First, we had Matched. Now, we have . . . Crossed

Read the book?

MATCHED

Haven't yet?

Never fear.

CROSSED

comes out on November 1 2011.

There is so, so much time. To spend, to waste.

And yes! There is a third novel, and it is coming out in November 2012!

Source:

Ally's blog

While Matched wasn't one of my favourites, looking at the finished copy tempts me to snatch a copy for my own bookshelf. And then Crossed . . . and then Whippidy-doo (unofficial name).

[Review] Matched by Ally Condie

Title: Matched

Author: Ally Condie

Publication: 12 December 2010 (UK/AUS)

Publisher: Razorbill (Imprint of Penguin UK)

Review Copy: PB, Won (Thanks Between the Lines!)

Pages: 360

My Rating:

Blurb:  

ON HER SEVENTEENTH BIRTHDAY,
CASSIA MEETS HER MATCH.  SOCIETY DICTATES
HE IS HER PERFECT PARTNER FOR LIFE.

EXCEPT HE'S NOT.

In Cassia's society, Officials decide who people love.
How many children they have.
Where they work.
When they die.
But, as Cassia finds herself falling in love with another boy, she is determined to make some choices of her own.
And that's when her whole world begins to unravel . . .

My thoughts: 

It is so very hard to read similar books so close together, because it inevitable leads to comparisons. I probably would have enjoyed Matched that little bit more had I not read Delirium by Lauren Oliver earlier. On its own, Matched is a beautifully heart-breaking and poignant portrayal of a futuristic world. But more than that; the themes that are explored can inherently be universal. It all boils down to: How legitimate is the word of the "Society", the dominating forces of the community? That said, Matched is so much more than the love story that it is being pinned down as, though it is pretty much love that drives the whole story.

I'll try my best not to spoil anything, and anything that could be classified as big plot points have been mentioned in the blurb, so it's not a spoiler by technical standards.

Cassia Reyes is a seventeen-year-old girl who has been Matched with her best friend, Xanda. Things couldn't have gone more right, the one girl in the local Hall wearing the pretty green dress gets to spend the rest of her life with a guy she knows. However, a glitch in the system - when the wrong face appears as her match, just for a second - lets Cassia's mind wander to dangerous fields.

Cassia was a bit annoying, but it was kind of justified due to circumstances (falling in love with someone who is not her match). She constantly went on about Ky, and it was painful to read about because Xander is such a sweet guy. Ky lets Cassia be free, whereas Xander is strong and they've been best friends for ever. I have always gone with the best friend, rather than the new guy (though in this case, Ky was in their group of friends too, but Cassia never knew him that well until the events in Matched). I'm a bit torn between the two. Hopefully I can make up my mind in the next installment...

After having read the whole book, the cover bears so much more symbolism and importance. I love those kinds of covers! A bit slow at times, to the point where I wouldn't feel the absolute need to stay up even later to read a couple more chapters. However, all in all, a good read.

Matched is an evocative novel set in a world that was familiar yet entirely different; with beautiful prose that was both expressive and easy to read. It is refreshing, and ultimately, at its core, a reflective take on society and how messy love can become even in the midst of autocratic control.

Really sorry I couldn't write a better review. It was really hard, but I tried. Bottom line: I enjoyed it, a lot.

Trailer:

Other Reviews:
Please only include reviews to MATCHED in this links list. This is BETA, meaning that if not many people, or if many people just link their sites I will not be doing this in the future.


Buy:
Live in Australia?
Fishpond | Readings | Dymocks | Angus & Robertson | Borders | The Nile

Live elsewhere?

Amazon | The Book Depository

I am in no way affiliated with the above sites, nor with Condie or the publisher. I do not receive any money for reviewing or linking.



Links:


Official Website
Author Website

Learn more about Matched and read more reviews at Goodreads! 

Teaser Tuesday (7): Matched

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Grab the book you are currently reading and randomly post a couple sentences.

I haven't done one of these in a while. Hope you enjoy the paragraph I've selected! I was going to feature the beginning, but everyone has read it already. ;)

I know what the green and blue tablets do. I don't know anyone who knows for certain what the red tablet does. There have been rumours about it for years.

I climb into bed and push away thoughts of the red tablet. For the first time in my life, I'm allowed to dream of Xander.

(p. 22)

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Matched by Ally Condie
Pages: 366 (UK ARC)
Release date: 30 November 2010 (US), 12th December 2010 (UK)
Genre: Dystopia, romance
Ages: YA, 14+
Amazon | Goodreads | Penguin AU

Blurb (Goodreads):

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.

Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a classic.

 Hope you enjoy this week's Teaser Tuesday!

What are you reading?

A trailer, a movie, and a tour.

The Trailer

Matched.

Releasing next month (December 12th for Australia), Matched is a love story set in a dystopic, futuristic world; and in the Society, they decide.

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.

 

At first, I can't say I loved the trailer. However, I went back to it, and it's not half bad. It's actually pretty good. Also, the site has changed. It's looking quite spiffy, and you can even GET MATCHED, if you have a Facebook account. ;)

The Movie

No doubt you've heard of If I Stay, a contemporary YA novel that focuses on Mia, a car crash, death, mortality, memory, family . . .  love. Hauntingly beautiful, a stoic and poignant tale of a heartwrenching and trialing period of a young girl's life. Definitely a must-read. Anyway, Gayle Forman, author of If I Stay, has received much news on the progress with its movie. The movie will be produced by the same people as that big vampire 'saga' everyone is talking about (Please. I don't need to say what it is, right?)

Information is about the new director, possible Mia (who is she? :P), and crystallises the fact that a movie is going to happen! *squee*

Tweets by Gayle Forman:

EW.com: Dakota Fanning in talks for supernatural project 'If I Stay' - http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/10/21/dakota-fanning-if-i-stay/ #ew

Dakota Fanning is in talks for 'If I Stay.' Is it the right career move? http://ow.ly/2X8xG 

Yes, Dakota's in talks for Mia. And yes, we have a new director, a very cool sounding one. http://bit.ly/cnBSrW. Yippie!

Finally, some movie news!!! http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118026049.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

The Tour

So this is a double-whammy for Gayle Forman. :) I love her too much; there can never be enough Gayle Forman.

For all of you who don't know, Where She Went (pictured left), is the sequel to If I Stay. If you do not know that, haven't read IIS, please stop reading and go out and read it!!

Anyway, I'll just get on with it. Holly at Good Golly Miss Molly is hosting an ARC tour for it!! This really got me excited, since it's going to be a while before it releases. I'm so glad that Holly opened this up for the international readers and bloggers, or just those who are not on Dutton's good side. If people keep on commenting expressing their interest, it's very possible that Holly will have a second ARC in the future. ;) There are already 10+ participants, but list yourself down anyway, because luck may be on your side!

Good Golly Miss Molly tour for Where She Went by Gayle Forman