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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I love Scott Westerfeld, I really do.
Great fast read, lots of fun, can't wait to read the sequels!
Great fast read, lots of fun, can't wait to read the sequels!
Oy Vey. I was a little dubious about the whole premise of this book, because it’s all about ugly vs pretty. When your book is aimed at teens, it’s not the greatest idea to build a worldview around how looks are compared…but it had a lot of hype, so maybe it had a good message? I picked up the first two books at a sale, and figured I’d read them for my Monday Series Marathon.
Uglies is a dystopia trying to be a Utopia–kind of like Divergent. Only once you turn “pretty” and cross the river does the city become utopian. Before that, it’s Uglyville–but, you do still have your independence and individuality. That, however, is seen as a negative–immature and deviant. Only once you turn 16 and have your first surgery, do you grow up and join the ranks of pretty party-goers.
The author lays out the rules of his world almost in list form. They aren’t subtle at all. Hoverboards can only fly with metal underneath, there’s iron in the rocks so they can fly outside of the city, there’s mineral deposits in the river so it works over water… It’s all very obvious, and I found it kind of boring to read. It doesn’t flow very well because you just keep running into more rules.
On the flip side, though, Tally’s trip seemed impossibly easy. Special Circumstances had searched for The Smoke forever and couldn’t find them…but Tally didn’t so much follow Shay’s clues as happened upon them by chance. Rule after rule after rule was laid out, but I felt like she skipped a lot of steps. I just didn’t feel like the world that was built was very believable, or maybe comfortable is the better word? Something didn’t mesh.
I still have a lot of issues with the ugly vs pretty idea. I get where Westerfeld is going with the concept, and I haven’t decided whether to continue with the second book. I might, since it’s sitting on my shelf already, but this first book did not impress me much.
Uglies is a dystopia trying to be a Utopia–kind of like Divergent. Only once you turn “pretty” and cross the river does the city become utopian. Before that, it’s Uglyville–but, you do still have your independence and individuality. That, however, is seen as a negative–immature and deviant. Only once you turn 16 and have your first surgery, do you grow up and join the ranks of pretty party-goers.
The author lays out the rules of his world almost in list form. They aren’t subtle at all. Hoverboards can only fly with metal underneath, there’s iron in the rocks so they can fly outside of the city, there’s mineral deposits in the river so it works over water… It’s all very obvious, and I found it kind of boring to read. It doesn’t flow very well because you just keep running into more rules.
On the flip side, though, Tally’s trip seemed impossibly easy. Special Circumstances had searched for The Smoke forever and couldn’t find them…but Tally didn’t so much follow Shay’s clues as happened upon them by chance. Rule after rule after rule was laid out, but I felt like she skipped a lot of steps. I just didn’t feel like the world that was built was very believable, or maybe comfortable is the better word? Something didn’t mesh.
I still have a lot of issues with the ugly vs pretty idea. I get where Westerfeld is going with the concept, and I haven’t decided whether to continue with the second book. I might, since it’s sitting on my shelf already, but this first book did not impress me much.
I seem to be reading a fair amount of YA dystopiana this year. Is there a recent increase in this subgenre?
Which means, in a year after I read The Hunger Games, any other one was likely to suffer. And indeed this one does.
This is a dystopia where everyone is an ugly until they turn 16, when they are given surgery to make them into pretties, and dive into a glittering world of parties and drinking. Tally Youngblood has the surgery withheld, to pressure her to go after a friend who fled to a settlement where no one is pretty. Once there, she's supposed to let the city know, but once there, she meets a boy (of course) and finds out that the surgery entails more than anyone is let know.
The book is fine, but not exciting, and without the depth of other dystopias I've read. I'll probably bother to read the second book in the series, but I'm in no great hurry.
But it does make me appreciate The Hunger Games even more.
Which means, in a year after I read The Hunger Games, any other one was likely to suffer. And indeed this one does.
This is a dystopia where everyone is an ugly until they turn 16, when they are given surgery to make them into pretties, and dive into a glittering world of parties and drinking. Tally Youngblood has the surgery withheld, to pressure her to go after a friend who fled to a settlement where no one is pretty. Once there, she's supposed to let the city know, but once there, she meets a boy (of course) and finds out that the surgery entails more than anyone is let know.
The book is fine, but not exciting, and without the depth of other dystopias I've read. I'll probably bother to read the second book in the series, but I'm in no great hurry.
But it does make me appreciate The Hunger Games even more.
(Read this and other reviews at Fictionally Inclined.)
I have been hearing about the Uglies series for what seems like half of forever. I always thought they sounded appealing, and I even picked the first one up from the library once but returned it unread. However, a couple days ago, I found the first two books at a local thrift store for 99 cents apiece. When I spotted them, I practically tripped over myself making a mad grab for them before anyone else could spot the marvelous deal sitting in front of their very eyes. I'm not entirely sure what prompted this, as there was no one particularly near besides my sister and one woman with whom I had carried on a perfectly pleasant conversation about the Stephanie Plum series moments earlier. Regardless of the motivation, I made a slight fool of myself, but in the end, I got the books. That's what matters, I suppose.
I started the book the morning of December 31st, and I was hooked right away. I became completely engrossed in this fascinatingly original dystopian world. I was intrigued by the premise, and the execution by Westerfeld was fantastic. I never wanted to put this book down. The unusual world, the unique-without-being-absurd names, the terminology that was different from our own yet easily understood, interesting characters, and a compelling plot all existed in this book. These are all things that reflect positively on Westerfeld and his ability to craft a superb dystopian novel. I loved reading about Tally and how she changed throughout the book and how her opinions changed with her. Another thing I enjoyed was the fact that with this world, the characters can refer to all the wasteful and stupid things people did in our time. It references wastefulness and racism and things like that, and because of the setting, it does everything without sounding preachy. It is necessary for the story, and it also makes you stop and think from time to time. Even moreso, it does the same thing for beauty, which is absolutely wonderful. Beauty is all in the beholder; you don't have to be flawless to be beautiful.
I also liked the end of the book. It left you longing to know more and ready to break out the next book, but it didn't make you want to throw it across the room in frustration/anger/impatience (like, say, Possession). I do respect the cliff-hanger as a literary device, but I think it is overused and, often, unnecessary. This book, while it did leave off at a strategic plot point, let you know what was about to happen. And if you were intrigued enough by the whole story, you would definitely want to read the second one. At least, that is how it struck me. I appreciated it and liked it a lot.
I felt that the romance was a little quick to develop, but it didn't take away from the story. In fact, is was really necessary to keep the pacing of the book. I just tend to notice these things, as I'm one of those people who can't get enough of the build-up and development of relationships. It's my favorite part; nine times out of ten, I infinitely prefer it to the actual "relationshippy" part of a relationship. But I digress. I am waiting to see what happens to these two and have yet to commit to them as the ship I actually support for the series.
The originality of the storyline and the stance it takes on real beauty are probably my favorite things about this book. I am enjoying it a lot so far, and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series! I got the third and fourth from the library, so I am all set. I can only hope that the rest of them are as good. I guess I'll see...
I have been hearing about the Uglies series for what seems like half of forever. I always thought they sounded appealing, and I even picked the first one up from the library once but returned it unread. However, a couple days ago, I found the first two books at a local thrift store for 99 cents apiece. When I spotted them, I practically tripped over myself making a mad grab for them before anyone else could spot the marvelous deal sitting in front of their very eyes. I'm not entirely sure what prompted this, as there was no one particularly near besides my sister and one woman with whom I had carried on a perfectly pleasant conversation about the Stephanie Plum series moments earlier. Regardless of the motivation, I made a slight fool of myself, but in the end, I got the books. That's what matters, I suppose.
I started the book the morning of December 31st, and I was hooked right away. I became completely engrossed in this fascinatingly original dystopian world. I was intrigued by the premise, and the execution by Westerfeld was fantastic. I never wanted to put this book down. The unusual world, the unique-without-being-absurd names, the terminology that was different from our own yet easily understood, interesting characters, and a compelling plot all existed in this book. These are all things that reflect positively on Westerfeld and his ability to craft a superb dystopian novel. I loved reading about Tally and how she changed throughout the book and how her opinions changed with her. Another thing I enjoyed was the fact that with this world, the characters can refer to all the wasteful and stupid things people did in our time. It references wastefulness and racism and things like that, and because of the setting, it does everything without sounding preachy. It is necessary for the story, and it also makes you stop and think from time to time. Even moreso, it does the same thing for beauty, which is absolutely wonderful. Beauty is all in the beholder; you don't have to be flawless to be beautiful.
I also liked the end of the book. It left you longing to know more and ready to break out the next book, but it didn't make you want to throw it across the room in frustration/anger/impatience (like, say, Possession). I do respect the cliff-hanger as a literary device, but I think it is overused and, often, unnecessary. This book, while it did leave off at a strategic plot point, let you know what was about to happen. And if you were intrigued enough by the whole story, you would definitely want to read the second one. At least, that is how it struck me. I appreciated it and liked it a lot.
I felt that the romance was a little quick to develop, but it didn't take away from the story. In fact, is was really necessary to keep the pacing of the book. I just tend to notice these things, as I'm one of those people who can't get enough of the build-up and development of relationships. It's my favorite part; nine times out of ten, I infinitely prefer it to the actual "relationshippy" part of a relationship. But I digress. I am waiting to see what happens to these two and have yet to commit to them as the ship I actually support for the series.
The originality of the storyline and the stance it takes on real beauty are probably my favorite things about this book. I am enjoying it a lot so far, and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series! I got the third and fourth from the library, so I am all set. I can only hope that the rest of them are as good. I guess I'll see...
Read this in 2 hours at the doctors office (I love my ereader!) Its an interesting distopia and I will read the rest of the series to see how it goes. And if this YA "strong female lead" will actually turn out to be so in the end.
it was so very nice to read this book again.
i don't know if i would have given it 4 stars if i had read it today for the first time but i still loved it.
i just ADORE this universe westerfeld created. like outside of the uglies/pretties idea i just love all the technology, all those hoverboards and magnetic cities im just as fascinated as i was when i was 13.
re-reading it made me realizing how simple the style was, i hadn't noticed that at all the first time. but i still love the plot so much so it didn't bother me too much.
also as fun as it was i still remembered quite well everything that happened in this book but i can't remember at all the next ones so im super excited to read them! (all i can remember is that i loved specials so i can't wait to get to it!)
i don't know if i would have given it 4 stars if i had read it today for the first time but i still loved it.
i just ADORE this universe westerfeld created. like outside of the uglies/pretties idea i just love all the technology, all those hoverboards and magnetic cities im just as fascinated as i was when i was 13.
re-reading it made me realizing how simple the style was, i hadn't noticed that at all the first time. but i still love the plot so much so it didn't bother me too much.
also as fun as it was i still remembered quite well everything that happened in this book but i can't remember at all the next ones so im super excited to read them! (all i can remember is that i loved specials so i can't wait to get to it!)
Was a bit slow getting into but once I did, felt like I was zooming! The pages turned, the story got better, and then whammo! It ended like a particularly intense season finale cliff-hanger. I'll definitely pick up the second one.
I felt like I should've liked it more especially with the interesting dystopian premise which I thought was done really well, there were just some things that annoyed me. Some of the scenes felt too long such as her traveling in the forest. There was also a love triangle stuck in there and even though it didn't consume the story entirely exactly, the romance still felt unneeded and contrived especially when I wanted the story to just be about the main character and her friend. One more thing that annoyed me was that there was sort of the Liar Revealed cliche near the end.
This is a good story with a good message, but I couldn't totally ignore some of the flaws it had.
This is a good story with a good message, but I couldn't totally ignore some of the flaws it had.
Not sure how I put this series off so long. Fun worldbuilding, great addressing of current issues. Excited for the next book.