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Future Imperfect #1
Future Imperfect
Ade Patience can see the future and it's destroying his life. When the seventeen-year-old Mantlo High School student knocks himself unconscious, he can see days and decades into his own future. Ade's the best of Denver's "divination" underground and eager to join the heralded Mantlo Diviners, a group of similarly enabled teens. Yet, unlike the Diviners, Ade Patience doesn't see the future out of curiosity or good will; Ade gives himself concussions because he's addicted to the high, the Buzz, he gets when he breaks the laws of physics. And while there have been visions he's wanted to change, Ade knows the Rule: You can't change the future, no matter how hard you try.
His memory is failing, his grades are in a death spiral, and both Ade's best friend and his shrink are begging him to stop before he kills himself. Ade knows he needs to straighten-out. Luckily, the stunning Vauxhall Rodolfo has just transferred to Mantlo and, as Ade has seen her in a vision two years previously, they're going to fall in love. It's just the motivation Ade needs to kick his habit. Only things are a bit more complicated. Vauxhall has an addiction of her own, and, after a a vision in which he sees Vauxhall's close friend, Jimmy, drown while he looks on seemingly too wasted to move, Ade realizes that he must break the one rule he's been told he can't.
The pair must overcome their addictions and embrace their love for each other in order to do the impossible: change the future.
310 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2011
10 people are currently reading
1395 people want to read
About the author
K. Ryer Breese
2 books22 followersK. Ryer Breese lives in Denver. He’s worked as a clinical researcher, a short order chef, a film critic, a patient advocate, and a teacher. He does not, as far as he knows have an super powers but he has had three concussions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 13, 2015
Review copy provided via LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Why I Read this Book: The premise for Future Imperfect caught my attention. Ade possesses an interesting supernatural power of seeing the future when knocked unconscious. Things are pretty crazy for Ade because he purposely gets himself knocked out, by any means necessary, to get the high he feels when he’s unconscious and on a future-glimpsing trip.
What I Liked: This book had an interesting premise but the book went downhill once I learned what Vauxhall needed to do in order to use her own unique supernatural power.
What I Didn’t Like: One major issue I had with the book was Vauxhall’s character and her supernatural power. I was disturbed by it. I can’t explain any further without SPOILERS so I’m going to leave that decision up to you. Consider yourself warned.
I wasn’t feeling the connection between Ade and Vauxhall. He originally saw her 2 years ago in one of his glimpses into his future and has been in love with her ever since. Even when he finally ‘meets’ her in the present time, I didn’t feeling any kind of chemistry between them. Vauxhall is so out there (again, it has to do with her supernatural power) that I don’t understand why Ade would still want to be with her. I found Ade to be pretty pathetic for staying in love with Vauxhall.
The written conversations between Ade and the different ‘specialists’ he contacted were one-sided. The reader only gets to read the letters Ade writes, non of the responses (even though you can tell in Ade’s follow up letters that he got one). You can sort of get an idea of what the specialists had to say about Ade’s inquiries but it felt incomplete and I don’t feel the letters were substantial to the story.
Overall Impression: Future Imperfect was not a book for me. I’m actually quite surprised that I finished reading it but there was a part of me, albeit a small part, that wanted to know how a particular part was going to play out between Ade and Jimi. I was so completely disgusted with Vauxhall’s character and her supernatural power that it ruined any chance of me liking this book.
Why I Read this Book: The premise for Future Imperfect caught my attention. Ade possesses an interesting supernatural power of seeing the future when knocked unconscious. Things are pretty crazy for Ade because he purposely gets himself knocked out, by any means necessary, to get the high he feels when he’s unconscious and on a future-glimpsing trip.
What I Liked: This book had an interesting premise but the book went downhill once I learned what Vauxhall needed to do in order to use her own unique supernatural power.
What I Didn’t Like: One major issue I had with the book was Vauxhall’s character and her supernatural power. I was disturbed by it. I can’t explain any further without SPOILERS so I’m going to leave that decision up to you. Consider yourself warned.
I wasn’t feeling the connection between Ade and Vauxhall. He originally saw her 2 years ago in one of his glimpses into his future and has been in love with her ever since. Even when he finally ‘meets’ her in the present time, I didn’t feeling any kind of chemistry between them. Vauxhall is so out there (again, it has to do with her supernatural power) that I don’t understand why Ade would still want to be with her. I found Ade to be pretty pathetic for staying in love with Vauxhall.
The written conversations between Ade and the different ‘specialists’ he contacted were one-sided. The reader only gets to read the letters Ade writes, non of the responses (even though you can tell in Ade’s follow up letters that he got one). You can sort of get an idea of what the specialists had to say about Ade’s inquiries but it felt incomplete and I don’t feel the letters were substantial to the story.
Overall Impression: Future Imperfect was not a book for me. I’m actually quite surprised that I finished reading it but there was a part of me, albeit a small part, that wanted to know how a particular part was going to play out between Ade and Jimi. I was so completely disgusted with Vauxhall’s character and her supernatural power that it ruined any chance of me liking this book.
January 19, 2011
Creative idea but disjointed execution
In K. Ryer Breese’s debut novel, FUTURE IMPERFECT, Ade Patience is a guy who gets high in a very unusual way: he bashes in his head. Though most consider him a freak, Ade knows his dangerous addiction allows him to see into his own future. When one of his predictions comes true and he meets beautiful Vauxhall, Ade expects things to get better. But Vaux has an addiction of her own, and their problems bring them close to a dangerous version of the future. Ade wants to change things, but it will take him going against the rule he’s always been taught: that the future can’t be changed.
FUTURE IMPERFECT starts with a compelling examination about what can motivate high-risk and addictive behavior in teens and how outside parties view it. Even though addiction in this story is linked to the supernatural, this book may help others understand that the psychology of addiction is very complex with no simple answers. The creative supernatural premise used to tell the story also takes a welcome departure from the usual werewolves, vampires, or faeries seen in other books.
Despite this potential, this novel and its storytelling never grabbed me. The first half of the book felt very disconnected from the second. While the initial portion focused on relationships , there was an abrupt shift to supernatural drama in the second half. This hasty switch and the new characters introduced to move along the plot felt campy. Overall, the world building felt rushed and poorly done. The mystery involved, the villains introduced, and the outcome also felt contrived, and many things were left poorly explained. A few of the characters could have been sympathetic, but I never felt connected to any of them or their struggles. The relationship between Ade and Vauxhall also seemed too quickly realized, even despite the plot point regarding this.
Though this book had the potential to be a gritty tale about the intersection of addiction, the supernatural, and the mutability of the future, the bumpy transition in the middle and my limited ability to connect to the characters prevented me from being pulled into the story. In the future, I hope Breese blends the real and the unreal together more seamlessly and with more relatable characters.
Note: This review refers to an advance reader's copy.
In K. Ryer Breese’s debut novel, FUTURE IMPERFECT, Ade Patience is a guy who gets high in a very unusual way: he bashes in his head. Though most consider him a freak, Ade knows his dangerous addiction allows him to see into his own future. When one of his predictions comes true and he meets beautiful Vauxhall, Ade expects things to get better. But Vaux has an addiction of her own, and their problems bring them close to a dangerous version of the future. Ade wants to change things, but it will take him going against the rule he’s always been taught: that the future can’t be changed.
FUTURE IMPERFECT starts with a compelling examination about what can motivate high-risk and addictive behavior in teens and how outside parties view it. Even though addiction in this story is linked to the supernatural, this book may help others understand that the psychology of addiction is very complex with no simple answers. The creative supernatural premise used to tell the story also takes a welcome departure from the usual werewolves, vampires, or faeries seen in other books.
Despite this potential, this novel and its storytelling never grabbed me. The first half of the book felt very disconnected from the second. While the initial portion focused on relationships , there was an abrupt shift to supernatural drama in the second half. This hasty switch and the new characters introduced to move along the plot felt campy. Overall, the world building felt rushed and poorly done. The mystery involved, the villains introduced, and the outcome also felt contrived, and many things were left poorly explained. A few of the characters could have been sympathetic, but I never felt connected to any of them or their struggles. The relationship between Ade and Vauxhall also seemed too quickly realized, even despite the plot point regarding this.
Though this book had the potential to be a gritty tale about the intersection of addiction, the supernatural, and the mutability of the future, the bumpy transition in the middle and my limited ability to connect to the characters prevented me from being pulled into the story. In the future, I hope Breese blends the real and the unreal together more seamlessly and with more relatable characters.
Note: This review refers to an advance reader's copy.
August 5, 2012
I won this book from Goodreads First Reads and first off I have to say WOW, What a ride! This was a great YA book. It is unlike anything I have read before. I have a few problems with the book but if you let yourself be taken in by the story you will enjoy the book immensely. The second half of the book was my favorite and there are some great twist and things you don't see coming. The ending was great and I loved it.
My main complaint about the book is that it the first half of the book is so different from the second half. In the first half of the book we learn how Ade he is an addict and how he gets his high on. In the second half of the book this facet of the book is not longer needed and is discarded as almost an afterthought. The second half of the book is all about figuring out the mystery with lots of almost comic book action. Each half has its own flow which is fine except that they are so different it doesn't mesh well. There are other times when the story has not much action and flows really slow while sometimes during the action it seems to rushed. Also I would love for a little more depth to the Paige character. She is Ade's best friend but we don't ever really see her soul even though she is the one who most times picks Ade up from his concussions. She plays a major roll in the first half of the book but I feel we only see her outer layers.
With that being said this book has great potential. I think there is more to the story that could be written but as is it is a great original fresh idea and it was a blast to read.
My main complaint about the book is that it the first half of the book is so different from the second half. In the first half of the book we learn how Ade he is an addict and how he gets his high on. In the second half of the book this facet of the book is not longer needed and is discarded as almost an afterthought. The second half of the book is all about figuring out the mystery with lots of almost comic book action. Each half has its own flow which is fine except that they are so different it doesn't mesh well. There are other times when the story has not much action and flows really slow while sometimes during the action it seems to rushed. Also I would love for a little more depth to the Paige character. She is Ade's best friend but we don't ever really see her soul even though she is the one who most times picks Ade up from his concussions. She plays a major roll in the first half of the book but I feel we only see her outer layers.
With that being said this book has great potential. I think there is more to the story that could be written but as is it is a great original fresh idea and it was a blast to read.
March 26, 2011
Future Imperfect started off decent, but quickly went downhill. Ade can see the future, but only when he gives himself a concussion. This concussion also gives him a high that he's become addicted to. The worse the concussion, the stronger the high. This distracted me almost immediately. I loved that Ade could see the future. I loved that the novel began with his with his writing to different "experts" trying to find out why he couldn't change what he saw. I very much loved that he continued to do this throughout the book. I continued reading the book for that reason alone, because nothing else in the book really worked for me.
Ade gets these concussions by either throwing himself off a building or getting beat up. I couldn't help constantly thinking what an absolute wreck he must look like. The book brings his scars up pretty early on, but the scars didn't sound like they coincided with amount of damage described. Being that the book contained a romantic story line, I found it difficult to believe that the love interest never seemed to care at all about his looks or safety.
Speaking of the love interest, Vauxhall (apparently her parents were hippies) ends up having an ability similar to Ade's. Except that instead of a concussion, she has to be, well, slutty. Oh, and she get's a high from it too, you know, beyond the high from orgasm. And, predictably enough, she's also addicted. The entire situation brought about a series of obvious turns. Ade is jealous. Ade tries to accept it. Ade tries to quit his concussion highs and hopes Vauxhall will do the same. Vauxhall doesn't want to quit. Or maybe she does. At this point, I'm so not caring about either one of them, or anyone else in the book.
Ade's mom is some kind of Jesus-freak that approves of his concussions. His psychiatrist also approves, or at least understands, and make it so he's allowed to stay in school and not be admitted to a psychiatric ward, where he obviously belongs. Ade's dad's in a coma and his best friend is a lesbian who seems to be a lesbian for no other reason than adding an "alternative lifestyle" character.
The entire plot of the book is that Ade doesn't want to kill this guy Jimi. He's seen himself do it, knows he can't prevent it and sets out to stop it anyway. Everything leading up to Jimi's foreseen murder made me want to kill him, but Ade's conscious won't allow it. More than the obvious is at play here and I was impressed by the authors weaving of this particular part of the story. As the pieces leading up to the murder fall together, many surprising moments occur. The ending was good, but the motivation behind it left me annoyed at the convenience of it.
I didn't like Future Imperfect. As much as I love a good seeing-the-future book, this one wasn't for me. It felt forced. In an effort to be dark and edgy, Future Imperfect came off as trying way too hard.
Ade gets these concussions by either throwing himself off a building or getting beat up. I couldn't help constantly thinking what an absolute wreck he must look like. The book brings his scars up pretty early on, but the scars didn't sound like they coincided with amount of damage described. Being that the book contained a romantic story line, I found it difficult to believe that the love interest never seemed to care at all about his looks or safety.
Speaking of the love interest, Vauxhall (apparently her parents were hippies) ends up having an ability similar to Ade's. Except that instead of a concussion, she has to be, well, slutty. Oh, and she get's a high from it too, you know, beyond the high from orgasm. And, predictably enough, she's also addicted. The entire situation brought about a series of obvious turns. Ade is jealous. Ade tries to accept it. Ade tries to quit his concussion highs and hopes Vauxhall will do the same. Vauxhall doesn't want to quit. Or maybe she does. At this point, I'm so not caring about either one of them, or anyone else in the book.
Ade's mom is some kind of Jesus-freak that approves of his concussions. His psychiatrist also approves, or at least understands, and make it so he's allowed to stay in school and not be admitted to a psychiatric ward, where he obviously belongs. Ade's dad's in a coma and his best friend is a lesbian who seems to be a lesbian for no other reason than adding an "alternative lifestyle" character.
The entire plot of the book is that Ade doesn't want to kill this guy Jimi. He's seen himself do it, knows he can't prevent it and sets out to stop it anyway. Everything leading up to Jimi's foreseen murder made me want to kill him, but Ade's conscious won't allow it. More than the obvious is at play here and I was impressed by the authors weaving of this particular part of the story. As the pieces leading up to the murder fall together, many surprising moments occur. The ending was good, but the motivation behind it left me annoyed at the convenience of it.
I didn't like Future Imperfect. As much as I love a good seeing-the-future book, this one wasn't for me. It felt forced. In an effort to be dark and edgy, Future Imperfect came off as trying way too hard.
March 22, 2011
I won this ARC through the goodreads giveaway, and I had no idea of what to expect. Honestly, I really liked Future Imperfect...and maybe even loved it. I love the narrator, Ade, and almost want to compare his smartass inner dialogue to Holden Caulfield...almost. And I only say almost because I feel badly for HC, whereas, Ade makes me laugh but then want to kick him in the head a couple times (though, he'd probably like that).
Ade Patience can see the future, but his visions only come to him from concussions, which are followed by an incredible high. So with the promise of the high and visions of the future, Ade begins concussing himself on a regular basis. Yes, we have pages and pages of him beating the crap out of himself, and it's somehow hilarious. His mother even anxiously awaits to record his visions, believing them to be direct messages from "Baby Jesus." However, the greater portion of the storyline revolves around (a) Ade getting to know the future love of his life and (b) Ade trying to figure out how to change something in the future that he doesn't want to come true.
It's dark, a little scary, but strangely funny and very enjoyable.
Favorite quotes include:
-"I don't mean to be offensive, but one day I hope you break your neck."
-"I've been "sober" now five hours."
-"This girl, damn she's my Holmes."
Ade Patience can see the future, but his visions only come to him from concussions, which are followed by an incredible high. So with the promise of the high and visions of the future, Ade begins concussing himself on a regular basis. Yes, we have pages and pages of him beating the crap out of himself, and it's somehow hilarious. His mother even anxiously awaits to record his visions, believing them to be direct messages from "Baby Jesus." However, the greater portion of the storyline revolves around (a) Ade getting to know the future love of his life and (b) Ade trying to figure out how to change something in the future that he doesn't want to come true.
It's dark, a little scary, but strangely funny and very enjoyable.
Favorite quotes include:
-"I don't mean to be offensive, but one day I hope you break your neck."
-"I've been "sober" now five hours."
-"This girl, damn she's my Holmes."
February 24, 2011
I loved this book. It was different from anything that I've read before. You will not be sorry that you read this book I swear. I was on the edge of my seat with every page because I didn't know what was going to happen. I couldn't put the book down until I finished all of it. I loved it so much that I finished it in one day.
March 4, 2011
This book is a constant adrenaline rush. Fact is: I love it! :)
*won from Goodreads.
*won from Goodreads.
March 1, 2018
You ever read something for the heck of it and then regret it immediately, but you can't stop because it's like watching a trainwreck happening in slow motion? This is it.
The concept was interesting enough, but the fact that Ade could never come up with a way to "safely" get knocked out kept bothering me too much. I know it's unrealistic to expect something realistic out of books like this (the genre itself), but it was still too much. It's not just even about how banged up and scarred he'd be from all of it — but what's the point of even trying to look at your future when, if you keep going the way you're going, you really won't have much of a future at all lmao. It was sort of off-putting. Super off-putting.
Also of course that this went with the romance route, because what other possibilities could you possibly explore. Gotta be romance. Gotta be the annoying trope-y, cliché filled romance. By God, I would've put up with Ade's idiocy if it hadn't been for him and Vaux.
Vaux basically has a similar ability to Ade's — he can see into the future and she can see into the past. They both get a high from this.
Except here's how she gets to do it: by having sex. That's it. She needs to have sex for her powers to work. I'm tired.
Won't get into the drama of how he wants her to stop, but she won't, and how he fell in love just because he saw her in a vision once, ffs
The concept was interesting enough, but the fact that Ade could never come up with a way to "safely" get knocked out kept bothering me too much. I know it's unrealistic to expect something realistic out of books like this (the genre itself), but it was still too much. It's not just even about how banged up and scarred he'd be from all of it — but what's the point of even trying to look at your future when, if you keep going the way you're going, you really won't have much of a future at all lmao. It was sort of off-putting. Super off-putting.
Also of course that this went with the romance route, because what other possibilities could you possibly explore. Gotta be romance. Gotta be the annoying trope-y, cliché filled romance. By God, I would've put up with Ade's idiocy if it hadn't been for him and Vaux.
Vaux basically has a similar ability to Ade's — he can see into the future and she can see into the past. They both get a high from this.
Except here's how she gets to do it: by having sex. That's it. She needs to have sex for her powers to work. I'm tired.
Won't get into the drama of how he wants her to stop, but she won't, and how he fell in love just because he saw her in a vision once, ffs
September 23, 2017
This story has a really unique idea and plot. Positives: interesting almost all the way through, and some good plot twist thrown in. Negatives: the characters weren't very likable, and the ending was super out of nowhere convenient.
June 13, 2019
Audible
Really good idea
Quite quick
Narrator good
Really good idea
Quite quick
Narrator good
Read
January 9, 2024Another nope for me :<
Read
December 23, 20242.5 stars. The last 10% of this book saved it from being a DNF. I get that the main character is supposed to be this flawed wreck of a teen but man is he completely unlikeable. The best part of this book was not the plot or the characters but the descriptive language used to flesh out scenes(the mountains looming in the distance like crouched hounds).
April 23, 2011
It started off interesting enough to keep me wanting to find out what happens next. Ade Patience can see his future (and only his) if he is knocked out. Addicted to the "high" he gets after seeing the future, Ade spends countless days trying to look into the future. That means, throwing himself off buildings head first, getting beat up by anyone willing to fight him, car crashes, etc. It starts off with several painful scenes as Ade tries to get his next "high." I thought this idea was unique and very intriguing, but I was a little frustrated with Ade because of his constant need to hurt himself. He always had a bandaged head and was always looking for new ways to hurt himself. Not only that, but doctors constantly told him he could eventually become brain damaged or lose his memory complete. Sure of himself (because after all, he has seen his future) Ade continues his painful process until he meets Vauxhall.
Vaux is the girl of his dreams...literally. Ade saw her in his future and knew at once she was the one. Waiting for her for years, he knew exactly when she was going to show up in his life. What Ade didn't expect, but wasn't too surprised to learn was that Vaux, like him, had a secret that she's addicted to as well. Vauxhall was interesting, but I thought she was a little weak and I really couldn't understand what Ade exactly loved about her, other than her looks. Their relationship, although having a few connections, seemed sort of vague and was really...well, weird. Ade and his mother also have a weird relationship. His mother, in a strange way, is supportive of his actions; she always cares for him after he is hurt and writes down his visions. She seemed like a helpless woman, and she made me angry, because she never stopped Ade. He was constantly hurting himself, yet she stood by and sort of let things happen...because she thought its his calling from God. Really? We'll leave that one alone.
The Diviners were thrown in about halfway through the book, and I didn't like the idea of them too much. Ade has lived his whole life in his town, and he never noticed that there was a whole society of people like him? It doesn't make sense. Or maybe those concussions are getting to him. They are a mysterious group of people with "powers" like Ade's, and although somewhat interesting, they seemed like a knock-off version of X-Men to me. They seemed like an essential part of the story to sort of move it along, but I think it could've been developed better and really, except for one or two of them, there was not much point of them being involved.
Several other characters in the book were a lot more likable, I thought, although only had minor roles. Ade's best friend, Paige, had been watching him and supporting him for years. She hates what he does to himself (finally, a reasonable woman!) and constantly threatens him with never speaking to him if he doesn't stop, but never goes through with it cause she cares for him too much. Ade's psychiatrist is the only...well, fully educated person who doesn't think he's totally insane. Instead, he's very supportive, and although does not always agree, helps Ade along the way with his "addiction." Oh, and lets not forget Jimmy, a strange character who Ade sees in his visions, which then causes Ade to go against the rules to try and change the future which helps lead the story in a different direction.
After we are introduced to all the characters, which is about halfway I thought it got a little confusing and I sort of lost interest. Towards the last couple of chapters though, it picked up the pace and a lot more was happening, secrets revealed, and some action. I must admit, I was a little satisfied with how it ended, but didn't think it should've been such a nice-wrapped up conclusion.
Overall, this book is quite a ride. It has a few slow moments and at times can even be frustrating, if not confusing, but the story is definitely unique. I am hoping the author's future novels are just as different, with a better flow, but other than that I found myself enjoying the book. It is a little dark, edgy and fascinating, with several twists and an interesting ending. I recommend this book to other YA lovers and paranormal/fantasy lovers, but the supernatural elements have a different spin to what we are used to seeing and may not be for everyone.
Vaux is the girl of his dreams...literally. Ade saw her in his future and knew at once she was the one. Waiting for her for years, he knew exactly when she was going to show up in his life. What Ade didn't expect, but wasn't too surprised to learn was that Vaux, like him, had a secret that she's addicted to as well. Vauxhall was interesting, but I thought she was a little weak and I really couldn't understand what Ade exactly loved about her, other than her looks. Their relationship, although having a few connections, seemed sort of vague and was really...well, weird. Ade and his mother also have a weird relationship. His mother, in a strange way, is supportive of his actions; she always cares for him after he is hurt and writes down his visions. She seemed like a helpless woman, and she made me angry, because she never stopped Ade. He was constantly hurting himself, yet she stood by and sort of let things happen...because she thought its his calling from God. Really? We'll leave that one alone.
The Diviners were thrown in about halfway through the book, and I didn't like the idea of them too much. Ade has lived his whole life in his town, and he never noticed that there was a whole society of people like him? It doesn't make sense. Or maybe those concussions are getting to him. They are a mysterious group of people with "powers" like Ade's, and although somewhat interesting, they seemed like a knock-off version of X-Men to me. They seemed like an essential part of the story to sort of move it along, but I think it could've been developed better and really, except for one or two of them, there was not much point of them being involved.
Several other characters in the book were a lot more likable, I thought, although only had minor roles. Ade's best friend, Paige, had been watching him and supporting him for years. She hates what he does to himself (finally, a reasonable woman!) and constantly threatens him with never speaking to him if he doesn't stop, but never goes through with it cause she cares for him too much. Ade's psychiatrist is the only...well, fully educated person who doesn't think he's totally insane. Instead, he's very supportive, and although does not always agree, helps Ade along the way with his "addiction." Oh, and lets not forget Jimmy, a strange character who Ade sees in his visions, which then causes Ade to go against the rules to try and change the future which helps lead the story in a different direction.
After we are introduced to all the characters, which is about halfway I thought it got a little confusing and I sort of lost interest. Towards the last couple of chapters though, it picked up the pace and a lot more was happening, secrets revealed, and some action. I must admit, I was a little satisfied with how it ended, but didn't think it should've been such a nice-wrapped up conclusion.
Overall, this book is quite a ride. It has a few slow moments and at times can even be frustrating, if not confusing, but the story is definitely unique. I am hoping the author's future novels are just as different, with a better flow, but other than that I found myself enjoying the book. It is a little dark, edgy and fascinating, with several twists and an interesting ending. I recommend this book to other YA lovers and paranormal/fantasy lovers, but the supernatural elements have a different spin to what we are used to seeing and may not be for everyone.
October 23, 2011
Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese is YA novel about a boy who can see the future, but to do so he needs to be knocked out. And after seeing the future he experiences the Buzz, and that is all he cares about until (you guessed it) a girl comes into his life.
The book isn’t bad, and you are so easily drawn into the world of Mantlo and the characters in the life of Ade Patience, our protagonist. I found myself unable to put it down when I actually sat down to read, regardless of what was going on. Something is always going on, but that isn’t to say it’s all action. The thing that kept me reading was the need to know what happens next. Ade has visions of the future and he spends a lot of his time thinking (I should mention it’s first person) of how his life is going to get to that point. Doctors tell him that being knocked out as much as he is, he risks concussion and coma. Yet the life he sees is dandy, so he doesn’t worry.
The Diviners come into the novel about half way and I consider this the kind of turning point of the book, the top of the hill, before things got a bit weird. I won’t explain who they are because their absence is kind of important. But the problem is that Ade starts to understand his psychic ability a bit more, but the explanations are confusing. In trying to be colloquial and analogical, I got more confused than beforehand at some points. It got to a point where I just said okay, I’ll just accept that and move on. It doesn’t ruin the story, but it makes it forgetful.
I liked the romance more than I expected to. I don’t really like the whole “fated to be together” nonsense I read sometimes, and the kind you’d expect in a book where your ‘hero’ can see the future, but it was played down more. Vauxhall (which persistently reminded me of cars) is the yin to his yang. That sounds cheesy, and reading it back I can’t believe I’m going to say this: I believed it. I think it lay in how she was a likable character once the slight promiscuity element was moved past, and I found her interesting itself.
The story is bit disgusting in places, and it uses Ade’s addiction to the Buzz as a kind of allegory for drugs, albeit the best drug on the planet, so it’s not really a Young YA (YYA?) but a more mature one, I’d say (MYA?). I also disliked the implicit preachiness of how Ade’s life was so much better once he didn’t need the Buzz. How it was a great weight of his shoulders, yadder, yadder, yadder. And man was is it easy for him! Most stories of people going cold-turkey are not pleasant; Ade here just seemed to brush it off.
I’ll finish off here, before I starting picking holes in the story, but I think the main reason I liked this was a) the psychic element because it was interesting to watch it change and manifest and b) the romance I didn’t expect to like. Some of the big shocks in the story, the terrible home truths, the dirty secrets and the skeletons in the closet all felt downplayed and Ade seemed to nonchalant. Saying that though, they were still good.
I think I’m torn about the book because I think I’m too harsh (I did enjoy it after all) and looking back it can’t have been that bad, but I think reading it, actually physically sitting down and reading it, isn’t as good as it should be.
The book isn’t bad, and you are so easily drawn into the world of Mantlo and the characters in the life of Ade Patience, our protagonist. I found myself unable to put it down when I actually sat down to read, regardless of what was going on. Something is always going on, but that isn’t to say it’s all action. The thing that kept me reading was the need to know what happens next. Ade has visions of the future and he spends a lot of his time thinking (I should mention it’s first person) of how his life is going to get to that point. Doctors tell him that being knocked out as much as he is, he risks concussion and coma. Yet the life he sees is dandy, so he doesn’t worry.
The Diviners come into the novel about half way and I consider this the kind of turning point of the book, the top of the hill, before things got a bit weird. I won’t explain who they are because their absence is kind of important. But the problem is that Ade starts to understand his psychic ability a bit more, but the explanations are confusing. In trying to be colloquial and analogical, I got more confused than beforehand at some points. It got to a point where I just said okay, I’ll just accept that and move on. It doesn’t ruin the story, but it makes it forgetful.
I liked the romance more than I expected to. I don’t really like the whole “fated to be together” nonsense I read sometimes, and the kind you’d expect in a book where your ‘hero’ can see the future, but it was played down more. Vauxhall (which persistently reminded me of cars) is the yin to his yang. That sounds cheesy, and reading it back I can’t believe I’m going to say this: I believed it. I think it lay in how she was a likable character once the slight promiscuity element was moved past, and I found her interesting itself.
The story is bit disgusting in places, and it uses Ade’s addiction to the Buzz as a kind of allegory for drugs, albeit the best drug on the planet, so it’s not really a Young YA (YYA?) but a more mature one, I’d say (MYA?). I also disliked the implicit preachiness of how Ade’s life was so much better once he didn’t need the Buzz. How it was a great weight of his shoulders, yadder, yadder, yadder. And man was is it easy for him! Most stories of people going cold-turkey are not pleasant; Ade here just seemed to brush it off.
I’ll finish off here, before I starting picking holes in the story, but I think the main reason I liked this was a) the psychic element because it was interesting to watch it change and manifest and b) the romance I didn’t expect to like. Some of the big shocks in the story, the terrible home truths, the dirty secrets and the skeletons in the closet all felt downplayed and Ade seemed to nonchalant. Saying that though, they were still good.
I think I’m torn about the book because I think I’m too harsh (I did enjoy it after all) and looking back it can’t have been that bad, but I think reading it, actually physically sitting down and reading it, isn’t as good as it should be.
April 26, 2011
Ade Patience is he King of Concussions. Whenever he gets knocked out he can see the future. Other students at Mantlo High thinks he's one step short of the Special Ed classes, and his best friend calls him selfish. Now Ade can't see thing that happen to other people, so it's not like he knocks himself out to be helpful to others. Ade just wants the high that he get after he's had a vision. Ade is a junkie, an addict. He has been crushed by his visions before. He has tried and failed at changing the future, but when he sees something really bad, and learns a lot of things he had no idea about, he might just have to try and change the future again.
If you have every seen the movie Donnie Darko, this novel is kind of like that. It has a very weird feel to it. There is talk of science and physics, but in an abstract, psychic powers sort of way. I liked how Ade was portrayed as a junkie, but not a villain. His mom aided his addiction every step of the way, clinging to his vision like a life-preserver that might rescue her from her own unfortunate place. At times the writing seemed a little bit off, and things were mentioned as already happening that hadn't happened. I;m not sure if the latter is a writing tool to express the ins and outs of Ade's mental condition, or if it was simply poor editing. I wish that the letters that Ade received from the Doctors and others that he wrote to were included in this novel. It was a little disappointing only having one side of these conversations. I really like Ade and Vauxhall and how they were sort of like crappy superheroes. Superheroes who can't really save the world...yet. Jimi was a really odd character, out to get really odd things from life. It sucks that his childhood was crappy, but I think some people would be able to grow from that place instead of trying to screw other people over. The dynamic between Jimi and Ade was a weird one. At times I thought that they could be the same person and Ade had just completely lost it. There were so many surprises in this novel that kept you completely engrossed until the final pages. I liked that everyone in Jimi's life seemed to believe that he really could see the future and that it didn't seem strange to them at all. I do wonder how any normal person could survive after all that head trauma, but clearly being psychic grants you some leeway in the health department. I would not consider this novel a light beach read, though it was very good. Something you have to let your brain settle into and imagine the possibilities that Ade has before him, and the danger he faces. I anxiously look forward to Past Continuous with Ade which is about multiple hims existing and vying for the right to be the one and only Ade.
First Line:
"Jimi Ministry didn't have this many tattoos two weeks ago."
Favorite Lines:
"I want to know every bump. Trace every vein."
If you have every seen the movie Donnie Darko, this novel is kind of like that. It has a very weird feel to it. There is talk of science and physics, but in an abstract, psychic powers sort of way. I liked how Ade was portrayed as a junkie, but not a villain. His mom aided his addiction every step of the way, clinging to his vision like a life-preserver that might rescue her from her own unfortunate place. At times the writing seemed a little bit off, and things were mentioned as already happening that hadn't happened. I;m not sure if the latter is a writing tool to express the ins and outs of Ade's mental condition, or if it was simply poor editing. I wish that the letters that Ade received from the Doctors and others that he wrote to were included in this novel. It was a little disappointing only having one side of these conversations. I really like Ade and Vauxhall and how they were sort of like crappy superheroes. Superheroes who can't really save the world...yet. Jimi was a really odd character, out to get really odd things from life. It sucks that his childhood was crappy, but I think some people would be able to grow from that place instead of trying to screw other people over. The dynamic between Jimi and Ade was a weird one. At times I thought that they could be the same person and Ade had just completely lost it. There were so many surprises in this novel that kept you completely engrossed until the final pages. I liked that everyone in Jimi's life seemed to believe that he really could see the future and that it didn't seem strange to them at all. I do wonder how any normal person could survive after all that head trauma, but clearly being psychic grants you some leeway in the health department. I would not consider this novel a light beach read, though it was very good. Something you have to let your brain settle into and imagine the possibilities that Ade has before him, and the danger he faces. I anxiously look forward to Past Continuous with Ade which is about multiple hims existing and vying for the right to be the one and only Ade.
First Line:
"Jimi Ministry didn't have this many tattoos two weeks ago."
Favorite Lines:
"I want to know every bump. Trace every vein."
April 23, 2011
Ade sees the future. Unfortunately the only way he can see that glimpse is through having a massive concussion. Oh sure, it used to be easier, but as time has passed Ade has had to go to greater and greater lengths to get that peek into the future. Even worse? He's addicted to the high that only that can produce. This is the character that we follow through Future Imperfect and I'm not kidding when I say that his head is a very strange place to be. Ade is like a walking case study for addicts. Although his addiction happens to be to concussions, his habits really show those of any person who is an addict. Ade's brain is addled, and the reader takes a seat in it as the story progresses.
I'll admit that this book really took me a while to fully appreciate. The situations that happen are so messed up (trust me there isn't another way to describe it) that I often couldn't fully wrap my mind around what was going on. Ade's relationship with his mother is an odd one, and then when Vauxhall enters the picture things get even weirder. It isn't that I didn't like Ade. I understood him as an addict, and I saw him as a person who is kind of lost in their own mind. However I had such a hard time actually feeling like I was a part of him, that being in his brain was disconcerting and made the story kind of hard to read.
By far my favorite part of the whole story was when Ade sees a potentially violent end to someone he knows when he glimpses the future. It is at this point that his whole being kind of changes, and I began to see more into the Ade that was trapped under his addiction. As the story nears the ending, things clear up, the reader sees more of the real world that Ade lives in, and honestly I started to feel more a part of him than I did before. However it took so long for me to get to that point that I really had a hard time enjoying the book as a whole.
If I'm rambling, I apologize. The truth is that Future Imperfect was definitely a wild ride, but honestly one that I don't think I was fully prepared for. This book is one of a kind for me this year. It is unlike anything that I've read so far. I was really hoping that would be enough to keep me invested. However there were just some parts of this book that were so out there, I admittedly felt a little lost. I think there is a lot to love, and I'm sure that there are plenty of readers out there who will throughly enjoy this book. Ade and Vauxhall have their quirks, but their story is definitely fascinating. I say give it a try. You might find something you love!
I'll admit that this book really took me a while to fully appreciate. The situations that happen are so messed up (trust me there isn't another way to describe it) that I often couldn't fully wrap my mind around what was going on. Ade's relationship with his mother is an odd one, and then when Vauxhall enters the picture things get even weirder. It isn't that I didn't like Ade. I understood him as an addict, and I saw him as a person who is kind of lost in their own mind. However I had such a hard time actually feeling like I was a part of him, that being in his brain was disconcerting and made the story kind of hard to read.
By far my favorite part of the whole story was when Ade sees a potentially violent end to someone he knows when he glimpses the future. It is at this point that his whole being kind of changes, and I began to see more into the Ade that was trapped under his addiction. As the story nears the ending, things clear up, the reader sees more of the real world that Ade lives in, and honestly I started to feel more a part of him than I did before. However it took so long for me to get to that point that I really had a hard time enjoying the book as a whole.
If I'm rambling, I apologize. The truth is that Future Imperfect was definitely a wild ride, but honestly one that I don't think I was fully prepared for. This book is one of a kind for me this year. It is unlike anything that I've read so far. I was really hoping that would be enough to keep me invested. However there were just some parts of this book that were so out there, I admittedly felt a little lost. I think there is a lot to love, and I'm sure that there are plenty of readers out there who will throughly enjoy this book. Ade and Vauxhall have their quirks, but their story is definitely fascinating. I say give it a try. You might find something you love!
October 12, 2011
Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing, in a combined review post with The Snowball Effect;
Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese was a really hard book for me. Honestly, I don't think I have a single positive thing to say about this book, so I shall try to make my review brief.
Every single character in this book was trashy, crazy and strung out throughout most of the book. The only semi normal character is Ade's best friend Paige, but she isn't given a lot of face time and she is an enabler. I couldn't connect with anything or anyone in this book and I didn't care about any of them. Not a single character evoked any emotion within me other than disgust.
The supernatural elements were almost believable, until Ade's new 'girlfriend' shows up. Ade can see the future when he gives himself a concussion, and that glimpse of the future becomes a high for him, so he does increasingly dangerous and stupid things to maintain it. I'm honestly surprised he isn't dead. His friends just tsk-tsk at him and his mom has decided he's pretty much the freaking Messiah. And then? AND THEN?! When the girl he's been seeing in visions for years shows up, the girl he knows he is meant to be with, things just get weirder. Turns out she can see the past. But you'll never guess what she has to do to gain her high... Gag.
The writing was decent, nothing amazing, but not terrible but the dialogue was awkward. It was a creepy book, and not in that- *shudder* hide under the covers with a flashlight creepy, but that- nasty old man who stares at you with his hands in his pocket until you rush around the corner kind of creepy. (vomit in the mouth).
Most books, even ones I didn't particularly care for, I can see the appeal or recognize that there are people who will enjoy it. But this one? This is one that I would not recommend to anyone. So if I were you, I'd just give this one a pass.
Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese was a really hard book for me. Honestly, I don't think I have a single positive thing to say about this book, so I shall try to make my review brief.
Every single character in this book was trashy, crazy and strung out throughout most of the book. The only semi normal character is Ade's best friend Paige, but she isn't given a lot of face time and she is an enabler. I couldn't connect with anything or anyone in this book and I didn't care about any of them. Not a single character evoked any emotion within me other than disgust.
The supernatural elements were almost believable, until Ade's new 'girlfriend' shows up. Ade can see the future when he gives himself a concussion, and that glimpse of the future becomes a high for him, so he does increasingly dangerous and stupid things to maintain it. I'm honestly surprised he isn't dead. His friends just tsk-tsk at him and his mom has decided he's pretty much the freaking Messiah. And then? AND THEN?! When the girl he's been seeing in visions for years shows up, the girl he knows he is meant to be with, things just get weirder. Turns out she can see the past. But you'll never guess what she has to do to gain her high... Gag.
The writing was decent, nothing amazing, but not terrible but the dialogue was awkward. It was a creepy book, and not in that- *shudder* hide under the covers with a flashlight creepy, but that- nasty old man who stares at you with his hands in his pocket until you rush around the corner kind of creepy. (vomit in the mouth).
Most books, even ones I didn't particularly care for, I can see the appeal or recognize that there are people who will enjoy it. But this one? This is one that I would not recommend to anyone. So if I were you, I'd just give this one a pass.
April 8, 2011
Well, let's start off by saying this novel is definitely out there. Now, for the breakdown -- Ade could see the future. How? By giving himself concussions and a whole lot of hospital visits. Yes, normalcy just went out the window. Seeing the future would be an amazing gift. Putting my life in jeopardy to see the future is definitely not worth it. But, who am I to judge? I guess knowing the future has the ability to drive a person mad, especially when you can't change it. Besides Ade's unusual behavior, I did enjoy picking his entertaining thoughts. His carefree attitude shined through leaving no room for personality confusion. The attribute I found appealing in Ade was how personal his story seemed from beginning to end. The ride nonetheless was an emotional and physical roller coaster which helped the plot move along at a steady pace.
Moving on, once Ade experienced a murderous outcome in one of his visions, his drive to figure out how to alter the forbidden rule of changing the future was intriguing. It showcased his motivation while also driving the most heightened aspects of the novel. Even though the concept seemed unique, the ultimate failure lied within the secondary characters. Personally, I didn't really care for any of them. His one true love, Vauxhall and his weird, pious mother were both equally annoying. Vauxhall was a bit on the whorish side, while Ade's mother was off her rocker. Instead of telling her son to stop hurting himself, she condoned his visions as God's calling. Who would of thought? Finally, the ending was decent yet nothing major. I really wanted to love the overall idea, unfortunately it fell short for me. I must say though, that I do see potential in K. Ryer's writing ability. The connection to the reader is there, all we need is a story line to back up the workmanship.
Moving on, once Ade experienced a murderous outcome in one of his visions, his drive to figure out how to alter the forbidden rule of changing the future was intriguing. It showcased his motivation while also driving the most heightened aspects of the novel. Even though the concept seemed unique, the ultimate failure lied within the secondary characters. Personally, I didn't really care for any of them. His one true love, Vauxhall and his weird, pious mother were both equally annoying. Vauxhall was a bit on the whorish side, while Ade's mother was off her rocker. Instead of telling her son to stop hurting himself, she condoned his visions as God's calling. Who would of thought? Finally, the ending was decent yet nothing major. I really wanted to love the overall idea, unfortunately it fell short for me. I must say though, that I do see potential in K. Ryer's writing ability. The connection to the reader is there, all we need is a story line to back up the workmanship.
Read
April 30, 2011Title Thoughts: I think it fits well.
Cover Thoughts: I kind of like it.
WARNINGS: There's cuss words here and there.
I liked this book. At first, it was hard to read because Ade keeps doing crazy stuff to get a concussion so he can get high from his visions of the future. We see weird things, a mystery, in his visions. When Vauxhall enters the picture, things pick up and slow down at the same time. They pick up because things happen besides Ade banging his head and seeing the future. They keep the pace because he still does it.
I think Breese is a great storyteller. While I was reading the book, I was caught up in what was happening. I was mostly interested in finding out what happens in the end. The journey didn't appeal to me as much as what was going to happen at the end. This was a good book with good writing and characters that were a little odd.
Addict's Last Words: A few twists and turns pop up along the way to keep things rolling. A good debut.
To Buy or To Borrow: Up to ya.
Disclosure: I participate in tours with The Teen Book Scene and a copy was provided to me by the author, publisher, or another third party source. No payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was not any obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist, or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Cover Thoughts: I kind of like it.
WARNINGS: There's cuss words here and there.
I liked this book. At first, it was hard to read because Ade keeps doing crazy stuff to get a concussion so he can get high from his visions of the future. We see weird things, a mystery, in his visions. When Vauxhall enters the picture, things pick up and slow down at the same time. They pick up because things happen besides Ade banging his head and seeing the future. They keep the pace because he still does it.
I think Breese is a great storyteller. While I was reading the book, I was caught up in what was happening. I was mostly interested in finding out what happens in the end. The journey didn't appeal to me as much as what was going to happen at the end. This was a good book with good writing and characters that were a little odd.
Addict's Last Words: A few twists and turns pop up along the way to keep things rolling. A good debut.
To Buy or To Borrow: Up to ya.
Disclosure: I participate in tours with The Teen Book Scene and a copy was provided to me by the author, publisher, or another third party source. No payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was not any obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist, or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
April 9, 2011
Why I read this: The plot seemed intriguing and I'm always looking for new debut authors to read. :)
Plot: This book takes you on a wild ride. From Ade's point of view, his life is just about to finally begin on a certain day. The day he meets the girl he dreamed of two years ago. This book takes you around twists and turns and introduces a type of power that is addictive and harmful, but serves a purpose. Definitely a book that is left a little open for maybe more to come, but wrapped up enough that it could be a great single novel. There was a bit of suspense, some definitely romance and sexuality and possibly the most messed up novel I've read since Bleeding Violet - only it made a lot more sense. And I loved it.
Characters: Ade and Vauxhall are both messed up, there's no denying it. It's interesting to see them change in this novel. To go from destructive to productive and trying to change the future. I really enjoyed their personalities and also the supportive characters, mostly bad guys, but also friends like Paige. They just flew off the page in their own way and really left an impact with their personalities.
Relatability: I think anyone whose done anything destructive to themselves or others in their lives can relate to this book.. anywhere from anger to sleeping around to self-harm is what you shall find in these pages.
Cover Commentary: Interesting. Not my favorite, but it has some images from the book in it.
Read more: http://www.bookworminginthe21stcentur...
Plot: This book takes you on a wild ride. From Ade's point of view, his life is just about to finally begin on a certain day. The day he meets the girl he dreamed of two years ago. This book takes you around twists and turns and introduces a type of power that is addictive and harmful, but serves a purpose. Definitely a book that is left a little open for maybe more to come, but wrapped up enough that it could be a great single novel. There was a bit of suspense, some definitely romance and sexuality and possibly the most messed up novel I've read since Bleeding Violet - only it made a lot more sense. And I loved it.
Characters: Ade and Vauxhall are both messed up, there's no denying it. It's interesting to see them change in this novel. To go from destructive to productive and trying to change the future. I really enjoyed their personalities and also the supportive characters, mostly bad guys, but also friends like Paige. They just flew off the page in their own way and really left an impact with their personalities.
Relatability: I think anyone whose done anything destructive to themselves or others in their lives can relate to this book.. anywhere from anger to sleeping around to self-harm is what you shall find in these pages.
Cover Commentary: Interesting. Not my favorite, but it has some images from the book in it.
Read more: http://www.bookworminginthe21stcentur...
March 14, 2011
I won an Advanced Uncorrected Copy of this from GoodReads. I will ignore those grammatical errors which I saw, which weren't too many, and reserve judgement. :) (I'm sure the copy editor will catch them before release)
So, on with the review.
Written for the young adult audience, the language used was quite unique to me. I've never really read a book that went directly into the head of the person and pretty much read like he spoke. For me, this was an interesting experience. I am one who tries to write proper. It was instilled in me through my career at school and one thing I have a hard time breaking away from. So, to read this as if someone were talking to me directly, telling the story in his own voice, was different for me. However, I did find it quite easy and quick to read. It was like I had sat down with Ade and he told me his story.
The story itself was also interesting, taking a new twist on addiction and learning to live "clean". It did seem to have all the basic elements of the addiction and clean up process, at least that I could see. I've never experienced it myself, but I was totally into the whole story wanting to help Ade and his quest to clean up his life. Or, at least, it was an interesting ride through his trials of learning to live in the here and now, and not some distant future.
I think this would be a good book for the early adult audience as it does incorporate the addiction aspect as well as some sexual situations and adult words. However, it was quite tactfully done with much left to the imagination, rather than the "in your face" visuals.
So, on with the review.
Written for the young adult audience, the language used was quite unique to me. I've never really read a book that went directly into the head of the person and pretty much read like he spoke. For me, this was an interesting experience. I am one who tries to write proper. It was instilled in me through my career at school and one thing I have a hard time breaking away from. So, to read this as if someone were talking to me directly, telling the story in his own voice, was different for me. However, I did find it quite easy and quick to read. It was like I had sat down with Ade and he told me his story.
The story itself was also interesting, taking a new twist on addiction and learning to live "clean". It did seem to have all the basic elements of the addiction and clean up process, at least that I could see. I've never experienced it myself, but I was totally into the whole story wanting to help Ade and his quest to clean up his life. Or, at least, it was an interesting ride through his trials of learning to live in the here and now, and not some distant future.
I think this would be a good book for the early adult audience as it does incorporate the addiction aspect as well as some sexual situations and adult words. However, it was quite tactfully done with much left to the imagination, rather than the "in your face" visuals.
March 19, 2011
Future Imperfect is a much darker novel than I thought it would be. Although Ade has a unnatural physic addiction, the novel could just as well be about drug, alcohol, smoking, and sex addictions. Breese took the story of a teenage boy with a rough life and messed up classmates and twisted it into a warped paranormal tale.
Ade, the narrator, is a very personal character. His every thought is recorded in the novel, and the language is that of a teenage boy. The reader is sucked into his world and placed in his head for the duration of the story. His friends and family are quirky and interesting, if a little strange. His lesbian best friend, Paige, and his mother are two of the biggest supporting characters.
Then there is Vauxhall, his future soul-mate. First of all, what kind of name is Vauxhall? I couldn't get over it. What happened to books with normal character names? My guess is that Breese is trying to highlight how different Vauxhall is from other girls. She's artsy and mysterious, and like Ade, has a secret talent of her own.
Overall, Future Imperfect was an entertaining read. It isn't like most of the books I read, and I was both intrigued and repulsed by the strange, morbid story. The ending was probably my favorite part. Even the darkest parts of the novel were remedied and things were heading down a better path. I just love uplifting endings like this one.
Ade, the narrator, is a very personal character. His every thought is recorded in the novel, and the language is that of a teenage boy. The reader is sucked into his world and placed in his head for the duration of the story. His friends and family are quirky and interesting, if a little strange. His lesbian best friend, Paige, and his mother are two of the biggest supporting characters.
Then there is Vauxhall, his future soul-mate. First of all, what kind of name is Vauxhall? I couldn't get over it. What happened to books with normal character names? My guess is that Breese is trying to highlight how different Vauxhall is from other girls. She's artsy and mysterious, and like Ade, has a secret talent of her own.
Overall, Future Imperfect was an entertaining read. It isn't like most of the books I read, and I was both intrigued and repulsed by the strange, morbid story. The ending was probably my favorite part. Even the darkest parts of the novel were remedied and things were heading down a better path. I just love uplifting endings like this one.
January 21, 2013
At first I hated this book. It's about a teenager, Ade, who can see the future (which is cool), but he has to get a concussion in order to do it. So the beginning of the book describes various ways in which he gets concussions to see the future and it is quite repulsive. Besides being repulsive, it just didn't make sense that he would not have been put in a mental hospital. That being said, Ade's relationship with his father was quite interesting given that his father is in a coma. Also, I like how every chapter begins with a letter Ade wrote to somebody even though we never see the letters written before or after from the people to Ade.
Now as the book moves along it focuses less and less on the concussions, which is a very good thing. As the story evolves the science fictiony elements become stronger. There are puzzles to figure out and it all leads to the conclusion which we are told in the very beginning that Ade sees himself murdering someone in the future. The philosophical questions of seeing the future are raised and it becomes a race to see if he can change the future and to see what circumstances lead to the vision we are told about at the start of the book. There is also a love story and other interesting side characters with some surprising traits. The ending is unexpected yet it still fits within the framework of the story. Ade's character grows in ways very satisfying to me as the reader.
Now as the book moves along it focuses less and less on the concussions, which is a very good thing. As the story evolves the science fictiony elements become stronger. There are puzzles to figure out and it all leads to the conclusion which we are told in the very beginning that Ade sees himself murdering someone in the future. The philosophical questions of seeing the future are raised and it becomes a race to see if he can change the future and to see what circumstances lead to the vision we are told about at the start of the book. There is also a love story and other interesting side characters with some surprising traits. The ending is unexpected yet it still fits within the framework of the story. Ade's character grows in ways very satisfying to me as the reader.
February 15, 2012
I really wanted to like this story. I read plenty of YA, and I understand that the majority of teenagers in this country are self-absorbed and neurotic. But these characters are ALL messed up, every single one. You start to wonder if any of them are worth caring about. [return][return]My main complaint with the story is that our poor, broken hero really ought to have come up with safer ways of going unconscious than getting the crap beaten out of himself on a regular basis. I suppose that an addict will do whatever it takes to get their high, no matter how stupid. But really, jumping head first off a two story building and miraculously not breaking his neck? Please.[return][return]Vaux and Paige could really have been interesting characters had they been given a little attention. As it is, they are just vehicles for Ade's self absorption. Even the 'villain' of the story is barely described as more than a stereotype.[return][return]I spent a good deal of the story wondering what purpose all those letters at each chapter intro served, since he obviously didn't give a damn what anybody else thought he should do. I had trouble even believing that he could muster the initiative or brainpower to track down and write all those people in the first place.[return][return]It's a shame that with such an interesting premise, that the main character was so inept. I kept wanting to reach into the story and haul the doofus off to a padded room. That and slap his mom silly.
April 14, 2011
Alright, I'll go straight into it and say this is just like The Butterfly effect but even more messed up. Ade knocks himself unconscious just to see the future. He see's the girl who he is suppose to fall in love with and waits for her. Vauxhall also has ad addiction of her own and see some really bad things. Ade must figure out who the mysterious stranger he see's in his future before its too late.
I did not like this book as much as I wanted to. For me, everything in it was too much. Too mess up. I kept shaking my head and wondering, What the ??? I mean, some things made sense but it took a lot of paying attention in order to see the whole picture come together. I felt like Ade really needed some help, like mentally. Poor kid was busting up his head left and right. And Vauxhall? Don't get me started on her. She was just as messed up as Ade was.
I did see the clearer picture a little more than half-way through the book. It took a while for the reader to gather all the information that was floating around. Some of it was not needed. Although I have to admit what Jimmy did was pretty clever.
There was lots of sex and drinking. And if you ask me, their love is messed up.
I did not like this book as much as I wanted to. For me, everything in it was too much. Too mess up. I kept shaking my head and wondering, What the ??? I mean, some things made sense but it took a lot of paying attention in order to see the whole picture come together. I felt like Ade really needed some help, like mentally. Poor kid was busting up his head left and right. And Vauxhall? Don't get me started on her. She was just as messed up as Ade was.
I did see the clearer picture a little more than half-way through the book. It took a while for the reader to gather all the information that was floating around. Some of it was not needed. Although I have to admit what Jimmy did was pretty clever.
There was lots of sex and drinking. And if you ask me, their love is messed up.
November 10, 2012
I had gotten a proof copy of this a while go and try to go back to it and read it but the main character is maddening and I don't really enjoy it. Finally got around to reading it, and while the premise is there: A boy who can see the future as the risk of a future of his own. He can only gain it while causing damage to his self, mostly through concussions. When the girl who he has seen before in his visions shows up he realizes it's his chance to finally get his act together.
There were just some parts in this book that had me cringing. I mean Ade is the worst narrator this side of Twilight. I didn't see any connection between he and his girlfriend even though he's been in love with her since he first saw he in a vision. Plus, her 'power' is slightly creepy especially since they are in high school.
There were just some parts in this book that had me cringing. I mean Ade is the worst narrator this side of Twilight. I didn't see any connection between he and his girlfriend even though he's been in love with her since he first saw he in a vision. Plus, her 'power' is slightly creepy especially since they are in high school.
Read
July 4, 2011 Future Imperfect is a very unique idea told through a fresh narrator. The guy's voice was nailed in my opinion and his life was so bizarre that I just couldn't put the story down.
Even though it's fantasy/paranormal some of the stunts were too wild and I think that he would have ended up even more beaten up (or dead) rather than just getting a concussion.
I didn't really like the letters that were in the book, I would've appreciated it more if there were answers. I understand that it's another way to get across what he is pondering and trying to figure out.
I never expected the ending though, it really just blew me away.
I'd love to hear your thoughts if you've read this one.
Even though it's fantasy/paranormal some of the stunts were too wild and I think that he would have ended up even more beaten up (or dead) rather than just getting a concussion.
I didn't really like the letters that were in the book, I would've appreciated it more if there were answers. I understand that it's another way to get across what he is pondering and trying to figure out.
I never expected the ending though, it really just blew me away.
I'd love to hear your thoughts if you've read this one.
August 13, 2012
“[An] inventive debut...This psychic love story has an offbeat appeal...Memorable characters and a superhero comic sensibility.” --Publishers Weekly
“A slick, fast-paced thriller with a comic-book aesthetic...The pace is cinematic, with short chapters, short sentences, snappy banter and Ade's cool, careening narration...For fans of action movies and anti-hero comics.” --Kirkus
“Teenaged soothsayer Ade Patience is one of the coolest narrators I've come across in a long time, and oh man does he have a story to tell.” --Josh Berk, author of THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN
"An inventive exploration of addiction welded to the origin story of an unlikely super hero." --Ryan Gattis, author of KUNG FU HIGH SCHOOL
“A slick, fast-paced thriller with a comic-book aesthetic...The pace is cinematic, with short chapters, short sentences, snappy banter and Ade's cool, careening narration...For fans of action movies and anti-hero comics.” --Kirkus
“Teenaged soothsayer Ade Patience is one of the coolest narrators I've come across in a long time, and oh man does he have a story to tell.” --Josh Berk, author of THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN
"An inventive exploration of addiction welded to the origin story of an unlikely super hero." --Ryan Gattis, author of KUNG FU HIGH SCHOOL
January 11, 2012
I won this as a first reads on goodreads. I found it an ok read kinda strange and weird at times. Ade sees the future when he knocks his self unconscious. He falls in love with a girl he seen in the future. She has even bigger issues than him. His mother takes the crazy award. She is fine with him jumping off buildings crashing cars, whatever it takes to see the future. Why because she thinks they are visions from God. This book has lots of turns and twists but is weird most of the time. If you have time to sit and stay tuned to every word you will enjoy this book. If you want a quick read that doesn't get confusing at times this isn't for you.
November 14, 2011
I won this from Goodreads First Reads!!!!
I really liked the idea of this book but I really didn't care for the writing. Other than the writing I really liked this book it was very interesting and it was pretty funny.
This book is about a guy named Ade who can see the future when he gets knocked out. He has a couple of rules that he has made himself. The most important one is that he can never change the future. But he tries to change that rule.
Overall this book was pretty good.
I really liked the idea of this book but I really didn't care for the writing. Other than the writing I really liked this book it was very interesting and it was pretty funny.
This book is about a guy named Ade who can see the future when he gets knocked out. He has a couple of rules that he has made himself. The most important one is that he can never change the future. But he tries to change that rule.
Overall this book was pretty good.
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