Scan barcode
brufdiass's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
This is not how this effing ends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stephwd's review against another edition
4.0
Prentisstown is like any other: there is a mayor, a school, a bar, a sense of industry. However...everyone can each others' thoughts: the dark noise that never ceases, but continues to disturb the inhabitants: no thought is safe, no malicious piece of gossip, there is no privacy, no hiding and no escape. However, when Todd heads out into the swamp with his faithful dog Manchee, what he discovers is...silence and a secret so terrible it will tear his world apart.
Forced to leave his home town and run for his life, Todd undertakes a seemingly impossible journey in search of a better future, the truth and most of all in search of an answer. However, there is little that can help him on the perilous voyage and many that simply wish to harm him. All he has for protection is Manchee and his knife, but when he should use this becomes increasingly unclear.
I read this book because I fell in love with 'A Monster Calls', which is a simply stunning novel. 'The Knife of Never Letting Go' is very different to this. This is a real adventure story where Todd is forced to cross an increasingly hostile, alien landscape in search of sanctuary and truth. Ness has a real gift for creating tense episodes of action and drama that propelled the plot forwards. This is one of those novels that you just want to keep reading; you want Todd to survive; you want him to reach the city at the end of the road. It was compelling and Ness has a way (as he does in 'A Monster Calls') of forcing us to empathise with his central protagonists even when they make decisions that are perhaps erroneous or driven by very human, but dark desires.
However, it is not simply the narrative itself that makes this book so effective. It is also the underlying issues that Ness seems to touch on with great subtly. On the one hand, he appears to be addressing a global concern: humans are so eager to find a way off our little green planet and find an alternative to good old mother earth because we are, let's face it, likely to destroy it at any moment, that they give little thought to the consequences and appear to magically believe that they will make a better future. However, as Ness illustrates, all we are likely to do is make the same mistakes again; we may not take our ecologically damaging farming systems and fossils fuels with us, but we will take our sense of superiority, our hubris and our egotism. Alternatively, the novel could be read as a comment on the manner in which 'white, (particularly European man)' has colonised other parts of the world in an attempt to plunder the resources and establish new, 'better' communities with little thought for the original inhabitants or the wildlife (think Australia, Peru or even mainland America). We are superior thus we deserve to take over whatever land and culture we see fit. This novel illustrates the dangers and horrors of behaving in just this manner. It is striking that whilst Ness sets his novel on an alien planet, it is identical to earth in so many ways and so there is none of the distancing that often occurs with science fiction novels - we can absolutely relate to the landscape and what is occurring. Thus Ness' portrayal seems particularly pointed although in this instance, humanity seems to have got its comeuppance and deservedly so.
Simultaneously, I also liked the fact that the novel seemed to be commenting on gender relations in some regard. Only the men are affected by the mysterious illness that causes them to hear one another's thoughts and there is an underlying implication that this is because women do not need to as they already have the skills of empathy and understanding without hearing thoughts directly in this manner. Moreover, the female characters in this novel are frequently presented as more controlled, more sympathetic and more capable particularly as leaders. It is the women who hold communities together and are able to steer their men folk through. This is unusual particularly in YA fiction and although the central hero is male, it is the women who are presented as heroic.
At the same time, the novel also seems to be addressing the struggles that young people, particularly boys, face in their transition into manhood. Todd matures over the course of the novel, but continually feels that he needs to prove himself and that there are certain expectations suddenly placed on him the moment that a particular day passes. This is further emphasised by the significance the other male figures place on his birth date, which seems to have such ritual import. This was thus a fascinating exploration of what makes a man and whether such a term can simply be defined by an age.
Another really striking feature of the novel that I feel I have to comment on in my capacity as an English teacher, is the extended metaphor of the knife that runs throughout. Such symbols can often feel contrived, but this was not the case here. It had a real resonance throughout, but not as a symbol of violence as you might expect, but as a symbol of restraint, mercy and survival.
In short, there is so much to love about this book and so much a young reader could gain from it.
Having said that, there are aspects of the novel I would criticise. The central section did seem to drag a little and there were some aspects of the story that felt rather unrealistic - Todd and Viola were simply far too injured, far too many times to ever have really survived and some aspects of the plot felt a little contrived. Moreover, whilst Viola, Todd and Manchee were fully drawn characters, this was not the case for all those involved in the story. For instance, Aaron and the mayor were rather more like caricatures. I also did not like the constant use of erroneous spellings and phrases. I know that this was part of the creation of Todd's voice, but there are other ways to achieve this effect. For example, the use of handwritten words and different fonts to convey the different voices he hears was really dramatic and original. I also do often oppose (as I have said in other reviews) the deliberately contrived cliffhanger ending that sets the author up for the stereotypical trilogy. I felt that there needed to be some satisfaction given to the reader after over 400 pages and yet we were left dangling in the jaws of a lion without a knife for protection.
Nonetheless, this novel has an immense amount to offer the reader and although I am probably more at 31/2 stars than 4, I will still undoubtedly devour the second in the series and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey on which Ness took me so expertly.
Forced to leave his home town and run for his life, Todd undertakes a seemingly impossible journey in search of a better future, the truth and most of all in search of an answer. However, there is little that can help him on the perilous voyage and many that simply wish to harm him. All he has for protection is Manchee and his knife, but when he should use this becomes increasingly unclear.
I read this book because I fell in love with 'A Monster Calls', which is a simply stunning novel. 'The Knife of Never Letting Go' is very different to this. This is a real adventure story where Todd is forced to cross an increasingly hostile, alien landscape in search of sanctuary and truth. Ness has a real gift for creating tense episodes of action and drama that propelled the plot forwards. This is one of those novels that you just want to keep reading; you want Todd to survive; you want him to reach the city at the end of the road. It was compelling and Ness has a way (as he does in 'A Monster Calls') of forcing us to empathise with his central protagonists even when they make decisions that are perhaps erroneous or driven by very human, but dark desires.
However, it is not simply the narrative itself that makes this book so effective. It is also the underlying issues that Ness seems to touch on with great subtly. On the one hand, he appears to be addressing a global concern: humans are so eager to find a way off our little green planet and find an alternative to good old mother earth because we are, let's face it, likely to destroy it at any moment, that they give little thought to the consequences and appear to magically believe that they will make a better future. However, as Ness illustrates, all we are likely to do is make the same mistakes again; we may not take our ecologically damaging farming systems and fossils fuels with us, but we will take our sense of superiority, our hubris and our egotism. Alternatively, the novel could be read as a comment on the manner in which 'white, (particularly European man)' has colonised other parts of the world in an attempt to plunder the resources and establish new, 'better' communities with little thought for the original inhabitants or the wildlife (think Australia, Peru or even mainland America). We are superior thus we deserve to take over whatever land and culture we see fit. This novel illustrates the dangers and horrors of behaving in just this manner. It is striking that whilst Ness sets his novel on an alien planet, it is identical to earth in so many ways and so there is none of the distancing that often occurs with science fiction novels - we can absolutely relate to the landscape and what is occurring. Thus Ness' portrayal seems particularly pointed although in this instance, humanity seems to have got its comeuppance and deservedly so.
Simultaneously, I also liked the fact that the novel seemed to be commenting on gender relations in some regard. Only the men are affected by the mysterious illness that causes them to hear one another's thoughts and there is an underlying implication that this is because women do not need to as they already have the skills of empathy and understanding without hearing thoughts directly in this manner. Moreover, the female characters in this novel are frequently presented as more controlled, more sympathetic and more capable particularly as leaders. It is the women who hold communities together and are able to steer their men folk through. This is unusual particularly in YA fiction and although the central hero is male, it is the women who are presented as heroic.
At the same time, the novel also seems to be addressing the struggles that young people, particularly boys, face in their transition into manhood. Todd matures over the course of the novel, but continually feels that he needs to prove himself and that there are certain expectations suddenly placed on him the moment that a particular day passes. This is further emphasised by the significance the other male figures place on his birth date, which seems to have such ritual import. This was thus a fascinating exploration of what makes a man and whether such a term can simply be defined by an age.
Another really striking feature of the novel that I feel I have to comment on in my capacity as an English teacher, is the extended metaphor of the knife that runs throughout. Such symbols can often feel contrived, but this was not the case here. It had a real resonance throughout, but not as a symbol of violence as you might expect, but as a symbol of restraint, mercy and survival.
In short, there is so much to love about this book and so much a young reader could gain from it.
Having said that, there are aspects of the novel I would criticise. The central section did seem to drag a little and there were some aspects of the story that felt rather unrealistic - Todd and Viola were simply far too injured, far too many times to ever have really survived and some aspects of the plot felt a little contrived. Moreover, whilst Viola, Todd and Manchee were fully drawn characters, this was not the case for all those involved in the story. For instance, Aaron and the mayor were rather more like caricatures. I also did not like the constant use of erroneous spellings and phrases. I know that this was part of the creation of Todd's voice, but there are other ways to achieve this effect. For example, the use of handwritten words and different fonts to convey the different voices he hears was really dramatic and original. I also do often oppose (as I have said in other reviews) the deliberately contrived cliffhanger ending that sets the author up for the stereotypical trilogy. I felt that there needed to be some satisfaction given to the reader after over 400 pages and yet we were left dangling in the jaws of a lion without a knife for protection.
Nonetheless, this novel has an immense amount to offer the reader and although I am probably more at 31/2 stars than 4, I will still undoubtedly devour the second in the series and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey on which Ness took me so expertly.
dino46's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
erickabdz's review against another edition
4.0
You close yer eyes and as clearly and calmly as you can you tell yerself who you are, cuz that’s what gets lost in all that Noise.
The Knife of Never Letting Go was an interesting, heart-breaking and chaotic book. I say chaotic as the best of the compliments. It is a book that does not only tell, but makes you experience the emotions of its narrator. The story is full of meaning and keeps you intrigued to the very end (maybe please give the kids a break?), and some of the characters are incredible likeable (I hope there's more of the others in the next book, though, because another bunch of them just didn't seem believable), but what really got me was the writing. I have never read a book that could capture feelings of frustration, despair and fear so well, and even if I struggled in the beginning once I got used to Todd's voice I couldn't imagine the story being told in any other way.
Todd's voice achieves telling a compelling story in a very unique way, and I'm glad to have picked this book for the Around the Year Challenge or otherwise it would had continued in my to-read shelf. However, I'm certainly taking a time before reading the next books so my heart can heal a little.
Oh, son, there’s so much wonder in the world. Don’t let no one tell you otherwise.
ilovedogs123's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
gautgur_'s review against another edition
for me, it was boring and I felt like I didn't progress in the book.
sandralam's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, it really makes you think twice about wishing to be telepathic...
My Thoughts:
1. This book was such a refreshing read and totally took me by surprise. I didn't expect to love it so much.
2. I've never seen someone who has as much bad luck as Todd does.
3. Manchee!! (He reminds me of the dog from the movie, Up!)
4. The book starts out great but then drags a little around the middle but the ending was definitely a page turner and kept me on my toes the entire time.
5. I LOVED the typography in the book. It's a great illustration of the chaos that comes with the Noise. It is definitely chaos walking.
6. There was non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, with a totally original and unique plot. AWESOME!
7. Ahhh cliffhangers! Why couldn't it end on a happier note?! I knew it was too good to be true.
My Thoughts:
1. This book was such a refreshing read and totally took me by surprise. I didn't expect to love it so much.
2. I've never seen someone who has as much bad luck as Todd does.
Spoiler
I became so frustrated with Aaron...Why doesn't he just die already?!?3. Manchee!! (He reminds me of the dog from the movie, Up!)
4. The book starts out great but then drags a little around the middle but the ending was definitely a page turner and kept me on my toes the entire time.
5. I LOVED the typography in the book. It's a great illustration of the chaos that comes with the Noise. It is definitely chaos walking.
6. There was non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, with a totally original and unique plot. AWESOME!
7. Ahhh cliffhangers! Why couldn't it end on a happier note?! I knew it was too good to be true.
toffiladyreader's review against another edition
4.0
Pero la concha de tu madre.....
What in the actual fuck......
What in the actual fuck......
celinalandolfi's review against another edition
5.0
This book made me cry. Therefore, it shall receive 5 stars from me.
katrudston96's review against another edition
Just genuinely couldn’t get into the book and I had this book for seven years and I just never really picked it up again after reading 8 chapters which was quite boring for me. I can see why people do like this book, it’s just simply not for me!