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monkeyboystiff's review against another edition
4.0
Books which are told from the first person perspective and slowly reveal the gimmicks of the setting (in this case, that colonies have landed on another planet and a germ means that everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts) are both enjoyable and potentially frustrating, as you coast over sections which only make sense when you've been clued in on the situation later in the text. This book handles it well, and drips feeds the information nicely. the setting is fleshed out nicely, and Todd's character is well rounded and vivid. Manchee the dog too was easy to picture, as were the other men of Prentisstown. It's a testament to the author that I was genuinely saddened when Manchee was murdered, it was very tragic indeed (although perhaps a little telegraphed!)
The story was excellent overall, and moved at a decent pace to keep it interesting. I do get a little fed up with books when the story is just the protagonists struggling to get from one place to another, which this book did have in places. I tend to skim those sections! I also got frustrated with Viola's silence near the start; there didn't really seem to be a reason for her not to speak, and Todd asking her questions and then saying "but she didn't answer" was repetitive.
I also have problems with the storytelling trope where the protagonist doesn't want to kill another person, as this will in some way "taint" them and make them corrupt. If they are murdering an innocent person in their sleep I could understand this, but in this book it was a deranged mad man who killed Todd's dog, beat him and Viola up, and generally caused all kinds of unpleasantness and mayhem. It may have been somewhat morally ambiguous to kill him, but he wasn't exactly an innocent party, and surely it could be written off under "self-defence" for the most part - he was extremely dangerous and relentless in his pursuit. So I don't really buy into that struggle.
The cliffhanger ending was very compelling, and I shall certainly be getting the next one to see what happens. Excellent YA book - I hope the others live up to this one.
The story was excellent overall, and moved at a decent pace to keep it interesting. I do get a little fed up with books when the story is just the protagonists struggling to get from one place to another, which this book did have in places. I tend to skim those sections! I also got frustrated with Viola's silence near the start; there didn't really seem to be a reason for her not to speak, and Todd asking her questions and then saying "but she didn't answer" was repetitive.
I also have problems with the storytelling trope where the protagonist doesn't want to kill another person, as this will in some way "taint" them and make them corrupt. If they are murdering an innocent person in their sleep I could understand this, but in this book it was a deranged mad man who killed Todd's dog, beat him and Viola up, and generally caused all kinds of unpleasantness and mayhem. It may have been somewhat morally ambiguous to kill him, but he wasn't exactly an innocent party, and surely it could be written off under "self-defence" for the most part - he was extremely dangerous and relentless in his pursuit. So I don't really buy into that struggle.
The cliffhanger ending was very compelling, and I shall certainly be getting the next one to see what happens. Excellent YA book - I hope the others live up to this one.
hailthejessiah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Poo, Todd
anrombouts's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
daflasek's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved it, the style of writing, the characters, and THE ENDING (it broke me). Everything about this book is perfect (imo) but the style of writing with the continuous paragraph-long sentences took some time to get used to. I L O V E the action scenes and the detailed fighting. You really get emotianally attached to the characters with the way the authour develops the story, you are always on edge about what happens next. I like how the characters don't change their morals based on little things - their beliefs are always set and are reflected in their actions (this applies to both the antagonists and protagonists). Also this is one of the only YA books that I've read where a male and female protagonist don't have some elaborate romance that causes them to do some stupid things in the name of 'saving their love' or something. I really appreciate how books are starting to normalise that two people of the opposite gender can be just friends and it doesn't always have to read to romance. Now for the ending, the way it ends on a cliffhanger when Todd is begging for them to save Viola is absolutely heart breaking. At that point in the story you can tell that they are willing to sacrifice everything for each other and then for all of that to be stripped away. I also love how with every trauma (if I can call it that) they grow closer, leading up to the ending.
100% reccomend this book.
100% reccomend this book.
indiaplumtree's review against another edition
5.0
THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE!!!! Oh my goodness I NEED to read the next one!!! I read this book more or less in a day because I COULDN’T stop reading!!! Chapters were short and it was sooo easy to read!!!!
“Todd?”
“Todd?”
sneeps's review against another edition
4.0
I only cried 5 times! So I was not shocked by the revelation of Prentisstown's past, but every story beat after that was! Wow! Ahh! Oh no!!
mdevlin923's review against another edition
2.0
Todd Hewitt and his dog, Manchee, are exploring Prentisstown's swamp when they discover a patch of silence. Todd has only ever known noise: everyone can hear the thoughts of other men, including animals. The silence ends up being a girl, Viola, who crash landed on the New World during her reconnaissance voyage. When the townspeople find out about Todd and Viola, the two are forced to flee to Haven...constantly coming up against fear and anger in the settlements along the way while also being heavily pursued by an army of Prentisstown men. Todd must battle his former townspeople as well as his own failings as he and Viola attempt to make it to Haven.
An interesting concept; but I was disappointed by the execution. At some point, so many horrible events happening one after the other just gets uninspired. I also didn't believe Mayor Prentiss' motivation to capture Todd...especially to the extent that the army pursued him.
An interesting concept; but I was disappointed by the execution. At some point, so many horrible events happening one after the other just gets uninspired. I also didn't believe Mayor Prentiss' motivation to capture Todd...especially to the extent that the army pursued him.
viachu888's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so good! I can't stress that enough! Even though the way it was written was a little odd, the story was still totally engrossing and Patrick Ness did an amazing job making me feel emotions and fall in love with the characters. For real though, Manchee was the best character ever. Like in any book I have read in the past year. I even named my squirtle after him in my pokemon game. I picture him as a fluffy golden retriever with Doug from UP voice.
I think only thing I didn't like was fricking Aaron. It got really annoying and repetitive that he literally like cheated death 29345345 times and came back again and again, creating the same feeling; 'zomg nooooo look its aar-' 'TODD HEWITTT!'
HAHA you feel me ok well at this point im just going crazy but yeah.
I think only thing I didn't like was fricking Aaron. It got really annoying and repetitive that he literally like cheated death 29345345 times and came back again and again, creating the same feeling; 'zomg nooooo look its aar-' 'TODD HEWITTT!'
HAHA you feel me ok well at this point im just going crazy but yeah.
kaitiecakes's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn’t get over the writing in this book. It wasn’t the way they talked that caused me to hate this book it was the way the author wrote the book in general. When I read the maze runner they had their own way of talking as well, even had there own language. But at least when they weren’t talking the author kept to correctly spelt words. In this book the author didn’t care and just spelt a number of things wrong on purpose. Even when they were talking they were spelt wrong, if they were saying the words correctly would get not be spelt correctly in word form? It’s not like they were writing everything they were saying out.
I also felt no connection to anyone in this book except for Manchee because he reminded me of my puppy Marty. It was heartbreaking when he died but that’s all I felt for this book. I feel like everything was explained and there’s no point in another two books being in this series. The ending didn’t even shock me because we needed something to keep us interestedly the end. However that wasn’t the case for me. All they did was run and eat and talk about the “noise”. I feel like it was very rushed with how long it seemed to take. But on the same side I feel like it lasted to long because I feel as though it could of been completely summed up in about 100 pages.
I will not be continuing this series, even though I own them, and will not be keeping these books either. They will be on my next book unhaul and someone else can have them.
Even without the terrible writing and mistakes I still don’t think I would of enjoyed this book because I feel as though nothing happened. The kid had to run away and found a girl in the woods who ended up following him to this one town. They met this couple that was very nice and let them stay the night and then brought them to the town they were going to. They were there less then a day and were under attack by the army after the kid. So they ran again and ran into a spackle which the kid kills and then runs into the same person that’s been following them since the beginning and gets stabbed. Then he gets really sick and his friend gets taken so he tries to save her well he’s dying. Eventually he does manage to save her and they end up on a Raft going down the river continuing there journey to this town called haven. They find out there that his “dad” wasn’t killed and then eventually make it to haven where his friend dies after killing the guy that was chasing them. And then the kid we follow throughout the whole story finds out that the army made it to haven before they did and killed everyone in it. The end.
I thought it sounded like a good story but the writing ruined it and ya.. sad really!
I also felt no connection to anyone in this book except for Manchee because he reminded me of my puppy Marty. It was heartbreaking when he died but that’s all I felt for this book. I feel like everything was explained and there’s no point in another two books being in this series. The ending didn’t even shock me because we needed something to keep us interestedly the end. However that wasn’t the case for me. All they did was run and eat and talk about the “noise”. I feel like it was very rushed with how long it seemed to take. But on the same side I feel like it lasted to long because I feel as though it could of been completely summed up in about 100 pages.
I will not be continuing this series, even though I own them, and will not be keeping these books either. They will be on my next book unhaul and someone else can have them.
Even without the terrible writing and mistakes I still don’t think I would of enjoyed this book because I feel as though nothing happened. The kid had to run away and found a girl in the woods who ended up following him to this one town. They met this couple that was very nice and let them stay the night and then brought them to the town they were going to. They were there less then a day and were under attack by the army after the kid. So they ran again and ran into a spackle which the kid kills and then runs into the same person that’s been following them since the beginning and gets stabbed. Then he gets really sick and his friend gets taken so he tries to save her well he’s dying. Eventually he does manage to save her and they end up on a Raft going down the river continuing there journey to this town called haven. They find out there that his “dad” wasn’t killed and then eventually make it to haven where his friend dies after killing the guy that was chasing them. And then the kid we follow throughout the whole story finds out that the army made it to haven before they did and killed everyone in it. The end.
I thought it sounded like a good story but the writing ruined it and ya.. sad really!