Goodreads Ireland discussion

So, I've just finished this book, and I'm not really sure what to think about it. It didn't end the way I thought it would, that's for sure.

Just finished. Blown away by the ending. Great book. More thoughts tomorrow :-D

Link to my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I didn't initially know this was a YA novel but it helped discovering this as it explained references to current youth culture (though with slightly alerted names) - ePads, reality TV, MyFace etc. The themes of obsession with female perfection apply sadly to too many adolescent girls.
Our protagonist Frieda learns a secret - that in the past there were not only "aberrant" men but also women who were attracted to the same sex. It is hinted that Frieda herself might potentially have such a relationship with Isabel but at the end of the book we learn what has been going on with Isabel.
I haven't read The Handmaid's Tale which is not a YA story, but many reviews mention it including those who have high praise for this book and from those who dislike it.

I thought this was a fun quick read but there wasn't a whole lot in it that I hadn't seen in other dystopian novels...most notably the The Handmaid's Tale for control of women's sexuality and Pretties for the appearance and technology aspects...both of which I felt were much better books. I fear that this isn't a book (unlike The Handmaid's Tale) that will age well. I felt there was a bit too much focus on the various technology and youth cultural aspects, which will "date" the book.

Finally the book felt like it could have trimmed about 50 pages.

The one aspect I did find unique to the book was that there didn't seem to be an active resistance element against the structure of the society. In most dystopian novels I can think of (Hunger Games, Handmaid's Tale, etc.), there's an active rebellion going on. Did anyone else have thoughts on that aspect of the book?

Sara wrote: "I thought this was a fun quick read but there wasn't a whole lot in it that I hadn't seen in other dystopian novels...most notably the The Handmaid's Tale for control of women's sexual..."

Sara I have yet to read The Handmaid's Tale (hopefully this year!). In most books I have read where genetics are altered in a race it takes many generations for the "rebellion" trait to emerge. In cases where a segment of the population is controlled by a larger faction, the spirit of rebellion simmers away in the background and is easily reignited.

Isobel does a kind of passive resistence through her abusive eating. In her way, she is refusing to be controlled.

Emma wrote: "I think there's no uprising element because that just not what she wanted to focus on. If you listen to O'Neill talk about either of her books her aim is very much to discuss issues facing teenager..."

I'm going to have to read Asking For It and The Handmaid's Tale. TBR list just keeps growing :-)

Margo I think you'd also like Pretties.

Problem is Sara I hate coming into a series at book 2, so I've just added 2 more to my tbr LOL

Finished this today, my review is here:
I read this story over two days. Couldn't put it down. It's been described as a dystopian novel with comparisons made to the handmaids tale. Both of which I don't really think are fair descriptions.
Set in a future where reproduction is controlled so women only bear son's and women are produced via test tubes so as to produce the necessary amount only of the most beautiful women. These women are then groomed from birth to be man's companion, concubine or if not chosen for either, a teacher.
It can easily be compared with current life for young women growing up in a society where pictures on social media are judged with how many likes it gets, popularity being based on this, the cattiness of groups of teenage girls and how fickle they are. The lack of self worth girls have as teens and the need to reinforce this by gaining others approvals.
I think this is a very relevant book for all young people to read and shows the new dangers modern society has developed

Just as an add on, I just can't see how comparisons to the handmaids tale are fair at all to this book. They are two completely separate distinct novels with the only common ground being the destruction of women's autonomy. I felt this was much more a book aimed at young girls and struggles they are going through having technology constantly at their fingertips, struggles I most definitely didn't have growing up in a different era.

Seraphina wrote: "Just as an add on, I just can't see how comparisons to the handmaids tale are fair at all to this book. They are two completely separate distinct novels with the only common ground being the destru..."

I think it's a marketing thing Serephina. I have yet to read The Handmaid's Tale ,it's on my tbr for ages, but for some reason it's not on audible at the moment. I have seen many books by little known authors compared to it.

Strange it's not on audible for such an old book margo. It's a good read but very different to this one

Seraphina wrote: "Strange it's not on audible for such an old book margo. It's a good read but very different to this one"

It was on there. I had it in my wishlist for ages then it disappeared. That happens a lot on audible. It's usually to do with copyright. I wish they'd do a "last chance to buy" section. I've said this to them.

Emma wrote: "Any book with feminist undertones and set in a dystopian future inevitably gets compared to The Handmaidens Tale. I can see the cross over but agree it shouldn't be the defining tag for the book. I..."

I think you're right there Emma. My off line book club works by members chosing books in a rota system. When Oryx and Crake was chosen hardly anyone read it because of the theme. Mind you I do the same with online book clubs - I only read what take my fancy. I'm probably missing some great books. Glad I didn't miss this one though ;-D

I read this novel some time ago.
Someway, I loathed it. Something in the narrator character was so ennoying that I ended up feeling frustrated and angered. I tried to rationalise it as a reaction to the lack of individual reactions of any kind on her part, that made me feel there was no real plot development, no narrative, but I am not sure at all that this is actually the point.
Anyway, this was one of the most desperate and depressing things I have read in the last ten years. I am not sure I needed it.
Teenager girls do really feel like that? This is no rhetoric question, I actually would like to know if young readers of this book feel it depicts their world.

The main character annoyed me at times aswell elanna especially when it came to her best friend and how she treated her but I think she was the product of her environment. She could have made better decisions in regards to her but she is a teenager.
I don't think it's meant to be an upbeat book so your description of it as depressing is right especially if we put ourselves in teengage girls shoes today. I wouldn't like to have grown up in society where Facebook is your main social outlet, you have 500 friends on it all judging your pictures and you can be isolated by one idiots nasty comment. I think this book really does describe how it is for a teenager today in the most severe form.
My son turns 13 this week, we don't have Internet at home so he doesn't have access to it 24 hours a day. We've done that to protect him even though he doesn't see it that way at the moment. So I'm sure not all teenagers lives revolve around social media but a hell of a lot do. It's a difficult time to grow up and I think a lot of elements in this book depict that.

I agree with Seraphina. We're not supposed to "like" the chatactors in this book, rather to feel the pressures that society has put them under. And I don't think it's a million miles away from where our culture is headed. As long as we keep buying the glossy magazines, watching the movies, buying into the celebraty culture, that place so much importance on a distorted body image.

I agree with both of you. I think it's a desperate time to be a teenager. I know my 18 year old son has his cell phone surgically attached to his right hand.

Seraphina wrote: "The main character annoyed me at times aswell elanna especially when it came to her best friend and how she treated her but I think she was the product of her environment."

I am getting old. I cannot cope anymore with all-dark stories without a rebellion ;)
But you are probably right, it's dark times for teens. We should teach them to fight and be free, and I think it's a great thing to take responsibility and tell them "no internet at home".Fair play to you, Seraphina!

Well a third in and actually its not bad at all. Its a light easy read, being YA but the story is decent ad my god are those girls bitchy. The social media bits are a bit inane and the rap song grated a bit but the nastiness of the girls is believable and well set up. The little mentions of the world at large really show what true nastiness is though and its keeping my attention

Good to hear Paul, I thought you might run screaming from this one

Good writing is good writing. I've read a few YA books and its interesting to read a female targeted one that isn't brooding vampires or a slushy romance

I read quite a bit in the YA section. For some reason the print generally clear and the line spacing is wide. Doesn't make much sense that the books targeting youngsters are the clearest print!

I wonder why they decided on pink for the cover of this one - it does alianate male readers and although the characters are female the story may have wider appeal. I could see my man enjoying it cept he wouldn't brave the pink cover in front of his work gang!

Well that was a dark nasty little book.
And what a nasty finish.
No happily ever after at all.
Actually surprised by this one. Very much a female targeted book with the cover and all that but it was a decent read and was generally quite interesting. The author writes a mental breakdown very well.
Some bits were a tad inane but overall its a very good book

There were some parts of it that grated but you really get the sense of her losing the plot. Was definitely an unexpected ending, I kind of expected her to live the rest of her life in misery but not that.

No it really catches you out in a big way. A nasty sting in the tail when you already think its horrible

Paul wrote: "No it really catches you out in a big way. A nasty sting in the tail when you already think its horrible"

Glad to hear you thought it was good Paul. I'm going to try to get my man to read it. I reckon he'd enjoy it. I also liked that the end was so unexpected.

Maybe a bit less pink a cover and more men would pick it up. ;-)

OK I really didn't like this novel at all..I was of two minds if I should read this. I loved The Handmaid's Tale but I don't like YA that takes place in a school. I felt this novel was Mean Girls in the future. I pretty much didn't like anyone in the novel.It was as Paul said a nasty dirty novel. At some point I will read her other novel and see if I take to it any better.

I did mean nasty in a good way though ;-)

That's a shame Colleen, I really enloyed it. My hubby is listening to at the moment while commuting to work. Looking forward to his verdict ;-)

I was wary going in but I don't see too much reason why a man shouldn't enjoy it. Its well plotted.

Paul wrote: "I did mean nasty in a good way though ;-)"

I know Paul . I wish I meant it the way you did too :)

Its definitely a book I needed something cheerful to read once I finished it.

Margo wrote: "That's a shame Colleen, I really enloyed it. My hubby is listening to at the moment while commuting to work. Looking forward to his verdict ;-)"

It's ok you can't like them all . Maybe if I liked freida more or megan didn't come out smelling like a rose. I just loath everyone in the book .It's must be me because most people love it lol

Paul wrote: "Its definitely a book I needed something cheerful to read once I finished it."

I have gone back to reading Cutting for Stone and so far I'm ok

Paul wrote: "I was wary going in but I don't see too much reason why a man shouldn't enjoy it. Its well plotted."

He only started it Friday so I'm expecting a verdict today as to whether he's going to complete it. I know he won't like the end - he's a sucker for the happy ending!

I'm the opposite in some ways . I love when an author has the bottle to have a nasty ending

Paul wrote: "I'm the opposite in some ways . I love when an author has the bottle to have a nasty ending"

So do I - we must be really mean people :-P

Kick em while they're down

It's too easy to have a happy ending

I don't mind sad endings or horrific happenings depending on the subject matter but I have a hard time when I don't care about any of the characters and pretty much feel only relief when the novel is done

It was difficult to sympathise with any of the characters.
I think Isabel was the easiest to get along with in that sense. Even the matrons come off very nastily in the course of it all.

That was a major problem with me...liked The Handmaid's Tale much better.

I thought the charactor behavior reflected the society they grew up in. These were genetically modified girls - guess the "nice" wasn't deemed important to that world!

But sometimes a book just doesn't for everyone - else we'd have little to discuss ;-)

I think they left any likeable attributes at the door, they are competing for their futures, with each future as bleak as the next

True I just couldn't get past it:(

I've started reading this book and am finding it interesting. The society in this book is not a happy one. It's a society centered around the needs of men and what men like. The girls from what I have read so far are taught to only care about themselves. I like the way the book is written. I think it would be good to have the male perspective though.

I agree Emma. People care about how they look, the things they have and how they measure up against everyone else. So from that perspective the book is an amplified version of today's society but today women have more say in western society's.

I was thinking as I was reading this book that it would be cool to read a book about a society where women are dominant.

i finished have now finished this book and thought it was very sad but well written. I liked that it didn't have a happily ever after as this would have spoilt the book I think. I liked the book because it really brought out the feelings of Frieda. I thought it did this quite well. It made me feel sorry for her. But as one of the girls said Meagan, they were taught to be like that. Frieda was too nice. She tried to be nasty but it just didn't fit her personality. That society for women was very bleak for women.