Monday 17 September 2018

Patrick Ness: Monsters of Men (2010)

    As a world-ending war surges to life around them, Todd and Viola face monstrous decisions (Goodreads).

     This third installment in the Chaos Walking trilogy takes a step back from its predecessors, as much of the novel is of a slower pace. That's not to say it is dull, however, because there are many examples of Ness' trademark intensity and action peppered throughout the novel. Most of the conflicts are retained from book two, but they are written just as well, meaning that it is still enjoyable despite the similarities. Ness writes with such a stunning and simplistic brutality (in a good way), and readers are kept on the edge of their seats as hope is built up in a painstakingly brilliant fashion, only to have that hope snatched away in a heartbreaking moment as the climax begins. Both the main and secondary characters see their paths fulfilled as Ness builds up to a heart-pounding (and heart-wrenching) final battle. There is a vital moment concerning the main antagonist which seems somewhat forced, and his development is almost completely wasted with one action, but luckily, his overall brilliant character is fulfilled in the end. By now, the concept of the Noise is worn a bit thin, and the rules regarding its use are not extremely fleshed out, and 1017's monologue, while it does add depth to the story, doesn't live up to the other voices in terms of emotion and interest. Overall, though, Ness concludes his saga with an epic, emotional, and brilliantly-written novel. 8.5/10

Wednesday 12 September 2018

Mal Peet: The Penalty (2006)

    As the city of San Juan pulses to summer's sluggish beat, its teenage football prodigy, El Brujito, vanishes without trace. Paul Faustino, South America's top sports journalist, is reluctantly drawn into the mystery (Goodreads).

     Peet writes relatively well; the setting and characters are all described thoroughly, and the overall plot is pretty compelling in and of itself. However, to put it frankly, the book is dull. Not to a huge extent, but the writing is presented in a very bland way, and it's hard to be invested in the positives mentioned earlier when the plot moves slowly. Both plot lines have their moments, but the novel goes back and forth between them so much so that, as soon as one is invested, it switches back, and the reader is forced to start over. Those looking for a book about the sport of soccer (or football for the rest of the world) should look elsewhere, as the sport is not really a factor. Not necessarily a negative, just something of note. Faustino is a likeable enough character, but the rest of the cast echoes just about everything else about the novel: mediocrity. 6.6/10

Tuesday 4 September 2018

Patrick Ness: The Ask and the Answer (2009)

    Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town (Goodreads)?

     A brilliant foray into some of the most difficult themes in literature, this second book in the Chaos Walking trilogy delivers on all levels. It starts right where the first book left off, although from there it actually goes fairly slow. A new narrator adds some variety to the novel's voice, and again Ness writes with simple diction that seems to strike a chord. The concept of the Noise wears a bit thin this time around, though, and as we learn more about it, the rules surrounding its use is somewhat vague. The pace picks up as the plot develops, and the latter half of the book is rife with emotional, heart-wrenching scenes, as we see our protagonists struggle with difficult issues, and readers, too, are forced to pick sides as Ness unveils the true brutality of civil war. As far as complexity goes, this sequel outweighs its predecessor by far, and although some character development is slightly unrealistic, it delivers on that front as well. The antagonist(s) are given a lot more substance this time around, and Ness is able to narrate with such urgency that keeps readers on their toes for the majority of the novel, except for the slightly slower beginning. 8.7/10