Book: Matched ~ Ally Condie

Title: Matched
Author: Ally Condie
Series: Matched, Book #1
Published: November, 30th, 2010
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Language: English, Nederlands
Number Pages: 369 p.
Age category: Young Adult
Other books in the series:
Crossed, book #2
Reached, book#3

About Matched:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

(Source: Goodreads)

My opinion

I have been putting this review of for a while, since I am not entirely sure what the heck to tell you about this book. I mostly know what I want to say what I liked or disliked about the book, but this one left me with lots to think about.
I struggled with this book, I almost didn't make it to the end, but I am to damn curious not to finish, and the ending was worthwhile! The last hundred  pages is where everything was finally put in motion. Finally Cassia becomes the "rebel" we have been waiting on throughout the book.

What I liked:

• The World-building: The world Ally has created is fascinating, the sheltered and planned life the people live, to me is incredibly boring. I wouldn't be able to last a day in that world. A world without creativity and freedom of mind. It is terrifying!
• The growing love: The love that grows between Cassia and Ky, Ky the mystery guy who knows how to write, and shares many secrets with her. I hope to see more of Ky he is a great character.

What I didn't like:

• Slow-pace: This story was slow paced lack a fair amount of action or maybe shocking moments, or drastic turns. I don't know, the fact remains that for me it was slow, which made me put it down too easy. That is also where I disagree with myself, thinking about the story line, this could not have been written in a faster pace, since breaking through such a sheltered bubble takes courage and time. So it had to be exactly how it is now.  But being the reason I almost didn't make it to the end it was a bad thing for me. It took me approximately a month to get through!

Rating

Well that's it, this book at first was a 3 stars for me, but considering the ending, how it made me think about the world, and the beautiful cover made me re-rate it so 3.5 stars!

Quotes

Cassia: They are giving us pieces of a real life instead of the whole thing. They have perfected the art of giving us just enought freedom; just enough that when we are ready to snap, a little bone is offered and we roll over, belly up, comfortable and placated like a dog

Cassia: I realize now how much courage it takes to choose the life you want, whatever that might be.

Music ~ Sinead O'Connor

I think this would either be the theme song for Soceity or on of the 100 songs!! Enjoy!
Dit nummer is of het thema nummer voor de Unie of een van de 100 liedjes! Geniet er van!