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The Book of Joan
The Book of Joan
Lidia Yuknavitch | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Gender Studies, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I really wanted to love this. The storyline is right up my street: fantasy, dystopian, science fiction. It ticks all my favourite genre boxes. I liked it, but I didn't love it. As the story went on, I found that the time jumps just seemed to confuse me. How could the biological changes happen so quickly? Surely they would have had to have happened at least in utero, if not over generations? But it all seemed pretty 'immediate'. This is fiction, I know, and an author should be allowed to manipulate a timeline however they want to. I just felt a little lost! I loved the characters Joan and Christine: particularly Joan's 'superpowers' and connection to the Earth. The prose was beautiful to read in places and really descriptive. Also the poem at the end makes me curious to see if Yuknavitch will write more poetry, or indeed, whether she already has. I'd read it!
  
The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood | 1998 | Essays
9
8.3 (112 Ratings)
Book Rating
Grippingly written - you're always looking for signs as to who is a friend/foe (2 more)
Considered sci-fi in some circles but would appeal to non-sci fi readers just the same
Equally good read as a "thinking" book or just as an ordinary lazy afternoon read
Classic Atwood - read it before you watch the series!
A cautionary tale (to the extreme) of what could happen when people fail to uphold a "fair" society and keep an increasingly authoritarian ruling class in check, told from the perspective of a reproductive servant/slave.

   The story is timely given the theme of reproductive rights and women and social equality issues that have sprung up around certain political arenas in the recent news - which makes the tone of the story even more sardonic in this light. The plot and setting could comfortably fit in as a neighbouring country, say, of other dystopian novel settings such as 1984, Brave New World, and A Clockwork Orange.
  
AT
After the End (After the End, #1)
Amy Plum | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
[After The End] by [Amy Plum] has a deceptive tile because it leads you to think it is an dystopian novel. Although I love those books this was a welcomed surprise. It turned into more of an action/adventure with a little coming of age thrown in for good measure.

[Plum] did an excellent job of developing a creative, fearless, intelligent character in Juneau. Although she is naive do to lack of exposure she know how to survive. Her loyalty to family even though they hurt her is endearing.

Miles, on the other hand, is a spoiled rotten brat who has had the easy life. He starts out for his own gain but what he really gains is a new insight about life and love.

This story has some supernatural aspects but over all is more of an exciting journey of discovery for two young people who have a lot to learn from each other.
  
Ready Player One
Ready Player One
Ernest Cline | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.9 (161 Ratings)
Book Rating
Writing (2 more)
Character development
80's references
This is one of the most fun reads I've ever had.
I kinda love this book, and the Audio Book is read by Wil Wheaton which is kinda perfect. I even love the dystopian future aspect, where everyone spends all the time online, plugged in to the Oasis. And here within it in a big mystery, with shades of willy wonka. Here is this everyday geek, who through hard work, determination and cunning deciphering of the codes and clues makes a run at the greatest prize of his time. Once agai on fo the most fun books I've ever read, and I really hope the movie coming out soon lives up to the feel, I already know it won't have everything as no movie is ever a complete version, but I feel that steven spielberg at least has the chops to take it on and do it justice. I hope I'm not wrong.
  
40x40

Lumos (380 KP) Mar 23, 2018

I love, love this book! I wish there were slightly fewer inappropriate moments because I know my students would enjoy it.

40x40

Connie (244 KP) Jun 10, 2018

Agreed Lumos! My 4th graders would love to hear this. Maybe I can find a way to skip some of it without taking away from the story...?

Divergent
Divergent
Veronica Roth | 2012 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
8.1 (140 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a great novel. I really enjoyed the characters and I found that I could relate to many of them. For those of you who are worried that it's going to be "Hunger Games," it's not. It's the same genre but it is definitely different.

I am a little upset that it took me this long to read this novel. I read too many reviews stating that it was Hunger Games 2.0 but it isn't. I'm a fan of dystopian lit. This is definitely dyshtopian. It will have the same feel as Hunger Games but it is different.

I really liked this book. It was fast paced, well written for a young adult novel, and truly entertaining. I wish I had more time over the Christmas holiday to read more. This is easily a novel I could have finished within a day where I didn't have familial obligations.

If you're hesitant to read this novel, I suggest that you pick it up.
  
The Vanishing Deep
The Vanishing Deep
Astrid Scholte | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Great worldbuilding in a submerged future
The Vanishing Deep is set in a fascinating future world in which global warming melted the polar ice caps and The Great Waves submerged most of the planet. There is not much land left. The story is set on an island with an attached floating community called a reef. A facility called Palindromena is able to resurrect the drowned dead for 24 hours, after which they must die again. Tempest, is all alone in the world and decides to resurrect her sister who died two years ago, because she wants to find out more about their parents' death. In doing so, she meets Lor and Ray and things get complicated. This aquatic adventure is non-stop and the complex plot has many suspenseful twists and turns. The author is able to convey well the depth of emotion between the characters. A really well done YA sci-fi dystopian.
  
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