Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
HarperCollins (2018), Edition: 9.2.2012, 368 pages
Description
Romance. Science Fiction. Science Fiction & Fantasy. Young Adult Fiction. HTML: The gripping first installment in New York Times bestselling author Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me series. One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully grown man gasping for air. One touch, and she can kill. No one knows why Juliette has such incredible power. It feels like a curse, a burden that one person alone could never bear. But The Reestablishment sees it as a gift, sees her as an opportunity. An opportunity for a deadly weapon. Juliette has never fought for herself before. But when she's reunited with the one person who ever cared about her, she finds a strength she never knew she had. And don't miss Defy Me, the shocking fifth book in the Shatter Me series!.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member amandacb
I just could not stand this overwrought, teenage-angsty, trying-to-hard style of writing. This is an English 101 fail on Mafi's behalf, as it is utterly distracting from the premise (which is in itself unbelievable...no one can touch Juliette, blah blah blah, her parents despise her, blah blah). If
"His eyes pin me in place. His urgency ignites my bones. Rivulets of water snake their way down the polished planes of his face and his fingers press me up against the wall.
His lips his lips his lips his lips his lips
My eyes are fighting not to flutter
My legs have won the right to tremble
My skin is scorched everywhere he's not touching me..." then you might lie this series.
Otherwise...vomit. It's like reading a badly-written 13-year-old's diary.
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you can stomach pages of this crap:"His eyes pin me in place. His urgency ignites my bones. Rivulets of water snake their way down the polished planes of his face and his fingers press me up against the wall.
His lips his lips his lips his lips his lips
My eyes are fighting not to flutter
My legs have won the right to tremble
My skin is scorched everywhere he's not touching me..." then you might lie this series.
Otherwise...vomit. It's like reading a badly-written 13-year-old's diary.
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LibraryThing member dk_phoenix
I wanted to love this book.
I wanted to love this book so much. I'd had it on my wishlist since before its release date, and the premise -- a girl whose touch is fatal -- sounded fantastic. Super-hero-esque. I was a little nervous about it being dystopian (why not just have it in a contemporary
Oh, for goodness' sake. I, in this case, was the one who was shattered (see what I did there?). My expectations were shattered and swept down the drain of disappointment, only to bubble back up for the final 50 pages when the heroine finally, finally uses that backbone of hers and does something about her situation. Not that she did it necessarily willingly, mind you -- only out of desperation -- but at least she did something.
She spends most of the book being sad and thinking she's a terrible person and pining over a boy who was nice to her. She refuses to help "the bad guy" (for no real reason that we understand other than "it's wrong"), and for someone whose touch kills people, she's awfully black & white in her morality. Honestly, the reasoning and logic in this book left something to be desired, because -- and let me emphasize this again -- her touch kills people and the people who have her want her ALIVE.
That means, at any time, she could kill her captors and escape because they desperately want her alive. Yes, she cares for someone and wants to make sure he's safe, but when touching people means death, I'm fairly certain a little brain-work would get that part all figured out. Yes, the bad guys have a way of subduing her but again, a few hours of those brain juices flowing and she could have got herself AND her friend out of there without issue (and if she couldn't, that would have provided excellent tension).
I also have a serious problem with books where the female heroine is The Most Beautiful Person On the Planet (see my article "Your Heroine is Too Beautiful" on Fantasy-Faction), and where she's supposed to be wonderful and amazing and perfect and yet she spends all her time on internal reflection instead of using her talents and supposed amazingness to escape/change the crappy situation she's in.
For me, there was nothing that made this book special or different than all the typical teenage dystopian romances out there. I wanted it to be different -- I really, really wanted it to be amazing -- but in the end I felt let down, frustrated, and angry at the main character.
I would have given the book 2 stars, but for the premise, the cover & tagline, the "crossed out journal entry" style of writing, and the fact that in the final 10 pages it seems like Juliette has finally found her spine. I may give the second book a chance, simply because I feel that this entire book was a set-up for book 2. I'm not even joking. Talk about withholding!
Should you read it? *shrug* At this point? I'd wait for book 2, read the synopsis of book 1, and then give the second one a go and hope the heroine hasn't forgotten that she does, in fact, have a brain.
I wanted to love this book so much. I'd had it on my wishlist since before its release date, and the premise -- a girl whose touch is fatal -- sounded fantastic. Super-hero-esque. I was a little nervous about it being dystopian (why not just have it in a contemporary
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setting?) but figured that maybe the strong premise would bring it around somehow and make it work.Oh, for goodness' sake. I, in this case, was the one who was shattered (see what I did there?). My expectations were shattered and swept down the drain of disappointment, only to bubble back up for the final 50 pages when the heroine finally, finally uses that backbone of hers and does something about her situation. Not that she did it necessarily willingly, mind you -- only out of desperation -- but at least she did something.
She spends most of the book being sad and thinking she's a terrible person and pining over a boy who was nice to her. She refuses to help "the bad guy" (for no real reason that we understand other than "it's wrong"), and for someone whose touch kills people, she's awfully black & white in her morality. Honestly, the reasoning and logic in this book left something to be desired, because -- and let me emphasize this again -- her touch kills people and the people who have her want her ALIVE.
That means, at any time, she could kill her captors and escape because they desperately want her alive. Yes, she cares for someone and wants to make sure he's safe, but when touching people means death, I'm fairly certain a little brain-work would get that part all figured out. Yes, the bad guys have a way of subduing her but again, a few hours of those brain juices flowing and she could have got herself AND her friend out of there without issue (and if she couldn't, that would have provided excellent tension).
I also have a serious problem with books where the female heroine is The Most Beautiful Person On the Planet (see my article "Your Heroine is Too Beautiful" on Fantasy-Faction), and where she's supposed to be wonderful and amazing and perfect and yet she spends all her time on internal reflection instead of using her talents and supposed amazingness to escape/change the crappy situation she's in.
For me, there was nothing that made this book special or different than all the typical teenage dystopian romances out there. I wanted it to be different -- I really, really wanted it to be amazing -- but in the end I felt let down, frustrated, and angry at the main character.
I would have given the book 2 stars, but for the premise, the cover & tagline, the "crossed out journal entry" style of writing, and the fact that in the final 10 pages it seems like Juliette has finally found her spine. I may give the second book a chance, simply because I feel that this entire book was a set-up for book 2. I'm not even joking. Talk about withholding!
Should you read it? *shrug* At this point? I'd wait for book 2, read the synopsis of book 1, and then give the second one a go and hope the heroine hasn't forgotten that she does, in fact, have a brain.
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LibraryThing member ahappybooker
Shatter Me introduces us to Juliette as she sits in solitary confinement in what seems to be a mental asylum, counting the days (264) since she’s seen, heard, or been touched by another human. The world outside those four walls (with 14 cracks) has gone insane, people starving to death, whole
The writing style of Shatter Me was like none I’ve read before, both haunting and at times a bit overwhelming. Written in an almost lyrical or poetic prose, Juliette’s inner thoughts and feelings were often uncomfortably intense, which would be understandable considering the situation she was in. Many of her words/thoughts were written and then struck out, as if she were refusing to allow herself to acknowledge those thoughts. I thought this was a powerful way to show how she was struggling to hold onto her sanity. As she began to have more human interaction, the strikethroughs became less common. It was such a fascinating progression. While, for the most part, I thought the writing was beautiful, there were also times when it felt like overkill and it became a bit tedious. Overall though, I enjoyed the unique imagery and the flow of the words.
“I always wonder about raindrops.
I wonder how they are always falling down, tripping over their own feet, breaking their legs and forgetting their parachutes as they tumble right out of the sky toward an uncertain end. Its like someone is emptying their pockets over the earth and doesn’t seem to care where the contents fall, doesn’t seem to care that the raindrops burst when they hit the ground, that they shatter when they fall to the floor, that people curse the days the raindrops dare to tap on their doors.
I am a raindrop.
My parents emptied their pockets of me and left me to evaporate on a concrete slab.”
The story itself was intense and reminded me very much of Xmen. Juliette’s power is reminiscent of Rogue and many of her characteristics also reminded me of Rogue from Xmen. The plot was action packed and thrilling. The villain, Warner, was out of his mind and made an even more effective bad guy because of the hint of a hidden past that may explain why he is the wicked boy he’s become. Happily, this did not become a love triangle since Warner is simply too psychotic to engender much sympathy from Juliette. The interplay between Juliette and Adam was extremely well done. This is a romance that I can believe. Things between them tend to get pretty steamy a couple times, but Mafi reins it in and manages to keep it PG. The ending also reminded me a lot of Xmen and has me incredibly excited about the sequel.
Overall, I think that Shatter Me has lived up to all the hype. Most readers will enjoy the intense and original writing style as well as the exciting premise, a steamy romance, and a villain you love to hate. In the sequel, I hope to see more details about the dystopian world and how it became that way and more about the two factions, the Reestablishment and the people who are not ready to succumb to that tyrannical rule and of course more Adam and Juliette! I would recommend Shatter Me to readers who enjoy dystopian or post-apocalyptic fiction, fans of Xmen, and anyone who enjoys a thrilling YA adventure.
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species of animals no longer exist, and the people in power call themselves the Reestablishment. The Reestablishment…these are the people who drug her away to this place for a murder she didn’t mean to commit, to a fate she’s sure she deserves, to be trapped by her guilt as much as by the prison walls. The power she holds within her very skin is one she doesn’t want and she will do anything to disprove the notion that she is a monster, even though she herself believes it. She maintains her tenuous hold on sanity by writing in her notebook and refusing to allow herself to acknowledge the thoughts that sometimes overwhelm her. When she awakes one day to find herself with a cellmate, her entire world begins to change.The writing style of Shatter Me was like none I’ve read before, both haunting and at times a bit overwhelming. Written in an almost lyrical or poetic prose, Juliette’s inner thoughts and feelings were often uncomfortably intense, which would be understandable considering the situation she was in. Many of her words/thoughts were written and then struck out, as if she were refusing to allow herself to acknowledge those thoughts. I thought this was a powerful way to show how she was struggling to hold onto her sanity. As she began to have more human interaction, the strikethroughs became less common. It was such a fascinating progression. While, for the most part, I thought the writing was beautiful, there were also times when it felt like overkill and it became a bit tedious. Overall though, I enjoyed the unique imagery and the flow of the words.
“I always wonder about raindrops.
I wonder how they are always falling down, tripping over their own feet, breaking their legs and forgetting their parachutes as they tumble right out of the sky toward an uncertain end. Its like someone is emptying their pockets over the earth and doesn’t seem to care where the contents fall, doesn’t seem to care that the raindrops burst when they hit the ground, that they shatter when they fall to the floor, that people curse the days the raindrops dare to tap on their doors.
I am a raindrop.
My parents emptied their pockets of me and left me to evaporate on a concrete slab.”
The story itself was intense and reminded me very much of Xmen. Juliette’s power is reminiscent of Rogue and many of her characteristics also reminded me of Rogue from Xmen. The plot was action packed and thrilling. The villain, Warner, was out of his mind and made an even more effective bad guy because of the hint of a hidden past that may explain why he is the wicked boy he’s become. Happily, this did not become a love triangle since Warner is simply too psychotic to engender much sympathy from Juliette. The interplay between Juliette and Adam was extremely well done. This is a romance that I can believe. Things between them tend to get pretty steamy a couple times, but Mafi reins it in and manages to keep it PG. The ending also reminded me a lot of Xmen and has me incredibly excited about the sequel.
Overall, I think that Shatter Me has lived up to all the hype. Most readers will enjoy the intense and original writing style as well as the exciting premise, a steamy romance, and a villain you love to hate. In the sequel, I hope to see more details about the dystopian world and how it became that way and more about the two factions, the Reestablishment and the people who are not ready to succumb to that tyrannical rule and of course more Adam and Juliette! I would recommend Shatter Me to readers who enjoy dystopian or post-apocalyptic fiction, fans of Xmen, and anyone who enjoys a thrilling YA adventure.
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LibraryThing member francescadefreitas
This is a horrible book to read while pregnant, I nearly had to throw up at so many scenes, it was far too visceral for my current taste. Also, the hyperbole was intensely irritating - no description was left un-gaudied. I put it down about two thirds through and barely managed to return for the
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ending, which took a sudden left turn from dystopia to superhero academy? I don't care enough for any of the characters to continue reading the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member LydiaLeigh257
DNF at 37%
This was actually painful to read. Kat Kennedy wrote a review in which she said: "Shatter Me, otherwise known as: When Creative Writing Class Goes Wrong." She hit the nail on the head.
It's either that or like trying to read really, really bad fanfiction for pretty much any
Mafi actually has the makings of a pretty interesting story here and then completely bombs in the execution. The writing is ... well ... I'm pretty sure I covered that with my opening statement. Her characters are flat - they have absolutely no dimension to them. Juliette is every teen, dystopian heroine ever but worse. There is nothing likeable about her - there's nothing to relate to. Adam actually lacks a personality completely. He doesn't have one. At all. I'm not even joking. He is literally the token bad-boy love interest and that is as far as his character development seems to go. Warner is your typical too-good-looking-for-your-own-good Villain who is obviously going to end up number 3 in their epic love triangle. I'm upset that this book is so popular when this has been done so much better in much less popular books: Shadow and Bone, The Darkest Minds.
What's worse is that there is no discernible plot to this book. I might have carried on if I thought that the book was actually going in even a vague direction. It wasn't. It was just scene after scene of Juliette sniveling, Adam brooding and Warner being his evil-genius self.
So much potential with the plot and it's characters but it ends up as an Epic Fail.
This was actually painful to read. Kat Kennedy wrote a review in which she said: "Shatter Me, otherwise known as: When Creative Writing Class Goes Wrong." She hit the nail on the head.
It's either that or like trying to read really, really bad fanfiction for pretty much any
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dystopian book ever.Mafi actually has the makings of a pretty interesting story here and then completely bombs in the execution. The writing is ... well ... I'm pretty sure I covered that with my opening statement. Her characters are flat - they have absolutely no dimension to them. Juliette is every teen, dystopian heroine ever but worse. There is nothing likeable about her - there's nothing to relate to. Adam actually lacks a personality completely. He doesn't have one. At all. I'm not even joking. He is literally the token bad-boy love interest and that is as far as his character development seems to go. Warner is your typical too-good-looking-for-your-own-good Villain who is obviously going to end up number 3 in their epic love triangle. I'm upset that this book is so popular when this has been done so much better in much less popular books: Shadow and Bone, The Darkest Minds.
What's worse is that there is no discernible plot to this book. I might have carried on if I thought that the book was actually going in even a vague direction. It wasn't. It was just scene after scene of Juliette sniveling, Adam brooding and Warner being his evil-genius self.
So much potential with the plot and it's characters but it ends up as an Epic Fail.
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LibraryThing member pollywannabook
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
I could tell from the first page that there were going be people who didn’t like SHATTER ME. The writing is unusual bizarre crazy interesting. Because the story is told from the perspective of a girl who has basically been in solitary confinement for
When we meet Juliette, she as close to crazy as you can get before the monsters get you. She’s torments by her past, half starved from lack of food and human interaction. She is a broken and tragic figure…and that’s before we even really learn why. It takes a new cellmate—her first ever—to draw Juliette back from the edge of insanity, and help show her the strength she possesses to fight back.
The kissing scenes in this book are epic…I mean wow. They go on for pages, but never feel drawn out. I think I could read an entire book by Mafi that is just kissing scenes. It also made perfect sense that kisses would practically overwhelm this character since she’s spent almost her entire life devoid of human contact.
In a lot of ways, SHATTER ME is a traditional superhero origin story, but it’s more than that too. It’s a really beautiful love story between two characters who grew up watching the suffering of the other and finding each other again in a pre-1984 world. It’s the story of corruption and power hungry groups that prey on a weak moment in human history and reshape it to suit themselves. And ultimately, it’s the story of a girl who has always been afraid of herself finally learning to see herself as something other than a monster. It’s a powerful, thought provoking story, written in a way that is uniquely suited to it’s protagonist. I can’t wait for the sequel.
Sexual Content:
Kissing. Scenes of mild sensuality
I could tell from the first page that there were going be people who didn’t like SHATTER ME. The writing is unusual bizarre crazy interesting. Because the story is told from the perspective of a girl who has basically been in solitary confinement for
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almost a year, her thoughts aren’t exactly what you’d call lucid. At least not initially. The pages are littered with crossed out hopes fears thoughts and lyrical descriptions that trend towards delirium at times. Unlike several of the reviews I’ve seen, I found it fascinating on just about every level.When we meet Juliette, she as close to crazy as you can get before the monsters get you. She’s torments by her past, half starved from lack of food and human interaction. She is a broken and tragic figure…and that’s before we even really learn why. It takes a new cellmate—her first ever—to draw Juliette back from the edge of insanity, and help show her the strength she possesses to fight back.
The kissing scenes in this book are epic…I mean wow. They go on for pages, but never feel drawn out. I think I could read an entire book by Mafi that is just kissing scenes. It also made perfect sense that kisses would practically overwhelm this character since she’s spent almost her entire life devoid of human contact.
In a lot of ways, SHATTER ME is a traditional superhero origin story, but it’s more than that too. It’s a really beautiful love story between two characters who grew up watching the suffering of the other and finding each other again in a pre-1984 world. It’s the story of corruption and power hungry groups that prey on a weak moment in human history and reshape it to suit themselves. And ultimately, it’s the story of a girl who has always been afraid of herself finally learning to see herself as something other than a monster. It’s a powerful, thought provoking story, written in a way that is uniquely suited to it’s protagonist. I can’t wait for the sequel.
Sexual Content:
Kissing. Scenes of mild sensuality
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LibraryThing member Hermyoni
I have had Shatter Me sitting on my shelf for months now but have never gotten around to reading it. Due to technical difficulties with my laptop I couldn't access the book I was reading and in a huff went to my neglected shelf of unread books in search of something to occupy my suddenly free time.
Shatter Me wasn't the most unique book on the market but it was very well written and sometimes that is all that matters. The Writing flowed brilliantly and I honestly can't even recall a single scene that felt out of place. One of the things I really enjoyed about the writing was the use of flashbacks. Instead of bogging down the first half of the book with scenes from Juliette's childhood and setting up her solitary existence we see tiny flashbacks into her life before the Reestablishment and The Asylum not only through her own memories but those from Adam as well once he's introduced.
Speaking of Adam, I know I should be all for him (hot,smart,compassionate) but I don't trust him one bit. He just seems to perfect and that instantly made me suspicious. Shockingly who I did end up liking was Warner. I totally ship Juliette and him and as of this moment I hope they end up together. Warner is painted as the villain and maybe he even has done some questionable things that would make him one under normal circumstances but I am just not convinced that he actually is. As for Juliette she was a great female protagonist. Her behavior in the beginning of the book is understandable considering the circumstances but once she felt that tiny bit of "freedom" her character really blossomed. I both rooted for Juliet and felt heartbroken at the trauma she's been through. I can't wait to see more of her in the next book.
Overall Shatter Me was a great book and a series I will definitely continue to follow. Whether you are young or old I wholeheartedly believe you will find enjoyment reading this book. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi is a highly recommended read that I will be rating ★★★★★. Worth the read, worth the price and definitely worth your time!
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I kid you not, not even 3 hours later I was done. Shatter Me was so incredibly good that I almost feel silly for putting it off for so long.Shatter Me wasn't the most unique book on the market but it was very well written and sometimes that is all that matters. The Writing flowed brilliantly and I honestly can't even recall a single scene that felt out of place. One of the things I really enjoyed about the writing was the use of flashbacks. Instead of bogging down the first half of the book with scenes from Juliette's childhood and setting up her solitary existence we see tiny flashbacks into her life before the Reestablishment and The Asylum not only through her own memories but those from Adam as well once he's introduced.
Speaking of Adam, I know I should be all for him (hot,smart,compassionate) but I don't trust him one bit. He just seems to perfect and that instantly made me suspicious. Shockingly who I did end up liking was Warner. I totally ship Juliette and him and as of this moment I hope they end up together. Warner is painted as the villain and maybe he even has done some questionable things that would make him one under normal circumstances but I am just not convinced that he actually is. As for Juliette she was a great female protagonist. Her behavior in the beginning of the book is understandable considering the circumstances but once she felt that tiny bit of "freedom" her character really blossomed. I both rooted for Juliet and felt heartbroken at the trauma she's been through. I can't wait to see more of her in the next book.
Overall Shatter Me was a great book and a series I will definitely continue to follow. Whether you are young or old I wholeheartedly believe you will find enjoyment reading this book. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi is a highly recommended read that I will be rating ★★★★★. Worth the read, worth the price and definitely worth your time!
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LibraryThing member MrsBoswellBooks
Books you don't like are hard to review just because you don't want to write a bad review about how terrible the book was. Books that were just ok are hard to review because there is really nothing special about it one way or the other. Amazing books are even harder to review because there is no
I want to start off with Mafi's writing style. Her writing is so unique, fresh and poetic, different from most books I've read. It immediately draws you in and doesn't let you go. Mafi uses a bit of strikeout throughout the story which dresses up the writing and Juliette has this almost obsession with numbers. These things together kind of remind me of an OCD schizophrenic with tourettes. The writing is wonderful and some passages are just so beautiful I found myself reading them over and over.
The characters were some of my favorite, by far. Juliette has been locked up for 264 days. She is viewed as a monster by society and is fighting not to go insane. Juliette has had no human contact, has not felt another's touch, has not spoken to anyone other than herself for those 264 days. Then, she is given a cellmate. This cellmate just happens to be the one person she shouldn't touch, but wants to SO badly! Adam wants to help Juliette fight, but which side is he really trying to get her to fight for? Juliette has been through a lot but she will not break. She is fierce and strong and still cares for others. And then there is Adam. Adam is completely swoon-worthy, a perfect male lead. I fell in love with him the moment he walked into the cell, then found myself gasping shortly thereafter, not sure of where he really stood. Adam proved that he deserved a place in my heart... and Juliette's. Mafi's characters were perfectly written. They jump right off of the pages in some passages and then grab your hand and pull you right into the story in others.
Shatter Me is absolutely AMAZING! It is action-packed with just the right amount of romance. The writing is beautiful and the characters are thrilling. Tahereh Mafi is a brilliant writer who delivers a captivating tale! Mafi, Juliette and Adam will have you gripping the edge of your seat or will be knocking you off of your feet with each page you turn. You will be blown away and will not want to put this one down. Shatter Me is a MUST READ!
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way to adequately portray the awesomeness inside said book! That is what I am dealing with here... Shatter Me is so incredible and there is no way for me to do it proper justice. I went through marking favorite passages and quotes with sticky notes while reading, only to remember I had to send it on to someone else. If I had the time, I definitely would have read it again!I want to start off with Mafi's writing style. Her writing is so unique, fresh and poetic, different from most books I've read. It immediately draws you in and doesn't let you go. Mafi uses a bit of strikeout throughout the story which dresses up the writing and Juliette has this almost obsession with numbers. These things together kind of remind me of an OCD schizophrenic with tourettes. The writing is wonderful and some passages are just so beautiful I found myself reading them over and over.
The characters were some of my favorite, by far. Juliette has been locked up for 264 days. She is viewed as a monster by society and is fighting not to go insane. Juliette has had no human contact, has not felt another's touch, has not spoken to anyone other than herself for those 264 days. Then, she is given a cellmate. This cellmate just happens to be the one person she shouldn't touch, but wants to SO badly! Adam wants to help Juliette fight, but which side is he really trying to get her to fight for? Juliette has been through a lot but she will not break. She is fierce and strong and still cares for others. And then there is Adam. Adam is completely swoon-worthy, a perfect male lead. I fell in love with him the moment he walked into the cell, then found myself gasping shortly thereafter, not sure of where he really stood. Adam proved that he deserved a place in my heart... and Juliette's. Mafi's characters were perfectly written. They jump right off of the pages in some passages and then grab your hand and pull you right into the story in others.
Shatter Me is absolutely AMAZING! It is action-packed with just the right amount of romance. The writing is beautiful and the characters are thrilling. Tahereh Mafi is a brilliant writer who delivers a captivating tale! Mafi, Juliette and Adam will have you gripping the edge of your seat or will be knocking you off of your feet with each page you turn. You will be blown away and will not want to put this one down. Shatter Me is a MUST READ!
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LibraryThing member ChristaJLS
This review originally posted at Christa's Hooked on Books
Ms. Mafi you have taken my breath away. This was an amazingly beautiful novel. I'm still in shock that it's a debut! The writing was beautiful and artistic. Whenever I find a passage in a book that really strikes me, I mark it with a sticky
"Killing time isn't as difficult as it sounds.
I can shoot a hundred numbers through the chest and watch them bleed decimal points in the palm of my hand. I can rip the numbers off a clock and watch the hour hands tick tick tick their final tock just before I fall asleep. I can suffocate seconds just by holding my breath. I've been murdering minutes for hours and no one seems to mind.”
Here's another one:
“The soldiers stomp stomp stomp through the rain, crushing leaves and fallen snow under their feet. Their hands are wrapped in gloves wrapped around guns that could put a bullet through a million possibilities.”
This is the type of writing that really sucks me in. It makes me hang on to every word and hold my breath until the scene is over. If for no other reason, you should read this book because of the quality of the prose.
That being said, however, there are still plenty of other reasons to read this story. Generally labeled a dystopia, Shatter Me is so much more unique than that. Part action/adventure, part superhero fiction, part romance, part everything! I was easily sucked into the story; had my heart broken at the tragic moments, felt my blood boiling when things weren't fair, had a huge smile on my face whenever things did go their way. Oh and have I mentioned the steamy scenes? *fans self* Tahereh Mafi really knows how to tap into each and every one of your emotions and doesn't hold anything back.
One final thing I really like about this book was the way the ending was set up. Yes there is clearly meant to be a sequel, but it didn't end in a dramatic cliffhanger right in the middle of the story. I hate that! It's like when they split up movies that clearly don't need to be in two parts (I'm not naming names...). Even though there is more to come from Juliette and Adam (and thank goodness for that!) I felt like the general conflict of Shatter Me had been resolved so we can move on to the neext part of Juliette's saga.
Make sure you go and pick up Shatter Me tomorrow (or pre-order it via the link above). It's an amazing story, with great characters and beautiful writing. Be prepared to block off some time to read it, as you are not going to want to put it down.
Ms. Mafi you have taken my breath away. This was an amazingly beautiful novel. I'm still in shock that it's a debut! The writing was beautiful and artistic. Whenever I find a passage in a book that really strikes me, I mark it with a sticky
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note. My copy of Shatter Me is now COVERED in sticky notes. I usually don't quote the ARC, because you never know what's going to change, but I just wanted to give you a taste of how poetic the writing is. Here is one of my absolute favourite passages:"Killing time isn't as difficult as it sounds.
I can shoot a hundred numbers through the chest and watch them bleed decimal points in the palm of my hand. I can rip the numbers off a clock and watch the hour hands tick tick tick their final tock just before I fall asleep. I can suffocate seconds just by holding my breath. I've been murdering minutes for hours and no one seems to mind.”
Here's another one:
“The soldiers stomp stomp stomp through the rain, crushing leaves and fallen snow under their feet. Their hands are wrapped in gloves wrapped around guns that could put a bullet through a million possibilities.”
This is the type of writing that really sucks me in. It makes me hang on to every word and hold my breath until the scene is over. If for no other reason, you should read this book because of the quality of the prose.
That being said, however, there are still plenty of other reasons to read this story. Generally labeled a dystopia, Shatter Me is so much more unique than that. Part action/adventure, part superhero fiction, part romance, part everything! I was easily sucked into the story; had my heart broken at the tragic moments, felt my blood boiling when things weren't fair, had a huge smile on my face whenever things did go their way. Oh and have I mentioned the steamy scenes? *fans self* Tahereh Mafi really knows how to tap into each and every one of your emotions and doesn't hold anything back.
One final thing I really like about this book was the way the ending was set up. Yes there is clearly meant to be a sequel, but it didn't end in a dramatic cliffhanger right in the middle of the story. I hate that! It's like when they split up movies that clearly don't need to be in two parts (I'm not naming names...). Even though there is more to come from Juliette and Adam (and thank goodness for that!) I felt like the general conflict of Shatter Me had been resolved so we can move on to the neext part of Juliette's saga.
Make sure you go and pick up Shatter Me tomorrow (or pre-order it via the link above). It's an amazing story, with great characters and beautiful writing. Be prepared to block off some time to read it, as you are not going to want to put it down.
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LibraryThing member kristyf1504
Shatter Me is one of those books that you either love or hate, because of the style of writing. In my opinion, I loved it. Tahereh Mafi was able to make me feel like I was in Juliette's head. Which I adore! I read mostly to escape from my life, and this book was the perfect thing for that. The book
As I said before, while reading this book, it felt like I was in Juliette's head, watching everything she saw through her eyes. As a character, I loved Juliette! She was both likeable and strong. She was not weak, although she was scared of the power she had. The voice was clear and it was enough to make me adore this novel. Speaking a bit more about characters, Adam is probably my favorite guy/hero/love-interest in the many books I have read in 2012! He cared so deeply for Juliette, accepted her for who she was. There were obviously some special circumstances surrounding those two, but I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it yet! Then there's Warner, who is seriously captain creeps! I could see that he was in 'love' with Juliette, but I honestly believe that he was in love with her powers more than anything. He was bloodthirsty and trigger happy and just plain vicious!
Then, there is the setting. As much of a post-apocaplyptic world it was, I didn't find anything special or different about it as opposed to other recent dystopian-type reads. There was a government taking over, the people were in distress, what else is new? Except for maybe the big emphasis on the military aspect to it, the 'world' wasn't anything special. I think that was the only main thing that disappointed me in the entire book, but it was such a small part of the actual story, the outside world I mean, that I don't really care too much about it! Seeing as I don't want to give anything away, I can't say much on what we do learn about it.
It's strange, but as much as I loved this book, I don't actually have a lot more to say about it. It's not a book that I can easily explain my thoughts on for some reason. But, what I can say is that what I did absolutely, 100 % love about Shatter Me is that it clearly has a beginning, a middle and an end. Even though it is the first in a trilogy, it is it's own book. I think that the author did a great job in leaving us wanting more, but still satisfied with what we've got.
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is like Juliette's journal, with cross-outs and (as much as I hate to say it...) run-on sentences. But, they were intentional! (I hope.) As I said before, while reading this book, it felt like I was in Juliette's head, watching everything she saw through her eyes. As a character, I loved Juliette! She was both likeable and strong. She was not weak, although she was scared of the power she had. The voice was clear and it was enough to make me adore this novel. Speaking a bit more about characters, Adam is probably my favorite guy/hero/love-interest in the many books I have read in 2012! He cared so deeply for Juliette, accepted her for who she was. There were obviously some special circumstances surrounding those two, but I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it yet! Then there's Warner, who is seriously captain creeps! I could see that he was in 'love' with Juliette, but I honestly believe that he was in love with her powers more than anything. He was bloodthirsty and trigger happy and just plain vicious!
Then, there is the setting. As much of a post-apocaplyptic world it was, I didn't find anything special or different about it as opposed to other recent dystopian-type reads. There was a government taking over, the people were in distress, what else is new? Except for maybe the big emphasis on the military aspect to it, the 'world' wasn't anything special. I think that was the only main thing that disappointed me in the entire book, but it was such a small part of the actual story, the outside world I mean, that I don't really care too much about it! Seeing as I don't want to give anything away, I can't say much on what we do learn about it.
It's strange, but as much as I loved this book, I don't actually have a lot more to say about it. It's not a book that I can easily explain my thoughts on for some reason. But, what I can say is that what I did absolutely, 100 % love about Shatter Me is that it clearly has a beginning, a middle and an end. Even though it is the first in a trilogy, it is it's own book. I think that the author did a great job in leaving us wanting more, but still satisfied with what we've got.
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LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A dark, gripping dystopian that is worth a read just for the writing style alone.
Opening Sentence: I’ve been locked up for 264 days.
The Review:
Juliette has been locked up in isolation for almost 9 months. Juliette is a monster. Her touch can
The world is not what is used to be. The clouds are not the color they should be, animals are sick and fields are poisoned. Food is hard to find. The Reestablishment is taking over the government and the world. They have banned books and music. They have forced people out of their homes, made them live in enclaves. Most of all they want to ban the world’s languages and create a new language that everyone will be forced to speak.
At the beginning of Shatter Me, Juliette is broken and vulnerable. She has been terribly hurt by her parents. She agrees she should be locked up because she never meant to hurt anyone and she doesn’t ever want to hurt anyone ever again. All Juliette ever wanted was to be loved to have a friend.
On Juliette’s 264th day of isolation, a guard announces that she will be getting a roommate. She is shocked to find out her new roommate is male. She believes that he is there to kill her to help rid the world of her sickness. She teaches him how to stay alive in the brutal prison, how long it takes before you can grab your food and when you can take a shower. Juliette is still curious suspicious why Adam is there, even as she recognizes him from her past.
After several weeks together, Juliette is taken from her cell by armed guards. Warner, the leader of the Reestablishment in her sector, has been looking for her. He has plans for her. He has heard about her and wants to use her powers to torture and kill. He believes she should hate everyone, especially those who had her locked up. That she should use her hate for the good of the Reestablishment. Warner is obsessed and fascinated with Juliette. He forces her to wear pretty dresses and makes her follow him around wherever he goes. He also threatens to kill her “ex-roommate” Adam if she doesn’t touch people for him when he asks. Juliette refuses to be evil, she refuses Warner’s offers. When a chance to escape is revealed, she takes it and the journey she undergoes will teach her more about herself, the kindness of strangers and that the world may not be as bad a place as it seems.
Juliette is a sad but strong character. She feels she has every reason to give up but she doesn’t. She fights for her right to live. She undergoes a transformation as the story progresses that makes her a stronger person and teaches her that she is stronger than she thought. That she is not a monster.
Tahereh Mafi does a believable job conveying Juliette’s youth and emotional state. Shatter Me is written purely from Juliette’s point of view. She often speaks in numbers: 1 window, 4 walls, 35,500 seconds and 500 heartbeats. She is also OCD with her thoughts and often repeats phrases
in 3’s
in 3’s
in 3’s
before moving on to her next thought. Also, there are quite a bit of strikethroughs in the text. If you don’t mind reading her forbidden thoughts this way, you may like Shatter Me. The writing style worked for this story.
Although Shatter Me is label a Dystopian it is also very much a romance at heart. Juliette has feelings for Adam but since she can’t touch anyone without pain she doesn’t want to hurt him. Adam is a different story. He has also been looking for Juliette, but not for the same reasons as Warner. He has cared and loved her from afar for a long time and when she disappeared he searched for her. They have a young love, full of emotion that rolls off the page.
In the end, Tahereh Mafi creates a darkly dangerous world that begins with sadness and loss but ultimately ends with redemption and finding out you are not alone after all. Shatter Me is not action packed but there are enough questions to keep you hooked into the storyline. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Notable Scene:
He turns around very, very slowly and I begin to panic. He finally lifts his head but his eyes are darting in every direction. When he looks at me his eyes narrow; his forehead is tight. His right hand curls into a fist and his left hand lifts one finger to his lips. He’s telling me to be quiet.
Every organ in my body falls to the floor.
I knew something was coming but I didn’t know it’d be Adam. I didn’t think he’d be the one to hurt me, to torture me, to make me wish for death more than I ever have before. I don’t even realize I’m crying until I hear the whimper and feel the silent tears stream down my face and I’m ashamed so ashamed so ashamed of my weakness but a part of me doesn’t care. I’m tempted to beg, to ask for mercy, to steal his gun and shoot myself first. Dignity is the only thing I have left.
The Shatter Me Series:
1. Shatter Me
2. Unravel Me
FTC Advisory: Harper Teen provided me with a copy of Shatter Me. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A dark, gripping dystopian that is worth a read just for the writing style alone.
Opening Sentence: I’ve been locked up for 264 days.
The Review:
Juliette has been locked up in isolation for almost 9 months. Juliette is a monster. Her touch can
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kill or strongly incapacitate anyone. She has spent the last 3 years of her life in hospitals or institutions before her parents gave her up to a dungeon prison. If she is lucky, she is fed one meal a day and is given only minutes to find her way to the showers and take a shower in the dark. Juliette is a monster. She is resigned to her fate and believes she will die in her room. The world is not what is used to be. The clouds are not the color they should be, animals are sick and fields are poisoned. Food is hard to find. The Reestablishment is taking over the government and the world. They have banned books and music. They have forced people out of their homes, made them live in enclaves. Most of all they want to ban the world’s languages and create a new language that everyone will be forced to speak.
At the beginning of Shatter Me, Juliette is broken and vulnerable. She has been terribly hurt by her parents. She agrees she should be locked up because she never meant to hurt anyone and she doesn’t ever want to hurt anyone ever again. All Juliette ever wanted was to be loved to have a friend.
On Juliette’s 264th day of isolation, a guard announces that she will be getting a roommate. She is shocked to find out her new roommate is male. She believes that he is there to kill her to help rid the world of her sickness. She teaches him how to stay alive in the brutal prison, how long it takes before you can grab your food and when you can take a shower. Juliette is still curious suspicious why Adam is there, even as she recognizes him from her past.
After several weeks together, Juliette is taken from her cell by armed guards. Warner, the leader of the Reestablishment in her sector, has been looking for her. He has plans for her. He has heard about her and wants to use her powers to torture and kill. He believes she should hate everyone, especially those who had her locked up. That she should use her hate for the good of the Reestablishment. Warner is obsessed and fascinated with Juliette. He forces her to wear pretty dresses and makes her follow him around wherever he goes. He also threatens to kill her “ex-roommate” Adam if she doesn’t touch people for him when he asks. Juliette refuses to be evil, she refuses Warner’s offers. When a chance to escape is revealed, she takes it and the journey she undergoes will teach her more about herself, the kindness of strangers and that the world may not be as bad a place as it seems.
Juliette is a sad but strong character. She feels she has every reason to give up but she doesn’t. She fights for her right to live. She undergoes a transformation as the story progresses that makes her a stronger person and teaches her that she is stronger than she thought. That she is not a monster.
Tahereh Mafi does a believable job conveying Juliette’s youth and emotional state. Shatter Me is written purely from Juliette’s point of view. She often speaks in numbers: 1 window, 4 walls, 35,500 seconds and 500 heartbeats. She is also OCD with her thoughts and often repeats phrases
in 3’s
in 3’s
in 3’s
before moving on to her next thought. Also, there are quite a bit of strikethroughs in the text. If you don’t mind reading her forbidden thoughts this way, you may like Shatter Me. The writing style worked for this story.
Although Shatter Me is label a Dystopian it is also very much a romance at heart. Juliette has feelings for Adam but since she can’t touch anyone without pain she doesn’t want to hurt him. Adam is a different story. He has also been looking for Juliette, but not for the same reasons as Warner. He has cared and loved her from afar for a long time and when she disappeared he searched for her. They have a young love, full of emotion that rolls off the page.
In the end, Tahereh Mafi creates a darkly dangerous world that begins with sadness and loss but ultimately ends with redemption and finding out you are not alone after all. Shatter Me is not action packed but there are enough questions to keep you hooked into the storyline. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Notable Scene:
He turns around very, very slowly and I begin to panic. He finally lifts his head but his eyes are darting in every direction. When he looks at me his eyes narrow; his forehead is tight. His right hand curls into a fist and his left hand lifts one finger to his lips. He’s telling me to be quiet.
Every organ in my body falls to the floor.
I knew something was coming but I didn’t know it’d be Adam. I didn’t think he’d be the one to hurt me, to torture me, to make me wish for death more than I ever have before. I don’t even realize I’m crying until I hear the whimper and feel the silent tears stream down my face and I’m ashamed so ashamed so ashamed of my weakness but a part of me doesn’t care. I’m tempted to beg, to ask for mercy, to steal his gun and shoot myself first. Dignity is the only thing I have left.
The Shatter Me Series:
1. Shatter Me
2. Unravel Me
FTC Advisory: Harper Teen provided me with a copy of Shatter Me. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member sukhihontu
like a spoon full of stars that fall, fall, fall into the darkest minds I feel this book, story, crib sheet for the fancypantsification, novel is good! Yes, the metaphors are a bit over the top at some points BUT I feel (at least up until the end) it fits with Juliet’s mindset.. more or less a
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little unhinged/insane. I think hope this is the tip of an iceberg, to many little hints – unless I did actually start to go insane whilst consuming this book like a fat kid on cake (sorry, couldn’t help myself) - it was interesting and a solid read. Only 3 stars though… I just have toddler sized spoons at the moment (see after reading even I think I’m hella creative!) Show Less
LibraryThing member usagijihen
First off, thanks to HarperTeen for sending me a copy! You guys made my month with that (and have my heart forever). Now, for the review. I LOVED IT. I won’t lie, and I hope to god this gets a movie sooner rather than later. Mafi’s writing has a very cinematic quality to it without reading like
This is how paranormal stories should be told – about the journey of the protagonist (or the antagonist, but I digress), without any sub-arcs (I’m looking at you, romance) overwhelming the main plot and everything in balance. Not unlike Virgil exploring Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory, Juliette explores the very real hell of her day to day life in jail and having the wild card Adam thrown in to become her Beatrice to guide her back outside of herself into the ugly world of the Reestablishment.
Now, I seriously have to give Mafi props here – she successfully wrote in romance as a natural, blossoming thing and not a rush-job or an insta-romance (just add hot guys!) like so many paranormal romances (YA or adult) do. I will admit warning bells went off in my head as soon as Adam was introduced into the equation of Juliet’s life — it seems like anything even remotely paranormal going must have a romance, as if that’s become the necessary part of the YA equation within publishing right now. And while there’s always romance somewhere going on within the YA real life sphere, it shouldn’t have to take center stage. But I digress. If anything, Mafi blew me away at every turn, giving me things I wasn’t expecting, and I love it when authors do that. I love it when stories do that. I wasn’t expecting Adam’s real identity (though I had a bit of an inkling that things weren’t as they seemed), and what happened next definitely had my attention for the rest of the book. And the best part is he’s not a huge chunk of the book, just like Beatrice does not become a serious protagonist (though this probably could be and has been argued differently) within Dante’s work. He is the guide, and like Virgil falls for Beatrice, Juliette falls for Adam. It’s slow, it’s natural, and it’s delicious.
I loved the villain and how utterly evil he was. And yet, at the same time, how utterly human – he admitted his loneliness, how he wanted Juliette as a partner not just in crime (though he did get love and power confused, the poor bastard). But at the same time, he was utterly delusional and definitely wanted to use her to his own evil ends. It seems like it’s rare that we get a traditional very evil bad guy like we got here in “Shatter Me”, and that excited me. What excited me more was seeing how she portrayed him –not just evil, but confused and human at the same time. It was delicious and I loved each awful encounter between the antagonist and Juliette.
Then there’s the previously-mentioned cinematic quality to her writing – even though a lot of what happens is stream-of-consciousness first person through Juliette’s eyes, the sensory and descriptive language that Mafi uses is so rich and sensuous that I could practically taste the horrible jail food, feel the silky material of her dresses later in the book, see everything going on around me, and hear Adam’s own strong voice whenever I dipped into reading the story. Again, this is rare, and very difficult to do especially with stream-of-consciousness writing, regardless of POV. It’s hard to do in first person POV, too, which once again screams the talent that Mafi is performing for us here as she throws Juliette through all of the flaming hoops of the Reestablishment. Absolutely scrumptious.
Finally, the superhero angle – I can definitely see an “Avengers”-esque (yeah, I just had to throw in the Joss Whedon movie mention in there) sequel coming together at the end of the book. I love superhero stories, and while it seems there are more than enough for middle grade and male YA, there aren’t a whole lot of superhero stories targeted toward female YA. I sincerely hope this changes, and I hope Mafi is the one to lead the way because she does it with style and grace that’s a wonderful surprise, considering this is her first (published) book. The end left me salivating and heavily breathing for more. You can be sure that I will be reading the sequel whenever it gets announced and then comes out.
Basically? This book lives up to the hype. Find a way to read it – buy it, get it from your library. It left me feeling empowered as a YA gal (even if I’m no longer a teen) and feeling like I could take on the world, no matter how horrible it is. It’s gorgeous, it’s funny, it’s sad, it’s moving. It’s everything you could want in a book, YA or adult. So go. Read. NOW.
(posted to librarything, goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
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a screenplay. This book had everything I wanted and hoped would be in it. This is Juliette’s search for identity after being jailed for a horrible crime she hadn’t known she was able of committing, and how it literally changes her life in a very ugly new world. I think any young adult will very easily relate to Juliette’s story, however fantastic it sounds (and is) with the questions of “Who am I, and what am I capable of?”. I know I did.This is how paranormal stories should be told – about the journey of the protagonist (or the antagonist, but I digress), without any sub-arcs (I’m looking at you, romance) overwhelming the main plot and everything in balance. Not unlike Virgil exploring Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory, Juliette explores the very real hell of her day to day life in jail and having the wild card Adam thrown in to become her Beatrice to guide her back outside of herself into the ugly world of the Reestablishment.
Now, I seriously have to give Mafi props here – she successfully wrote in romance as a natural, blossoming thing and not a rush-job or an insta-romance (just add hot guys!) like so many paranormal romances (YA or adult) do. I will admit warning bells went off in my head as soon as Adam was introduced into the equation of Juliet’s life — it seems like anything even remotely paranormal going must have a romance, as if that’s become the necessary part of the YA equation within publishing right now. And while there’s always romance somewhere going on within the YA real life sphere, it shouldn’t have to take center stage. But I digress. If anything, Mafi blew me away at every turn, giving me things I wasn’t expecting, and I love it when authors do that. I love it when stories do that. I wasn’t expecting Adam’s real identity (though I had a bit of an inkling that things weren’t as they seemed), and what happened next definitely had my attention for the rest of the book. And the best part is he’s not a huge chunk of the book, just like Beatrice does not become a serious protagonist (though this probably could be and has been argued differently) within Dante’s work. He is the guide, and like Virgil falls for Beatrice, Juliette falls for Adam. It’s slow, it’s natural, and it’s delicious.
I loved the villain and how utterly evil he was. And yet, at the same time, how utterly human – he admitted his loneliness, how he wanted Juliette as a partner not just in crime (though he did get love and power confused, the poor bastard). But at the same time, he was utterly delusional and definitely wanted to use her to his own evil ends. It seems like it’s rare that we get a traditional very evil bad guy like we got here in “Shatter Me”, and that excited me. What excited me more was seeing how she portrayed him –not just evil, but confused and human at the same time. It was delicious and I loved each awful encounter between the antagonist and Juliette.
Then there’s the previously-mentioned cinematic quality to her writing – even though a lot of what happens is stream-of-consciousness first person through Juliette’s eyes, the sensory and descriptive language that Mafi uses is so rich and sensuous that I could practically taste the horrible jail food, feel the silky material of her dresses later in the book, see everything going on around me, and hear Adam’s own strong voice whenever I dipped into reading the story. Again, this is rare, and very difficult to do especially with stream-of-consciousness writing, regardless of POV. It’s hard to do in first person POV, too, which once again screams the talent that Mafi is performing for us here as she throws Juliette through all of the flaming hoops of the Reestablishment. Absolutely scrumptious.
Finally, the superhero angle – I can definitely see an “Avengers”-esque (yeah, I just had to throw in the Joss Whedon movie mention in there) sequel coming together at the end of the book. I love superhero stories, and while it seems there are more than enough for middle grade and male YA, there aren’t a whole lot of superhero stories targeted toward female YA. I sincerely hope this changes, and I hope Mafi is the one to lead the way because she does it with style and grace that’s a wonderful surprise, considering this is her first (published) book. The end left me salivating and heavily breathing for more. You can be sure that I will be reading the sequel whenever it gets announced and then comes out.
Basically? This book lives up to the hype. Find a way to read it – buy it, get it from your library. It left me feeling empowered as a YA gal (even if I’m no longer a teen) and feeling like I could take on the world, no matter how horrible it is. It’s gorgeous, it’s funny, it’s sad, it’s moving. It’s everything you could want in a book, YA or adult. So go. Read. NOW.
(posted to librarything, goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
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LibraryThing member Fivezenses
So this story is A-MAZ-ING! Before I dive into that let me do a short quick recap of the story....
It starts off with a young woman named Juliette who has been locked in a room for almost a full year. She gets one small window, a four walls, and one of those walls is her door with air holes. It's
This story captivated me. It was like a beautifully choreographed dance on a broadway stage, watching that final number that has fireworks going off in the background while everyone is in dazzling sparkling outfits. You couldn't look away and had to watch it till the last note was sung. I was exhausted last night, couldn't sleep and finished the last few chapters of the book. I don't regret it one bit!
I'm in awe of her connection with the character Adam. I can't tell you too much, but they both have a profound effect on one another from the moment they met. He makes her come alive and she softens him to a human form of existence inside again.
The magic of how evil the Reestablishment is truly makes me think of how reckless power can be in any hands with the wrong ideas. It felt like a communist regin in charge of the people. Their way or the highway type of thinking. They shoot down people if they don't fall in like to their way of thinking. Kind of sick, don't you think? Makes me glad to live in the world that I do live in. But it was so intense to be reading it and live in Juliette's shoes for the story. I loved every moment of it!
Then the best parts were the moments that felt like poetry. Some of the most amazing words, lines, paragraphs I've ever read in all my years of living! Here is a short sample from the book:
❝ I only know now that the scientists are wrong. The world is flat. I know because I was tossed right off the edge and I've been trying to hold on for seventeen years. I've been trying to climb back up for seventeen years but it's nearly impossible to beat gravity when no one is willing to give you a hand. ❞
Mafi wrote Juliette in such a way, it made me wish I could write as beautifully as she does. Even if it's for a moment, because it was so woven perfectly with the story, the tone, mood, even the setting; the words she used made me feel alive more with each chapter. I'm so thankful for writers like her. They reinvigorate the sense of reading a book and make you ache for the next installment of the series.
Oh this book... I would recommend it to everyone, more so women because of the romance aspect dripping in through out the book. But it's beautifully done the romance, so no complaints there hehe.
Anyway, the book just literally came out yesterday, so if you've gotten a copy, you won't be sorry. If you have yet to receive on in the mail don't worry, it's worth the wait. And if you haven't bought one yet? Well depending on if your pockets are tight right now, but in the long run it's a great investment.
This is one of those books, if I could, I would throw down 10 hearts for the love of this book!
It starts off with a young woman named Juliette who has been locked in a room for almost a full year. She gets one small window, a four walls, and one of those walls is her door with air holes. It's
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gray and dreary. No animals outside, no birds flying in the sky, and the grass doesn't really have that color anymore. The Reestablishment treats her and everyone else like property in this world. It's a really sad life to live in. But then Juliette's life gets thrown upside down, she experience things she hasn't in all her life, and she finally learns the truth about herself and the Reestablishment's true motivation for the world.This story captivated me. It was like a beautifully choreographed dance on a broadway stage, watching that final number that has fireworks going off in the background while everyone is in dazzling sparkling outfits. You couldn't look away and had to watch it till the last note was sung. I was exhausted last night, couldn't sleep and finished the last few chapters of the book. I don't regret it one bit!
I'm in awe of her connection with the character Adam. I can't tell you too much, but they both have a profound effect on one another from the moment they met. He makes her come alive and she softens him to a human form of existence inside again.
The magic of how evil the Reestablishment is truly makes me think of how reckless power can be in any hands with the wrong ideas. It felt like a communist regin in charge of the people. Their way or the highway type of thinking. They shoot down people if they don't fall in like to their way of thinking. Kind of sick, don't you think? Makes me glad to live in the world that I do live in. But it was so intense to be reading it and live in Juliette's shoes for the story. I loved every moment of it!
Then the best parts were the moments that felt like poetry. Some of the most amazing words, lines, paragraphs I've ever read in all my years of living! Here is a short sample from the book:
❝ I only know now that the scientists are wrong. The world is flat. I know because I was tossed right off the edge and I've been trying to hold on for seventeen years. I've been trying to climb back up for seventeen years but it's nearly impossible to beat gravity when no one is willing to give you a hand. ❞
Mafi wrote Juliette in such a way, it made me wish I could write as beautifully as she does. Even if it's for a moment, because it was so woven perfectly with the story, the tone, mood, even the setting; the words she used made me feel alive more with each chapter. I'm so thankful for writers like her. They reinvigorate the sense of reading a book and make you ache for the next installment of the series.
Oh this book... I would recommend it to everyone, more so women because of the romance aspect dripping in through out the book. But it's beautifully done the romance, so no complaints there hehe.
Anyway, the book just literally came out yesterday, so if you've gotten a copy, you won't be sorry. If you have yet to receive on in the mail don't worry, it's worth the wait. And if you haven't bought one yet? Well depending on if your pockets are tight right now, but in the long run it's a great investment.
This is one of those books, if I could, I would throw down 10 hearts for the love of this book!
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LibraryThing member alana_leigh
My advice to you is this: if you are a YA fan and have not read (or, indeed, do not know anything about) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, then don't read this review beyond the first paragraph. Go find yourself a copy but do not read the summary, do not look for anything online, just start reading. Let
I will assume the rest of you who are still reading have already (a) read the book or (b) at least read enough to know the general plotline. I'll confess that I knew nothing whatsoever about Shatter Me before reading it which might be surprising, since everyone around me was raving, but I absented myself from conversations that got too specific. I only knew that those people were being so complimentary and several of them were people whose opinions actually mattered in my estimation. Rather than trying to educate myself, I decided to just start the novel and I cannot begin to describe my delight in this experience as I was swept away in the strong current of Mafi's storytelling. The story is deceptively simple and, frankly, somewhat common in its basest form if one considers the large number of dystopian novels piling up on our shelves these days. Yet I feel as though Shatter Me is a unique and precious tale, made rich by an author who allows us to see with new eyes.
Our narrator, Juliette, has been locked up for 264 days, during which she hasn't spoken to or touched another living soul. The reason the whole "hasn't touched" part is important is because Juliette's touch is what landed her in this cell, a prisoner of the Reestablishment. By touching someone, Juliette can inflict pain and can even kill. It's unintentional; it just happens. She doesn't know how or why but the mere fact has made her a prisoner, someone far too dangerous to allow to remain uncontrolled, particularly when it seems the Reestablishment is having difficulty maintaining power. Much of the beginning of her story is told in crossed out lines -- journal confessions adjusted so that the reader knows the conflicting thoughts and feelings within Juliette, who's struggling with her own comprehension of her situation, not to mention her sanity.
Stuck within the confines of this cell, with only her own thoughts for company, it's no surprise that Juliette herself clings to language like a life preserver and while some might find the prose to be a bit much, I thought it was rather fitting for someone who has all the time in the world to turn thoughts over in her mind. She's a bit strange, but then, so would we all after 264 days without real contact from another living soul. It's no surprise, then, that the introduction of a cellmate throws Juliette's world in to total chaos... particularly when that cellmate is a young man and perhaps not a stranger.
I won't go any further than that, really, where it comes to specifics. Juliette does see the world outside of this prison and we come to understand that the world is in chaos and the Reestablishment is barely holding on to control. While Juliette might see herself as a monster, there is the undeniable fact that she is powerful... and Juliette needs to decide whether she'll become a weapon or a warrior in the fight that could see the Reestablishment firmly in control or completely overthrown. It cannot all happen in the course of one book, but we definitely see a set-up for Juliette that presents her with options for her own life, love, and purpose.
There appear to be two camps where Mafi's writing is concerned and I'm rather firmly in positive camp. There are moments when action or emotions could have been described more succinctly, but personally I was never truly displeased with the more elaborate style of communication that Mafi/Juliette adopts. The love triangle is both strange and a bit predictable. The obvious good choice is so very good and the obvious villain is perhaps even more appealing for sheer interest value. The dystopian society is intriguing enough for a first novel in a series where one knows the second will likely take us further in to the complications and details of conflict. As I mentioned before, it's not the world itself that is the most intriguing, but Juliette's perspective and journey. Great storytelling can come from a tale that everyone has heard as long as the story is told well and I feel that Shatter Me is very illustrative of this concept.
I know that Juliette's power is all very X-Men, so I have trouble pinpointing exactly why it still felt like a unique idea for a dystopian novel setting. I think my favorite parts were all a little twisted, so maybe that's where my X-Men affection comes in. We might think we know exactly who's good and who's bad, but I'm looking forward to learning more about what compels both sides. I have a feeling it's all more complicated than we think. And with so many dystopian novels out there, I'm really relying heavily on my connection with the characters to be what sees me through. The crumbling world isn't what kept me reading late in to the night... it was Juliette and watching her cope. Everyone else might be falling to pieces, but Juliette is just learning to build herself up in to something strong and fearsome because her power cannot be ignored. She is not normal and that isn't something for her to lament any longer. She has to embrace it if she's going to survive. Shatter Me features a female character who has to find her own strength and courage (sure, there's a cute boy around to help her do that, but the romance here can be quite fun, so I accepted it... harder to accept is the standard girl in a pretty dress on the cover but whatever) and I'm looking forward to the next stage in this series. I sure hope it keeps the momentum going because I was delighted with this and it deserves some fantastic follow-up.
Full disclosure: I don't work on this book, but it does factor in to my professional life. My review is my own personal opinion, though, so weight this knowledge as you see fit.
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this utterly fascinating and completely riveting story engulf your senses and steal away with your afternoon. Bid it farewell with delight, for the hours spent reading at breakneck speed be well spent. Be warned, though -- if you read this on public transportation, you will miss your stop. If you try to read this while something is cooking, your food will burn. Attempting to only read part of this novel will be a very hard task, as it will set upon your attention like a terrier, refusing to relinquish its hold until you've read every last word. So just trust me and go.I will assume the rest of you who are still reading have already (a) read the book or (b) at least read enough to know the general plotline. I'll confess that I knew nothing whatsoever about Shatter Me before reading it which might be surprising, since everyone around me was raving, but I absented myself from conversations that got too specific. I only knew that those people were being so complimentary and several of them were people whose opinions actually mattered in my estimation. Rather than trying to educate myself, I decided to just start the novel and I cannot begin to describe my delight in this experience as I was swept away in the strong current of Mafi's storytelling. The story is deceptively simple and, frankly, somewhat common in its basest form if one considers the large number of dystopian novels piling up on our shelves these days. Yet I feel as though Shatter Me is a unique and precious tale, made rich by an author who allows us to see with new eyes.
Our narrator, Juliette, has been locked up for 264 days, during which she hasn't spoken to or touched another living soul. The reason the whole "hasn't touched" part is important is because Juliette's touch is what landed her in this cell, a prisoner of the Reestablishment. By touching someone, Juliette can inflict pain and can even kill. It's unintentional; it just happens. She doesn't know how or why but the mere fact has made her a prisoner, someone far too dangerous to allow to remain uncontrolled, particularly when it seems the Reestablishment is having difficulty maintaining power. Much of the beginning of her story is told in crossed out lines -- journal confessions adjusted so that the reader knows the conflicting thoughts and feelings within Juliette, who's struggling with her own comprehension of her situation, not to mention her sanity.
Stuck within the confines of this cell, with only her own thoughts for company, it's no surprise that Juliette herself clings to language like a life preserver and while some might find the prose to be a bit much, I thought it was rather fitting for someone who has all the time in the world to turn thoughts over in her mind. She's a bit strange, but then, so would we all after 264 days without real contact from another living soul. It's no surprise, then, that the introduction of a cellmate throws Juliette's world in to total chaos... particularly when that cellmate is a young man and perhaps not a stranger.
I won't go any further than that, really, where it comes to specifics. Juliette does see the world outside of this prison and we come to understand that the world is in chaos and the Reestablishment is barely holding on to control. While Juliette might see herself as a monster, there is the undeniable fact that she is powerful... and Juliette needs to decide whether she'll become a weapon or a warrior in the fight that could see the Reestablishment firmly in control or completely overthrown. It cannot all happen in the course of one book, but we definitely see a set-up for Juliette that presents her with options for her own life, love, and purpose.
There appear to be two camps where Mafi's writing is concerned and I'm rather firmly in positive camp. There are moments when action or emotions could have been described more succinctly, but personally I was never truly displeased with the more elaborate style of communication that Mafi/Juliette adopts. The love triangle is both strange and a bit predictable. The obvious good choice is so very good and the obvious villain is perhaps even more appealing for sheer interest value. The dystopian society is intriguing enough for a first novel in a series where one knows the second will likely take us further in to the complications and details of conflict. As I mentioned before, it's not the world itself that is the most intriguing, but Juliette's perspective and journey. Great storytelling can come from a tale that everyone has heard as long as the story is told well and I feel that Shatter Me is very illustrative of this concept.
I know that Juliette's power is all very X-Men, so I have trouble pinpointing exactly why it still felt like a unique idea for a dystopian novel setting. I think my favorite parts were all a little twisted, so maybe that's where my X-Men affection comes in. We might think we know exactly who's good and who's bad, but I'm looking forward to learning more about what compels both sides. I have a feeling it's all more complicated than we think. And with so many dystopian novels out there, I'm really relying heavily on my connection with the characters to be what sees me through. The crumbling world isn't what kept me reading late in to the night... it was Juliette and watching her cope. Everyone else might be falling to pieces, but Juliette is just learning to build herself up in to something strong and fearsome because her power cannot be ignored. She is not normal and that isn't something for her to lament any longer. She has to embrace it if she's going to survive. Shatter Me features a female character who has to find her own strength and courage (sure, there's a cute boy around to help her do that, but the romance here can be quite fun, so I accepted it... harder to accept is the standard girl in a pretty dress on the cover but whatever) and I'm looking forward to the next stage in this series. I sure hope it keeps the momentum going because I was delighted with this and it deserves some fantastic follow-up.
Full disclosure: I don't work on this book, but it does factor in to my professional life. My review is my own personal opinion, though, so weight this knowledge as you see fit.
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LibraryThing member kindergirl
Not what I was expecting, and not in a good way. This was "advertised" as a distopian novel. Well, I guess it is, in that it is set in a distopian society, but I read those types of novels to learn about the new society, what happened to make it this way, etc. We don't get much of that at all.
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THen, there is this main character we feel bad for because she has never known love or acceptance because of her disease or mutation or whatever it is. But, I didin't care for her, didn't get the strikethroughs, really didn't like Xmen feel of the end (not an xmen fan to start with, so was unpleasantly surprised when it took that turn) and those last few paragraphs insured that I won't be reading an sequels. A superhero outfit? Really? I gave it 1 star, then added another star for the lusty scenes between Juliette and Adam, which were smokin', and another half star for all the metaphors, idioms, & similes. While they were a little too plentiful, and I in fact tripped on them trying to read the story (get it?) most of them were really beautiful, and in some (rare) cases I would reread a passage to appreciate them. Show Less
LibraryThing member JRlibrary
Shatter Me is a dystopian novel featuring a female character named Juliette whose touch is fatal. After she accidentally kills a 4 year old boy, she is thrown into an institution, but the reader doesn't find out this back story for an aggravatingly long time. Although I generally enjoyed it, there
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were other annoyances that I had with the story such as the crossed out text. I'm pretty certain it represents thoughts Juliette feels she shouldn't be having but I didn't find the strike through effective. I just found them really annoying. The second annoying thing about the book was a plot line that allowed two powerful people to be searching for her for at least 264 days, but be unable to find her. Hmmmm. It was really slow to start for me, and I almost abandoned it, but I'm glad I stuck with it because I did enjoy the chemistry between Juliette and Adam, the hungriness of Warner, and the braggadocio of Kenji. Show Less
LibraryThing member xXlovelyxladyXx
I had a lot of high expectations for this book as the months passed. I've heard pretty much amazing things from this Dystopian book and even though I should know better than to have expectations, I'm glad I did! Because I would not have picked up this book as quickly as I had without hearing all
Tahereh Mafi writes...poetry. Every sentence is something deep and beautiful and adds something completely unique to a brand new cha...moreI had a lot of high expectations for this book as the months passed. I've heard pretty much amazing things from this Dystopian book and even though I should know better than to have expectations, I'm glad I did! Because I would not have picked up this book as quickly as I had without hearing all the great things from bloggers and Goodreads friends alike.
Tahereh Mafi writes...poetry. Every sentence is something deep and beautiful and adds something completely unique to a brand new character in YA. Juliette. When learning all about her struggles, her past, and her current situation, I felt so much compassion and love for her. Basically, the only company she had all her life was literature which explains the way she always spoke in metaphors. But as the books continued, I fell in love with her character. She was strong, she was passionate, and she was ready to fight back! The ultimate YA heroine! I had no complaints about her. My heart ached for her pain but I just knew she was a force to be reckoned with once she found the strength within herself.
That being said, it is time for me to rant: I ABSOLUTELY HATE WARNER! GRAH! I have absolutely no idea why everyone likes this guy. I can't even fathom why anyone would even be attracted to Warner. I thought that there would be something sexy and mysterious about him when I read reviews but he was disgusting and unattractive right off the bat and this only continued as I read on. First off, he's obsessed with her. There's no love, no passion, just obsession. Its disturbing how obsessed he is with her. And before any of you Warner fans attack BACK OFF! Because I have proof: Adam told Juliette that Warner had been researching her for years! Even before they met, he had her constantly in his mind which is freaky. He also had her imprisoned for 264 days just to watch her which is yes very creepy as well. He also made sure he never left her side! He could hardly get away from her! It wasn't cute, it was freaking scary! Warner isn't a misunderstood bad boy or a suffering person. He is a power hungry murderous obsessed monster who has parent issues and doesn't know when to quit. I honestly hope he dies off because people who are so warped and twisted and him do not deserve to be alive.
So I am Team Adam obviously. Adam is a sweetheart. Adam is protective. Adam is a soldier who has been hardened by a war to protect the ones he loves. Not only that, but he actually has a past with her which most characters don't have with each other. I think there is so much more to Adam that meets the eye and I am so so excited to see more of him. He is an angel :) Plus, he and Juliette have passion, unlike Warner and Juliette. They are the perfect couple in my eyes.
Overall, I loved this book. I don't want to refer to this book as a love triangle because outright, it's not. To me, there's no competition. Juliette knows who she wants and I love Tahereh Mafi so I hope she doesn't do anything to ruin this so far so good start to an amazing series! Can't wait for the next book!
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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the great things from bloggers and Goodreads friends alike.Tahereh Mafi writes...poetry. Every sentence is something deep and beautiful and adds something completely unique to a brand new cha...moreI had a lot of high expectations for this book as the months passed. I've heard pretty much amazing things from this Dystopian book and even though I should know better than to have expectations, I'm glad I did! Because I would not have picked up this book as quickly as I had without hearing all the great things from bloggers and Goodreads friends alike.
Tahereh Mafi writes...poetry. Every sentence is something deep and beautiful and adds something completely unique to a brand new character in YA. Juliette. When learning all about her struggles, her past, and her current situation, I felt so much compassion and love for her. Basically, the only company she had all her life was literature which explains the way she always spoke in metaphors. But as the books continued, I fell in love with her character. She was strong, she was passionate, and she was ready to fight back! The ultimate YA heroine! I had no complaints about her. My heart ached for her pain but I just knew she was a force to be reckoned with once she found the strength within herself.
That being said, it is time for me to rant: I ABSOLUTELY HATE WARNER! GRAH! I have absolutely no idea why everyone likes this guy. I can't even fathom why anyone would even be attracted to Warner. I thought that there would be something sexy and mysterious about him when I read reviews but he was disgusting and unattractive right off the bat and this only continued as I read on. First off, he's obsessed with her. There's no love, no passion, just obsession. Its disturbing how obsessed he is with her. And before any of you Warner fans attack BACK OFF! Because I have proof: Adam told Juliette that Warner had been researching her for years! Even before they met, he had her constantly in his mind which is freaky. He also had her imprisoned for 264 days just to watch her which is yes very creepy as well. He also made sure he never left her side! He could hardly get away from her! It wasn't cute, it was freaking scary! Warner isn't a misunderstood bad boy or a suffering person. He is a power hungry murderous obsessed monster who has parent issues and doesn't know when to quit. I honestly hope he dies off because people who are so warped and twisted and him do not deserve to be alive.
So I am Team Adam obviously. Adam is a sweetheart. Adam is protective. Adam is a soldier who has been hardened by a war to protect the ones he loves. Not only that, but he actually has a past with her which most characters don't have with each other. I think there is so much more to Adam that meets the eye and I am so so excited to see more of him. He is an angel :) Plus, he and Juliette have passion, unlike Warner and Juliette. They are the perfect couple in my eyes.
Overall, I loved this book. I don't want to refer to this book as a love triangle because outright, it's not. To me, there's no competition. Juliette knows who she wants and I love Tahereh Mafi so I hope she doesn't do anything to ruin this so far so good start to an amazing series! Can't wait for the next book!
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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LibraryThing member YABReviews
Juliette Ferrars has been locked up in an asylum for 264 days by the Reestablishment. They locked her up because her touch is fatal. She spends her day looking out the one window in her cell. She wonders about rain drops and birds. It has been awhile since she has seen a bird in the skies.
She has
After a while, soldiers come in and take Juliette and Adam out of the cell. They take Juliette to another place and there she meets Warner. She also learns that Adam’s name is Adam Kent, that he is a soldier and can finally place where she knows him. Warner tells her that he wants her on his side in the war. At first, she doesn’t understand what he is talking about. When she figures out that he wants her to torture people to get information for his side, she instantly refuses. Warner then shows her the things that she is missing. One of those things is that she gets to go outside, which is exhilarating to Juliette because it is not a dream.
Juliette has choices to make and questions to answer. Will she side with Warner and do what he wants her to do? Will she forgive Adam for deceiving her when he first came into the cell? How will she get out of this current predicament and where will she go?
My Opinion:
This book was very well thought out. There were points in the book that I didn’t know what would happen. Not because Juliette was wavering, but the circumstances prevented you from predicting it. I found that I could understand the feelings that Juliette had and the actions she took because of them. There are a few surprises in this book and I won’t spoil them for you, but they make the read worth it.
I Like:
Juliette. She is the main character in this book. Her touch is fatal and so she thinks that she is a monster. It takes a lot of persuasion to get to start thinking otherwise. When she is forced to kill a soldier so Warner can see what she can do, she feels awful about it. She never wants to feel that again. She has been ostracized her whole life because of this strange power that she has. Throughout the book, she learns what it means to have such power and what people will do for it.
Adam Kent. He is the boy who is put in the cell with Juliette at the beginning of the book. At first, he is mean to her, but then he softens up. When Juliette finds out that he is a soldier, she believes that she was just a “job.” Throughout the book, Adam has to keep up appearances and he does it so well sometimes that Juliette doesn’t even know which side he is on.
James, Adam’s brother. You don’t meet James until the later part of the story, but he is a neat kid.
The strikethrough print. It was interesting to read what Juliette was thinking in contrast to what she said. It was like she was debating on whether to say something or not.
I Did Not Like:
Warner. He wants Juliette on his team to torture people that he captures in the war. He puts her in situations where she will have to use her power even though she is dead set against. He doesn’t want to let Juliette go. He uses fear as a tool and kills people for trivial things.
The Reestablishment. You don’t hear a whole lot about them in this book, but you do get a sense that they are not the good guys. They were supposed to come in and make things better, but instead they take over and try to rule.
Cover:
On the cover, there is Juliette dressed in a white gown with her hair down. There are lines coming out of her like she is wielding a secret power. She has her hands on her hips which is symbolic of defiance. The cover reads: My touch is lethal. My touch is power. I like how the cover is shiny. It really makes Juliette stand out on the cover. This fits the description of Juliette well.
She has
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been alone all that time. Now she is getting a roommate. At first, she is excited to see another human being, but has mixed feelings once she finds out her roommate is male. Adam, that is his name. Juliette has been alone for so long, that it is difficult for her to open up and talk to anyone. At first, she ignores him, but then she helps him out with the things that they do daily in the cell. Juliette cannot help the feeling that she knows Adam from somewhere. She knows his eyes.After a while, soldiers come in and take Juliette and Adam out of the cell. They take Juliette to another place and there she meets Warner. She also learns that Adam’s name is Adam Kent, that he is a soldier and can finally place where she knows him. Warner tells her that he wants her on his side in the war. At first, she doesn’t understand what he is talking about. When she figures out that he wants her to torture people to get information for his side, she instantly refuses. Warner then shows her the things that she is missing. One of those things is that she gets to go outside, which is exhilarating to Juliette because it is not a dream.
Juliette has choices to make and questions to answer. Will she side with Warner and do what he wants her to do? Will she forgive Adam for deceiving her when he first came into the cell? How will she get out of this current predicament and where will she go?
My Opinion:
This book was very well thought out. There were points in the book that I didn’t know what would happen. Not because Juliette was wavering, but the circumstances prevented you from predicting it. I found that I could understand the feelings that Juliette had and the actions she took because of them. There are a few surprises in this book and I won’t spoil them for you, but they make the read worth it.
I Like:
Juliette. She is the main character in this book. Her touch is fatal and so she thinks that she is a monster. It takes a lot of persuasion to get to start thinking otherwise. When she is forced to kill a soldier so Warner can see what she can do, she feels awful about it. She never wants to feel that again. She has been ostracized her whole life because of this strange power that she has. Throughout the book, she learns what it means to have such power and what people will do for it.
Adam Kent. He is the boy who is put in the cell with Juliette at the beginning of the book. At first, he is mean to her, but then he softens up. When Juliette finds out that he is a soldier, she believes that she was just a “job.” Throughout the book, Adam has to keep up appearances and he does it so well sometimes that Juliette doesn’t even know which side he is on.
James, Adam’s brother. You don’t meet James until the later part of the story, but he is a neat kid.
The strikethrough print. It was interesting to read what Juliette was thinking in contrast to what she said. It was like she was debating on whether to say something or not.
I Did Not Like:
Warner. He wants Juliette on his team to torture people that he captures in the war. He puts her in situations where she will have to use her power even though she is dead set against. He doesn’t want to let Juliette go. He uses fear as a tool and kills people for trivial things.
The Reestablishment. You don’t hear a whole lot about them in this book, but you do get a sense that they are not the good guys. They were supposed to come in and make things better, but instead they take over and try to rule.
Cover:
On the cover, there is Juliette dressed in a white gown with her hair down. There are lines coming out of her like she is wielding a secret power. She has her hands on her hips which is symbolic of defiance. The cover reads: My touch is lethal. My touch is power. I like how the cover is shiny. It really makes Juliette stand out on the cover. This fits the description of Juliette well.
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LibraryThing member kristy.hamby
Holy Smokes Batman, this was good!!!!
Spoilers ahead:
Juliette is not like everyone else. Her touch can be deadly. She hates this about herself. She is trapped in a prison cell alone for about a year until one day she gets a new cellmate, Adam. He is so familiar to her, yet she tries to block out
#1: I adore Adam. At first I was scared he was tricking her, but now I just Swoon over him. He has some of the best book lines ever as far as talking to a girl!!!
#2: I feel soooo sorry for Juliette and everyone in this messed up world. Especially the orphans!
#3: I hate Warner and seriously want him to just go away!
#4: Just let Adam and Juliette have sex already!!!! ;)
#5: The end really went x-menish to me, not neccessarily a bad thing, but I do think she could have been a little more original on everyone's super powers....
#6: The crossing out thing got old super fast, I was glad it slowed down toward the middle-end.
#7: After finishing this I really wanted to read more! That's awesome
Tahereh Mafi!
Bottomline: This is a solid and good YA dystopian story. I highy suggest you read this one! It is not one to miss!!!
Spoilers ahead:
Juliette is not like everyone else. Her touch can be deadly. She hates this about herself. She is trapped in a prison cell alone for about a year until one day she gets a new cellmate, Adam. He is so familiar to her, yet she tries to block out
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all her memories. They are too devasting, from parents who hated her and kids calling her names to the accident that everyone thinks she did on purpose. She doesn't want to be the way she is, she hates it. But, not everyone thinks being able to touch and kill people is a bad thing. Is Adam with or against her? Can she ever survive anywhere but isolation. Is she destined to be alone the rest of her life? #1: I adore Adam. At first I was scared he was tricking her, but now I just Swoon over him. He has some of the best book lines ever as far as talking to a girl!!!
#2: I feel soooo sorry for Juliette and everyone in this messed up world. Especially the orphans!
#3: I hate Warner and seriously want him to just go away!
#4: Just let Adam and Juliette have sex already!!!! ;)
#5: The end really went x-menish to me, not neccessarily a bad thing, but I do think she could have been a little more original on everyone's super powers....
#6: The crossing out thing got old super fast, I was glad it slowed down toward the middle-end.
#7: After finishing this I really wanted to read more! That's awesome
Tahereh Mafi!
Bottomline: This is a solid and good YA dystopian story. I highy suggest you read this one! It is not one to miss!!!
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LibraryThing member TheRandomGirl
They weren't kidding when they said "Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel."
And I'm not kidding when I say that I agree completely. Tahereh Mafi creates a believable dystopian world, and it is in some ways, the ideal one. The world that Juliette knew before she was locked up in a cell
Will you believe me if I tell you, that you will be completely wowed by Tahereh's writing?
Well, you won't be able to believe it until you see it. But I'm telling you now: You. Will. Be. Blown. Away. I am not messing with you. The first lines of the book had already captured me, pulled me in with it's strong grip. Heck, it never let me go. Tahereh's writing is so unique and beautiful, that I would not even dare to miss any single word on the page. They were lyrical and magical, so incredibly amazing. Her writing was nothing I've ever encountered before and it surprised me how someone can actually write this good. It wasn't even just her style--but the quality of her words. It's enough to make anyone--even other authors--jealous. Tahereh Mafi, you have a gift.
You will fall in love with, be torn apart, scream because of the characters.
Juliette Ferrars has to be the most strong character ever--I'm not even joking there. She possess a dangerous power. One touch from her and you could drop dead. It's amazing and frightening at the same time. But Juliette hates her power. Warner, a sickeningly attractive villain and character, is amazed by it. And Adam Kent admires Juliette and her power.
Juliette has been locked up for a long time. She's been tortured by the lack of love she's received, her power, and the memories that haunt her. The memories of the murder done by her own hands. People see her as a monster, but she's been nothing but that. She's committed so many selfless acts but no one acknowledges her for them. She's a character that one must look up to. She's extremely loyal, she will stick up for what she believes in, and she will fight back.
Warner on the other hand, was so disturbing yet, I craved for him. I wanted to know more about him, to know what his motives were for being this so cruel. He's a twisted genius and his brillance managed to make me gape. Goodness, I should learn to not underestimate him. But gosh, he seems like a tortured soul to me.
Adam. Oh, Adam. Just like Juliette is, I'm completely head over heels for this one. I remember Juliette mentioned that Adam wasn't just fighting for one thing. He was fighting for so much more than himself. To me, I see Adam as a freedom fighter. He won't be put down by everything The Reestablishment throws at him. Exactly like Juliette, he fights back.
The other characters such as Kenji and James in particular, I loved. Kenji made me laugh my ass off and James made me squeal because of his adorableness. For a ten-year-old--going on 11!--he's strong, just like his brother. But he has a childishness to him that makes him twice as cute.
When I say you will be torn, you will be torn. Team Warner? Team Adam?
Pfft, heck I'm team Kenji and James! Nah, I'm just messing around. But you will be torn between Warner and Adam. I was. Warner, who is evil, hard to understand, and secretive vs. Adam, who is a fighter, who is kind, understanding, and everything you wish for.
You'll root for Adam and Juliette's love, but then you ache to get to know Warner even more. I don't believe that Warner isn't capable of loving. I just feel that there's so much more to him. But then he goes and does something infuriating, that makes you decide that you're on Team Adam.
Will you laugh when I say that I went through two hysterical phases while reading?
Maybe you're like, "Two? Pfft, that's not enough." Well it was for me! Never have I ever been this crazy and hysterical over a book. Never. Gosh, my own family called me a lunatic. Trust me, when you pick up this book you will experience the same thing I did.
IT WAS JUST TOO MUCH. The awesomeness was just too much for me too handle. That plot is amazing. The most outstanding and shocking one I've ever experienced. I never expected any of the events that triggered my hysteria. Never. That's how clever Tahereh Mafi is.
Bring on the X-Men.
I thought that the only X-Men element this book would have would be Juliette's ability which is parallel to Rouge's in the X-Men series. But no. There's so much more X-Men in this book. I nearly died of happiness. The X-Men elements in this story is just so cool. Really. Watch out, Tahereh Mafi's bringing in X-Men.
They are wrong when they say that "readers will be anxiously waiting for the next book."
Anxiously? Please. More like we're going to die if the next book doesn't come sooner. The ending was perfect and I wouldn't want it to change. It's the best way to get a reader pumped for the next book. Goodness, it was the best.
You need to buy the book now. Or forever hold your peace.
And I'm not kidding when I say that I agree completely. Tahereh Mafi creates a believable dystopian world, and it is in some ways, the ideal one. The world that Juliette knew before she was locked up in a cell
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was already falling apart, and it still continues to fall apart. The dystopian society Tahereh Mafi expertly builds if so full of the government/The Reestablishment's lies and deceits. In her story, Tahereh Mafi brings forth the most mind-blowing characters and the most brilliantly put together plot I have ever come across. It was just unbelievable. Will you believe me if I tell you, that you will be completely wowed by Tahereh's writing?
Well, you won't be able to believe it until you see it. But I'm telling you now: You. Will. Be. Blown. Away. I am not messing with you. The first lines of the book had already captured me, pulled me in with it's strong grip. Heck, it never let me go. Tahereh's writing is so unique and beautiful, that I would not even dare to miss any single word on the page. They were lyrical and magical, so incredibly amazing. Her writing was nothing I've ever encountered before and it surprised me how someone can actually write this good. It wasn't even just her style--but the quality of her words. It's enough to make anyone--even other authors--jealous. Tahereh Mafi, you have a gift.
You will fall in love with, be torn apart, scream because of the characters.
Juliette Ferrars has to be the most strong character ever--I'm not even joking there. She possess a dangerous power. One touch from her and you could drop dead. It's amazing and frightening at the same time. But Juliette hates her power. Warner, a sickeningly attractive villain and character, is amazed by it. And Adam Kent admires Juliette and her power.
Juliette has been locked up for a long time. She's been tortured by the lack of love she's received, her power, and the memories that haunt her. The memories of the murder done by her own hands. People see her as a monster, but she's been nothing but that. She's committed so many selfless acts but no one acknowledges her for them. She's a character that one must look up to. She's extremely loyal, she will stick up for what she believes in, and she will fight back.
Warner on the other hand, was so disturbing yet, I craved for him. I wanted to know more about him, to know what his motives were for being this so cruel. He's a twisted genius and his brillance managed to make me gape. Goodness, I should learn to not underestimate him. But gosh, he seems like a tortured soul to me.
Adam. Oh, Adam. Just like Juliette is, I'm completely head over heels for this one. I remember Juliette mentioned that Adam wasn't just fighting for one thing. He was fighting for so much more than himself. To me, I see Adam as a freedom fighter. He won't be put down by everything The Reestablishment throws at him. Exactly like Juliette, he fights back.
The other characters such as Kenji and James in particular, I loved. Kenji made me laugh my ass off and James made me squeal because of his adorableness. For a ten-year-old--going on 11!--he's strong, just like his brother. But he has a childishness to him that makes him twice as cute.
When I say you will be torn, you will be torn. Team Warner? Team Adam?
Pfft, heck I'm team Kenji and James! Nah, I'm just messing around. But you will be torn between Warner and Adam. I was. Warner, who is evil, hard to understand, and secretive vs. Adam, who is a fighter, who is kind, understanding, and everything you wish for.
You'll root for Adam and Juliette's love, but then you ache to get to know Warner even more. I don't believe that Warner isn't capable of loving. I just feel that there's so much more to him. But then he goes and does something infuriating, that makes you decide that you're on Team Adam.
Will you laugh when I say that I went through two hysterical phases while reading?
Maybe you're like, "Two? Pfft, that's not enough." Well it was for me! Never have I ever been this crazy and hysterical over a book. Never. Gosh, my own family called me a lunatic. Trust me, when you pick up this book you will experience the same thing I did.
IT WAS JUST TOO MUCH. The awesomeness was just too much for me too handle. That plot is amazing. The most outstanding and shocking one I've ever experienced. I never expected any of the events that triggered my hysteria. Never. That's how clever Tahereh Mafi is.
Bring on the X-Men.
I thought that the only X-Men element this book would have would be Juliette's ability which is parallel to Rouge's in the X-Men series. But no. There's so much more X-Men in this book. I nearly died of happiness. The X-Men elements in this story is just so cool. Really. Watch out, Tahereh Mafi's bringing in X-Men.
They are wrong when they say that "readers will be anxiously waiting for the next book."
Anxiously? Please. More like we're going to die if the next book doesn't come sooner. The ending was perfect and I wouldn't want it to change. It's the best way to get a reader pumped for the next book. Goodness, it was the best.
You need to buy the book now. Or forever hold your peace.
Show Less
LibraryThing member nbmars
This is a YA dystopia that book bloggers either love or hate, and I’m totally in the “I loved it” camp. The story is told in the form of entries in the diary of Juliette Ferrars, a 17-year-old who has been imprisoned by “The Reestablishment,” the power faction that is supposed to renew
In this future scenario, the ecosystem has become severely distorted by human abuse, and one of the effects is that some people have developed “special abilities” that are not normal. In Juliette’s case, if she touches anyone, that person will die. Once, when overcome by a desire to help a little boy, without forethought she picked him up with fatal effect, and that is in part why she is incarcerated. But the main reason is that her own parents turned her in as “a freak of nature.”
As the story begins, Juliette has been in solitary confinement for 264 days, and she has just been told she is getting a roommate. Her roommate is not another female, however, but a male, one who is disarmingly handsome, and furthermore, one that she knows.
Before long, the two prisoners, Juliette and Adam, are brought before Warner, the cruel leader of their district. Warner tells Juliette he wants her to perform torture for him, and assigns Adam to guard her. The dynamic among the three of them intensifies, and the dangers rocket out of control.
Discussion: Because this book is in the form of Juliette’s diary, the text appears as if it consists of actual entries, including cross-outs, stream of consciousness, and many metaphorical expressions of feelings. You may possibly recall that in the past I have complained about authors whose language is pretty at the expense of meaning. In this case, I do not. The reason is that, if the voice in a book is that of an omniscient narrator, then I have an expectation of being able to derive understanding from a rational interpretation of the sentences. In Shatter Me, the voice comes from the writing in a girl’s diary, so I have no objection to the occasional use of poetic images, exaggeration, or incomplete thoughts to reflect the actual way Juliette is thinking. Take this example, describing when Adam is confiding something to Juliette:
"His eyes are full of pain like I’ve never seen them before. He parts his lips. Presses them together. Changes his mind a million times until his words tumble through the air between us. … His lips are spelling secrets and my ears are spilling ink, staining my skin with his stories. … I’ve searched the world for all the right words and my mouth is full of nothing.”
Is there any question what she means? And is there any question that her manner of describing what happened conveys more than verisimilitude would do? Straight narrative would neutralize the depiction; the aesthetic montage of this scene evokes the emotion and intensity of the moment.
In my opinion, Mafi’s use of sensorial allusions lends an enhanced tonal range to her words, and thus helps breach the gap between the reader and the text, and expand the limitations of textual realism.
In addition, this story employs a most interesting trope. Because Juliette has not been able to touch anyone or be touched her whole life, she had been avoided and reviled, and is starving for affection and the touch of another human being. The only relationships she could have were with characters in books:
"I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figments of imagination formed through fiction.”
But when Juliette finds out that miraculously there are those who can touch her (maybe those that feel love toward her?), she is reborn:
"My knees are knocking together and my heart is beating so fast I don’t understand why it’s still working. He’s kissing away the pain, the hurt, the years of self-loathing, the insecurities, the dashed hopes for a future I always pictured as obsolete. … The intensity of our bodies could shatter these glass walls.”
As I argued above, these passages that are not strictly dispassionate reporting help us understand Juliette’s astonishment over the sensations of intimate contact, in the only terms she has known until this time:
"I’m licked by a million flames of wanting so desperate I can hardly inhale. He’s a hot bath, a short breath, 5 days of summer pressed into 5 fingers writing stories on my body. ... His lips are at my ear and he says nothing at all, but I melt until I’m a handful of hot butter dripping down his body. I want to eat every minute of this moment.”
Other reviewers have complained about the slow pace of Juliette’s physical relationship once she discovers she can be touched, but given the fact that even a stroke on her arm, or holding her hand, is a momentous and exciting new sensation for her, I didn’t find the pacing inappropriate or unrealistic.
Finally, there is criticism with the fact that, especially in the final section of the book, there is too much resemblance to X-Men, and an unwelcome mixing of the genres of dystopia and the paranormal. The X-Men, for those unfamiliar with them, are a superhero team made up of both men and women, created by Marvel Comics. They possess special powers because of radiation exposure. A Professor Xavier takes it upon himself to train the X-Men to use their powers for the good of humanity. While indeed there is some likeness, comics are designed to provide a different type of gratification than prose; there is a long distance between a “similar idea” used in a comic, and a book’s nuance, backstory, character development, reflection, elaboration of emotion, dialogue, and so on.
Evaluation: I thought this first installment of a trilogy showed creativity, a lovely depiction of young romance, and a nice exploration of different kinds of family, love, and friendship. Although this is a dystopia, there is less emphasis on world-building and more on how a girl defined as an abomination by others learns how to feel good about herself. And there’s enough steaminess in this book to keep you warm until the next installments appear.
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the dying society. But, as with most dystopias, the new group in control has become drunk on power and despotic.In this future scenario, the ecosystem has become severely distorted by human abuse, and one of the effects is that some people have developed “special abilities” that are not normal. In Juliette’s case, if she touches anyone, that person will die. Once, when overcome by a desire to help a little boy, without forethought she picked him up with fatal effect, and that is in part why she is incarcerated. But the main reason is that her own parents turned her in as “a freak of nature.”
As the story begins, Juliette has been in solitary confinement for 264 days, and she has just been told she is getting a roommate. Her roommate is not another female, however, but a male, one who is disarmingly handsome, and furthermore, one that she knows.
Before long, the two prisoners, Juliette and Adam, are brought before Warner, the cruel leader of their district. Warner tells Juliette he wants her to perform torture for him, and assigns Adam to guard her. The dynamic among the three of them intensifies, and the dangers rocket out of control.
Discussion: Because this book is in the form of Juliette’s diary, the text appears as if it consists of actual entries, including cross-outs, stream of consciousness, and many metaphorical expressions of feelings. You may possibly recall that in the past I have complained about authors whose language is pretty at the expense of meaning. In this case, I do not. The reason is that, if the voice in a book is that of an omniscient narrator, then I have an expectation of being able to derive understanding from a rational interpretation of the sentences. In Shatter Me, the voice comes from the writing in a girl’s diary, so I have no objection to the occasional use of poetic images, exaggeration, or incomplete thoughts to reflect the actual way Juliette is thinking. Take this example, describing when Adam is confiding something to Juliette:
"His eyes are full of pain like I’ve never seen them before. He parts his lips. Presses them together. Changes his mind a million times until his words tumble through the air between us. … His lips are spelling secrets and my ears are spilling ink, staining my skin with his stories. … I’ve searched the world for all the right words and my mouth is full of nothing.”
Is there any question what she means? And is there any question that her manner of describing what happened conveys more than verisimilitude would do? Straight narrative would neutralize the depiction; the aesthetic montage of this scene evokes the emotion and intensity of the moment.
In my opinion, Mafi’s use of sensorial allusions lends an enhanced tonal range to her words, and thus helps breach the gap between the reader and the text, and expand the limitations of textual realism.
In addition, this story employs a most interesting trope. Because Juliette has not been able to touch anyone or be touched her whole life, she had been avoided and reviled, and is starving for affection and the touch of another human being. The only relationships she could have were with characters in books:
"I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figments of imagination formed through fiction.”
But when Juliette finds out that miraculously there are those who can touch her (maybe those that feel love toward her?), she is reborn:
"My knees are knocking together and my heart is beating so fast I don’t understand why it’s still working. He’s kissing away the pain, the hurt, the years of self-loathing, the insecurities, the dashed hopes for a future I always pictured as obsolete. … The intensity of our bodies could shatter these glass walls.”
As I argued above, these passages that are not strictly dispassionate reporting help us understand Juliette’s astonishment over the sensations of intimate contact, in the only terms she has known until this time:
"I’m licked by a million flames of wanting so desperate I can hardly inhale. He’s a hot bath, a short breath, 5 days of summer pressed into 5 fingers writing stories on my body. ... His lips are at my ear and he says nothing at all, but I melt until I’m a handful of hot butter dripping down his body. I want to eat every minute of this moment.”
Other reviewers have complained about the slow pace of Juliette’s physical relationship once she discovers she can be touched, but given the fact that even a stroke on her arm, or holding her hand, is a momentous and exciting new sensation for her, I didn’t find the pacing inappropriate or unrealistic.
Finally, there is criticism with the fact that, especially in the final section of the book, there is too much resemblance to X-Men, and an unwelcome mixing of the genres of dystopia and the paranormal. The X-Men, for those unfamiliar with them, are a superhero team made up of both men and women, created by Marvel Comics. They possess special powers because of radiation exposure. A Professor Xavier takes it upon himself to train the X-Men to use their powers for the good of humanity. While indeed there is some likeness, comics are designed to provide a different type of gratification than prose; there is a long distance between a “similar idea” used in a comic, and a book’s nuance, backstory, character development, reflection, elaboration of emotion, dialogue, and so on.
Evaluation: I thought this first installment of a trilogy showed creativity, a lovely depiction of young romance, and a nice exploration of different kinds of family, love, and friendship. Although this is a dystopia, there is less emphasis on world-building and more on how a girl defined as an abomination by others learns how to feel good about herself. And there’s enough steaminess in this book to keep you warm until the next installments appear.
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LibraryThing member Vivacie
I am blown away by Shatter Me. Honest to God, blown away.
The writing is beyond brilliant. I loved how Tahereh Mafi made the words flow. Not only that, but it’s insanely descriptive- in a good way. I’ve gotten chills so many times, I’ve lost count. It’s beautiful the way things are
Reading through the eyes of Juliette is addicting. The way she thinks, the way she acts, it’s scary.
“My skin is cold-sweat, my fingers trembling with disgust, my legs unable to withstand the waste the waste the waste the selfish waste in these 4 walls. I’m seeing red everywhere. The blood of bodies spattered against the windows, spilled across the carpets, dripping from the chandeliers.”
I just can’t get over how crazy she is at times, it’s part of what makes me like her so much. Juliette has been locked up for a year and because her touch can be lethal, well, it’d make anyone go a little coo-coo.
I didn’t really develop an opinion about Adam, I think he’s hunky and I wish I were his cellmate, but that’s about it. Warner, on the other hand, I felt loads of sympathy for him. Despite him being a real jerk, I can’t wait to see more from him. (I’d almost call myself Team Warner…almost.)
The ending left me feeling unsated. Compared to the rest of the book, the ending didn’t make a huge impression on me. In fact, I’m a little frustrated by it.
All in all, I really don’t have a bad thing to say about Shatter Me. It was terrific, from the characters, to the plot, it’s all just weaved together perfectly. I can hardly wait to see what’s in Juliette’s future. I definitely, definitely, recommend picking this one up.
The writing is beyond brilliant. I loved how Tahereh Mafi made the words flow. Not only that, but it’s insanely descriptive- in a good way. I’ve gotten chills so many times, I’ve lost count. It’s beautiful the way things are
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described. It made me question my sanity at times.Reading through the eyes of Juliette is addicting. The way she thinks, the way she acts, it’s scary.
“My skin is cold-sweat, my fingers trembling with disgust, my legs unable to withstand the waste the waste the waste the selfish waste in these 4 walls. I’m seeing red everywhere. The blood of bodies spattered against the windows, spilled across the carpets, dripping from the chandeliers.”
I just can’t get over how crazy she is at times, it’s part of what makes me like her so much. Juliette has been locked up for a year and because her touch can be lethal, well, it’d make anyone go a little coo-coo.
I didn’t really develop an opinion about Adam, I think he’s hunky and I wish I were his cellmate, but that’s about it. Warner, on the other hand, I felt loads of sympathy for him. Despite him being a real jerk, I can’t wait to see more from him. (I’d almost call myself Team Warner…almost.)
The ending left me feeling unsated. Compared to the rest of the book, the ending didn’t make a huge impression on me. In fact, I’m a little frustrated by it.
All in all, I really don’t have a bad thing to say about Shatter Me. It was terrific, from the characters, to the plot, it’s all just weaved together perfectly. I can hardly wait to see what’s in Juliette’s future. I definitely, definitely, recommend picking this one up.
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LibraryThing member poetrytoprose
Do you hear that? It’s the sound of my swooning. Not only do we have a delicious romance in this debut, but Tahereh Mafi’s writing? It’s the kind I want to melt into.
Having been deemed a danger to society after an accident, and given up by her parents, Juliette has been imprisoned in
The romance. Oh, the romance! Adam Kent is pretty damn amazing. There are so many sides to him, but he is a perfect boy package if I do say so myself. Going into this, knowing Juliette’s ability, I didn’t expect all that much with the relationship stuff, except maybe some flirtation, but I was so wrong. Juliette and Adam’s scenes are effing HOT. Prepare yourselves, folks, this romance is a good one.
Then there’s Warner. He’s awful and all sorts of screwed up and yet…I really, really enjoyed his character. In no way would I excuse the things he did, but he’s so layered that I couldn’t help but be intrigued. There’s still so much to uncover about him, too! After the events that transpired in this one, he’s bound to get more interesting (insaneinsanesinsane).
Mafi’s writing is captivating. Normal every day things — breathing! blushing! — are absolutely beautiful when she describes them. There were so many instances when I had to stop and reread what I had just read to fully appreciate the words before me.
If I could single out the one issue I had with the book, it would be the ending. It wasn’t that it was bad, but it definitely took me by surprise… In the vaguest way I can say it: the familiar element from this story is being expanded into even more familiar territory and, well, I expected something more. Different. To be fair, though, I’m sure Mafi could bring a fresh twist to the direction and I am definitely excited to see how she does it in the next book.
Shatter Me was a a fantastic debut and I can’t wait to get a further look at this story and its characters.
Having been deemed a danger to society after an accident, and given up by her parents, Juliette has been imprisoned in
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isolation. It’s been 264 days since she’s had any sort of human contact and her only comfort is a notebook. Despite the fact that she’s been mistreated all her life, Juliette is such a good person. I wanted to take her under my wing and take care of her. Then there was another part of me, the Warner side you could say, that wanted her take people down. She does experience some internal conflict, and we do see some of her darker moments, but despite everything she’s gone through, she’s so full of heart.The romance. Oh, the romance! Adam Kent is pretty damn amazing. There are so many sides to him, but he is a perfect boy package if I do say so myself. Going into this, knowing Juliette’s ability, I didn’t expect all that much with the relationship stuff, except maybe some flirtation, but I was so wrong. Juliette and Adam’s scenes are effing HOT. Prepare yourselves, folks, this romance is a good one.
Then there’s Warner. He’s awful and all sorts of screwed up and yet…I really, really enjoyed his character. In no way would I excuse the things he did, but he’s so layered that I couldn’t help but be intrigued. There’s still so much to uncover about him, too! After the events that transpired in this one, he’s bound to get more interesting (insaneinsanesinsane).
Mafi’s writing is captivating. Normal every day things — breathing! blushing! — are absolutely beautiful when she describes them. There were so many instances when I had to stop and reread what I had just read to fully appreciate the words before me.
If I could single out the one issue I had with the book, it would be the ending. It wasn’t that it was bad, but it definitely took me by surprise… In the vaguest way I can say it: the familiar element from this story is being expanded into even more familiar territory and, well, I expected something more. Different. To be fair, though, I’m sure Mafi could bring a fresh twist to the direction and I am definitely excited to see how she does it in the next book.
Shatter Me was a a fantastic debut and I can’t wait to get a further look at this story and its characters.
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LibraryThing member bkwormblogger
Synopsis:Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to
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pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. Review:After all the hype about this book I had to read it to find out what the fuss was.The writing style is brilliant. I loved the strikeouts to differentiate what Juliet wanted to feel, and what she was actually prepared to feel. The wayward, jagged train of thought is poignant to a person who has withdrawal from human society, and the randomness of actions was excellent.Gradually as the story continues we don't see as much, as we realise Juliette is becoming accustomed to being around people, or in particular, Adam. Adam, from the start, came across as the good guy and I liked him immediately. The interesting twist as their characters blend is charming and alarming at the same time.Warner is someone we all know, and his clutch on Juliette was way too freaky to be normal.As the story continues it sadly brings us back to normaldom, as we experience boring quirks in the story which I didn't like. About two-thirds in I felt the story slow down to a minimum and it didn't really pick up. It meandered in a direction I wasn't expecting, and I'm not sure I really liked the outcome.I'm not sure why the Author chose to follow the end theme as we were heading in a great direction with the Reestablishment and possibly bringing it down. If Juliette had stayed there and uncovered more anomalies of Warners badness I would have been more satisfied.Instead we get a mixture of The Incredibles and X-men and it all felt a little too easy to follow a set trope instead of a proper dystopian-apocalyptic finale.Needless to say, I will read the second book but I won't rush for it. Show Less
Awards
Colorado Blue Spruce Award (Nominee — 2015)
NCSLMA Battle of the Books (High School — 2025)
Arab American National Museum Book Award (Honorable Mention — Children/Young Adult — 2013)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2011
Physical description
368 p.; 7.9 inches
ISBN
9780062085504