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A review by readwithmesashamarie
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
5.0
As you can see, I'm a few years late coming to the Shatter Me party. I know, without a doubt, that if teenage me had read this it would be an instant, no question, five star read.
However, slightly jaded, worldly, experienced me, isn't so sure where to put this. Let's see if by the end of this review I can make up my mind. An adventure for us all!
I realized a few pages into this book that, you know what, I think I'm dystopianedout. I read so much of this genre in 2011-2012 that my brain just sort of clicks off when it's mentioned. I thought for a little while I wouldn't be able to get into this novel at all because of the concept, but it became such a quick read that that notion quickly passed. Speaking of how the dystopia was created in this novel, I really liked how realistic it was. This could totally happen, us screwing up our planet to this extreme. Completely plausible and slightly jarring to see how Tahereh Mafi has envisioned that end result.
I really liked all the settings in this novel, and how we moved quickly from place to place. I've been reading a lot of adult fiction and forgot just how quickly YA moves from point to point to point. It was kind of refreshing that we didn't have to sit in one place and plot everything out and talk about this or that some more or have an existential crisis about ourselves or our world. Nope we just bip bop booped along as one threat lead to safety led to another threat, etc.
The writing. Boy was I shook. I just didn't expect what I got, at all. I was not prepared. It was flowing, descriptive, genius, well thought out, and really enhanced showing character development. The novel begins with this intense language and as our character interacts more with others, this language slowly diminishes into something more relatable or recognizable. Our character retains their integrity but I thought it was brilliant to watch the novel transition from flowing prose to generalized conversations and action sequences. Wow, the talent. Slow claps.
The boys. Oh, if only younger me had read this, she would have swooned right off the edge of the world (this is a joke, the world is round you weirdos). I am hesitant to comment on this section because I can already f e e l myself being judged/called out by the Shatter Me stans (WhittyNovels I'm talking about you girl). I really, adore, Adam. Am I not supposed to? I don't trust him, or anyone in the novel, but that's older jaded by the world me talking. I know Warner becomes a thing, but....HOW?! I don't see myself accepting that? It would take a lot of work on Tahereh Mafi's part for me to forgive Warner's actions and see him as a love interest. But I have the other novels on hold at my library so I guess I'll find out soon enough.
I guess, objectively, after writing out my thoughts and feelings this novel remains a five star rating from even older me. It has the YA recipe that younger me devoured in a heart beat but I wanted to make sure I could put my literary degree to some use and squeeze out the right rating. In all honestly it's more a 4.75, but who's counting at this point? Did anyone even make it to the end of this? ;)
However, slightly jaded, worldly, experienced me, isn't so sure where to put this. Let's see if by the end of this review I can make up my mind. An adventure for us all!
I realized a few pages into this book that, you know what, I think I'm dystopianedout. I read so much of this genre in 2011-2012 that my brain just sort of clicks off when it's mentioned. I thought for a little while I wouldn't be able to get into this novel at all because of the concept, but it became such a quick read that that notion quickly passed. Speaking of how the dystopia was created in this novel, I really liked how realistic it was. This could totally happen, us screwing up our planet to this extreme. Completely plausible and slightly jarring to see how Tahereh Mafi has envisioned that end result.
I really liked all the settings in this novel, and how we moved quickly from place to place. I've been reading a lot of adult fiction and forgot just how quickly YA moves from point to point to point. It was kind of refreshing that we didn't have to sit in one place and plot everything out and talk about this or that some more or have an existential crisis about ourselves or our world. Nope we just bip bop booped along as one threat lead to safety led to another threat, etc.
The writing. Boy was I shook. I just didn't expect what I got, at all. I was not prepared. It was flowing, descriptive, genius, well thought out, and really enhanced showing character development. The novel begins with this intense language and as our character interacts more with others, this language slowly diminishes into something more relatable or recognizable. Our character retains their integrity but I thought it was brilliant to watch the novel transition from flowing prose to generalized conversations and action sequences. Wow, the talent. Slow claps.
The boys. Oh, if only younger me had read this, she would have swooned right off the edge of the world (this is a joke, the world is round you weirdos). I am hesitant to comment on this section because I can already f e e l myself being judged/called out by the Shatter Me stans (WhittyNovels I'm talking about you girl). I really, adore, Adam. Am I not supposed to? I don't trust him, or anyone in the novel, but that's older jaded by the world me talking. I know Warner becomes a thing, but....HOW?! I don't see myself accepting that? It would take a lot of work on Tahereh Mafi's part for me to forgive Warner's actions and see him as a love interest. But I have the other novels on hold at my library so I guess I'll find out soon enough.
I guess, objectively, after writing out my thoughts and feelings this novel remains a five star rating from even older me. It has the YA recipe that younger me devoured in a heart beat but I wanted to make sure I could put my literary degree to some use and squeeze out the right rating. In all honestly it's more a 4.75, but who's counting at this point? Did anyone even make it to the end of this? ;)