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outoftheblue14's review against another edition
3.0
I found this book in the kids section at the library, of course in the Italian translation. It sounded good, so I picked it up. I'm quite in a dystopian mood, and this book seemed a bit different from most, in that a) the main character is a boy; b) there is no love story or love triangle; and c) it looked like a stand-alone novel. Or at least, the book was originally intended as a stand-alone and works that way, but the ending is fairly open. While checking out the author's stie, I read somewhere that after so many requests from readers, she's now writing a sequel.
After a nuclear catastrophe, Eli's family has been living for 6 years in a luxury compound. Eli's father, a multi-millionaire, had the compound built and provided with everything his family might need for 15 years. When they entered it, Eli had just turned nine. Now he's fifteen, but still misses his gradma and twin brother Eddy, who didn't make it to the compound before it was sealed off.
The compund is like a golden cage for Eli and his sisters,. they have everything they could possibly want, but they cannot go out. Their father dictates the law and they're expected to obey. Eli is particularly bored by the monotonous routine and can't wait to be able to step outside.
However, it seems that food storage wasn't completey sufficient, and now supplies are starting to run out. And one day, a distraction from Eli's father hints at something new and unexpected. The compound, more than a shelter, now seems like a prison. And Eli is determined to find his way out.
I liked the claustrophobic feel of this book. I think it was very well done. And I also liked the ending, which was left open enough for the readers to imagine for themselves what they want to happen. The clash between Eli and his father is strong. It's a battle of minds, more than bodies.
On the other hand, I think that the so-called "Supplies" weren't investigated in full. It's not very clear what they planned to do with them. Or at least, one can imagine, but it's not explicitly stated. I suppose this is intentional; leaving it undefined makes it more horrible and cruel.
I'd recommend this book to lovers of dystopian fiction and a good thriller, without much blood and gore.
Cover attraction: it's dark and slightly creepy. Very fitting, to depict the door of the compound. On the right you can see the Italian cover. I think I like this one better. It focuses on the idea of escaping, even though the compound looks very big.
After a nuclear catastrophe, Eli's family has been living for 6 years in a luxury compound. Eli's father, a multi-millionaire, had the compound built and provided with everything his family might need for 15 years. When they entered it, Eli had just turned nine. Now he's fifteen, but still misses his gradma and twin brother Eddy, who didn't make it to the compound before it was sealed off.
The compund is like a golden cage for Eli and his sisters,. they have everything they could possibly want, but they cannot go out. Their father dictates the law and they're expected to obey. Eli is particularly bored by the monotonous routine and can't wait to be able to step outside.
However, it seems that food storage wasn't completey sufficient, and now supplies are starting to run out. And one day, a distraction from Eli's father hints at something new and unexpected. The compound, more than a shelter, now seems like a prison. And Eli is determined to find his way out.
I liked the claustrophobic feel of this book. I think it was very well done. And I also liked the ending, which was left open enough for the readers to imagine for themselves what they want to happen. The clash between Eli and his father is strong. It's a battle of minds, more than bodies.
On the other hand, I think that the so-called "Supplies" weren't investigated in full. It's not very clear what they planned to do with them. Or at least, one can imagine, but it's not explicitly stated. I suppose this is intentional; leaving it undefined makes it more horrible and cruel.
I'd recommend this book to lovers of dystopian fiction and a good thriller, without much blood and gore.
Cover attraction: it's dark and slightly creepy. Very fitting, to depict the door of the compound. On the right you can see the Italian cover. I think I like this one better. It focuses on the idea of escaping, even though the compound looks very big.
lyntwhit's review against another edition
4.0
Bought this for my Nook because I thought it sounded like a good YA post-apocalyptic book. It was - but more so a mystery than postapoc. Read it in one sitting! Definitely a page-turner. It was a short book, but still very good.
reader4evr's review against another edition
3.0
This book was totally predictable. I didn't really like Eli but as the book went on I kind of understand why he acted the way he did. It's freaky to think that what happened in this book could possibly happen. I hope her other book The Gardener is better.
minion2r's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book so much! Sure, it could be just a little bit predictable, but the way the author wrote it made you feel like you were wrong and therefore I was always second guessing myself.
The characters were likable, especially our main character, who I think struggled with guilt in a realistic way by protecting himself by lashing out. I don’t want perfect characters since nobody is perfect and it makes for a boring read. Thankfully, I had none of that here. It was a fun, suspenseful, and quick read that kept me on my toes.
The characters were likable, especially our main character, who I think struggled with guilt in a realistic way by protecting himself by lashing out. I don’t want perfect characters since nobody is perfect and it makes for a boring read. Thankfully, I had none of that here. It was a fun, suspenseful, and quick read that kept me on my toes.
jennrocca's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. I read it fast and the book was intriguing. It has a good plot. The writing is pretty weak and the characters, while deep enough, aren't developed convincingly. It lacks subtlety but it completely succeeded at entertaining me which is all I was really looking for.
I did not connect that Bodeen wrote Elizabeti's Doll. I love that book and knew this author's name was familiar! Now I know why. An OK book - would translate to film well.
oliviollo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
snakeboba's review against another edition
4.0
Adding full review later, but let me tell you this went from a meh to I need to read the next book now.
protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
This book started so positively for me, but sort of fizzled out towards the end. I liked the set-up to the compound and finding out how Eli and his family lived down there, but at some point during the reveal of the reason for them being there and the escape it all just seemed to take too long. I prefer a book that keeps you guessing until the very end, but due to the nature of this story, the reveal had to come too early on, and then the rest was all a little anticlimactic. Still, I did enjoy the characters and the story enough to keep me interested in sticking around for the second book.
paigebach's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
stephxsu's review against another edition
3.0
THE COMPOUND is an interesting but not life-changing “action” read. Bodeen’s descriptions of the extent of the compound is fantastic and almost makes you okay with the idea of living in one place for 15 years…until she begins to describe the personality alterations inflicted on the family members from all those years of confinement. So the world-building is fantastic, but Eli is a bit difficult to get behind as a protagonist. He is admittedly selfish, sullen, and a giant pain in the you-know-what, and he doesn’t grow nearly quite enough through the course of the short novel to make me sympathize with him.