Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion

What did you think of Matched? How does it compare to other dystopias you have read? Will you be continuing with the trilogy? What do you think will happen in the sequels?

Eh, I thought it was okay. If it was only not so like The Giver and wasn't slow, I would have liked it better. And the comparisons to Hunger Games weren't there (because it's really not), I would have not thought of it like that.
Compared to other dystopias I've read? It's okay. I personally like other dystopians better, so I'm hoping that future dystopias like Legend by Marie Lu and Glitch by Heather Anastasiu will be good.
I probably might continue with the trilogy if I'm in the mood.
For the sequel, Crossed, I'm pretty sure that there will be talks of rebellion.

Compared to other similar books I found Matched a little bland. I wanted to know much more about other characters, but most of them only seemed very surface level. Even the main characters were a bit beige. I loved the grandfather and the sense of what he was not disclosing, but there was not nearly enough of him in the story. Maybe that was meant to come across as mysterious, but it was not enough. There was no real intensity or excitement for me. Even when there was any sense of danger or risk it still came across as slightly superficial, numb and safe. I wished for those breath holding, hand on mouth, heart pounding moments, but came away feeling a little disappointed. It was okay as a book to read on the side, but there was not enough meat in it so that I was swept away with the story and completely absorbed in its world.

Sandybeach wrote: "Compared to other similar books I found Matched a little bland. I wanted to know much more about other characters, but most of them only seemed very surface level. Even the main characters were a b..."

You are summing up exactly what I felt! I would have loved more "character" in the characters and more details about the world, they live in. It's a nice book, but there was something missing.

I found it quite boring and wasn't even sure I was going to finish it. I did - though that's just me being stubborn. I just kept waiting for it to "start" and then...it was over. I did really like Ky and started to become interested in that part of the story but it was kind of "too little, too late". Overall, it was still "too dull". That being said, I agree with Gabrielle of Nomes that the next book will be more rebellion so I *may* read the next one. It's almost as if she wrote this book just to set the scene for the rest of the series but consequently it left me disappointed.

I have to agree with some other members that tMatched is a bit bland. I didn't feel that this book got me really hooked just intrested. I still did enjoy reading it and I would very much like to see where the story goes. I'm sure it's going to include rebellion and that Cassia and Ky will be together. It will be intresting to see how the other characters will fare. I'm curious about Xander and Em and how far the rebellion will go.

Ii was too dull for me as well. After first 70 pages or so I found it very difficult to stick with the story. It was not really bad, but too boring for my taste. I couldn't bring myself to care about the characters or the romance. Plus Matched reminded me of The Giver a little too much for comfort.

In the end, I don't care about Cassia and Ky to pick up Crossed.

Kate wrote: "I found it quite boring and wasn't even sure I was going to finish it. I did - though that's just me being stubborn. I just kept waiting for it to "start" and then...it was over. I did really like ..."

I so agree. Even if I hate a book I will still read it to the end just incase something does happen. There has been books that I've read in the past that were really slow to start and then BOOM, the story-line hits full stride and you are hooked in. This wasn't one of those books. You were right when you said that you kept waiting for something (ANYTHING) to happen. The book just puttered along and suddenly it ended and it just left you thinking .... what ??? I preferred Dilirium over Matched.

I guess I will stand out here because I really enjoyed the story, but I also listened to the audio after reading it once and that gave me a different perspective. I do agree, however that it ran a bit long for not much to happen--on the same hand, the first time we saw The Fellowship of the Ring, people around us were like "What?! That is it?!" not realizing that it was a trilogy. I am in no way comparing the quality here to LOTR, just that often times we don't feel complete at the end of one book because the story is not over.

Sandybeach wrote: "Compared to other similar books I found Matched a little bland. I wanted to know much more about other characters, but most of them only seemed very surface level. Even the main characters were a b..."

The grandfather was probably my favorite character in the book.

Martha wrote: "I have to agree with some other members that tMatched is a bit bland. I didn't feel that this book got me really hooked just intrested. I still did enjoy reading it and I would very much like to se..."

I agree. I can't say it hooked me like the Hunger Games, but I will likely read the series just because I hate loose ends. I'm currently reading Dilirium. Between the two, I think I prefer Matched because the Society is more surreal and scarier compared to folks in Portland ME.

I liked it and I'll be reading the sequel. I did feel that Cassia transitioned a little too quickly from being naive and trusting to insurgent.

I felt that Matched lacked urgency and I think that's why it felt like a slow ride. Hunger Games had a definite Time Zero (the day everyone else is dead in the games) and the Forest of Hands and Teeth had the wedding day. When I realized Cassia 1) wasn't supposed to physically meet her Match for a year or more, 2) she wouldn't even get married and have children for additional years (21 is a long time to wait - I wasn't sure why the Match happened at the age of the story and not closer to 21), and 3) her time with Ky would dwindle but not disappear by the end of the summer, I had trouble staying invested. Cassia also seemed like a chicken in some scenes and a lioness in others. Still, I'm curious to see what happens in Crossed. Ky and Xander were a lot more interesting to me than Cassia.

And just to say it, the ending really annoyed me. There was no climax or wrap up, just a chapter into the next book. Even series need to have some sort of conclusion between books, otherwise why divide them at all?

Let's just say that I was happy that I was at the end of the book. Ally Condie was able to tell a good story, but the plot lacked excitement. The novel did have many similarities to Hunger Games, but face it there are no new story lines. I will definitely read the sequel, but I won't be checking daily to see when it is released.

Natalia wrote: "2) she wouldn't even get married and have children for additional years (21 is a long time to wait - I wasn't sure why the Match happened at the age of the story and not closer to 21)"

Remember that EVERYTHING in the society was based on statistics. The rules are devised based on what worked before the Society was developed. The gap in time between the match and the marriage reflects what normally happens in our world. People meet - either in high school or shortly after at college. They get to know each other. They get married. Admittedly, those things are happening later and later these days, but there was a time when most people met in their teens and married in their early twenties. The data the Society used showed that 17 to meet and 21 to marry were the optimum ages to guarantee a successful marriage.

The point, I believe, is that the Society legislated something that normally happens at its own pace in the belief that there was an optimal timing for all events.

I listened to the book on audio so it really came alive for me. I really enjoyed it, I loved the characters and would recommend it to anyone

I enjoyed reading Match. The fact that society allowed themselves/their entire lives be decided by data was bizarre. Talk about lose of freedom. The idea that society is controlled by only allowing certain literature/poems/music was really intriguing. Makes you think about censorship.

While Matched wasn't as engaging as some dystopian reads (Divergent, check it out), I would still recommend it. I will definitely be picking up the sequel. Now that the world is established, more action might take place in Crossed.

Sandybeach wrote: "Kate wrote: "I found it quite boring and wasn't even sure I was going to finish it. I did - though that's just me being stubborn. I just kept waiting for it to "start" and then...it was over. I did..."

I always feel guilty if I don't finish a book! I don't know why!!

It was such a fast read that I will read the next books. If it were longer I would skip it. I liked it though. Honestly I see everyone comparing it to the Giver which I have read but it's been so long I can't remember that book. I am going to look it up on wikipedia and re-read what the plot was before I comment in the compare the Giver thread.
The grandfather was one of the most interesting characters but there wasn't enough of him in the story. He was there and then he was gone.
I didn't think the story really took off until the end of the book. Finally we really got more in depth with the characters and some plot.

This book is missing something though. I don't know what exactly. I think it spent too much time on some plots and not enough time on other plots that needed more attention. I also think the 2nd book will be all about things leading to rebellion and then the 3rd book will be the rebellion. Which is too similar to the Hunger Games for me.

I did feel bad for Xander in the book. Here is this kid just living life like he thinks he is supposed to and now he will probably end up single. I understand Cassia wanting to be free... but she really doesn't seem to care about Xander to me at all. Yea she told him what's going on with her an Ky, yea she apologized, but she didn't seem to really care so long as she was happy.
I think this is a good book to recommend to a younger teens. I think it would be good for middle school readers rather then high school readers. I guess I thought it read a little young. No violence or sex or cursing or anything like that.

I too like the grandfather, and though he himself is gone, I think he will come up in the next installments.

I might stand a bit alone here, but I did not think that Xander was as mistreated as most people think he was--I don't think that Cassia really had a choice since Ky is her perfect match, except for that pesky Abberation thing. Plus, I still hold on to the hope that with the rebellion, Xander will get to be with Em because, come on, they are totally into each other--didn't anyone else catch that they talked to one another almost every day before Cassia would talk to them? Even on days when they were not doing separate rec hours.

The website for the book is kinda cool!

http://www.matched-book.com/society.html

Angie wrote: "I always feel guilty if I don't finish a book! I don't know why!!"

Your reply quoted me, but I think this was meant to be Kate. I am exactly like you in the fact that I have to finish a book, even if I hate it. I've read books before that have started out slow and difficult to enjoy, but then a few chapters in have finally launched and found their stride. If I'd given up early I often would have missed out on some amazing books. :^)

Bridgette wrote: "I too like the grandfather, and though he himself is gone, I think he will come up in the next installments.

I might stand a bit alone here, but I did not think that Xander was as mistreated as mo..."

But Xander was supposed to be her perfect match, too. That was the point. I'm not trying to be difficult, but even if that was not the case, Cassia still had free will in making her mental decisions.

Julie wrote: "Bridgette wrote: "I too like the grandfather, and though he himself is gone, I think he will come up in the next installments.

I might stand a bit alone here, but I did not think that Xander was a..."

I wonder if we will find out later that Xander is her perfect match and that someone sabotaged the matching system and put Ky's picture in the system. I am curious to see if Ky did it himself since we did find out at the end of the book that the Officials didn't do it after all.

I thought it had a lot of potential, with a cool Society and premise, but I'm in the "it was dull" boat with everyone else. There was a lot of Cassia thinking and describing and dreaming, but not a lot of doing. I'm hoping the next book will be more heart-pumping. I do plan to continue the series, as it had many positive points, but it was not my favorite dystopian.

Amanda wrote: "I liked it and I'll be reading the sequel. I did feel that Cassia transitioned a little too quickly from being naive and trusting to insurgent."

Absolutely agree. That was one of my only problems with the story.

That's true that she changed too fast. The ending also left me with a sense of "so what?" in my brain. As far as I know, it is a trilogy, so maybe the overall story of the trilogy will be good.

I think so of these reviews were a bit harsh in calling the book bland. While I agree that this book doesn't have the appeal of the Hunger Game series, I didn't think was dull. I did think that it mirrored the society, which was dull, but isn't that the point? Censorship and lack of freedom can be quite insidious, sneaking up on the people it affects. I didn't expect the urgency or alarm that others wanted, but I thought that was appropriate considering the setting. I enjoyed it and will be reading the next books as well.

Sandybeach wrote: "Compared to other similar books I found Matched a little bland. I wanted to know much more about other characters, but most of them only seemed very surface level. Even the main characters were a b..."

My thoughts exactly. and in response to Winnie, it's fine if the point of the book is to show a repressed, dull society, but that doesn't excuse flat characters and lack of plot. It could have been stronger if Cassia wasn't so happy with her life the way it was. When your main character is fine with her dystopia, there isn't much tension or reason for the story to move forward. It's not just Cassia either - they're all sort of lukewarm. Xander is the perfect best-friend turned life partner, and he's just so reliable and kind that after Cassia betrays him, he turns right around and helps her. Even for an all around good guy, that's a bit much. And Ky is an outcast that knows forbidden things and draws and writes poetry - stereotypical "sensitive" guy. Cassia's grandfather was the one interesting character in the story, and he just disappears before it is over.

Slow....very slow. I ended up liking it but it took forever to get through the first book so I wouldn't probably ever re-read it like my other books. Some of the plot twists I didn't agree with but overall it was a pretty good series.