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The Unhappening of Genesis Lee

The Unhappening of Genesis LeeTitle: The Unhappening of Genesis Lee
Author: Shallee McArthur
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 352
Reason Read: ARC Review
Rating:

My Thoughts

I loved the premise of THE UNHAPPENING OF GENESIS LEE. It was very intriguing and interesting. I liked reading about the science of how this world functioned. Some of the tech sounded really cool and made me want it.

I went into the book thinking it was going to be science fiction with a hint of romance, but there ended up being some dystopian characteristics to the story too because of the volatile relationship between the Mementi and the Populace. It created an interesting viewpoint on discrimination, caste systems, and how hate passes from one generation to the next without just cause.

I really liked the characters. Gena and Kalan were interesting. I loved that their backgrounds were completely different because it gave the story more depth. I kind of wish the book had been written in third person, though, so I could’ve gotten more characters’ perspectives. The antagonist was well written too. I didn’t figure out who they were before they were revealed. The story kept me guessing all the way to the end.

I was really frustrated with the fact that Gena kept losing her memory of Kalan. It made the story slow in those parts and I almost had to force myself to keep reading. I understand why it was important to the story and why it happened, but I still hated it. When she lost her memory, Gena’d feel unsure of what was happening and she’d question everything around her. And, because the story’s from her POV, the reader’s meant to feel that way too. Instead, because I already knew what was going on, I just felt like my progress in the hunt for the Link Thief was stunted. I did feel sorry for her, but my frustration won out over my sympathy.

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Maus

Title: Maus
Author: Art Spiegelman
Genre: Biography, Non-Fiction
Format: Paperback
Pages: 295
Reason Read: Book Club
Rating:

My Thoughts

MAUS is the first graphic novel I’ve ever read. I wanted to like it more than I did. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. I actually learned a few things about what happened in the concentration camps. I thought I had heard / learned most of what happened, but there were some things I didn’t know.

Spiegelman drew the characters in animal form. The Jews were depicted as mice, non-Jewish Poles were pigs, Americans were dogs, and the Nazis were cats. I’m a cat lover and I hate that cats are always vilified in cartoons and movies. (For once, I’d like to read a book or see a cartoon / movie where rats are the bad guys and cats are the good guys.)

I tried to pay attention to the pictures, but I wanted to read the words. I got caught up in them. I know I looked at the pictures, but I didn’t get lost in them. I didn’t spend time looking at the details. They weren’t what interested me. Looking at the pictures and then reading the words felt very disjointed. If I could read the words, then go back and look at the pictures, it might have worked better for me.

It felt like a lot of filler / description was missing. When I read, I love getting to know the characters by getting inside their heads. I wanted to know why Vladek felt the way he did. I wanted to know how we was feeling at any given moment. I didn’t just want to rely on the outside manifestation of his feelings (via the picture) because pictures can only tell you so much. I needed more depth to the story.

I liked the second volume better than the first because it made me feel more. The depth that I felt I was missing in the first volume wasn’t as big of a deal in second. I saw / read enough of how horrible Auschwitz was that I didn’t need more insight from the characters’ minds.

It’s amazing to me how Vladek and Anya survived Auschwitz. It was really only because of luck and cunning on Vladek’s part. It’s not like the strong survived and the weak didn’t. It’s more that Vladek was in the right place at the right time, met the right people, and could negotiate / barter like the best of them.

I’m really glad I took the time to read both volumes. They’re both very powerful biographies. They made me appreciate what the Jews went through during the Holocaust.

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Paranoia

ParanoiaTitle: Paranoia
Author: J.R. Johansson
Series: Night Walkers #2
Genre: Fantasy, Thriller, Young Adult
Format: Kindle
Pages: 336
Reason Read: Utah Book Month
Rating:

Also in this series: Mania
My Thoughts

I really enjoyed learning more about the Night Walkers. I would love to know more about their society and politics. Hopefully, we’ll get more insight in the final book. I also really loved getting to know the secondary characters better.

I’m excited to read the final book when it comes. I have a few theories and I’m curious if I’m right.