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Insel #1
L'Île
‘Je marche vers la mer. La surface infinie de l’eau se prolonge jusqu’à l’horizon, d’où que je regarde.
Notre monde est petit. Nous sommes livrés à nous, et ne dépendons que de nous-mêmes. Nous dépendons de la Force enfouie profondément en nous, comme nous l’ont enseigné nos ancêtres.
Si je devais marcher d’ici vers l’ouest, je me retrouverais devant une barrière – le Mur. Derrière se trouvent les Idiots. Du moins, c’est ce que tout le monde dit.
Je n’en ai jamais vu un.’
Leia vit sur l’Ile, un monde dans lequel enfants quittent leurs parents pour se débrouiller seuls lorsqu’ils atteignent dix ans. À travers cette Ile s’étend un mur que personne n’a jamais franchi. Les Idiots vivant derrière celui-ci ne se prêtent à la raison – ils croient aux illusions. C’est ce que Le Livre dit, le seul objet légué aux insulaires de l’est par leurs ancêtres.
Mais lorsqu’un homme étrange échoue sur le rivage et que Leia rencontre un Idiot en personne, sa vie ne sera plus la même. Les croyances qu’elle et ses amis ont sur l’île sont-elles réellement fondées ?
Ou bien les habitants de leur monde sont-ils en fait tous des Idiots?
Notre monde est petit. Nous sommes livrés à nous, et ne dépendons que de nous-mêmes. Nous dépendons de la Force enfouie profondément en nous, comme nous l’ont enseigné nos ancêtres.
Si je devais marcher d’ici vers l’ouest, je me retrouverais devant une barrière – le Mur. Derrière se trouvent les Idiots. Du moins, c’est ce que tout le monde dit.
Je n’en ai jamais vu un.’
Leia vit sur l’Ile, un monde dans lequel enfants quittent leurs parents pour se débrouiller seuls lorsqu’ils atteignent dix ans. À travers cette Ile s’étend un mur que personne n’a jamais franchi. Les Idiots vivant derrière celui-ci ne se prêtent à la raison – ils croient aux illusions. C’est ce que Le Livre dit, le seul objet légué aux insulaires de l’est par leurs ancêtres.
Mais lorsqu’un homme étrange échoue sur le rivage et que Leia rencontre un Idiot en personne, sa vie ne sera plus la même. Les croyances qu’elle et ses amis ont sur l’île sont-elles réellement fondées ?
Ou bien les habitants de leur monde sont-ils en fait tous des Idiots?
130 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2013
187 people are currently reading
3283 people want to read
About the author
Jen Minkman
86 books505 followersJen Minkman (1978) writes YA paranormal romance, dystopian fiction and poetry. She is from the Netherlands and self-publishes her work in English. Her works are available in paperback & digital format (ebook and audio).
You can subscribe to her newsletter here > http://eepurl.com/bTXSWv
Jen was born in the Netherlands and lived in Austria, Belgium and the UK during her studies. She learned how to read at the age of three and has never stopped reading since. Her favourite books to read are (YA) paranormal/fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian and romance, and this is reflected in the stories she writes. In her home country, she is a trade-published author of paranormal romance and chicklit. Across the border, she is a self-published author of poetry, paranormal romance and dystopian fiction. Her books are already available in English, Dutch, Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Afrikaans.
She currently resides in The Hague where she works and lives with her husband and two noisy zebra finches.
You can subscribe to her newsletter here > http://eepurl.com/bTXSWv
Jen was born in the Netherlands and lived in Austria, Belgium and the UK during her studies. She learned how to read at the age of three and has never stopped reading since. Her favourite books to read are (YA) paranormal/fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian and romance, and this is reflected in the stories she writes. In her home country, she is a trade-published author of paranormal romance and chicklit. Across the border, she is a self-published author of poetry, paranormal romance and dystopian fiction. Her books are already available in English, Dutch, Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Afrikaans.
She currently resides in The Hague where she works and lives with her husband and two noisy zebra finches.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 435 reviews
June 11, 2013
This will be a very short review for a very short novella. I'll admit that I'm a little taken aback by the fact that this is essentially a Star Wars AU fanfic - in technical terming. With direct references to the characters, with the main characters having names similar to Star Wars, but it tries to wrap itself up in an original story which...it's hard to separate the narrative when its so contingent upon the other story.
Here's the synopsis: Siblings Leia and Luc (*side-eyes the screen*) are forced from home at the age of ten to survive in the wild on an island under a tyrannical leader. Their existence is defined by The Book, which contains information about their ancestors Luke Skywalker, Father Darth, and talks about The Force being the code they live by (there's the utterance of "May the Force Be With You!"), even when they are to be separated from their parents and girls, like Leia, are supposed to be married off into this dystopic world. But Leia senses there's something wrong with their leader and grows even more suspicious when a Fool (someone who lives outside their realm) comes wandering in from beyond the Wall. Leia steals "The Book" and after a series of events realizes essentially that the world and the rules they've been living by are all lies. Why? Because they're based on a young boy's abandoned book with the narrative containing the story of - you guessed it - Star Wars.
No, I'm not hiding that behind a spoiler because it's a forgone conclusion. And yeah, that's this story in a nutshell. It felt like a waste of time and I couldn't get behind the narrative. Sure, there were parts of it, particularly in the beginning where it fooled me and I could say it drew me into the work, but then it threw a bone to the Star Wars leaning and the ball kept dropping from there because it was so contingent on the Star Wars references. I know there are other works that do hinge on famous movies, books, or other such things, but...really? This is no "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline. The characters were very threadbare, the romance nonexistent, the Star Wars leaning a bit silly and just...I'm still in surprise that I took an hour and some change of my time to read this. I thought it would be a better story and it just...wasn't.
I'm sorry to say I can't recommend this for clear reasons.
Overall score: 0.5/5
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.
Here's the synopsis: Siblings Leia and Luc (*side-eyes the screen*) are forced from home at the age of ten to survive in the wild on an island under a tyrannical leader. Their existence is defined by The Book, which contains information about their ancestors Luke Skywalker, Father Darth, and talks about The Force being the code they live by (there's the utterance of "May the Force Be With You!"), even when they are to be separated from their parents and girls, like Leia, are supposed to be married off into this dystopic world. But Leia senses there's something wrong with their leader and grows even more suspicious when a Fool (someone who lives outside their realm) comes wandering in from beyond the Wall. Leia steals "The Book" and after a series of events realizes essentially that the world and the rules they've been living by are all lies. Why? Because they're based on a young boy's abandoned book with the narrative containing the story of - you guessed it - Star Wars.
No, I'm not hiding that behind a spoiler because it's a forgone conclusion. And yeah, that's this story in a nutshell. It felt like a waste of time and I couldn't get behind the narrative. Sure, there were parts of it, particularly in the beginning where it fooled me and I could say it drew me into the work, but then it threw a bone to the Star Wars leaning and the ball kept dropping from there because it was so contingent on the Star Wars references. I know there are other works that do hinge on famous movies, books, or other such things, but...really? This is no "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline. The characters were very threadbare, the romance nonexistent, the Star Wars leaning a bit silly and just...I'm still in surprise that I took an hour and some change of my time to read this. I thought it would be a better story and it just...wasn't.
I'm sorry to say I can't recommend this for clear reasons.
Overall score: 0.5/5
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.
March 21, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
This was a weird book.
If it's so weird, then why am I giving it three stars?
I'm just assuming you're asking that question, by the way.
Ok, ok, I'll tell you. Because I can't stop thinking about it, that's why!
At first, it looks like it's just going to be your regular old dystopian novel about some strange society. And then you start to notice the Star Wars references.
Star Wars!?
That's right, my friend, Star Wars. As in, the huge blockbuster movie that was so popular, it made it seem as though it was a good idea to wear your hair like two giant cinnamon buns on either side of your head. That Star Wars.
I mean, do you see anything in the blurb that screams, "The entire society is based on George Lucas fan fiction!". No. No, you do not.
In fairness, I just checked again and this was added to the blurb I recently read on Goodreads:
(Please note: this novella contains a few references to the famous sci-fi movie Star Wars which are pivotal to the plot. None of the characters in The Island are in any way related to the characters in the movie. Leia is named after one of the ancient heroes of her culture/religion.)
A few references? Ha! As if!
At the age of ten, all children on the island leave home and cut all ties with their parents. They then go to live in a smaller community with other children under the age of eighteen in order to become independent...and find the Force within themselves. Once they get married, they return to the adult community, but they don't really have anything to do with their parents anymore. It's considered a sign of weakness or something. On the other side of a wall live another type of people whom they refer to as Fools, but they don't really know much about them. Well, other than they're foolishly waiting around for someone to save them, hence the name, Fools.
Leia is a young girl named after her ancestor, the famous mighty female twin of Luke. The story starts when she and her twin brother leave home to go live with the other kids. Flash forward a few years and things are falling apart in their Lord of the Flies compound. A ruthless leader has taken over, and Leia discovers that The Book may hold evidence that will make the others revolt against his leadership. Now, this Book is like their Bible, right? It's holy, sacred, infallible, and it holds the history of her people. So when she steals it, it's a pretty big deal.
Ok, the entire time I'm reading about this Book, I'm almost embarrassed for this girl. Seriously. These people based their lives on some poorly written Star Wars fanfic. Oh. My. God.
While she's trying to hide the Book (so she can read its sacred information later), she meets a Fool who is searching for someone who washed up on their side of the shore. Less than witty banter ensues, and he agrees to keep the Book with him until they can meet again. Obviously, this kid is the Love Interest. I didn't feel much in the way of sparks, but it's a novella, so I let it slide.
And honestly, any questions I had about their romance was going to take a backseat to the more important questions this book poses.
How the hell did some nerd with a lightsaber get his own island?! How did they convince other people to go along with this dumbass idea?! And most importantly, what was the author thinking?!
In my mind, I just couldn't see a way for Ms. Minkman to make this work. There was no reason for this crazy society to exist. At all. Ever.
Then along came the ending.
And you know what? It kind of made sense.
Yeah, I know. I'm as surprised as you are.
So three big fat stars for pulling off the impossible, Ms. Minkman!
Also reviewed for Addicted2Heroines
This was a weird book.
If it's so weird, then why am I giving it three stars?
I'm just assuming you're asking that question, by the way.
Ok, ok, I'll tell you. Because I can't stop thinking about it, that's why!
At first, it looks like it's just going to be your regular old dystopian novel about some strange society. And then you start to notice the Star Wars references.
Star Wars!?
That's right, my friend, Star Wars. As in, the huge blockbuster movie that was so popular, it made it seem as though it was a good idea to wear your hair like two giant cinnamon buns on either side of your head. That Star Wars.
I mean, do you see anything in the blurb that screams, "The entire society is based on George Lucas fan fiction!". No. No, you do not.
In fairness, I just checked again and this was added to the blurb I recently read on Goodreads:
(Please note: this novella contains a few references to the famous sci-fi movie Star Wars which are pivotal to the plot. None of the characters in The Island are in any way related to the characters in the movie. Leia is named after one of the ancient heroes of her culture/religion.)
A few references? Ha! As if!
At the age of ten, all children on the island leave home and cut all ties with their parents. They then go to live in a smaller community with other children under the age of eighteen in order to become independent...and find the Force within themselves. Once they get married, they return to the adult community, but they don't really have anything to do with their parents anymore. It's considered a sign of weakness or something. On the other side of a wall live another type of people whom they refer to as Fools, but they don't really know much about them. Well, other than they're foolishly waiting around for someone to save them, hence the name, Fools.
Leia is a young girl named after her ancestor, the famous mighty female twin of Luke. The story starts when she and her twin brother leave home to go live with the other kids. Flash forward a few years and things are falling apart in their Lord of the Flies compound. A ruthless leader has taken over, and Leia discovers that The Book may hold evidence that will make the others revolt against his leadership. Now, this Book is like their Bible, right? It's holy, sacred, infallible, and it holds the history of her people. So when she steals it, it's a pretty big deal.
Ok, the entire time I'm reading about this Book, I'm almost embarrassed for this girl. Seriously. These people based their lives on some poorly written Star Wars fanfic. Oh. My. God.
While she's trying to hide the Book (so she can read its sacred information later), she meets a Fool who is searching for someone who washed up on their side of the shore. Less than witty banter ensues, and he agrees to keep the Book with him until they can meet again. Obviously, this kid is the Love Interest. I didn't feel much in the way of sparks, but it's a novella, so I let it slide.
And honestly, any questions I had about their romance was going to take a backseat to the more important questions this book poses.
How the hell did some nerd with a lightsaber get his own island?! How did they convince other people to go along with this dumbass idea?! And most importantly, what was the author thinking?!
In my mind, I just couldn't see a way for Ms. Minkman to make this work. There was no reason for this crazy society to exist. At all. Ever.
Then along came the ending.
And you know what? It kind of made sense.
Yeah, I know. I'm as surprised as you are.
So three big fat stars for pulling off the impossible, Ms. Minkman!
Also reviewed for Addicted2Heroines
January 29, 2019
I was pleasantly pleased with this story when I was finished reading it. Although there were a few things that threw me off a bit, Jen Minkman ends up doing a wonderful pulling everything together. There are a lot of Star Wars references in this book. At first I was a bit frustrated and even questioned if this was some kind of fanfiction. Let me assure you all, it is not. The references are explained by the end of the story. Just give it time. Ultimately, in actually adds a new, better level to the plot.
The story is told from the view of a young girl, Leia who lives on an island where children are parted from their parents at a young age and then live and survive together in a mansion. They are taught life lessons by their leader but certain members of the group begin to question the truth.
At first Leia seemed a bit shallow. I had a hard time getting into her character at first but after a short while she begins to grow. her thought process is easy to follow and kept me very engaged in the story. In the end I liked her, but I would have loved to see a bit more time given to get to know the other characters and her a bit better. Then again, there are more books to the series so that is okay.
This is more than a short prequel novella but far from a full novel. A nice, fast read. One I am hoping leads to a larger world in the next book. The pace just keeps you going, page after page. The style is simple yet captivating. A bit modern, bit primitive and yet futuristic dystopian all put together. Truly an enjoyable read. I look forward to continuing the series.
I received a eArc copy of this book from the author, Jen Minkman, via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
The story is told from the view of a young girl, Leia who lives on an island where children are parted from their parents at a young age and then live and survive together in a mansion. They are taught life lessons by their leader but certain members of the group begin to question the truth.
At first Leia seemed a bit shallow. I had a hard time getting into her character at first but after a short while she begins to grow. her thought process is easy to follow and kept me very engaged in the story. In the end I liked her, but I would have loved to see a bit more time given to get to know the other characters and her a bit better. Then again, there are more books to the series so that is okay.
This is more than a short prequel novella but far from a full novel. A nice, fast read. One I am hoping leads to a larger world in the next book. The pace just keeps you going, page after page. The style is simple yet captivating. A bit modern, bit primitive and yet futuristic dystopian all put together. Truly an enjoyable read. I look forward to continuing the series.
I received a eArc copy of this book from the author, Jen Minkman, via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
Read
May 28, 2013When I decided to try my hand at a dystopian novella, I wanted it to be different from most dystopian books I've read lately. While pondering what angle to use, I remembered reading a very interesting picture book as a kid. I don't remember what the title was now, but basically, it was presented as a journal written by people in the future (about 3500 AD) who 'excavate' a hotel in an old city somewhere in the US. They don't know what a hotel is and think it is a burial chamber. So the guy (or skeleton) lying on the bed is deemed the 'high priest' and the bed is labeled a special ceremonial sarcophagus, the dislodged toilet seat in the bathroom is thought to be a special collar that the priests used to wear around their necks for celebrations, etc. It was a hilarious way to show how historians and archeologists might be on the wrong track entirely when analyzing sketelal remains and tombs from Neanderthal settlements or Ancient Egypt - after all, what do we actually know about life back then? Can we really interpret archeological finds without a context? And would people living 1500 years from now be able to make much sense of the ruins of our civilization?
With this in mind, I wrote The Island: a novella about a post-apocalyptic society whose members live according to a very strange life philosophy, caused by events in the past that their ancestors misinterpreted. What I hope readers will think about when they finish reading this book is how a society's rules come into being, and why people sometimes follow the rules even though they are deemed nonsensical by outsiders.
With this in mind, I wrote The Island: a novella about a post-apocalyptic society whose members live according to a very strange life philosophy, caused by events in the past that their ancestors misinterpreted. What I hope readers will think about when they finish reading this book is how a society's rules come into being, and why people sometimes follow the rules even though they are deemed nonsensical by outsiders.
March 23, 2014
2.4
So where to begin, oh I know... in a galaxy far far away, Princess Leia and Luke used the force.... wait that is an Island, not space. Yes, there is an island of people where they worship the good book of their ancestors.
Welcome to Star Wars island
The good book is Star Wars. Their 'founding fathers' are the great Luke and Leia. The beliefs of using your force have be mutated into this really weird society, where children are adults at 10 and must move away from their parents forever. They move to this manner house where they follow the books direction and wait to marry. The leader is a power hungry tyrant, I saw him as the Darth Vader of the story.
He loves his power and wants to keep it
It seems that 'Darth' likes his beer too, he has his troopers make it, it was stored in the basement but played no part in the story
Our heroine Leia, is a conflicted girl. Sometimes she smart and thinking, then she flashes into this twiddle-worm that just can't think one step ahead. She would have a very limited vocabulary, then she would come up with well developed complex sentences with complex words. Was she a shy little deer stuck in the headlights or a rebel leading the revolution ? She was a constant personality switch, I could't get a handle on her.
Their precious little world has been closed off for 150 years until........The Fools arrive, yep that is what they are called.
I didn't hate it, I didn't get it, it was unbelievable, it was really weird. I spent a lot of time going "what?" and "where did that come from and where did it go ?"
I will not continue with this series. I do hope the author continues I think she has a great imagination.
So where to begin, oh I know... in a galaxy far far away, Princess Leia and Luke used the force.... wait that is an Island, not space. Yes, there is an island of people where they worship the good book of their ancestors.
Welcome to Star Wars island
The good book is Star Wars. Their 'founding fathers' are the great Luke and Leia. The beliefs of using your force have be mutated into this really weird society, where children are adults at 10 and must move away from their parents forever. They move to this manner house where they follow the books direction and wait to marry. The leader is a power hungry tyrant, I saw him as the Darth Vader of the story.
He loves his power and wants to keep it
It seems that 'Darth' likes his beer too, he has his troopers make it, it was stored in the basement but played no part in the story
Our heroine Leia, is a conflicted girl. Sometimes she smart and thinking, then she flashes into this twiddle-worm that just can't think one step ahead. She would have a very limited vocabulary, then she would come up with well developed complex sentences with complex words. Was she a shy little deer stuck in the headlights or a rebel leading the revolution ? She was a constant personality switch, I could't get a handle on her.
Their precious little world has been closed off for 150 years until........The Fools arrive, yep that is what they are called.
I didn't hate it, I didn't get it, it was unbelievable, it was really weird. I spent a lot of time going "what?" and "where did that come from and where did it go ?"
I will not continue with this series. I do hope the author continues I think she has a great imagination.
June 26, 2013
Before I started reading The Island I was warned that it could seem like Star Wars fan fiction and I want to set one thing straight from the very beginning: This is NOT fan fiction! If you think it is, you have either not read the entire story or you have no idea what fan fiction is. But yes, Star Wars is mentioned and actually plays a rather important part of the story, but never in a fan fiction kind of way (I’m not saying there is something wrong with fan fiction – I’m just trying to separate things!) All right, how many times did I just write ‘fan fiction?’ Let’s get on with the real review:
I have to admit that the first couple of times either Star Wars or The Force was mentioned, I found it rather weird and the fact that the main character is called Leia certainly doesn’t help. But as the story unfolds everything started to make sense and it ended up being so much more than I could ever have thought.
Leia is a classic dystopian main character; she discovers that something is wrong and decides to change it and along the way she figures out that everything is worse than she thought. Leia is smart and determined, but it’s her actions more than her thoughts that carries the book and as a reader, you never really get to know her 100 %. There are a lot of quiet important secondary characters who are easily separated despite the fact that the reader never gets to know them very well.
My main problem with the story is the length – is just too short! A lot has to be explained and solved in very few pages and it shows in quick solutions and easy conflicts. It also makes the story a bit shallow since there is an overload of action and very little character development.
The story is filled with interesting subject which I could talk about for hours (or write about for hours maybe?) but it’s difficult to do so without spoiling. Believing, humanity and will power are all very important matter in the story and it makes the reader think afterwards. Jen Minkman is a great author and rumors of a sequel make me very happy.
I have to admit that the first couple of times either Star Wars or The Force was mentioned, I found it rather weird and the fact that the main character is called Leia certainly doesn’t help. But as the story unfolds everything started to make sense and it ended up being so much more than I could ever have thought.
Leia is a classic dystopian main character; she discovers that something is wrong and decides to change it and along the way she figures out that everything is worse than she thought. Leia is smart and determined, but it’s her actions more than her thoughts that carries the book and as a reader, you never really get to know her 100 %. There are a lot of quiet important secondary characters who are easily separated despite the fact that the reader never gets to know them very well.
My main problem with the story is the length – is just too short! A lot has to be explained and solved in very few pages and it shows in quick solutions and easy conflicts. It also makes the story a bit shallow since there is an overload of action and very little character development.
The story is filled with interesting subject which I could talk about for hours (or write about for hours maybe?) but it’s difficult to do so without spoiling. Believing, humanity and will power are all very important matter in the story and it makes the reader think afterwards. Jen Minkman is a great author and rumors of a sequel make me very happy.
June 4, 2013
Due to copy and paste, formatting has been lost.
I have never found myself so disappointed by a dystopian novel. I'm not even sure that this qualifies as a dystopian read. It has all the key attributes (defunct society, ruthless leader, plague), but they didn't really work together. And STAR WARS? Really?
I'm not proud of that...and it's totally sad. I mean, I never understand how lies like that become common truth, but it was particularly unbelievable in this case: their entire society is based on a STAR WARS *gasp* fanfic.
Nope, I'm totally not joking. Got you there for a second, though, didn't I? Anywho, moving on before I get too carried away.
The beginning seemed info-dumpish to me, to tell you the truth. Too many names and events at one time-- I had trouble keeping up. Not only that, but I just...STAR WARS FANFIC. Their society is defunct because they believe that STAR WARS FANFIC is true. o.O
I found the main character, Leia, to be fairly dull and flat, unfortunately. She just didn't do it for me, and neither did the villain or her love interest. They just weren't believable characters. They were also way too pliable-- one hint of something could send them running for it.
All in all, I'm VERY disappointed with this one. It wasn't at all what I was expecting.
May 29, 2013
First, before you judge me, please read the book blurb that drew me to this story in the first place: "Leia lives on the Island, a world in which children leave their parents to take care of themselves when they are ten years old. Across this Island runs a wall that no one has ever crossed. The Fools living behind it are not amenable to reason – they believe in illusions. That’s what The Book says, the only thing left to the Eastern Islanders by their ancestors.
But when a strange man washes ashore and Leia meets a Fool face to face, her life will never be the same. Is what she and her friends believe about the Island really true?
Or is everyone in their world, in fact, a Fool?
Sounds quite interesting, right? Not really. Because let me ask you some questions: do you like Star Wars? Do you care about Star Wars and ever want to read anything related to it?
If your answers are no (which mine would have been, had anyone asked me), you might want to stay away from this book. Misleading book blurb, you actually tricked me into reading something that had to do with Star Wars. Tsk tsk.
I thought I was getting a unique dystopian novella (the subtitle is: a dystopian novella, after all) but from the first few times the characters' names were mentioned I was like- what the? Her name is Leia and her brother is Luc? What is this, some Star Wars inside joke?
And then the place they lived was called Tatoo, and okay, I have seen the Star Wars movies; I have younger brothers, so that kind of rang a little bell (Tatooine? Isn't that a planet in Star Wars?) but when they started talking about The Force and Lord Darth that was it for me.
I promptly lost all interest in this, and if you in fact do love Star Wars, you may disagree completely and love every word. Anyways, I skimmed the rest of the 70-ish pages and it didn't get much better for me. I wasn't expecting much plot or character development from a novella, although there are short stories that are shorter that I savoured every moment of. I just did not connect with the story, or the idea behind it. No big twist reveal for me, sadly.
To sum up- Star Wars fans may enjoy this idea, but it left me underwhelmed.
Thank you to the publishers, who via NetGalley provided me with an advance copy for review.
But when a strange man washes ashore and Leia meets a Fool face to face, her life will never be the same. Is what she and her friends believe about the Island really true?
Or is everyone in their world, in fact, a Fool?
Sounds quite interesting, right? Not really. Because let me ask you some questions: do you like Star Wars? Do you care about Star Wars and ever want to read anything related to it?
If your answers are no (which mine would have been, had anyone asked me), you might want to stay away from this book. Misleading book blurb, you actually tricked me into reading something that had to do with Star Wars. Tsk tsk.
I thought I was getting a unique dystopian novella (the subtitle is: a dystopian novella, after all) but from the first few times the characters' names were mentioned I was like- what the? Her name is Leia and her brother is Luc? What is this, some Star Wars inside joke?
And then the place they lived was called Tatoo, and okay, I have seen the Star Wars movies; I have younger brothers, so that kind of rang a little bell (Tatooine? Isn't that a planet in Star Wars?) but when they started talking about The Force and Lord Darth that was it for me.
I promptly lost all interest in this, and if you in fact do love Star Wars, you may disagree completely and love every word. Anyways, I skimmed the rest of the 70-ish pages and it didn't get much better for me. I wasn't expecting much plot or character development from a novella, although there are short stories that are shorter that I savoured every moment of. I just did not connect with the story, or the idea behind it. No big twist reveal for me, sadly.
To sum up- Star Wars fans may enjoy this idea, but it left me underwhelmed.
Thank you to the publishers, who via NetGalley provided me with an advance copy for review.
May 31, 2013
The waves are calling, beckoning me.
As my blood turns to water I bleed into the sea.
And the current of hope will carry me home
No woman is an island, and I am not alone.
At the tender age of 10 years old, every children on the Island, must say goodbye to their parents and learn to fend for themselves. To learn how to survive, when the rule is the survival of the fittest. They cease to have parents, they can't depend on anyone.
Across the island, there is a wall, that separates them of the Fools, the people that believes in waiting for the help, for the outsiders.
I do love dystopian novels, I always get fascinated how authors can create this "new world" and new set of rules, leaving always the reader curious, in how things evolved towards that faith.
I got to say that the twist and it's extent in this story did caught me by surprise, in a good and also in a bad way.
I do believe this story had much more potential and the restraints of being a novella showed in this one. I didn't see much character development and i thought that in many ways, the characters seemed bland or just a caricature of themselves. And it seems they take the truth too fast, without really questioning it at first.
The really strong point in this story,is that it will make you think in the relativity of fiction. On how something that is fiction for us can become the truth someone else. To read a society that was build in that fiction was really interesting, making me wonder if by chance the favorite book of that first leader, was another one.
**ARC kindly provided via netgalley in exchange of an honest review. **
July 12, 2013
I listened to this book from start to finish today. The plot really pulled me in. Sometimes while I'm on a long drive I'll have the kindle voice read one of my e-books to me. The plot was easy to follow and the point of view was simple to track because the novel was written in the first person point of view. Sometimes I feel the story differently when I experience a book this way, but I really enjoyed this one. There were no annoying repetitious phrases to distract me. The dystopian plot paralleled some issues in our world today, like when it came to faith vs. trusting no one and relying only on yourself. I loved how the author showed that people will sometimes blindly follow things because that was all they knew. The fact that Star Wars was like their Bible amused me, but it also made a point. The author did a good job showing how a survival of the fittest philosophy is self-serving and can be dangerous. We all need to believe in something greater than ourselves. That was well done.
Toward the end of the story the reason for this reference to The Force and the Star Wars book as the gospel is revealed. I won't post a spoiler, but suffice to say it reminded me of the story about a ham that was cut off on one end for a hundred years. The tradition continues for several generations until one day someone asks why this is done, only to discover that at one time an ancestor had a pan that was too small. Despite later generations having an adequate sized pan, the tradition continued because that's how the family thought hams had to be cooked. So that's my way of giving you the gist of the core theme without telling you what happened. I found the main character's insight quite deep when she discovered the origin of their traditions. Other than some swear words sprinkled into the book, I didn't find anything offensive when I listened to the story. I would read another book by this author.
Toward the end of the story the reason for this reference to The Force and the Star Wars book as the gospel is revealed. I won't post a spoiler, but suffice to say it reminded me of the story about a ham that was cut off on one end for a hundred years. The tradition continues for several generations until one day someone asks why this is done, only to discover that at one time an ancestor had a pan that was too small. Despite later generations having an adequate sized pan, the tradition continued because that's how the family thought hams had to be cooked. So that's my way of giving you the gist of the core theme without telling you what happened. I found the main character's insight quite deep when she discovered the origin of their traditions. Other than some swear words sprinkled into the book, I didn't find anything offensive when I listened to the story. I would read another book by this author.
May 26, 2013
It feels as if there's a potentially interesting 300 page novel trying to escape from the pages of this novella. The story is all too familiar to fans of dystopian fiction - heroine lives a life of mild dissatisfaction in a cloistered world until she realises that All Is Not As It Seems and she bravely escapes to the Outside World, creating a revolution on the way. Nothing wrong with the formula, if it's done well and with some original elements. The problem here is that everything seems so rushed, there's no time to develop the world or the characters or even create the growing unease so essential to make this kind of setting work. Too much of the writing, particularly the dialogue, serves primarily to explain the society or push the simple plot along; I longed for some atmosphere and complexity in the characters, even some convincing emotions.
The Star Wars aspects made me cringe to start with (it screamed 'fan fiction') but I'm sure there are many readers who will love it, and it did grow on me as the origins of the society were revealed.
I feel that the sparse, novella-length treatment of the story could have worked well told as a fable, with careful language choices to emphasise the symbolism and allegory and create an unsettling atmosphere. I wonder how much has been lost in the translation and if this could have been more effective in the original version. There's a awkwardness to a lot of the dialogue which also suggests this.
There are some potentially interesting ideas to explore here - the way a society created by children would evolve, attitudes to raising children, the division of a world by a wall and conflicting ideologies... I only wish they had been developed.
The Star Wars aspects made me cringe to start with (it screamed 'fan fiction') but I'm sure there are many readers who will love it, and it did grow on me as the origins of the society were revealed.
I feel that the sparse, novella-length treatment of the story could have worked well told as a fable, with careful language choices to emphasise the symbolism and allegory and create an unsettling atmosphere. I wonder how much has been lost in the translation and if this could have been more effective in the original version. There's a awkwardness to a lot of the dialogue which also suggests this.
There are some potentially interesting ideas to explore here - the way a society created by children would evolve, attitudes to raising children, the division of a world by a wall and conflicting ideologies... I only wish they had been developed.
May 29, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I don't read many novellas but this one was really good.
I liked the Star Wars references, they did not bother me at all. I think all the Star Wars references made perfect sense as well in the end - although I did guess the ending.
This was a very enjoyable book, there was lots of action and it was very entertaining. It was exactly the sort of book that I like, fast paced and with a pinch of dystopia. I thought that the author did a great job of incorporating and introducing the setting, it was very easy to understand. Even though it was a short book, the characters, particularly the main character Leia, grew. Throughout the story you could see them change their beliefs, even though they were beliefs they had been taught their entire lives.
I really love the cover. I think it matches the story perfectly and is very pretty. I just wish it was a tiny bit longer, although it does not need to be.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the dystopia and science fiction genres. It doesn't matter if you know nothing of Star Wars or know a lot about Star Wars. However, if you think the Star Wars references would bother you, don't read. I highly recommend this.
4/5 stars
I liked the Star Wars references, they did not bother me at all. I think all the Star Wars references made perfect sense as well in the end - although I did guess the ending.
This was a very enjoyable book, there was lots of action and it was very entertaining. It was exactly the sort of book that I like, fast paced and with a pinch of dystopia. I thought that the author did a great job of incorporating and introducing the setting, it was very easy to understand. Even though it was a short book, the characters, particularly the main character Leia, grew. Throughout the story you could see them change their beliefs, even though they were beliefs they had been taught their entire lives.
I really love the cover. I think it matches the story perfectly and is very pretty. I just wish it was a tiny bit longer, although it does not need to be.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the dystopia and science fiction genres. It doesn't matter if you know nothing of Star Wars or know a lot about Star Wars. However, if you think the Star Wars references would bother you, don't read. I highly recommend this.
4/5 stars
May 21, 2013
I chose this novella as a part of a book giveaway and what intrigued me about the description was that it sounded like a Lost/The Village type story. I was completely surprised by the main theme of the book. I recognized the names given to the characters based on a very famous series of movies. As I read it, I started to make certain assumptions based on those names and was totally shocked to learn the truth behind the mystery of the island. This novella is a very quick read. I read it in just a couple of hours on a Saturday night. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes any of the following: love stories, stories about family conflict, post-apocalyptic stories, adventure, and science fiction. It really encompasses all of that without being too "out there."
November 18, 2016
Terminado. Libro raro, no sé ´cómo describirlo, muy soso. Se me hizo pesado y eso que es muy muy corto. Me quedo un poco sin saber qué decir, aunque para colmo, cuando esté la segunda parte, creo que igual la leo para ver cómo sigue, eso sí, como no sea igual de corto, lo descarto en un segundo. No lo recomiendo.
June 3, 2013
What I liked about the novel: Right off the bat, my go to answer would be: The premise and Leia, the MC. The premise is devilishly wonderful. Throughout the book I was sitting there with an evil grin, saying to myself, “oh man!! this is REALLY gonna ruffle some feathers” — and that’s the kinda premise I love to read, ESPECIALLY in a dystopian novel. For one, the premise is COMPLETELY, and utterly and almost embarrassingly, possible — making this an excellent example of true dystopian-ness. But second, Minkman’s idea is saddening — from our twisted idea of when someone reaches “grown-up, adult” at a magic number, to our alienation from family, or to a scary possibility of our religious past. Or all of the above. This is a challenge to our mindset, and it begs the question — are you a Fool too?
But then there’s Leia! Leia is no stand-back and wait kinda gal. I loved that Leia did exactly what I would have done, not to mention I loved how open-minded the children were (well, most ;P). I don’t want to give too much away, but Leia and all of the children did not disappoint. I hate it when people fight change for fighting sakes and drag out the inevitable change anyway. Minkman gets to the point and runs with it. Nice!
What I didn’t like about the novel: These really aren’t even things I don’t like, just things I wish Minkman fixed. First, I felt some details could have been presented earlier in the novel to help with clarity. For some reason, I wasn’t quite grasping all of this was happening on one island. I kept thinking the kids were moved to a different island — all Lord of the Flies’ish. There were other little things I could have used earlier that wouldn’t spoil the ending and would help with setting. Those little details being shifted around to the front would have helped with immersing into their world more quickly. Secondly, a novella?? *whine, snort, groan* Minkman really could have delved deep here and sucked me in for hundreds of pages. Her writing is clear, I already spouted on and on about how much I love the premise, but so many things are left feeling brief. I wanted more WORDS to fully see how things gradually develop. Minkman! I wanted MORE!
Would I recommend the novel: Uhh definitely! The beauty here is that even though I wished it was MORE, the shortness allows it to reach a broader audience. I can suggest this to kiddo’s just breaking into the Young Adult level and it’s not going to overwhelm them in size. Fantastic! To everyone else, BUY IT! and then read it.. duh. Yes, it’s worth it! Oh, and if you’re a Star Wars fan — you’ll giggle and love it. If you’re not familiar with the Star Wars franchise, then crawl out from the rock you’ve been living under and pay attention. The novel still works without knowing this reference, but it would help and be that much more entertaining if you did. So like.. wiki it up, and then get Minkman’s book. Trust me, it’s relevant.
Jen Minkman — if you ever turn this into a full blown series, I’ll want it! I’m hooked!
// Reduced & made G-Rated for Goodreads. Full review at: Feminerd Charm
But then there’s Leia! Leia is no stand-back and wait kinda gal. I loved that Leia did exactly what I would have done, not to mention I loved how open-minded the children were (well, most ;P). I don’t want to give too much away, but Leia and all of the children did not disappoint. I hate it when people fight change for fighting sakes and drag out the inevitable change anyway. Minkman gets to the point and runs with it. Nice!
What I didn’t like about the novel: These really aren’t even things I don’t like, just things I wish Minkman fixed. First, I felt some details could have been presented earlier in the novel to help with clarity. For some reason, I wasn’t quite grasping all of this was happening on one island. I kept thinking the kids were moved to a different island — all Lord of the Flies’ish. There were other little things I could have used earlier that wouldn’t spoil the ending and would help with setting. Those little details being shifted around to the front would have helped with immersing into their world more quickly. Secondly, a novella?? *whine, snort, groan* Minkman really could have delved deep here and sucked me in for hundreds of pages. Her writing is clear, I already spouted on and on about how much I love the premise, but so many things are left feeling brief. I wanted more WORDS to fully see how things gradually develop. Minkman! I wanted MORE!
Would I recommend the novel: Uhh definitely! The beauty here is that even though I wished it was MORE, the shortness allows it to reach a broader audience. I can suggest this to kiddo’s just breaking into the Young Adult level and it’s not going to overwhelm them in size. Fantastic! To everyone else, BUY IT! and then read it.. duh. Yes, it’s worth it! Oh, and if you’re a Star Wars fan — you’ll giggle and love it. If you’re not familiar with the Star Wars franchise, then crawl out from the rock you’ve been living under and pay attention. The novel still works without knowing this reference, but it would help and be that much more entertaining if you did. So like.. wiki it up, and then get Minkman’s book. Trust me, it’s relevant.
Jen Minkman — if you ever turn this into a full blown series, I’ll want it! I’m hooked!
// Reduced & made G-Rated for Goodreads. Full review at: Feminerd Charm
December 2, 2015
Leia lives on an island where the society she is from sends their children off to live in a place called the Manor at the age of ten. They are considered old enough to be on their own and must go and learn the rest of what they need to know to survive at the manor where at some point by the age of nineteen they should choose a mate and get married to then return to the village of the parents.
When Leia's friend Andy tells them that their leader is lying to them Leia steals "the book" that contains the story of their ancestors for proof. As she is trying to hide it she meets a boy named Walt that is from the city beyond the wall that Leia's people refer to as the Fools.
The Island really seems to be one of those love it or hate it type of stories. In the end I actually kind of enjoyed it but I also love Star Wars so when Leia's are said to believe in the Force and their story is being told I kind of got hooked on seeing how in the world the author would explain all of this.
It's really not until the very end of the story do you find out why all the Star Wars references but there was a reasoning behind it. That being said I believe the author captured what she was going for when trying to show a society's rules can seem odd to an outsider.
Did I actually love the idea of ten year olds being sent away? No, not particularly but it captured my attention in wanting to know what in the heck these people were thinking. Of course the entire story and the explanation in the end also seem kind of silly too but I still found it entertaining to read.
Overall, best to describe this as a rather light-hearted dystopian novella that won't be for everyone, especially those who will not like the Star Wars ties but for me still a fun read.
When Leia's friend Andy tells them that their leader is lying to them Leia steals "the book" that contains the story of their ancestors for proof. As she is trying to hide it she meets a boy named Walt that is from the city beyond the wall that Leia's people refer to as the Fools.
The Island really seems to be one of those love it or hate it type of stories. In the end I actually kind of enjoyed it but I also love Star Wars so when Leia's are said to believe in the Force and their story is being told I kind of got hooked on seeing how in the world the author would explain all of this.
It's really not until the very end of the story do you find out why all the Star Wars references but there was a reasoning behind it. That being said I believe the author captured what she was going for when trying to show a society's rules can seem odd to an outsider.
Did I actually love the idea of ten year olds being sent away? No, not particularly but it captured my attention in wanting to know what in the heck these people were thinking. Of course the entire story and the explanation in the end also seem kind of silly too but I still found it entertaining to read.
Overall, best to describe this as a rather light-hearted dystopian novella that won't be for everyone, especially those who will not like the Star Wars ties but for me still a fun read.
June 15, 2013
The Island is that type of "short story" that I would have liked to be a regular novel
The author has managed to stir my curiosity, and the bad part about it is that the information received, in accordance with the "short story rules", is not enough.
The action, which takes place in a short period of time, has a good rhythm. Goods and evils happen equally offering various possible consequences. The intelligence and even the spirit of survival that characters are looking to develop will shape the denouement. There are also factors that will spice up the end, losses and risks that seem inevitable.
Everything revolves around the human nature, which, whether we like it or not, has an ugly side. And this ugly side, The Island tells us, is deeply embedded in our being, not gained. But where is evil must be the good as well.
By transforming in religion some of... the cultural events, the author will keep the reader very curious about the explanations to come. Even if partly predictable, they are relevant, having in view the story’s premises.
As concentrated as a short story ought to be, The Island is an attractive lesson about survival, about what we can do and be, and about the choices we make.
The author has managed to stir my curiosity, and the bad part about it is that the information received, in accordance with the "short story rules", is not enough.
The action, which takes place in a short period of time, has a good rhythm. Goods and evils happen equally offering various possible consequences. The intelligence and even the spirit of survival that characters are looking to develop will shape the denouement. There are also factors that will spice up the end, losses and risks that seem inevitable.
Everything revolves around the human nature, which, whether we like it or not, has an ugly side. And this ugly side, The Island tells us, is deeply embedded in our being, not gained. But where is evil must be the good as well.
By transforming in religion some of... the cultural events, the author will keep the reader very curious about the explanations to come. Even if partly predictable, they are relevant, having in view the story’s premises.
As concentrated as a short story ought to be, The Island is an attractive lesson about survival, about what we can do and be, and about the choices we make.
May 28, 2013
The Island is a wonderfully captivating dystopian novel that has unique twists unlike any others that I have ever read. I am baffled at how anyone could claim this to be 'fanfic' because it doesn't even closely resemble it at all. This story is about a society that evolved from a group of children who were abandoned on an island after the apocalypse years ago. Never having parents to guide or educate them, these children made up their own story of who they were and how they should live. The oldest boy in the group was a Star Wars fan, and this puts quite the twist on this book. He tells the others about the characters to inspire them on how they should live. In time, this story continues to evolve among the children until the the Star Wars characters are eventually believed to be their ancestors. The main character, Leia, is a strong and likable character that you will grow to love. This is truly a unique book that makes a great, quick read as you likely won't want to put it down. It is very interesting and kept me drawn in and wondering until the end. Highly recommended!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2013
Okay, I'm not a big fan of Star Wars. I like the movies, but I'm not a big fan and if I'd seen the resemblance in the blurb on Netgalley (which was different from the one on Goodreads) I wouldn't have requested it. But none the less... I didn't hate the book. But I can't help but wonder if this book doesn't violate any copyright...
This is a short book, a novella. It only has about 80 pages, so I got through it quick. Partly because after 40 or so pages I just skimmed through the rest. It was okay. But to be honest, it felt more like a star wars fan fiction. It's okay. That's all it was. If you love Star wars, you'll probably like this one. (Or not because you don't want someone to ruin a series you love.)
So yeah, that's about all I can say about it. I can't call this a book. It's a fan fiction. It's not that original and it's just Star Wars with a twist. And I liked it okay for that reason. If I have to rate this as a book... I wouldn't give it much. Maybe 1 star because the writing is okay but that would be it. So. There you have it.
This is a short book, a novella. It only has about 80 pages, so I got through it quick. Partly because after 40 or so pages I just skimmed through the rest. It was okay. But to be honest, it felt more like a star wars fan fiction. It's okay. That's all it was. If you love Star wars, you'll probably like this one. (Or not because you don't want someone to ruin a series you love.)
So yeah, that's about all I can say about it. I can't call this a book. It's a fan fiction. It's not that original and it's just Star Wars with a twist. And I liked it okay for that reason. If I have to rate this as a book... I wouldn't give it much. Maybe 1 star because the writing is okay but that would be it. So. There you have it.
June 19, 2013
Original reaction: For now I'm just going to give a nice long eye roll, and I'll write more later. I'll use the force.
This YA dystopian novella started out well. I like the idea of this group of teenagers who have some kind of marriage-power culture as your only way out, the sadness of leaving home so young, not knowing anything about the outside world.
But then you find out where their society comes from. I don't have a beef with this idea of using Star Wars, I wouldn't go as far as calling it Star Wars fan fic as others have done, but there is an important loophole in the story. The origin story of the society says they had a box or a trunk of books but yet the only one having an impact is this one? That's where everything fell apart for me. It needs work.
This YA dystopian novella started out well. I like the idea of this group of teenagers who have some kind of marriage-power culture as your only way out, the sadness of leaving home so young, not knowing anything about the outside world.
But then you find out where their society comes from. I don't have a beef with this idea of using Star Wars, I wouldn't go as far as calling it Star Wars fan fic as others have done, but there is an important loophole in the story. The origin story of the society says they had a box or a trunk of books but yet the only one having an impact is this one? That's where everything fell apart for me. It needs work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2023
The Island:
Author: Jen Minkman
Part one in The Island trilogy:
The storyline alternate between two characters named
Leila and Walt.
Leila lives on a island where a strict dictator determines the lifestyle of all inhabitants. There is no freedom of religion or expression. When children reach the age of 10 they need to leave their parents behind to start living on their own. Behind the island is a wall that no one has ever crossed. The wall is mysterious and it is believed that it is dangerous on the other side.
Walt lives behind the wall or (the other side), his past couldn't be more different then Leila's. Walt comes from a society in which cooperation is important and belief in fate plays a major role.
Two completely different communities that live completely separated by the wall. Will Walt and Lia manage to unite everyone?
A beautiful story in which the author has nicely developed the emotions of the characters. The message of believing in your own strength is an important lesson that we should not forget. And finally, a society in which we differ from each other ensures that we can learn new things every day.
I listened to the audiobook version.
Author: Jen Minkman
Part one in The Island trilogy:
The storyline alternate between two characters named
Leila and Walt.
Leila lives on a island where a strict dictator determines the lifestyle of all inhabitants. There is no freedom of religion or expression. When children reach the age of 10 they need to leave their parents behind to start living on their own. Behind the island is a wall that no one has ever crossed. The wall is mysterious and it is believed that it is dangerous on the other side.
Walt lives behind the wall or (the other side), his past couldn't be more different then Leila's. Walt comes from a society in which cooperation is important and belief in fate plays a major role.
Two completely different communities that live completely separated by the wall. Will Walt and Lia manage to unite everyone?
A beautiful story in which the author has nicely developed the emotions of the characters. The message of believing in your own strength is an important lesson that we should not forget. And finally, a society in which we differ from each other ensures that we can learn new things every day.
I listened to the audiobook version.
January 19, 2021
Jen Minkman se distopiese jeugroman het my geïnteresseer, en die Star Wars-element was amusant. Die storie skep 'n fassinerende wêreld en baie dinge word uiteindelik verduidelik. Dit is kort, maar ook die eerste van 'n reeks. Nie noodwendig die soort verhaal wat ek gewoonlik lees nie, maar boeiend genoeg om my besig te hou.
This distopian story is not my usual cup of tea, but it is engrossing enough for me to persist. The brevity helped, and the release of information worked well. The Star Wars link is amusing! I will probably finish the series as it becomes available.
This distopian story is not my usual cup of tea, but it is engrossing enough for me to persist. The brevity helped, and the release of information worked well. The Star Wars link is amusing! I will probably finish the series as it becomes available.
June 3, 2013
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Jen Minkman, Patchwork Press and Netgalley.)
16-year-old Leia lives on a remote island in a dystopian future, where at the age of 10, children leave home and live together self-sufficiently, until they marry (before age 19), and are allowed to return to the village in which they were born.
One day her best friend tells her that the book by which the people of the island live, has secret parts that have not been disclosed to the masses, secret parts that would change the way the whole island live.
When Leia then sees an opportunity to get access to the book, she takes it, only to find herself on the run, and accepting help from a ‘fool’ who lives over the wall on the other side of the island.
What secrets does the book hold? Will Leia get away with her crime? And what does Luke Skywalker have to do with it?
The short version? Let’s just say that I wasn’t impressed. I almost didn’t finish reading this, but as it was so short I thought I’d see it through.
This book was okay at the beginning, even if the idea of people voluntarily sending their 10-year-olds off to live by themselves in the wilderness was a little strange. Who would do this? I mean I can understand those people who hid their kids or claimed they were younger than they really are so that they could keep them at home, the whole thing just seemed ridiculous. I certainly wouldn’t want to do it to my kids!
It was around the 40% mark that things took a turn for the worst. Even though I hadn’t been all that into the story up until then, when Leia read out the authors name of the passage in the book they lived by as ‘Luke Skywalker’ and then in saying goodbye to a ‘fool’ tells him ‘May the force be with you.’ I just couldn’t believe what was happening. That was a real WTF moment for me, and I realised that I wasn’t going to appreciate this book.
When it then turned out that this precious book that they all followed was something to do with Star Wars, I had to say ‘seriously?’, ’is this a joke?’. And then when Leia reads that ‘Luke’s father crossed over to the dark side.’ I was seriously annoyed. This whole thing just felt like a joke, and at the readers expense! I’m sorry, but for me, a dystopian novel where people follow the teachings from Star Wars, and basically brainwash people and endanger the lives of children, is just poor taste.
I mean, well done to the author for having the guts to put this out there, I can only assume that it must mean something to her, but sorry, it’s not for me.
So what did I like?
I liked Leia’s mother. I liked the way that she eventually stood up for herself and her kids and said ‘I want my children to come home’, it was just a little unfortunate that she didn’t do it sooner.
I like the way that when Leia saw an opportunity to get something she wanted, she took it. Big round of applause for her here because she was the only one who wasn’t afraid to take the bull by the horns, and try to change things for the better.
Walt – the ‘fool’ that Leia meets, who wasn’t offended when she called him that, and still tried to help her, even though he had been taught that she is an ‘unbeliever’. I liked him, and I liked that he was willing to listen to Leia, even if he didn’t believe the same things she did.
Overall; this was a dystopian with a Star Wars theme that unfortunately didn’t do it for me.
4.5 out of 10.
16-year-old Leia lives on a remote island in a dystopian future, where at the age of 10, children leave home and live together self-sufficiently, until they marry (before age 19), and are allowed to return to the village in which they were born.
One day her best friend tells her that the book by which the people of the island live, has secret parts that have not been disclosed to the masses, secret parts that would change the way the whole island live.
When Leia then sees an opportunity to get access to the book, she takes it, only to find herself on the run, and accepting help from a ‘fool’ who lives over the wall on the other side of the island.
What secrets does the book hold? Will Leia get away with her crime? And what does Luke Skywalker have to do with it?
The short version? Let’s just say that I wasn’t impressed. I almost didn’t finish reading this, but as it was so short I thought I’d see it through.
This book was okay at the beginning, even if the idea of people voluntarily sending their 10-year-olds off to live by themselves in the wilderness was a little strange. Who would do this? I mean I can understand those people who hid their kids or claimed they were younger than they really are so that they could keep them at home, the whole thing just seemed ridiculous. I certainly wouldn’t want to do it to my kids!
It was around the 40% mark that things took a turn for the worst. Even though I hadn’t been all that into the story up until then, when Leia read out the authors name of the passage in the book they lived by as ‘Luke Skywalker’ and then in saying goodbye to a ‘fool’ tells him ‘May the force be with you.’ I just couldn’t believe what was happening. That was a real WTF moment for me, and I realised that I wasn’t going to appreciate this book.
When it then turned out that this precious book that they all followed was something to do with Star Wars, I had to say ‘seriously?’, ’is this a joke?’. And then when Leia reads that ‘Luke’s father crossed over to the dark side.’ I was seriously annoyed. This whole thing just felt like a joke, and at the readers expense! I’m sorry, but for me, a dystopian novel where people follow the teachings from Star Wars, and basically brainwash people and endanger the lives of children, is just poor taste.
I mean, well done to the author for having the guts to put this out there, I can only assume that it must mean something to her, but sorry, it’s not for me.
So what did I like?
I liked Leia’s mother. I liked the way that she eventually stood up for herself and her kids and said ‘I want my children to come home’, it was just a little unfortunate that she didn’t do it sooner.
I like the way that when Leia saw an opportunity to get something she wanted, she took it. Big round of applause for her here because she was the only one who wasn’t afraid to take the bull by the horns, and try to change things for the better.
Walt – the ‘fool’ that Leia meets, who wasn’t offended when she called him that, and still tried to help her, even though he had been taught that she is an ‘unbeliever’. I liked him, and I liked that he was willing to listen to Leia, even if he didn’t believe the same things she did.
Overall; this was a dystopian with a Star Wars theme that unfortunately didn’t do it for me.
4.5 out of 10.
April 2, 2017
The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I was given a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.
Imagine living on an island where the children are considered adults at the age of 10. When they become adults they have to leave their parent's home and go live at the manor; the big house on the island. The children will never live with their parents again and will never be more to them than a mere strange that they have passed on the street. The children go to the manor and learn to take care of themselves without any help from anyone. They can only leave the manor when they marry and then can live in the village where the parents live.
The children live by The Book that has been passed down through the generations from their ancestors. The Book tells them that they can't cross over the wall where others live that is known as the fools. The fools believe different from the children and the leader doesn't want them to find out the truth. But Leia wants to know the truth and sets out to find it. She wonders if they have been living a lie.
I have read reviews where some liked the reference to Star Wars and some who did not. I actually loved the reference it made with Star Wars. And yes I am one of the few who has not seen the movie Star Wars or read the book and I don't know why when I love that genre. So therefore it took awhile for me to make the connection but when I did I thought it was remarkable. Ok so I agree that The Island would have been a good read without it but I don't think the message in the book would have been the same or portrayed correctly. The reason that I love the Star Wars reference is because it is fantasy and the fact that the little boy to whom The Book originally belonged to was only trying to help the smaller children feel safe and not be afraid so he told them stories from it and he probably made up stories too. He being the only one who knew the truth or the truth as he remembered it and told his story to all the children and they believed it and they told it to their children and so on and so on. Until eventually that was the truth and no one knew the difference because there was no one else around to tell them any different. It just goes to show how gullible humans are to believe in a fantasy or something that came straight out of a book just because someone told them it was true.
Would I recommend The Island? Why yes of course I would it is a very outstanding eye-opening read and astonishingly written. In my opinion everyone should read The Island. Would I read more of Jen Minkman's work? Why of course I would if it was as amazing as The Island.
Imagine living on an island where the children are considered adults at the age of 10. When they become adults they have to leave their parent's home and go live at the manor; the big house on the island. The children will never live with their parents again and will never be more to them than a mere strange that they have passed on the street. The children go to the manor and learn to take care of themselves without any help from anyone. They can only leave the manor when they marry and then can live in the village where the parents live.
The children live by The Book that has been passed down through the generations from their ancestors. The Book tells them that they can't cross over the wall where others live that is known as the fools. The fools believe different from the children and the leader doesn't want them to find out the truth. But Leia wants to know the truth and sets out to find it. She wonders if they have been living a lie.
I have read reviews where some liked the reference to Star Wars and some who did not. I actually loved the reference it made with Star Wars. And yes I am one of the few who has not seen the movie Star Wars or read the book and I don't know why when I love that genre. So therefore it took awhile for me to make the connection but when I did I thought it was remarkable. Ok so I agree that The Island would have been a good read without it but I don't think the message in the book would have been the same or portrayed correctly. The reason that I love the Star Wars reference is because it is fantasy and the fact that the little boy to whom The Book originally belonged to was only trying to help the smaller children feel safe and not be afraid so he told them stories from it and he probably made up stories too. He being the only one who knew the truth or the truth as he remembered it and told his story to all the children and they believed it and they told it to their children and so on and so on. Until eventually that was the truth and no one knew the difference because there was no one else around to tell them any different. It just goes to show how gullible humans are to believe in a fantasy or something that came straight out of a book just because someone told them it was true.
Would I recommend The Island? Why yes of course I would it is a very outstanding eye-opening read and astonishingly written. In my opinion everyone should read The Island. Would I read more of Jen Minkman's work? Why of course I would if it was as amazing as The Island.
August 4, 2014
MY REVIEW
I received this book directly from the Author as I had read another book by her and loved it, so she asked if I would be interested in reading her first attempt at a new genre. As dystopian is my favourite genre I of course agreed immediately. In fact I was so looking forward to it, that I put my current read on hold to read the novella. I was given this book in exchange for my honest review. This book has been a really difficult one to review for me, as I loved Jen's other book Shadow's Of Time so had high expectations of this book The Island.
I like the cover, it is in fact a scene described in the book. I like the font of the title and the little scrolly underneath it as well as the "a dystopian novella" which is also really good as it informs the reader that this is in fact a novella. The authors name is at the top of the book and is well placed and does not interfere with the flow of the cover.
So would I pick this book up from a store shelf? Yes definitely! I find the cover attractive, and the fact it plainly tells us what genre it is in too,
The blurb gives a great description of the book, and would further entice me into wanting to read the book. This is the Author's first attempt at the dystopian genre and I have to say on the whole I did enjoy it. I loved the setting and basis of the story. The only thing I didn't like was the Star Wars references . .. I don't think they were really needed. To me they took the genre in a more quirky direction. I love the characters of Leia and Luc and the basic plot. the pace and writing style is great. The book really didn't need the quirkiness of the star wars references in any way. It was a much better book without those. The book in the story which connected the Star Wars references could have just been an ancient book with its own rules. The whole parents and virus theme was strong enough to stand alone without any of the Star Wars references. Had I known about the Star Wars references, I admit, I would have been put off reading it.
So did I enjoy the novella? On the whole yes, I just think it could have been even better without certain references. Would I recommend the novella? Yes but more in a quirky dystopian genre than a recommendation to a straight dystopian fan. Would I read more dystopian by Jen Minkman? Definitely the roots of a fantastic story are there and I did enjoy the book. I do enjoy Jen's writing a lot. Would I read other work by Jen Minkman? Definitely, I would give anything Jen has written a go! I hope I have not offended her in my honest appraisal of her book,. I do not mean to be negative, I just felt the book could have been even better.
I received this book directly from the Author as I had read another book by her and loved it, so she asked if I would be interested in reading her first attempt at a new genre. As dystopian is my favourite genre I of course agreed immediately. In fact I was so looking forward to it, that I put my current read on hold to read the novella. I was given this book in exchange for my honest review. This book has been a really difficult one to review for me, as I loved Jen's other book Shadow's Of Time so had high expectations of this book The Island.
I like the cover, it is in fact a scene described in the book. I like the font of the title and the little scrolly underneath it as well as the "a dystopian novella" which is also really good as it informs the reader that this is in fact a novella. The authors name is at the top of the book and is well placed and does not interfere with the flow of the cover.
So would I pick this book up from a store shelf? Yes definitely! I find the cover attractive, and the fact it plainly tells us what genre it is in too,
The blurb gives a great description of the book, and would further entice me into wanting to read the book. This is the Author's first attempt at the dystopian genre and I have to say on the whole I did enjoy it. I loved the setting and basis of the story. The only thing I didn't like was the Star Wars references . .. I don't think they were really needed. To me they took the genre in a more quirky direction. I love the characters of Leia and Luc and the basic plot. the pace and writing style is great. The book really didn't need the quirkiness of the star wars references in any way. It was a much better book without those. The book in the story which connected the Star Wars references could have just been an ancient book with its own rules. The whole parents and virus theme was strong enough to stand alone without any of the Star Wars references. Had I known about the Star Wars references, I admit, I would have been put off reading it.
So did I enjoy the novella? On the whole yes, I just think it could have been even better without certain references. Would I recommend the novella? Yes but more in a quirky dystopian genre than a recommendation to a straight dystopian fan. Would I read more dystopian by Jen Minkman? Definitely the roots of a fantastic story are there and I did enjoy the book. I do enjoy Jen's writing a lot. Would I read other work by Jen Minkman? Definitely, I would give anything Jen has written a go! I hope I have not offended her in my honest appraisal of her book,. I do not mean to be negative, I just felt the book could have been even better.
November 11, 2014
Hmm. I'm a little torn on what to rate this one.
On the one hand, the story started off strong, really grabbed my attention both with its initial setting and the flow of the first few chapters. I loved the dialogue in Chapter 1, which easily seemed like a world of its own. I only wish it'd endured throughout the entire narrative (very quickly after the first chapter, it felt like the dialogue had reverted to typical teenager-speak, which, although carried throughout the remainder of the book, felt jarring), along with coherent character development.
The Island is a short story (as the "novella" declaration on its cover indicates). I read this in one sitting on a lazy Sunday morning. Took about 90 minutes. So, in a way, I get that things like character development and the plot have to move along more quickly than had this been a full-length novel.
That said, a shorter offering shouldn't be immune from criticism for failing in those respects, and I just had a hard time finding the development that did take place entirely realistic.
We've got Leia, the main character, who by all accounts initially seems like she's entirely behind the tradition of her people one moment. The next, she's easily swayed by other children's words, and also somehow her mother's, even though she's patently irritated at the woman's sudden presence about mid-way through the book.
Then she meets someone from the "forbidden" side of her island and quickly comes around to thinking her entire way of life is wrong?
I'm paraphrasing, I realize, but Leia's development was choppy for me. There was some good prose, and stand-out moments in this story for me were the first chapter and Leia's initial encounter with Walt. Leia's brother had potential, as did Andy, but we just didn't see enough of either of them beyond being used as plot devices. Saul seemed like a caricature of a standard evil antagonist, so I'm pleased that his destiny wasn't to ultimately turn into a maniacal monster who had to be killed, but by the time there was some form of salvation in his regard, it felt like too little too late for me. Same for with his brother, Ben.
The best moments of this novel involved the few instances of showing rather than telling. I think Jen Minkman has a nice literary voice when she's describing things more than just telling what the characters did. I just wish she'd employed that writing technique more.
It's a pass for me on reading further in this series, although I do think this writer has potential, with the right editor around to challenge and guide her writing style in future novels.
On the one hand, the story started off strong, really grabbed my attention both with its initial setting and the flow of the first few chapters. I loved the dialogue in Chapter 1, which easily seemed like a world of its own. I only wish it'd endured throughout the entire narrative (very quickly after the first chapter, it felt like the dialogue had reverted to typical teenager-speak, which, although carried throughout the remainder of the book, felt jarring), along with coherent character development.
The Island is a short story (as the "novella" declaration on its cover indicates). I read this in one sitting on a lazy Sunday morning. Took about 90 minutes. So, in a way, I get that things like character development and the plot have to move along more quickly than had this been a full-length novel.
That said, a shorter offering shouldn't be immune from criticism for failing in those respects, and I just had a hard time finding the development that did take place entirely realistic.
We've got Leia, the main character, who by all accounts initially seems like she's entirely behind the tradition of her people one moment. The next, she's easily swayed by other children's words, and also somehow her mother's, even though she's patently irritated at the woman's sudden presence about mid-way through the book.
Then she meets someone from the "forbidden" side of her island and quickly comes around to thinking her entire way of life is wrong?
I'm paraphrasing, I realize, but Leia's development was choppy for me. There was some good prose, and stand-out moments in this story for me were the first chapter and Leia's initial encounter with Walt. Leia's brother had potential, as did Andy, but we just didn't see enough of either of them beyond being used as plot devices. Saul seemed like a caricature of a standard evil antagonist, so I'm pleased that his destiny wasn't to ultimately turn into a maniacal monster who had to be killed, but by the time there was some form of salvation in his regard, it felt like too little too late for me. Same for with his brother, Ben.
The best moments of this novel involved the few instances of showing rather than telling. I think Jen Minkman has a nice literary voice when she's describing things more than just telling what the characters did. I just wish she'd employed that writing technique more.
It's a pass for me on reading further in this series, although I do think this writer has potential, with the right editor around to challenge and guide her writing style in future novels.
June 30, 2014
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See life in a Dystopian world through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old girl and experience what life could be like if we created walls around us in The Island by Jen Minkman. On an island, where the rest of the world is excluded, young children must leave home to survive on their own. On the other side of a great wall are the “Fools,” those who do not follow the beliefs of an ancient tome, which talks of “the force.” But something does not sit right with Leia, and she wants more than her world has to offer. Is Fate or Destiny going to give her that chance when a strange man washes ashore?
Jen Minkman put a lot of story in this dark novella. She developed the atmosphere and the world where these children lived to feel slightly off-kilter with an edgy feel, as if an awakening is about to occur. Her main character is the only one “in focus,” as if she sees beyond what others accept. Ms. Minkman has created an intriguing world and left just enough to the imagination to add several more “mental pages” to her work! Definitely thought-provoking while still thoroughly entertaining to a Dystopian lover!
Great for a quick read! I received a review copy as part of The Island and the Wave Book Tour stopping at Tome Tender November 29, 2013.
Series: The Island, Book 1
Publication Date: May 29, 2013
Publisher: Patchwork Press
Genre: YA Dark Fantasy/Dystopian
Page Count: 138
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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October 3, 2014
Check out my other listens at Eargasms Audiobook Reviews
This is a really quick read. I was intrigued from the start, Leia is the lead character and lends her POV to the narration. She is like many leads in YA books, an ordinary girl just trying to make her way in the world. She is faces with injustice and takes up the reigns to invoke change. I like the type of stories where characters do not seek to be leaders but find that they are because of circumstances.
It is a really interesting and solid read. I wish there were more, this book had some intriguing elements that could have been expanded. This is a bit of a different take on the Dystopian theme. A world based on the conclusions drawn by children, with only the memory of adult supervision, is not what I expected. The Star Wars turn is unique, there could have been much more of that coloring the society and how it developed.
I am not sure I agree with the lack of punishment for characters who were dictators and murderers. I understand they had a tough upbringing, but that is no excuse for a lack of response from the adults.
There are a couple romantic elements but they are not the driving force of the story. I expect they will be more important in the next book. This is YA, no naughty parts! It is more sweet first blush of romance.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Coco Bell, who does a nice job. She kept the voices unique and consistent. She has a very steady pace for the read, I tend to like quicker readers, even at triple speed it sounded slow. But, that is a positive for listeners who enjoy a smooth read.
The book starts with the twins at ten, then it jumps ahead until they are sixteen. It took a little bit to figure out where we were in the timeline. It might have been nice to know for sure, I spent much of the beginning trying to figure out the age frame of the lead character.
I liked this book and am interested in where it is heading. The book ends at a place where the characters are about to embark into the unknown. I am definitely interested in see where they go and what the world looks like. Here's hoping it is longer and a bit more detailed!
Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.
This is a really quick read. I was intrigued from the start, Leia is the lead character and lends her POV to the narration. She is like many leads in YA books, an ordinary girl just trying to make her way in the world. She is faces with injustice and takes up the reigns to invoke change. I like the type of stories where characters do not seek to be leaders but find that they are because of circumstances.
It is a really interesting and solid read. I wish there were more, this book had some intriguing elements that could have been expanded. This is a bit of a different take on the Dystopian theme. A world based on the conclusions drawn by children, with only the memory of adult supervision, is not what I expected. The Star Wars turn is unique, there could have been much more of that coloring the society and how it developed.
I am not sure I agree with the lack of punishment for characters who were dictators and murderers. I understand they had a tough upbringing, but that is no excuse for a lack of response from the adults.
There are a couple romantic elements but they are not the driving force of the story. I expect they will be more important in the next book. This is YA, no naughty parts! It is more sweet first blush of romance.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Coco Bell, who does a nice job. She kept the voices unique and consistent. She has a very steady pace for the read, I tend to like quicker readers, even at triple speed it sounded slow. But, that is a positive for listeners who enjoy a smooth read.
The book starts with the twins at ten, then it jumps ahead until they are sixteen. It took a little bit to figure out where we were in the timeline. It might have been nice to know for sure, I spent much of the beginning trying to figure out the age frame of the lead character.
I liked this book and am interested in where it is heading. The book ends at a place where the characters are about to embark into the unknown. I am definitely interested in see where they go and what the world looks like. Here's hoping it is longer and a bit more detailed!
Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.
October 2, 2013
General Overview
This was a good storyline but I did not enjoy the star wars references, it made it all a little annoying, (nothing against Star Wars, just felt like it was trying to make it about Star Wars. The writing was good and the rest of story was good and a nice ending. The character’s were interesting. If the Star Wars bit had not been in it, it would have been 4 stars out of 5. Has a few inconsistencies too.
3 out of 5 stars.
Step by step overview
0% – I like the idea of this book, it shows innocence and that you cannot always believe what you are told, looking forward to this.
10% – Good so far, it’s only 138 pages long so the story should move fast. So far everything has been well explained.
20% – Not much more has happened, just getting how things work in this society. And getting to know the characters and their relationships.
30% – Wait, What? Did she just reference Star Wars? Now I have never seen it but Hans Solo is from Star Wars, right? And the force? Are these people meant to be from outer space or just given information about a fictional film series as their own history, by their ancestors? And there’s a Luke, Leia and someone called the Dark Father. I am hoping that somewhere in the plot that is revealed that an ancestor was a fan of Star Wars or something, otherwise this is just silly.
40% – At least one sentence doesn’t make sense, it is like the author removed a sentence but for got to take out the response. I am not enjoying this as much as did to begin with.
50%- All I am going to say is nice twist, Did not see it coming. Starting to like it a little better now.
60% – The story is going exactly where I expected it to go. Still liking the writing style.
70% – For people who have no contact with the outside world, they use a lot of modern day terms. It’s fast paced which I like.
80% – How does someone who has only seen a few books, know what a booklet is? Okay I know it’s only a small thing, but it bugs me only a little.
90% – I like the idea of how this came about, there a few flaws though. I wish there was more on how it all came about.
100% – Good ending, everything was explained well and the whole Star Wars thing was cleared up.
This was a good storyline but I did not enjoy the star wars references, it made it all a little annoying, (nothing against Star Wars, just felt like it was trying to make it about Star Wars. The writing was good and the rest of story was good and a nice ending. The character’s were interesting. If the Star Wars bit had not been in it, it would have been 4 stars out of 5. Has a few inconsistencies too.
3 out of 5 stars.
Step by step overview
0% – I like the idea of this book, it shows innocence and that you cannot always believe what you are told, looking forward to this.
10% – Good so far, it’s only 138 pages long so the story should move fast. So far everything has been well explained.
20% – Not much more has happened, just getting how things work in this society. And getting to know the characters and their relationships.
30% – Wait, What? Did she just reference Star Wars? Now I have never seen it but Hans Solo is from Star Wars, right? And the force? Are these people meant to be from outer space or just given information about a fictional film series as their own history, by their ancestors? And there’s a Luke, Leia and someone called the Dark Father. I am hoping that somewhere in the plot that is revealed that an ancestor was a fan of Star Wars or something, otherwise this is just silly.
40% – At least one sentence doesn’t make sense, it is like the author removed a sentence but for got to take out the response. I am not enjoying this as much as did to begin with.
50%- All I am going to say is nice twist, Did not see it coming. Starting to like it a little better now.
60% – The story is going exactly where I expected it to go. Still liking the writing style.
70% – For people who have no contact with the outside world, they use a lot of modern day terms. It’s fast paced which I like.
80% – How does someone who has only seen a few books, know what a booklet is? Okay I know it’s only a small thing, but it bugs me only a little.
90% – I like the idea of how this came about, there a few flaws though. I wish there was more on how it all came about.
100% – Good ending, everything was explained well and the whole Star Wars thing was cleared up.
May 13, 2015
Staaaar Waaaaaaars!
Not going to lie: half the reason I enjoyed this little novella so much was BECAUSE of all the Star Wars references. I wish there'd been more. I'm a huge fan, and after reading the reviews before reading the book, I went in with a general idea of what might be happening. I'm glad I did, because I took all the Star Wars bits and pieces lightheartedly, rather than suddenly realizing what's happening and becoming annoyed.
So a post-apocalyptic novella, I found the world was lacking a little bit of the angst I've come to expect. There was drama and dangerous situations, sure, but I definitely felt everything veered on the YA side of things. Not that that's a bad thing. Not at all. I think people should just be aware of what they're getting into before reading the book. The blurb is amazing, the cover art is fantastic, and I feel the book almost delivers.
My one issue was, toward the end, we were sucked into a lot of "telling". Telling the history, telling about the ancestors. I wish I could have been shown more--maybe with Leia hearing bits and pieces through conversation, perhaps finding old maps of what the world used to look like and making assumptions for herself. Instead, there was a few long dialogue scenes explaining why the world was the way it was, and then we all just moved on.
I wish the book was longer overall. I think this was a cool world, and I feel like things were a little too rushed for me taste. I'll probably pick up the other books in the series at some point, but I'll be missing the Star Wars references.
Speaking of which... I found myself wondering, "Can they say May the Force be with you?" Does this book delve into the realm of fanfiction, and is therefore untouched by copywright issues? Is the SW universe a bit like the Dracula one at this point--open for everyone to play with? It definitely left me wondering.
Anyway. I enjoyed the novella. I think the author is a talented writer, and I had a good time with Leia's struggles for freedom and love.
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