mandavilla

a reminder of summer

Meanwhile, I'm a tiny bit sad because I finished my books. I read the last of The City & The City Wednesday night before bed and finished Matched over dinner last night. I loved them both. However, they are vastly different books. The first is foremost a murder mystery but it gets wierd when you discover that there are two cities occupying the same space and everyone is trained to 'unsee' anything in the other city. And if, for example, one was to notice something in the other city and did not unsee it but instead actually touched it, well, that would be 'breach,' and one does NOT want to invoke breach. I loved the way Mievile used words we all know and twisted them just a little. I loved that he made me think and pay attention to his words, savor them. I can't remember the last time I read anything so intently.

As for Matched, a dystopian YA, I fell in love slowly, but only due to the subtle beauty of the story and the way it is told, from Cassia's perspective. When the tale begins she is about to attend her matching banquet where she will find out who has been chosen for her mate - who she has been matched with. Because in this society, you have no choice. Everything is determined according to statistics and best outcome. Your work will be what you're good at. Your meals are delivered according to your needs. No one hardly ever has cake. The only bad thing about this book? It's the first of three and book two doesn't come out til November.

Next on my short list:

Perilous
Shipbreakers
Cassastar
Saphique

what else should I be reading?