nila's Reviews (526)

I have forgotten so much of this book from when i read it last 8 years ago so it still managed to suprise me. I'm writing this I finished and I feel exhausted from the constant intensity of the book. It is definitely the strongest book in the series; it doesn't say how much time as has passed, but the characters read older, and so do their actions and thoughts, which I think is more appropriate for the story. I do think there might be one or two plot twists too many... I mean there are only so many times people can be wrong about something or someone. But at the same time, I can see why Ness would write the story in such a way. The added third perspective also deepens the character arcs and enriches the story further. I also loved the casual representation and inclusivity among the characters. All in all, this series absolutely has stood the test of time, and I think I'll have to re-read it again in another 8 years time.

After running from a relentless army for what seemed like forever, Todd and Viola has finally reached their goal: the city of Haven. Bruised, battered and carrying a gunshot Viola, Todd, stumbles into the place that was their last hope for safety, only to find that the gates of the city does not introduce freedom, as they had hoped, but another one of Mayor Prentiss' traps.

Imprisoned and separated from his dear Viola, Todd learns to follow the rules of the Mayor's new regime. In a world where one can hide nothing, and no one has any secrets, Todd tries to separate the truth among so many lies: Where is Viola? And who are the mysterious Answer? On his way he make discoveries of what is outside the town that only raises more questions than it brings answers. Soon, a second part joins the march down the path to certain waging war. A path where bombs are dropped without mercy. And in the midst of it all, are two teenagers trying to find each other while depicting utter resistance against the extreme pressure of the Mayor's rule.

Yes, I've literally shed tears reading this and also laughed my head figuratively off.

I want to point out this ridiculously clever trick he uses: he will introduce you to multiple potential storylines, out of which, some will have quite predictable outcomes, but then there will be one thing that will catch you completely off guard, and it will have you on the edge of your seat. There were moments where I had to just get up from the chair and just pace around my room before getting back to the book.

Patrick Ness' writing is brilliant. His respect and understanding of the reader is so evident. He excels in character development and continuity, which adds the to the brilliant experience of reading this novel. 

I had such high hopes for this sequel and it did not disappoint. Never mind being a hundred percent engaged in the story, but I haven't been MOVED by a novel in so long and it's such a great refreshing feeling. This feeling is the reason I read, the reason I turn page after page.

The story follows twelve-year old Hugo Cabret who after losing his father in a fire finds himself as an orphan, clock-keeper and thief as he lives his life inside the walls of a busy train-station in Paris. His current life and survival depends on anonymity. This is all set in jeopardy when he crosses paths with a toy-maker and his eccentric grand-daughter. As they get find each other more and more present in each others' lives and learn more about each other, Hugo fears that his biggest secret is going to come out. 

We soon learn that he is not the only one keeping a secret. A tale of magic, a cryptic drawing, a secret notebook, a mechanical man, a stolen key and a message that has the ability to bring back one who appeared to be gone. 

Do you remember how proud you felt the first time you read a book with no pictures in it? I do. But reading this, made me miss it SO MUCH. 
This is a wonderful novel and more than, a brilliant piece of art, which incooperates both writing and fantastic and simple pencil-drawings. I've always had a problem with slow beginnings, but Selznick makes it effortless with drawings. You are introduced to the setting and the main character after turning just a few pages.

The only negative I can think of is that because the drawings is a big part of the novel you'll finish it in less that two hours, and then the brilliance of it doesn't really hit you which can be a bit anticlimatic. 

The premise of the novel is intricate. Time traveling is involved, but it is essentially, a love story. Clare and Henry met when Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-two and Henry thirty. This is due to Henry suffering from a rare genetic disease which pulls him back or forward to his past or future. Gone, with nothing but his clothes left in a pile on the floor. Niffenegger writes about their various encounters and how they try to to lead a normal life, afraid of blinking out of fear of not seeing each other's faces when opening their eyes. 

This is a book, you either absolutely adore, despise or remain unsure about. It is very slow-paced, and I think sidetracks too often which confuses the reader as to where the plot is going. A reader often looks for a character that is deep with a conscience and abilities we aspire to have and that we find ourselves in. With Henry, I think Niffenegger spent TOO much time on Henry, leaving an impression of a fabricated man without an organic approach to him, which, in my opinion, is negative.

What I did love though, was the time traveling. It was amazingly engaging and you did feel you had gone back or forward in time with Henry and are given a peek into another world. 

Those who are fans of David Nicholl's 'One Day', I think will like the pace and the story of the book, and though I do not think it's the best in the bunch, I think it's worth giving a chance