Before I went to Boracay, I was able to finish PURE by Juliana Baggott and Julian Barnes' The Sense of an Ending on the side.
Just as expected, Pure is a story of personal rebellion set in a post apocalyptic world where a teenage boy from the dome that contains the pure ones, people who are untainted and unchanged by the so-called detonation, meets a morphed teenaged girl from the outside, which is considered a wretched society. And just like any post apocalyptic story, it wouldn't be complete without the deranged societal controls birthed out of paranoia and deluded regard for self preservation.
A good premise though would be the the detonation, a concrete, believable man-made occurrence, which is the source of all animal and human mutation that altered the face of society. Post apocalypse, coming of age, teenage hormones with mutated creatures chasing you? Sounds good to me! If you like to read The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner and The Feed series, this is another portion to add to your collection. Nothing extraordinary, but action packed and fun to read nevertheless.
Julian Barnes' The Sense of an Ending is a surprise pick. Probably because I had a couple of days to spare and I felt I could easily finish the novel. It is after all just like reading the protagonist's recollection on past relationships and occurrences during his high school and college days, which all accounts are taken from his memory.
I admit I was instantly hooked. I was amused on how the characters unfolded and surrounded the lead, Anthony Webster. How frustrations were experienced next and confusion and insecurities changed how the characters perceive their lives to be. It's how Anthony Webster carried on through life being a 'safe' and 'peaceable' man with missed opportunities and unanalyzed past. It's how he in turn resurfaces from the mundane to tackle past relationships and correct filtered memories. It's a self-conscious tale with an English tone.
Subtle is what I call it. Though a novelette, it equally demands attention and prying. Unfortunately I was too preoccupied and excited with my trip that I lost track a couple of times in those 150 pages. I think I needed something more formulaic. This one is anything but that. It is a beautiful story, if the mood is forgiving. If you've read the Atonement and Stranger's Child, you'll like this one. I might revisit it again someday.
I'm currently reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I've bought this a few months' back. Plot involves two young magicians with extraordinary supernatural abilities set for an unexplainable duel orchestrated by 2 dark magicians with a past. But a story is not a story unless there's a good conflict, that's when the two magicians fall in love instead.
I'm on my 6th chapter where the young magicians are honing and exhibiting their abilities before the actual duel takes place. They haven't met yet and I'm loving it.
It's a semi-fantasy love story that rivals that of The Magicians and an adult romanticized version of Harry Potter. Behind the cotton candy version, I smell mystery and action. I do hope there are more twists than what is expected. If there isn't, it's a good holiday read in itself.
Just as expected, Pure is a story of personal rebellion set in a post apocalyptic world where a teenage boy from the dome that contains the pure ones, people who are untainted and unchanged by the so-called detonation, meets a morphed teenaged girl from the outside, which is considered a wretched society. And just like any post apocalyptic story, it wouldn't be complete without the deranged societal controls birthed out of paranoia and deluded regard for self preservation.
A good premise though would be the the detonation, a concrete, believable man-made occurrence, which is the source of all animal and human mutation that altered the face of society. Post apocalypse, coming of age, teenage hormones with mutated creatures chasing you? Sounds good to me! If you like to read The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner and The Feed series, this is another portion to add to your collection. Nothing extraordinary, but action packed and fun to read nevertheless.
___
Julian Barnes' The Sense of an Ending is a surprise pick. Probably because I had a couple of days to spare and I felt I could easily finish the novel. It is after all just like reading the protagonist's recollection on past relationships and occurrences during his high school and college days, which all accounts are taken from his memory.
I admit I was instantly hooked. I was amused on how the characters unfolded and surrounded the lead, Anthony Webster. How frustrations were experienced next and confusion and insecurities changed how the characters perceive their lives to be. It's how Anthony Webster carried on through life being a 'safe' and 'peaceable' man with missed opportunities and unanalyzed past. It's how he in turn resurfaces from the mundane to tackle past relationships and correct filtered memories. It's a self-conscious tale with an English tone.
Subtle is what I call it. Though a novelette, it equally demands attention and prying. Unfortunately I was too preoccupied and excited with my trip that I lost track a couple of times in those 150 pages. I think I needed something more formulaic. This one is anything but that. It is a beautiful story, if the mood is forgiving. If you've read the Atonement and Stranger's Child, you'll like this one. I might revisit it again someday.
___
I'm currently reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I've bought this a few months' back. Plot involves two young magicians with extraordinary supernatural abilities set for an unexplainable duel orchestrated by 2 dark magicians with a past. But a story is not a story unless there's a good conflict, that's when the two magicians fall in love instead.
I'm on my 6th chapter where the young magicians are honing and exhibiting their abilities before the actual duel takes place. They haven't met yet and I'm loving it.
It's a semi-fantasy love story that rivals that of The Magicians and an adult romanticized version of Harry Potter. Behind the cotton candy version, I smell mystery and action. I do hope there are more twists than what is expected. If there isn't, it's a good holiday read in itself.
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