Thursday, February 21, 2013

Review: Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Title: Awaken
Author: Katie Kacvinsky
Published: May 23rd 2011
Source: Purchased
Genre: YA Dystopian
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
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Caution: May contain spoilers
Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

My Thoughts:

I started reading this last spring while on vacation and decided to put it down because I wasn’t really getting into the story. The pace just wasn’t fast enough and the story itself wasn’t sucking me in. I wanted to finish it though, so I picked it up recently and I’m actually glad I did. If I would have just kept reading the next couple chapters, I would have wanted to keep reading.

I like the premise of this story a lot, how and why digital school came to be a desired thing--including the drama surrounding making such a huge change. Justin is one of the thinkers, someone that Maddie needed to remind her of how life should be--not locked in a bottle but experiences and felt. Especially how important it is for people to have one on one in person interactions and not all over the computer only. It makes me long for the good old days when you saw people more and communication was through snail mail and land lines.

The build of the relationship between Maddie and Justin was well done. I have to say, the suspense was killing me. It really did. It was one of those things where I kept thinking, “Oh my god, just kiss already! Stop this tango of frustration!” But I was rewarded with a pretty epic kissing scene, so, I’m done complaining here.

Awaken was a bit dull to start but it picks up near the middle. The story itself isn’t bad, but some of the world building was illogical at times. Like how easily certain things could happen when society is supposed to be able to control people more. However, Katie Kacvinsky’s writing is meaningful, the feelings are portrayed in a way that draws you in. I am still very much interested in seeing how the story continues.

My Rating:

4 comments:

  1. I'm excited to read this one at some point. I think I'll be able to overlook faults because I think the author is thing to make a point. That's what I'm preparing myself for any way.

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    1. That's a good way of looking at it. I probably would have been able to finish it before if I had thought of it that way! :P

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  2. I've been meaning to read something by this author for quite some time now. I didn't realize she'd written dystopian! This one sounds like an enjoyable read, even with the flaws. I'm glad that you were able to pick it back up and enjoy it, Jess!

    Molli | Once Upon a Prologue

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    1. Yeah! I saw her contemporary work and I'd like to take a look at that sometime. :)

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Thank you for commenting and happy reading!