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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I saw a "trailer" for this book when I saw Hunger Games at the cinema and it piqued my interest. I'd never seen a trailer for a book before and the concept really grabbed my interest. The book was a page turner from the start and I never wanted to stop reading. It was brilliantly written and very believable i enjoyed it and can't wait for the sequel "Enders" coming later this year!!
It's like identity crisis and questions how much of "You" is actually yours and the lengths people will go to save others/themselves. I felt the ending was kinda rushed to make the sequel come sooner.
Hmm, I'm a little conflicted on this one. While I liked it at parts, there were also a lot of aspects I wasn't a big fan of. I think I'm just going to do a pro/con list for this one.
PRO:
-Originality: I haven't quite read anything like this in YA, although I suppose it does have some similarities to [b:Unwind|764347|Unwind (Unwind, #1)|Neal Shusterman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1297677706s/764347.jpg|750423], but nothing signifigant
-Writing: Pretty well written, and it was easy to read while also giving you enough to visualize the scene in your head
-Pacing: The pacing is pretty consistent the whole way through, and there isn't a lot of downtime the whole way. Plenty of action as well in the last 100 pages, which is always a good thing
-*Certain* Characters: I did enjoy reading about our MC Callie, and Michael, Helena, Sara, and a few others, but none of them were given the best of character development/depth, yet they're still enjoyable to read about for the most part
-Final 1/3 of the Book: The last 112 pages of the book were fast-paced, action packed, and held a lot of twists that definitely held my attention, and was my favorite part of the book
-The Old Man: I really loved reading about him and I hope we get to learn more about him in the final book, and I loved the twist introduced about him towards the end of the book
-Extremely Readable: It was difficult to put down for sure
CONS:
-Blake: He really annoyed me since he was the stereotypical and was just as flat as the love interests in [a:Julie Kagawa|2995873|Julie Kagawa|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1257816454p2/2995873.jpg]'s books (which is pretty flat)
-Love Triangle: Had no depth, cliche, random, did not like
-World-Building: One of the weakest elements of the novel, and the world itself is not a very plausible one, and not enough explanation is given to explain certain aspects of it that make no sense whatsoever (people living to the age 200? Really?)
-Romance: It's very typical of what you would expect to encounter in a YA dystopian/sci-fi, and was nothing special. Plenty of insta-love/love without any substance, and neither relationship that Callie is involved in was given development
Overall though it was a pretty decent read. Nothing spectacular, and although I do have more pros than cons, the four cons I did have were huge, and ultimately left me with mixed feelings about the whole thing, although I will be coming back for the final book.
Also: DUOLOGY! Finally, an author who isn't expanding their series longer than it should to make more money!
PRO:
-Originality: I haven't quite read anything like this in YA, although I suppose it does have some similarities to [b:Unwind|764347|Unwind (Unwind, #1)|Neal Shusterman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1297677706s/764347.jpg|750423], but nothing signifigant
-Writing: Pretty well written, and it was easy to read while also giving you enough to visualize the scene in your head
-Pacing: The pacing is pretty consistent the whole way through, and there isn't a lot of downtime the whole way. Plenty of action as well in the last 100 pages, which is always a good thing
-*Certain* Characters: I did enjoy reading about our MC Callie, and Michael, Helena, Sara, and a few others, but none of them were given the best of character development/depth, yet they're still enjoyable to read about for the most part
-Final 1/3 of the Book: The last 112 pages of the book were fast-paced, action packed, and held a lot of twists that definitely held my attention, and was my favorite part of the book
-The Old Man: I really loved reading about him and I hope we get to learn more about him in the final book, and I loved the twist introduced about him towards the end of the book
-Extremely Readable: It was difficult to put down for sure
CONS:
-Blake: He really annoyed me since he was the stereotypical
Spoiler
love interest-Love Triangle: Had no depth, cliche, random, did not like
-World-Building: One of the weakest elements of the novel, and the world itself is not a very plausible one, and not enough explanation is given to explain certain aspects of it that make no sense whatsoever (people living to the age 200? Really?)
-Romance: It's very typical of what you would expect to encounter in a YA dystopian/sci-fi, and was nothing special. Plenty of insta-love/love without any substance, and neither relationship that Callie is involved in was given development
Overall though it was a pretty decent read. Nothing spectacular, and although I do have more pros than cons, the four cons I did have were huge, and ultimately left me with mixed feelings about the whole thing, although I will be coming back for the final book.
Also: DUOLOGY! Finally, an author who isn't expanding their series longer than it should to make more money!
After a war which killed everyone between the ages of 20 and 60, there is a strict divide between the two generations left. The Starters, everyone who was under 20, mostly left to fend for themselves. Then there are the Enders, those over 60 who have vastly longer lifespans now. The odds are against the Starters, not able to work until they are 19, as a way of ensuring the Enders have the jobs, and without guardians, they are left to flee from one empty building to another as to not be picked up and placed in very unsavory institutions. They rely on scavenging to survive.
Callie is a teenage girl, who must take care of her 7 year old brother. Her brother also has a health condition which places even more responsibility on Callie. After hearing about a possible way to make money Callie visits Prime Destinations. Prime Destinations is a hush-hush company which caters to the wealthy Enders who want to be young again. The Starters are recruited, promised more money than they could ever imagine, as well as a complete make-over, in return they agree to "rent" out their bodies. Computer chips are installed in their brains, and they are contractually obligated to rent out their bodies 3 times. During the rentals, they are "asleep" and after the rental is over they wake as if no time has passed. There are technically stipulations placed on the Enders renting the bodies, no tattoes/piercings/changing of the hair/participating in dangerous activities, etc.
At first Callie is not convinced and leaves without signing up. But after a turn of events leave her, her brother, and her friend even more on the run with less supplies, she makes up her mind and signs up. It is on the third rental where something goes wrong, Callie wakes in a strange place, in strange clothes, living out her renters fantasy. Fearing what has gone wrong, Callie is about to head back to Prime Destinations, but then she hears a voice, telling her that it is too dangerous.
What follows is a unique friendship between Callie and her renter, learning the truth about Prime Destinations' end game, and a mysterious figure only known as The Old Man whom seems to be running everything.
While there was the romances, Cinderella references, and the overall question, just what would you do for money, the story itself was face paced and enthralling. Once I began I didn't stop until I was done. And of course, it left me wanting more, wanting the next book to figure out the mysteries left hanging.
If you are a fan of dystopian novels, then I would highly recommend this.
Callie is a teenage girl, who must take care of her 7 year old brother. Her brother also has a health condition which places even more responsibility on Callie. After hearing about a possible way to make money Callie visits Prime Destinations. Prime Destinations is a hush-hush company which caters to the wealthy Enders who want to be young again. The Starters are recruited, promised more money than they could ever imagine, as well as a complete make-over, in return they agree to "rent" out their bodies. Computer chips are installed in their brains, and they are contractually obligated to rent out their bodies 3 times. During the rentals, they are "asleep" and after the rental is over they wake as if no time has passed. There are technically stipulations placed on the Enders renting the bodies, no tattoes/piercings/changing of the hair/participating in dangerous activities, etc.
At first Callie is not convinced and leaves without signing up. But after a turn of events leave her, her brother, and her friend even more on the run with less supplies, she makes up her mind and signs up. It is on the third rental where something goes wrong, Callie wakes in a strange place, in strange clothes, living out her renters fantasy. Fearing what has gone wrong, Callie is about to head back to Prime Destinations, but then she hears a voice, telling her that it is too dangerous.
What follows is a unique friendship between Callie and her renter, learning the truth about Prime Destinations' end game, and a mysterious figure only known as The Old Man whom seems to be running everything.
While there was the romances, Cinderella references, and the overall question, just what would you do for money, the story itself was face paced and enthralling. Once I began I didn't stop until I was done. And of course, it left me wanting more, wanting the next book to figure out the mysteries left hanging.
If you are a fan of dystopian novels, then I would highly recommend this.
Page 239 - "Youth is wasted on the young."
I'd say this sums up everything. After the Spore War* there's a law that prohibits Starters (teens, most likel) from working any job. This so the Enders** can work and the Starters would go desperate for anything: money, food, shelter.
Then enters Prime Destinations. A place where a Starter can donate his/her body to an Ender for a large sum. It's illegal but it's a growing enterprise. Callie wants to have a better life for her and her little brother instead of house squat and living on the run and I admire her bravery for a change.
Things happen. Lots of revealing and what not. It's okay, the story progresses just fine without any what happened there? moments.
Except I have one tiny bone to pick.
It is about Callie and Blake...
....
YOU'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A WEEK OR SO AND HE'S ALREADY SAYING THINGS LIKE, "I FEEL CONNECTED TO YOU."
?!!?!!!!??!?!?!?!?!??!
Maybe it's my pessimistic outlook on love at first sight (cause it's bloody bull) or maybe cause I truly don't believe in something so magical and sacred such as love could be formed from a first sight (He just wants your booty, Callie!) but how can you say that after a week of knowing each other? She could be an axe murderer wielding a knife and he could be a conman.
So, if you're not a fan of insta-love then this is not the book for you.
World build up: A for effort
Likeability of characters(both major and minor): A- (with an exception of Lauren/Reece: A+)
*Spor wars is explained a little bit from here, page 28
....No one was winning the Pac Rim sea battles, so they threw their spore - head missiles at us?
**Enders have a longer life span due to "modern medicine"
I'd say this sums up everything. After the Spore War* there's a law that prohibits Starters (teens, most likel) from working any job. This so the Enders** can work and the Starters would go desperate for anything: money, food, shelter.
Then enters Prime Destinations. A place where a Starter can donate his/her body to an Ender for a large sum. It's illegal but it's a growing enterprise. Callie wants to have a better life for her and her little brother instead of house squat and living on the run and I admire her bravery for a change.
Things happen. Lots of revealing and what not. It's okay, the story progresses just fine without any what happened there? moments.
Except I have one tiny bone to pick.
It is about Callie and Blake...
....
YOU'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A WEEK OR SO AND HE'S ALREADY SAYING THINGS LIKE, "I FEEL CONNECTED TO YOU."
?!!?!!!!??!?!?!?!?!??!
Maybe it's my pessimistic outlook on love at first sight (cause it's bloody bull) or maybe cause I truly don't believe in something so magical and sacred such as love could be formed from a first sight (He just wants your booty, Callie!) but how can you say that after a week of knowing each other? She could be an axe murderer wielding a knife and he could be a conman.
So, if you're not a fan of insta-love then this is not the book for you.
World build up: A for effort
Likeability of characters(both major and minor): A- (with an exception of Lauren/Reece: A+)
*Spor wars is explained a little bit from here, page 28
....No one was winning the Pac Rim sea battles, so they threw their spore - head missiles at us?
**Enders have a longer life span due to "modern medicine"
I couldn't finish this book because it tortured my brain so much. First off, the writing was pretty immature right off the bat, but i tried to keep my hopes up. Things clearly didn't go well anyways because here we are. It was all a barely tolerable cheese fest until she met the second love interest. Basically, as vaguely as possible, she meets a guy very briefly and they exchange numbers or whatever, and then the next time shes thinking of contacting him, shes thinking about how much she loves and misses him and it all just escalates very quickly from there. I felt like I missed an entire chunk of the book so it was impossible to actually enjoy the romance with the second interest person, and consequentially the first one because the few times she was with the first she was thinking of the second and it was just stupid and confusing. Also the entire concept of the book and how the process works isn't well explained. I remember reading the inside flap and being slightly confused, but it was compared to the hunger games, and so I figured it would all make sense eventually. It never does. I wish I could give this book zero stars. *violent but sassy hair flip*
So I got this book in the mail yesterday:
It’s Starters by Lissa Price. The cover is awesome, as you can plainly see. With only white, blue, and black it is wicked eye catching. I got the book as an ARC (Advance Reader’s Copy), but it will be available starting Monday, March 13.
Starters is a dystopian novel set in the sort of distant future of the US. I don’t recall if we’re told what year or not, but there are some references that make me think it’s future, but not waaaay out in the future. In Starters the US was at war with the Pac Rim Countries and bio warfare was used against the US. A disease carrying spore was fired upon the country and everyone started dying. Scientists developed a vaccination, but only the “at-risk” people got it- the very young and the very old. Which left most adults vunerable to the spores. Consequently, most adults died leaving their children alone.
Here’s where the government steps in- they decided to declare all unclaimed minors as wards of the government and basically use them for forced labor. Groups of children and teens make up all the work forces in the country- building roads, farming, basically whatever the government wants. Some groups of kids manage to evade the marshals and squat in buildings, scrounging what they can to survive. Until the marshals come in and raid.
Callie and her brother Tyler are unclaimed minors squatting with their friend Michael in an old apartment building. When the marshals raid their home they are forced to flee, losing everything they had scrounged up. In order to try and save her family Callie decides to rent her body to Prime Destinations, a new company that offers the Enders (all of the old people spared) an opportunity to switch bodies with a Starter (kids and teens) through the use of sophisticated chips inserted in the brain. The Starters seem to sleep while the Ender controls all aspects of their body- kind of like invasion of the body snatchers, only with computers. Prime Destinations offers a hefty stipend to any Starter that is willing to rent their body, and Callie decides it is worth the risk.
However there’s a problem. Callie’s chip isn’t working right and she keeps waking up when she isn’t supposed to. What Callie discovers in her periods of awareness is even more chilling then she could have imagined…
I really really liked Starters. I started it at about 8:30 Wednesday night and stayed up until I finished, just before midnight. (I’m a very fast reader.) The whole book is told through Callie’s point of view, which makes the whole renting thing just a little bit creepier. Not that the idea of having someone rent your body and live in your mind isn’t creepy enough on its own. There’s some stuff I’d have liked to know more about- like the war and how things got to the point where the government decided to just use kids like free labor, but since it’s told from a teen who is trying to survive POV it isn’t surprising that we don’t learn all that. The book is also compared to Hunger Games, which I don’t really see. Hunger Games was more of a direct fight to the death type of book, this is more of a political fight type of book. Which isn’t to say that it doesn’t have action and isn’t interesting- cause it totally does/is.
disclaimer - I received Starters as an Advance Reader's Copy from the publisher. This review is featured on http://viewfromthelibrary.blogspot.com/2012/03/starters-by-lissa-price.html
It’s Starters by Lissa Price. The cover is awesome, as you can plainly see. With only white, blue, and black it is wicked eye catching. I got the book as an ARC (Advance Reader’s Copy), but it will be available starting Monday, March 13.
Starters is a dystopian novel set in the sort of distant future of the US. I don’t recall if we’re told what year or not, but there are some references that make me think it’s future, but not waaaay out in the future. In Starters the US was at war with the Pac Rim Countries and bio warfare was used against the US. A disease carrying spore was fired upon the country and everyone started dying. Scientists developed a vaccination, but only the “at-risk” people got it- the very young and the very old. Which left most adults vunerable to the spores. Consequently, most adults died leaving their children alone.
Here’s where the government steps in- they decided to declare all unclaimed minors as wards of the government and basically use them for forced labor. Groups of children and teens make up all the work forces in the country- building roads, farming, basically whatever the government wants. Some groups of kids manage to evade the marshals and squat in buildings, scrounging what they can to survive. Until the marshals come in and raid.
Callie and her brother Tyler are unclaimed minors squatting with their friend Michael in an old apartment building. When the marshals raid their home they are forced to flee, losing everything they had scrounged up. In order to try and save her family Callie decides to rent her body to Prime Destinations, a new company that offers the Enders (all of the old people spared) an opportunity to switch bodies with a Starter (kids and teens) through the use of sophisticated chips inserted in the brain. The Starters seem to sleep while the Ender controls all aspects of their body- kind of like invasion of the body snatchers, only with computers. Prime Destinations offers a hefty stipend to any Starter that is willing to rent their body, and Callie decides it is worth the risk.
However there’s a problem. Callie’s chip isn’t working right and she keeps waking up when she isn’t supposed to. What Callie discovers in her periods of awareness is even more chilling then she could have imagined…
I really really liked Starters. I started it at about 8:30 Wednesday night and stayed up until I finished, just before midnight. (I’m a very fast reader.) The whole book is told through Callie’s point of view, which makes the whole renting thing just a little bit creepier. Not that the idea of having someone rent your body and live in your mind isn’t creepy enough on its own. There’s some stuff I’d have liked to know more about- like the war and how things got to the point where the government decided to just use kids like free labor, but since it’s told from a teen who is trying to survive POV it isn’t surprising that we don’t learn all that. The book is also compared to Hunger Games, which I don’t really see. Hunger Games was more of a direct fight to the death type of book, this is more of a political fight type of book. Which isn’t to say that it doesn’t have action and isn’t interesting- cause it totally does/is.
disclaimer - I received Starters as an Advance Reader's Copy from the publisher. This review is featured on http://viewfromthelibrary.blogspot.com/2012/03/starters-by-lissa-price.html
What if in the post-apocalyptic future, you could "rent" out your body for others to use?
This is what Callie's world is like, after the Spore Wars which killed off enormous amounts of the world, only the young and the elders are left or as they are referred to in this world, "Starters" and "Enders".
Callie is offered an interesting proposition and a huge amount of money. Which will help Callie and her younger brother, Tyler finally get a home, as they have been on the run since their parents died. Prime Destinations is a facility that hires young people "donors", gives them a huge make-over and then, their bodies are rented out to Enders "renters", who wish to experience their youth again.
Callie needs to think for Tyler as he is ill. She finally caves when Michael, a young teenager like Callie and their friend, Tyler and her are forced out of their makeshift home.
The world created here is truly pure dystopian at it's best. It is so vivid and clear, you can almost see it and the descriptions of the improvement and changes in technology intrigued me. z-mail, zings and all.
Callie is one fearless heroine. She has courage and backbone. Her parents taught her well and loved her as a child should be loved. She speaks nothing but praise of them. She is self-reliant and can handle a gun. That is why her renter Helena hired her. But when Callie awakes in Helena's life, she discovers Helena has an ulterior motive but it might not be so malicious either, when she finds out the truth. The story twists and turns at every possible time, Callie does not know who to trust.
Helena is able to speak to Callie in her head because of the neuro connection between their minds but it is only at sometimes. Helena discovered a plot to hurt a large amount of the starters and traces it to Senator Harrison. Callie has to pretend she is a renter and she gets into so many situations.
The heart of this novel though is Callie wanting to find a home somewhere safe where Tyler and her can stay and that has been her motivation throughout the novel. There is so much that occurred that I won't be able to explain the entire story.
This world is so startling and shows possibly what could come. So real it is terrifying but the plot was excellent with tense moments, heart pounding action, a healthy dose of science and modern technology and beginnings of first love. This novel hits the right buttons and is good enough to stand among the many dystopian novels. A true pleasure to read for any dystopian fan, the likes of The Hunger Games and Shatter Me.
This is what Callie's world is like, after the Spore Wars which killed off enormous amounts of the world, only the young and the elders are left or as they are referred to in this world, "Starters" and "Enders".
Callie is offered an interesting proposition and a huge amount of money. Which will help Callie and her younger brother, Tyler finally get a home, as they have been on the run since their parents died. Prime Destinations is a facility that hires young people "donors", gives them a huge make-over and then, their bodies are rented out to Enders "renters", who wish to experience their youth again.
Callie needs to think for Tyler as he is ill. She finally caves when Michael, a young teenager like Callie and their friend, Tyler and her are forced out of their makeshift home.
The world created here is truly pure dystopian at it's best. It is so vivid and clear, you can almost see it and the descriptions of the improvement and changes in technology intrigued me. z-mail, zings and all.
Callie is one fearless heroine. She has courage and backbone. Her parents taught her well and loved her as a child should be loved. She speaks nothing but praise of them. She is self-reliant and can handle a gun. That is why her renter Helena hired her. But when Callie awakes in Helena's life, she discovers Helena has an ulterior motive but it might not be so malicious either, when she finds out the truth. The story twists and turns at every possible time, Callie does not know who to trust.
Helena is able to speak to Callie in her head because of the neuro connection between their minds but it is only at sometimes. Helena discovered a plot to hurt a large amount of the starters and traces it to Senator Harrison. Callie has to pretend she is a renter and she gets into so many situations.
The heart of this novel though is Callie wanting to find a home somewhere safe where Tyler and her can stay and that has been her motivation throughout the novel. There is so much that occurred that I won't be able to explain the entire story.
This world is so startling and shows possibly what could come. So real it is terrifying but the plot was excellent with tense moments, heart pounding action, a healthy dose of science and modern technology and beginnings of first love. This novel hits the right buttons and is good enough to stand among the many dystopian novels. A true pleasure to read for any dystopian fan, the likes of The Hunger Games and Shatter Me.
A very interesting concept, I enjoyed this one, though I would have liked a bit more depth and a less disjointed feeling to the arc. I will check out the sequel at some point :)