The 100 by Kass Morgan 4 STARS
Synopsis
In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late.
Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again
*copy provided by net galley for honest review
Overall: Great new take on Dystopian
Characters: Clarke, Glass, Belamy, Wells, Octavia
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes
Book Boyfriend: hm...not sure yet...
Genre: Dystopian
Sex Scenes: No
Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again
*copy provided by net galley for honest review
Overall: Great new take on Dystopian
Characters: Clarke, Glass, Belamy, Wells, Octavia
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes
Book Boyfriend: hm...not sure yet...
Genre: Dystopian
Sex Scenes: No
Overall--
Okay, first I must say, yes this is a TV show on the CW, which I have been watching. No I did not read the book first. That said, I had some expectations for the book, obviously, however, I actually think having watched the series first and then the book, I enjoyed it more than if I'd read the book first and then watched the show. Thats just me though. The TV show is way different. The characters are primarily the same, and the original plot is the same, but the show takes some very different twists (some I like some I don't), but that makes sense right it has to keep an audience pulled in week after week. I found that the actors chosen were really on point for the most part, and frankly this helped me visualize things. In that respect (the characters and the setting) the show and book seem point on.
Now that thats out of the way, lets talk about the book. This is a great book for those looking for a different dystopian novel. HOWEVER, there are some really big, glaring issues that I have with the book. First, the whole "pregnancy" issue (which is a plot point in varying way throughout the book) seems really out of place. I get the impression that if everyone is on a large ship, in a controlled environment, that birth control would be a requirement for ALL those women of child bearing age. Population control would seem extremely important. (and is an obvious focal point of the book for more than one reason), so it seems really, REALLY odd to me that the government wouldn't control this more tightly, to avoid unwanted, and unplanned pregnancy (in married and single people). On that same topic, one would think once teenagers arrive on Earth, where birth control is not, that someone would get pregnant, yet they don't....(okay its only been a month, but I didnt know that at the time of reading!) this seems completely counter to what would actually happen. Second, wouldn't people in space be monitoring Earth a bit more? I mean similar to our current space programs where we go and collect data on other planets etc, wouldn't they do the same to Earth so they could figure out when they could return? Again, it seems EXTREMELY odd that this wouldn't have occurred or been thought of. With the amount of technology in 300 years, wouldn't they be able to send "something" to collect data and return? Also, it seems crazy to me that executions would occur in the way that they had, I don't know that the government would really work like that. Though, that said, it explains why on Earth the teenagers act the way they do (execute without caring about innocence or guilt).
Okay Now that Im gotten my gripes out of the way, lets discuss the good, because I am giving this book 4 stars. So even though I have major issues with the book, those issues are personal to me, primarily because Im in the midst of writing my own dystopian book, but also because I tend to think about the logistic issues in these kind of books. So, at first I thought having four alternating POV's would be confusing and annoying. BUT actually I think it worked out really well. In the beginning, I was confused, and perhaps this is where having watched the show really helps because I have concrete opinions on the characters already, but generally speaking I thought it worked really well, I was able to folio the characters their thoughts and feelings and their actions, both present and past really well. The authors writing ability was great in that sense, I could honestly see and feel everything for these characters in so many different ways. Its got to be very difficult to have depth of character for 4 main characters yet also numerous side characters (Octavia, Luke, Graham, Thalia).
This plot is really interesting, its different, humans left Earth and are coming back, but don't know what to expect. Its hard to not compare to the show, for me, but Ill try. Honestly, I felt like it was a little slow moving plot wise. I would have liked the ending (not the end) to come sooner and for that to be elaborated more, so that the plot could be continued further. This first book just seemed to set the pace and overall plot point, really giving the reader insight into who the characters are, why they are all there, and fierce. So we know who everyone is (the main people) and why they got sent to confinement, but Earth still seems like a mystery. I would have really liked some more world building. Which is where having watched the show detracts from the book. My opinion is likely heightened a little, because I actually saw the world (on the show). I will say the author did a great job of taking Earth moments and making them count (sunrise, rain, the smell of fresh air etc) but I would have liked better Earthly descriptions. I also wonder why everyone stays put, why not wander and explore more...I also would have loved to know if there are other "people" on Earth and if so I'd love to hear from their POV!
Characters-
I absolutely LOVED Clarke. She is is by far my favorite (along with Octavia who has no POV). I completely understand where she is coming from, and feel for her in a variety of ways. But having the other POVs really helps me understand some of the various ongoing issues (her parents execution for example). I really like the TV shows explanation of Wells/Parents betrayal better than the book, but the book still had a good point, and proved that sometimes good intentions and good people do not always mean a fair outcome or trial. That corruption is everywhere. I found her compassion, empathy and strength though to be really beautiful and she was the star of the book no doubt.
I liked Wells, and I felt for him. His unwavering love for Clarke is obvious and beautiful. His POV really shows his reasoning and feelings behind his actions. I can feel his pain, and his love which is a testament to the authors writing. I enjoyed reading his POV. I wish that the TV show had followed his character more closely from the book, because I think it would have been better honestly.
Belamy, in the book I liked Belamy on the TV show I hate him. I think he isn't nearly as bad in the book as he is on the show. He is such a protector for his sister Octavia. But he doesn't just care about her and I think that shows more in the book, he is someone who has had to struggle his whole life through no fault of his own and that has really strengthened him for Earth, I hope in the next book to really see this strength pull through. Though Im not sure how I feel about his relationship with some of the others....
Glass- a character not on the TV show at all which I found to be quite odd- I didnt care for her. I actually liked her parts the least. I think she was an added perspective on the ship, which was necessary, and I understand why the author used another delinquent rather than what the TV show did, but I just didnt like Glass. Maybe its her name, maybe its just her, but I didnt like her. But in all honesty, given the way the author was writing, in the perspective of the delinquents Earthbound, I get why she wrote about Glass, and frankly this story is a sad one. Its one of the more depressing stories in the bunch. Star crossed lovers basically. But then a love triangle? I don't know might be too much....
All that said, I want to keep reading, I want to know what happens....
Okay, first I must say, yes this is a TV show on the CW, which I have been watching. No I did not read the book first. That said, I had some expectations for the book, obviously, however, I actually think having watched the series first and then the book, I enjoyed it more than if I'd read the book first and then watched the show. Thats just me though. The TV show is way different. The characters are primarily the same, and the original plot is the same, but the show takes some very different twists (some I like some I don't), but that makes sense right it has to keep an audience pulled in week after week. I found that the actors chosen were really on point for the most part, and frankly this helped me visualize things. In that respect (the characters and the setting) the show and book seem point on.
Now that thats out of the way, lets talk about the book. This is a great book for those looking for a different dystopian novel. HOWEVER, there are some really big, glaring issues that I have with the book. First, the whole "pregnancy" issue (which is a plot point in varying way throughout the book) seems really out of place. I get the impression that if everyone is on a large ship, in a controlled environment, that birth control would be a requirement for ALL those women of child bearing age. Population control would seem extremely important. (and is an obvious focal point of the book for more than one reason), so it seems really, REALLY odd to me that the government wouldn't control this more tightly, to avoid unwanted, and unplanned pregnancy (in married and single people). On that same topic, one would think once teenagers arrive on Earth, where birth control is not, that someone would get pregnant, yet they don't....(okay its only been a month, but I didnt know that at the time of reading!) this seems completely counter to what would actually happen. Second, wouldn't people in space be monitoring Earth a bit more? I mean similar to our current space programs where we go and collect data on other planets etc, wouldn't they do the same to Earth so they could figure out when they could return? Again, it seems EXTREMELY odd that this wouldn't have occurred or been thought of. With the amount of technology in 300 years, wouldn't they be able to send "something" to collect data and return? Also, it seems crazy to me that executions would occur in the way that they had, I don't know that the government would really work like that. Though, that said, it explains why on Earth the teenagers act the way they do (execute without caring about innocence or guilt).
Okay Now that Im gotten my gripes out of the way, lets discuss the good, because I am giving this book 4 stars. So even though I have major issues with the book, those issues are personal to me, primarily because Im in the midst of writing my own dystopian book, but also because I tend to think about the logistic issues in these kind of books. So, at first I thought having four alternating POV's would be confusing and annoying. BUT actually I think it worked out really well. In the beginning, I was confused, and perhaps this is where having watched the show really helps because I have concrete opinions on the characters already, but generally speaking I thought it worked really well, I was able to folio the characters their thoughts and feelings and their actions, both present and past really well. The authors writing ability was great in that sense, I could honestly see and feel everything for these characters in so many different ways. Its got to be very difficult to have depth of character for 4 main characters yet also numerous side characters (Octavia, Luke, Graham, Thalia).
This plot is really interesting, its different, humans left Earth and are coming back, but don't know what to expect. Its hard to not compare to the show, for me, but Ill try. Honestly, I felt like it was a little slow moving plot wise. I would have liked the ending (not the end) to come sooner and for that to be elaborated more, so that the plot could be continued further. This first book just seemed to set the pace and overall plot point, really giving the reader insight into who the characters are, why they are all there, and fierce. So we know who everyone is (the main people) and why they got sent to confinement, but Earth still seems like a mystery. I would have really liked some more world building. Which is where having watched the show detracts from the book. My opinion is likely heightened a little, because I actually saw the world (on the show). I will say the author did a great job of taking Earth moments and making them count (sunrise, rain, the smell of fresh air etc) but I would have liked better Earthly descriptions. I also wonder why everyone stays put, why not wander and explore more...I also would have loved to know if there are other "people" on Earth and if so I'd love to hear from their POV!
Characters-
I absolutely LOVED Clarke. She is is by far my favorite (along with Octavia who has no POV). I completely understand where she is coming from, and feel for her in a variety of ways. But having the other POVs really helps me understand some of the various ongoing issues (her parents execution for example). I really like the TV shows explanation of Wells/Parents betrayal better than the book, but the book still had a good point, and proved that sometimes good intentions and good people do not always mean a fair outcome or trial. That corruption is everywhere. I found her compassion, empathy and strength though to be really beautiful and she was the star of the book no doubt.
I liked Wells, and I felt for him. His unwavering love for Clarke is obvious and beautiful. His POV really shows his reasoning and feelings behind his actions. I can feel his pain, and his love which is a testament to the authors writing. I enjoyed reading his POV. I wish that the TV show had followed his character more closely from the book, because I think it would have been better honestly.
Belamy, in the book I liked Belamy on the TV show I hate him. I think he isn't nearly as bad in the book as he is on the show. He is such a protector for his sister Octavia. But he doesn't just care about her and I think that shows more in the book, he is someone who has had to struggle his whole life through no fault of his own and that has really strengthened him for Earth, I hope in the next book to really see this strength pull through. Though Im not sure how I feel about his relationship with some of the others....
Glass- a character not on the TV show at all which I found to be quite odd- I didnt care for her. I actually liked her parts the least. I think she was an added perspective on the ship, which was necessary, and I understand why the author used another delinquent rather than what the TV show did, but I just didnt like Glass. Maybe its her name, maybe its just her, but I didnt like her. But in all honesty, given the way the author was writing, in the perspective of the delinquents Earthbound, I get why she wrote about Glass, and frankly this story is a sad one. Its one of the more depressing stories in the bunch. Star crossed lovers basically. But then a love triangle? I don't know might be too much....
All that said, I want to keep reading, I want to know what happens....
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