Matched

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. Usually I don't really go for the lovey-dovey centered stories, but this book made me realize that I do appreciate a well-written romance, which is what this book incorporated really well.

Like I said, this book very well-written. I loved how the author revealed this utopian Society to us. It was really interesting to read how his world works and all the conspiracies that were actually going on beneath the surface. Plus, this book brought up some moral issues like free will vs. the good of people that got me thinking. I mean, who doesn't like some philosophy with their YA book of their choice? As far as world-building goes, Ally Condie did an excellent job.

Onto the romance. I liked how the author worked the romance into the story; it was kind of like a tool used to help Cassia discover what was wrong in the Society, which I guess it was. Love triangles are so overdone in the YA genre, but I didn't mind this one. Cassia was a good, strong main character; I really liked Xander, even though it was clear he would get the short end of the deal; I just wished we got to see Ky and Cassia's relationship develop more: it seemed rushed at some times throughout the book. Still, a very clever romance aspect.

Overall An awesome new world that I can't wait to get back to. So what if romance plays a big part? Read it!

I loved it and would seriously recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopian, romantic and futuristic books! Can't wait for the final book to be released!

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I thought I would be hooked on this book since the book's main character had such a similar name to me. I thought that it was funny that she did, and that she might be like me a little bit. No, not true. The poem that kept popping up, the 'don't go gentle' one, I thought that the poem might inspire Cassia to rebel. No, she did not, she took things quietly, and hardly rebelled at all. If the author was trying to write a rebellious character, it did not work out well.

The love between Ky and Cassia as well, to me, was a bit to quick and weird. I think that when they said the 'I love you's' I thought that was pretty weird. As we saw it, they were only friends, then poof, they are in love. Not cool. It was a to easy relationship. And though the relationship bloomed over a few months, it was still pretty quick, as the book did not revolve around it, and really only followed the events, with these confusing glimpses added in.

I liked the Grandfather. He was awesome. He knew that the world was wrong, and knew that freedom is more important than safety. The restrictions and death sentences made me pretty upset, and the hundred things. There is no need to limit knowledge, but knowledge is power, so in a way I understand that.

This book was written in a simplistic style that was a bit boring. They could of added more detail, and traits to the characters. Like Ky, we hardly know anything about him, and it is weird falling for a person who you know nothing about. It should start as a friendship before going anywhere else.

This book was okay, not the best, and the simplistic manner that it was written in bored me out of my mind. I am not reading the next one as I do not think it is worth the money.

“Don't go gentle."

Everything in this book revolves around those three small, seemingly insignificant words. At first when Cassia reads the illegal poem her grandfather gave her before his death, she is frightened of what might happen if she was caught, and so she burns them. But then she starts wondering about the Society, whether having choices made for you, even if the results are good and lead to a happy life, is right. With Ky at her side, sharing her secrets and hidden thoughts, her life begins to spiral out of control as she begins her own personal rebellion against the Society.

When I first started reading Matched it immediately caught my interest, the Society intrigued me, as did Cassia's life, I always looked forward to picking it up, but as it went on I found myself more and more pulled into the story, and the characters, needing to know what happened next, until finally I find it nearly impossible to put down. I've finished it, but I want to pick it up and read it again, or better yet, read the next book! I loved it through and through!

ISBN: 9780525423645
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 366

Matched by Ally Condie is about Cassia, who has grown up in a futuristic society which she has always placed her trust in to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch and what to believe. During her Matching ceremony when Xander appears on the screen, Cassia knows with certainty that he is her ideal mate. Until Ky appears briefly before the screens turns black. The Society tells her that its a glitch and that she should focus on the life she is destined to live with Xander. But Cassia starts to doubt the Society...

I thoroughly enjoyed Ally Condie's dystopian fanstasy Matched, and cannot wait to read the sequel Crossed! From beginning to end Matched is beautifully written! My favourite characters were Xander and Cassia. Cassia probably because of her being the main character and Xander because he cared for and protected Cassia despite everything, despite the possible consequences. I like the simple cover of Matched, the girl inside of the bubble in the green dress represents Cassie and the bubble depicts the restrictions she felt throughout the book.

Available from Amazon.co.uk.

My friends all love it and so do I. You need to read this book!!!

Love triangles! =( but still love the book

I read a review that said that there are stories that require that you suspend any and all disbelief, or you'll find that you're constantly asking yourself how this type of world came into fruition, considering the rebellious nature so inherent in human nature. Matched is definitely one of those stories.

In Matched, everything is so absolutely micromanaged by the Society that choice has almost been completely eliminated. Literally every choice you make is from a list of pre-approved options, and the Society has determined the probability of the choice you will make, and has made adjustments accordingly. Even mundane things, like what clothes to wear or what to eat, have been chosen by the Society. Apparently, as a result, people are generally happy and healthy, leading longer and more fulfilled lives. For Cassia, the perfect life is worth this lack of autonomy. Until she is shown a different choice, and has it taken away. Then she can't seem to find the ideals set up by the Society to be so ideal.

I really liked watching Cassia's struggle with becoming an independent thinker. Having grown up to believe in the absolute rightness of the Society's laws, seeing her struggle to do something as small as read an unapproved poem was fascinating. What bothered me was that it took a rebellious act by both her grandfather (who was on his death bed, and had nothing to lose) and then her father (who as an Official, was able to shrug off the minor citation) before she was able to come to terms with the possible corruption behind the Society. I would have liked to see her come to this conclusion on her own, instead of having her feelings validated by important figures around her. And I really disliked that the Society may have played a role in manipulating her into action.

The most frustrating part of Cassia's independent thinking was the lack of rebellious action. She had plenty of opportunities, but chose to play it safe every time! I think in part, I need to blame this on Condie's writing: there is no urgency to it, no passion, no suspense. Even the very minor acts of rebellion that we do get to bear witness to are probabilities considered by the Society, who deemed them almost inevitable and therefore considered them learning experiences. My frustration only built as we learned that certain acts of rebellion were part of a larger plan by the Society, who had accounted for the probabilities, and adjusted accordingly - it made it hard to see Cassia as anything but a puppet, being pulled by the Society's strings in whichever direction they wanted her to move.

Then there's the Society, which is mentioned so often, you would expect to know most of its history by Matched's conclusion. But there is so much about the Society, and the world which Cassia lives in, that we know absolutely nothing about. What lead to the creation of the Society? What year is the story taking place in? Who are the people on the outskirts? And were they banished there, or have they chosen to stay there in defiance? What's the structure of the Society? Do they have one leader, or is it more of a group? Why is there a war, and why wasn't it more prevalent throughout the book? Too many unanswered questions.

My biggest disappointment, shockingly (note the sarcasm), has to be with the oh-so-typical love-triangle romance. First, the two love interests are the same old tired cliches - a sweet and loyal best friend type and a dark, brooding and mysterious type. Second, and Cassia even mentions this (repeatedly), she didn't notice Ky, at all, until his face showed up on her matching screen. She admits at one point that while they do know each other, she wouldn't even call themselves friends. So why the instant attraction once she finds out they might have been Matched? And third (and I think, most important), Cassia has no reason to love Ky. As the book progresses, we see little-to-none of his personality. What we get instead are little pieces of his past, which help us understand why he keeps people at a distance. Cassia even asks herself if loving someone's story means you love the person. I had a very hard time believing that Cassia actually had feelings for Ky. I figure she loves the idea of him, of someone who would break the rules with her (or for her), then for who he is as a person.

All that being said, I did enjoy reading Matched; it was really only when I put the book down and thought on it that I found myself questioning why I was enjoying the story. I loved the effortless dynamic between Cassia and her family, and I truly believed in her friendship with Xander - they had a comfortableness with each other that only the best of friends understand. I loved the idea of the Society, I just wish more history had been given. I also loved the idea behind Matched, of rebelling against "the man" and standing up for what you believe in. Unfortunately I feel like Matched did it behind authority's back, when it should have been doing it to its face.

No lie, ya'll, I really loved this book. For some reason the love-triangle part was what drew me in. Mostly because I loved Ky's character and I wanted to get to know him more. It's a weird society they live in. Cassia's grandpa broke my heart. I seriously cried for like an hour after reading that part. But, it's a good book, and I'm ready for the next one!