Tantalising Trailers: Crossed by Ally Condie

You know I am WELSH right so I had to, simply had to put this trailer on. 

Title: Crossed

Series: Matched

Author: Ally Condie

Publisher: Puffin

Publication Date: 24 Nov 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

Loved Matched so much Review HERE I have had the sequel on pre-order forever!!!!

I just adore the use of the Dylan Thomas poem.

Celebrating Wales: Dylan Thomas

Synopsis: From Amazon

On her seventeenth birthday, Cassia meets her Match. Society dictates he is her perfect partner for life. Except he’s not. In Cassia’s society, Officials decide who people love. How many children they have. Where they work. When they die. But, as Cassia finds herself falling in love with another boy, she is determined to make some choices of her own. And that’s when her whole world begins to unravel . . .

Review here

I just had to include this in the Welsh appreciation as it has been given a fresh appeal via the amazing Matched, so here is the poem in full for your enjoyment [ : D ]

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on that sad height,

Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Title: Matched
Series: ? although it is a trilogy (thank goodness)
Author: Ally Condie
Publisher: Puffin
Publication Date: 2nd December 2010

Thank you so much to UK Book Tours for the chance to read it



Synopsis: From Amazon
On her seventeenth birthday, Cassia meets her Match. Society dictates he is her perfect partner for life. Except he’s not. In Cassia’s society, Officials decide who people love. How many children they have. Where they work. When they die. But, as Cassia finds herself falling in love with another boy, she is determined to make some choices of her own. And that’s when her whole world begins to unravel....

Review:
Wow, just wow. This one really lingers in your memory long after you turn that last page. That's all I can say is thank goodness this is a trilogy as I have so many unanswered questions and feel as if I am personally invested in the futures of the main characters that I just don't want to let them go.

Shades of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. A society that controls every aspect of daily life. Watching all aspects of 'normal' human behaviour. Monitoring everything from interactions to dreams. Controlling what is grown, what is eaten and how much is eaten; what jobs people do and even who we are allowed to love. All this was just so frighteningly easy to picture in the imagination, even relate to on some fundamental level.

People's behaviour and actions are predicted; what would happen if we were given a choice. The power the 'officials' possess makes them think that they are 'gods' playing with peoples lives as if it were some kind of sadistic experiment. The monotony of 'the society' and the drabness of their lives probably provides the reasoning behind this behaviour. As I read my mind kept questioning the entire foundation of 'the society', like a domino effect one question lead to another;  how did it start, why did it start, who controls it, I could go on.

I found myself rebelling mentally against the idea of living in a world where nothing is created. There are only 100 poems/books/paintings that have been chosen for the population by an appointed panel. I just could not live like that. I wondered if this lifestyle would turn people into automatons, not really living but just going through the motions until the 'society' sanctioned euthanasia at 80. It would be like living in an ant colony only there to serve and provide a reproductive service in order to maintain 'the society'. The inspired use of Dylan Thomas's Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night added impact to the imagery; being welsh Dylan Thomas is one of my favourite poets. Plus the use of a Harry Potter reference for sarcastic purposes made me feel that Ally Condie is a kindred spirit. The tone is at times delightfully sarcastic which I totally adore.

All the characters are tremendously well rounded; their interactions and behaviour are revealed slowly throughout the narrative. The main point, I felt, was that we may not know the people close to us as well as we think we do.

The three main protagonist work beautifully together.
Cassia: initially a drone desperate to be a model citizen. Slowly realises appearances aren't always what they seem mainly due to her Grandfather's influence. Her personality and creativity goes from strength to strength as the plot develops.
Ky: wow my heart just ached for him. Such a wonderful character to imagine. Always the outsider on the fringes watching and learning as he is in turn being watched. Hiding who he really is in order to blend in. The weight of so many secrets weighs him down.
Xander: another multi-dimensional character. it seemed as if he was too different people, one in public and one in private. He too has his secrets.
This was one very difficult love triangle in which to pick a side. Normally I have no trouble deciding which male protagonist I would pick but this one left me baffled, both Ky and Xander are wonderful. I really didn't want to see anyone get hurt.

The whole idea of being Matched by a set of criteria and then the developing love triangle really brought to mind the whole question of how do we fall in love. If matching wasn't involved who would they chose to fall in love with.

A truly fantastic book with a fresh dystopian theme. I am just so happy that this is a trilogy but obviously not at all happy that I have to wait for the next installment. I just hope that at least some of my questions get answered.

If you have reviewed this book as part of UK Book Tours please leave the link to your review here: