midway into the story I got used to it but it still threw me on occasion.
Overall I enjoyed Munmun as it was a very interesting story, but I definitely deducted points for the strange spelling and grammar.
Many thanks to Allen & Unwin UK for my free copy of Munmun.
I was really into this book until the last 20 pages. Ending was v disappointing.
A fantastic take on how society would work if human size was directly related to how much money you had. Andrews addresses social stratification issues with wit and sensitivity. The main character, Warner, can dream bigger than anyone else - but big dreams aren't always possible if you're struggling in a society set against you for no other reason than how much money you have. This story made me laugh and cry and question how we, as a society, can avoid continuing a reality where money is seen as an indicator of how quality humans are.
I really wanted to enjoy this; I liked the premise, but I had NO desire to pick it up even when I was 80% through. I didn’t need to know what happened, I didn’t care enough about the characters. As with lots of dystopian/alternate reality-set novels, there felt like there were too many ideas, which overcomplicated an already twisty-turny story
*I was given an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, NetGalley!*
Real youneek, thatsforsure.
I have not read anything like Munmun before, and the creativity alone I believe should attract readers. It's realistic in its lightly hidden commentary on the economic situation--how money truly does run the world and everyone in it--and eye-opening for anyone who thinks otherwise.
In a world where your bank account determines your literal size, being littlepoor is scary. Every day is a constant attempt to stay alive and relying on tricks to simply get from point A to point B.. none of them pretty. As Warner, Prayer, and Usher begin their journey to acquire a small amount of munmun in order to scaleup, things never go well. They get separated, they get harassed, lied to, beaten, laughed at, and just because of their size. Those larger than them know there is nothing the littlepoor can do about it, so they never see consequences for their actions.
Yeah, it's infuriating.
What made this scary--on top of the actual littlepoors fighting desert spiders in a pen--is that the reality of how people are treated based on income is hidden so much better in our world. This book makes you stop and think about your privilege and what you might be able to do to help others less fortunate (without being a complete boob about it like Grant or Hue Family). Topics that Andrews brings up in Munmun are very relevant today.
The story is told from Warner's point of view, and the language took some getting used to. With new slang and vocabulary, you are also dealt a smattering of language that's misspelled and jumbled and squished and all kinds of crazy. While I initially thought it was how everyone spoke in the future, I now see that it's probably just how Warner and other littlepoors see/speak. They can't read most of the time, and the written story reflects how Warner visualizes language. It's sounded out and mashed together in strange places, and really rather straight-forward. It takes some getting used to; but, after you understand the flow, it'll go by easily. (I happened to feel the same way about Jane Austen's writing...).
I will be purchasing a copy of this book for the Young Adult fiction collection at my library. I think it will be a great and unique read for teens hungry for dystopians that are fresh and new. Reluctant readers might also have a great time going through Warner's head and reading a book that goes against convention. It's a dark and gritty adventure, with a few laughs in-between. My only gripe would be the ending felt haphazard, compared to the extensive detail and planning that went into early parts of the story.
Real youneek, thatsforsure.
I have not read anything like Munmun before, and the creativity alone I believe should attract readers. It's realistic in its lightly hidden commentary on the economic situation--how money truly does run the world and everyone in it--and eye-opening for anyone who thinks otherwise.
In a world where your bank account determines your literal size, being littlepoor is scary. Every day is a constant attempt to stay alive and relying on tricks to simply get from point A to point B.. none of them pretty. As Warner, Prayer, and Usher begin their journey to acquire a small amount of munmun in order to scaleup, things never go well. They get separated, they get harassed, lied to, beaten, laughed at, and just because of their size. Those larger than them know there is nothing the littlepoor can do about it, so they never see consequences for their actions.
Yeah, it's infuriating.
What made this scary--on top of the actual littlepoors fighting desert spiders in a pen--is that the reality of how people are treated based on income is hidden so much better in our world. This book makes you stop and think about your privilege and what you might be able to do to help others less fortunate (without being a complete boob about it like Grant or Hue Family). Topics that Andrews brings up in Munmun are very relevant today.
The story is told from Warner's point of view, and the language took some getting used to. With new slang and vocabulary, you are also dealt a smattering of language that's misspelled and jumbled and squished and all kinds of crazy. While I initially thought it was how everyone spoke in the future, I now see that it's probably just how Warner and other littlepoors see/speak. They can't read most of the time, and the written story reflects how Warner visualizes language. It's sounded out and mashed together in strange places, and really rather straight-forward. It takes some getting used to; but, after you understand the flow, it'll go by easily. (I happened to feel the same way about Jane Austen's writing...).
I will be purchasing a copy of this book for the Young Adult fiction collection at my library. I think it will be a great and unique read for teens hungry for dystopians that are fresh and new. Reluctant readers might also have a great time going through Warner's head and reading a book that goes against convention. It's a dark and gritty adventure, with a few laughs in-between. My only gripe would be the ending felt haphazard, compared to the extensive detail and planning that went into early parts of the story.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
reflective
medium-paced
I’m one of the few people on this planet who actually liked Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl. Funny, relatable, and great storytelling. So when I read this book, I was expecting the same thing. And I got it.
This book is extremely funny, as I laughed out loud countless times. The characters, like in Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl, were relatable. I could relate heavily to the main character, both in personality, internal conflict, and financial problems. And the story. It had a great plot that I was so invested in, great characters, tense situations and conflict, and thought-provoking commentary on capitalism and money.
the most entertaining read I've read in a while. loved it.
I just finished this book and it's not even close to something I'd recommend to everyone but it left me with that hollow, what do I do now feeling you get from being totally consumed by characters that you'll never see again.
It shines a too bright light on the cycle and futility of poverty and the constant rat race of "get rich or die trying, literally" and it makes you laugh but also sucks the marrow out of you when you're like...this is real life and we are all just money goblins who will never be satisfied and are constantly clawing our way to the dream of financial security but damn if it's just a construct that can be taken away from all of us at any time as decided by the super rich for no reason except for that we said, "Yeah ok...this sounds like life."
Damn...Jesse. You got me.
It shines a too bright light on the cycle and futility of poverty and the constant rat race of "get rich or die trying, literally" and it makes you laugh but also sucks the marrow out of you when you're like...this is real life and we are all just money goblins who will never be satisfied and are constantly clawing our way to the dream of financial security but damn if it's just a construct that can be taken away from all of us at any time as decided by the super rich for no reason except for that we said, "Yeah ok...this sounds like life."
Damn...Jesse. You got me.