Publication date: 30th November, 2010
Goodreads description: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.
My Review:
Favourite Quote: "Once you want something, everything changes. Now I want everything. More and more and more."
Matched is a book that I have been desperately waiting for and one that was surrounded by a lot of hype. And I have to say after I finished reading it I feel a little disappointed. Matched was good but it wasn't that great epic story I was expecting.
What I liked most about this book was the prose. It was really beautiful.
"So in the middle of all the noise, I point to the sky. I hope he understands what I mean, because I mean so many things: My heart will always fly his name. I won't go gentle. I'll find a way to soar like the angels in the stories and I will find him. And I know he understands as he looks straight at me, deep into my eyes. His lips move silently, and I know what he says: the words of a poem that only two people in the world know. Tears well up but I blink them away. Because if there is one moment in my life that I want to see clearly, this is it."
The concept was interesting and the world building is well thought out. It really feels like this could be our future. But the pace was just too slow for me and that was my biggest problem with Matched. Basically, after a little while I got a tad bit bored. There was too much details and not enough action. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen and when it did the book ended.
Cassia, Ky and Xander they were certainly likeable and interesting but I never really got emotionally invested in them. Also I felt the romance lacked a little spark and didn't really feel the connection between Cassia and Ky. I couldn't understand how they could love each other already. If Cassia had been in love with Xander I would have completely understood because of the years of the close friendship they had.
I am however looking forward to the next installment despite my problems with Matched. I think it will have all the things that I felt the first book was missing.
Overall, not a bad start to this series. It just lacked that little something special for me.
Overall Rating: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Romance: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
For More Info: Ally Condie's website
For More Reviews: Inkcrush and Daisy Chain Book Reviews
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15 comments:
Great review Nic! Sometimes if the book is well written enough I can find myself invested despite less than spectacular characters. I can't wait to read this book (despite some a bit of wariness) so my library should hurry up and get it! :)
I haven't read this book but my sister has. She hated it unfortunately. I think I might give this book a miss.
I am so glad that I am not the only one who never saw the undying love for this book. While I did like it I found all of the same things that you mentioned in your review. I never felt really connected to the characters, I thought the pace was slow. I do think that maybe the second book will be better, and will read it when it comes out.
I agree it was often a little slow .. but I loved all the dystopian side personally so I llook forward to read Crossed !! =)
Great and very helpful review. From everything I've heard, I just don't think this book is for me. I don't like slow books at all. I'm also disappointed to see the romance was a little lackluster. Thanks for the warning!
A good, honest review, Nic. I did enjoy this one - I think the pace was steady and matched Cassia's personality, at least as she was at the beginning. I think the next book will be much more quickly paced, if we can judge from her determination at the end.
-Linds, bibliophile brouhaha
Aw, sorry this one wasn't as good for you as you'd hoped Nic! I adored it, but we all like different things and I think a lot of our feelings depend on the books we've read just before–if we had a strong emotional reaction to that one, sometimes the book after it seems to lack in comparison. Loved reading your thoughts!
Well I havne't read Matched yet but have seen some mixed reviews for it. That being said I'll probably be reading it in the future since I have a copy on my shelf. Thanks for the honest review.
I certainly understand what you mean. I think once the hype builds up a book, it makes it almost impossible for the book to live up to the expectations.
I enjoyed the slower pace of this one, but it doesn't work for everyone. I'm looking forward to seeing where the series is headed.
Glad you gave it a try. Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts.
I really enjoyed this review. I thought Matched was a great book and I can't wait to see what happens in Crossed, but I was surprised at the end of the novel to be in love with the plot line more than the characters--which is really unusual for me.
I very much agree with you on this one, Nic. I loved the story and the prose especially, but wasn't really feeling the romance (or lack of). Looking forward to Crossed, though. Great review. :)
i really liked it, but it wasn't one of my favourites ever. i would have probably given it a 3.5. deffinetly worth reading. i'd like to read 1984 now.
Thanks for linking my review! :)
I feel this one lacked that something extra special too. I liked Condie's writing and world building, but the characters and romance aspect fell short for me. I'm hoping the action picks up in the next book!
Great review, although I really loved this one. I thought the writing was so good I didn't mind the slow pace and I loved Cassia and Ky's relationship.
I totally agree with your evaluation on this one.
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