Obviously the plot is absurd with two super precocious kids but it's a fun adventure story for intermediate/middle school kids. I think this 2.5 Stars
Obviously the plot is absurd with two super precocious kids but it's a fun adventure story for intermediate/middle school kids. I think this will be okay for NZ Y9 as Amy is 14 years old and it would suit someone looking for a quick read. There are lots of near death scenes and dastardly villains. There is an online game component but I am not sure if that is still something that can be played given how old the book is now.
I found the link but don't have the time to explore this game though.
This is exactly why I don't like reading book 1 when book 2 doesn't exist yet! 2023 is a long way off.
I will be honest and say that at several points This is exactly why I don't like reading book 1 when book 2 doesn't exist yet! 2023 is a long way off.
I will be honest and say that at several points during the first half I contemplated quitting but I am thrilled that I held on. I found the author to be a bit heavy handed in establishing this world as having nasty levels of racial hatred and misogyny. The actions were clear enough without having it then pointed out to us that those people were just being racist or sexist. It is a super long audiobook. Eighteen hours! It was incredibly well read which helped the time fly by. Interestingly, it had a lot of peaks throughout. You'd be all caught up in the tense action and it would feel worthy of a book ending climax only to find that there are still 15 hours of the book left. Rinse and repeat. There was a lot going on in this book in terms of the different factions, peoples and the world itself and I need a few things clarified. The second half of the novel was gripping with an ending that was satisfying but definitely left me excited for book 2. Thoroughly enjoyable.
CW: Lots of violence, blood and death, sexual content, racism, misogyny, loss of loved ones....more
CW: It's pretty violent in parts (view spoiler)[son believes father committed suicide so there are a few references to that throughout, cannibalism (rCW: It's pretty violent in parts (view spoiler)[son believes father committed suicide so there are a few references to that throughout, cannibalism (ref only) (hide spoiler)]
Well that was relentless action with some major Mad Max vibes, yet something was missing.
I can't quite pinpoint why this ended up 'good' as opposed to 'great', but I suspect it's because for most of the story the 'good guys' felt a little bit flat. It was maybe in the last quarter that I actually felt any kind of hope that they might make it out of the many...like numerous...fight for survival situations. It's a pretty grim future that David has created but I don't think I got enough of a feel for the world as the fast pace meant interesting elements were mentioned, but never fully developed. I do think this will have a lot of appeal so am happy to add it to my booktalk shelves....more
CW: (view spoiler)[Prostitution to get money for medicine, suicide in order to blow up building, swearing (hide spoiler)]
Well the movie is nothing likCW: (view spoiler)[Prostitution to get money for medicine, suicide in order to blow up building, swearing (hide spoiler)]
Well the movie is nothing like this novel! The movie was a gimmicky take on what is actually a very gritty book. Things are bleak in this futuristic world created by Stephen King during his ‘Bachman’ writing period. Desperate impoverished people enter themselves into televised game shows in order to earn money to feed their families. The outcome of these games often spells death for the contestants themselves but a shot at survival for their families. Ben Richards enters in order to earn money for his daughter's medical treatments. The concept is brilliant and this is evident by the number of authors that have clearly taken inspiration from this 1982 novel. The writing is quite rough and raw and this sets the tone perfectly for what is a fast paced story of a man struggling to reclaim some sense of control and purpose in his life. I didn’t find Ben to be a likeable character but I felt strongly and emotionally connected to what his continued survival meant in terms of ‘sticking it to the man’. An excellent ‘under-dog’ story of a man pushed to his limits in a relentless struggle to survive. Thoroughly recommend....more
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