Hmm...
The Forest of Hands and Teeth
By Carrie Ryan
# Pgs: 336
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Overview:
In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?
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Review:
I read The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan a couple of years ago, but I still have that impression that reading this book had left on me back then. Honestly, the fact that I remember this book at all is a miracle. I have a terrible memory, especially when it comes to the books that don't evoke enough emotion from me when I read them.
But Carrie Ryan's book I remember because it was anything but generic. The storyline was something that I've never come across before, the idea somewhat original. Though at some parts The Forest of Hands and Teeth got just a little boring to read, I found myself following the main character's example by paying attention.
I remember the thought that it seemed almost like it was two books in one; like there were two major moments in the books that could've been climaxes. There were likewise two areas in the book where I thought I'd be reading the last sentence of this first book but, to my surprise, I found it continued on.
Ryan wrote this book with very nearly wonderful imagery, but at some points I felt like the characters themselves were underdeveloped. Reading this book I remember thinking that Ryan could've taken this book to the next level, but she just settled for what is. There were so many opportunities that presented themselves for Ryan to mix it up, to throw in some kind of spice and really send us reeling. I was a little disappointed that the book was as flat as it was, but for some reason (probably the fact that it was very different and so very interesting despite the dull tones at points) it capture my curiosity. However I can't help wishing that Carrie Ryan would've added some sort of meaning to the story other than just mindless romance and mindless zombies. It was just such an easy book, such a safe book, to read; there was nothing that challenged us as the reader, and it seemed like there was nothing much that challenged the main character, Mary either.
If you're going to write based on the point of view of a female character in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic, zombie-filled world, I want my main character to have some kind of strength about her. Whether it's charisma, how to survive on wild plants, bows or knives... There's got to be something that the character can do to keep herself safe. There wasn't anything like that in this book. It seemed like everyone else was protecting her, for her. It seemed like for every complication that popped up, there was some coincidental, simple, not so involved (easy) way out of it. She struggled, but not in the way that she should've.
I haven't read the second book in the series as it wasn't out at the time that I read the first book, but now that I'm thinking about it I suppose I better refresh myself with the series. Regardless of how much I am chewing this book out right now, there were parts of it that I did enjoy, and I'm majorly curious on how the second book turns out.
I'd probably give this book a two out a five, and recommend this book to anyone who likes the whole post-apocalyptic, dystopian society, zombie, sci-fi book. Thanks for reading!
But Carrie Ryan's book I remember because it was anything but generic. The storyline was something that I've never come across before, the idea somewhat original. Though at some parts The Forest of Hands and Teeth got just a little boring to read, I found myself following the main character's example by paying attention.
I remember the thought that it seemed almost like it was two books in one; like there were two major moments in the books that could've been climaxes. There were likewise two areas in the book where I thought I'd be reading the last sentence of this first book but, to my surprise, I found it continued on.
Ryan wrote this book with very nearly wonderful imagery, but at some points I felt like the characters themselves were underdeveloped. Reading this book I remember thinking that Ryan could've taken this book to the next level, but she just settled for what is. There were so many opportunities that presented themselves for Ryan to mix it up, to throw in some kind of spice and really send us reeling. I was a little disappointed that the book was as flat as it was, but for some reason (probably the fact that it was very different and so very interesting despite the dull tones at points) it capture my curiosity. However I can't help wishing that Carrie Ryan would've added some sort of meaning to the story other than just mindless romance and mindless zombies. It was just such an easy book, such a safe book, to read; there was nothing that challenged us as the reader, and it seemed like there was nothing much that challenged the main character, Mary either.
If you're going to write based on the point of view of a female character in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic, zombie-filled world, I want my main character to have some kind of strength about her. Whether it's charisma, how to survive on wild plants, bows or knives... There's got to be something that the character can do to keep herself safe. There wasn't anything like that in this book. It seemed like everyone else was protecting her, for her. It seemed like for every complication that popped up, there was some coincidental, simple, not so involved (easy) way out of it. She struggled, but not in the way that she should've.
I haven't read the second book in the series as it wasn't out at the time that I read the first book, but now that I'm thinking about it I suppose I better refresh myself with the series. Regardless of how much I am chewing this book out right now, there were parts of it that I did enjoy, and I'm majorly curious on how the second book turns out.
I'd probably give this book a two out a five, and recommend this book to anyone who likes the whole post-apocalyptic, dystopian society, zombie, sci-fi book. Thanks for reading!
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