Friday, January 27, 2012

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me
(Shatter Me #1)

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Publication Date: November 15th, 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Dystopia / Paranormal

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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 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.


My Thoughts: Poor, poor, poor Juliette. She has a terrible life. She can't touch anyone, or she might kill them. Her parents despise and hate her. She killed someone, accidentally, and so they lock  her up. She's never even been loved. At least until Adam shows up in her cell. Adam, the boy from her past, the boy who can touch her, the boy who seems to genuinely care for her. Until she finds out he was put there to spy on her for Warner, a commander of the Reestablishment who is obsessing over her and her "gift". She's hurt by this betrayal, is there no one she can trust? 

When I first read the blurb on Shatter Me, I was very intrigued. I also immediately thought of Rogue from X-Men. I would say the two are similar, expect Rogue actually had her parents love until  they found out what she was. Juliette had nothing, not even a friend. 

So I bought the book and started reading, I read most of it in a day, quite a feat with a teething baby. I loved this book. I haven't read very many dystopians yet, but I will be reading many more! I love how Tahereh Mafi wrote this similar to a journal, even scratching out thoughts  that weren't said. It feels more like you are right in Juliette's mind. At first I wasn't sure what to think about her mind. Juliette seems a little OCD with numbers, but I suppose she has been sitting in a cell by herself with no one to talk to in almost a year. 

Once she is out, you think things might get better for her, and it seems like they do, but she doesn't trust anyone, not that I can blame her. She quickly realizes that the Reestablishment just wants to use her abilities to torture captives, something she is not ok with. So she knows she needs to get away. Then she realizes that she can trust Adam, and that Adam can touch her and loves her and wants to help her get out so they can escape. The only problem? Warner is pretty much insane. He has been obsessing over Juliette for years and wants her to be his, she's disgusted by him. Will they escape? Read it and see what happens!

I found the characters to be well written and it was very easy to connect with them, or hate them. The story flows nice and fast, most chapters leaving off at a point where you just can't put the book down. The details about the world make it easy to envision, as dreary as it may seem. I'd have to say that Tahereh did a very good  job at creating this world, I'll definitely be reading more from her in the future. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a new dystopian to try out!


41 comments:

  1. Awesome review! I've been curious about this book. I'll have to check it out!

    Amber
    http://falln2books.blogspot.com

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  2. Thank you for the review! I'm currently reading Shatter Me and can't wait to finish it!

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  3. Thanks for the review! Really wanted this book, but I was discouraged by a few unsatisfied people, but now that I read your review, I'm gonna check it out!

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    1. You should definitely read it! Normally I ignore other people when they say something is bad, be it a book or a movie, you never really know until you read/watch it yourself! I hope you enjoy it if you do decide to read it!

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  4. This has been in my TBR for a while now! Great review :)

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  5. Great review, I really loved this book too :)

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  6. Love your review! I really hope to read Shatter Me as soon as I can. All these great reviews I've been reading for it have just made me anticipate it more.

    Sarah Bibi Setar

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    1. Thanks, I hope you get to read it soon and that you enjoy it!

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  7. Great review! I want to read it soon!!! I pre-order it and it hasn´t arrived.

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    1. Thanks! Also, have you tried contacting who you ordered it from? I don't think it should take that long!

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  8. Great review! I've heard so many great things about it, I can't wait to read it!

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  9. I loved this book so much! The writing is so beautiful, and you can tell Juliette's insanity in staying in that prison of hers for so long! I love Adam and how he can touch her! Finally, someone she can touch without hurting! Yes, Warner is so evil! I love the scratched out lines too. I can't wait for the sequel!

    Chen Chang

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    1. Thanks, I agree with you for everything!! I loved reading it exactly how she was thinking it, even if she was becoming a little crazy..lol

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  10. This book is in my top 5 faves of all times! Loved it!

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  11. Just bought this, I'm even more eager to read it now after that review :)

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  12. I am a big fan of dystopian books. I love the cover of this one (although i like it less after reading it cause not sure if it really goes with the book).

    I was obsessed with getting this book (because of all the hype). I love dystopia. And i liked this book. But it really wasn't what i was expecting. And i think i liked it less than most others seem to like it.


    I will say that the ending was better for me. And it got more interesting. And i think that the next book has promise.

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    1. I'm definitely excited for the next book! I have only recently gotten back into reading YA and missed all the hype, so maybe that helped me enjoy it more? I didn't have all these expectaions for it.

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    2. I'm also not sure of the significance of the cover, but then, most of the time I don't get the covers..

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  13. Thanks for the great review! This book has been in my TBR list for more than a month now. It's not staying there because I don't want to read it, but I had to finish all the books I borrowed first (which IS ALOT). I can't wait to read this booookkk!!!

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    1. I know what you mean,I have so many books that I want to read, but I have a few review books to get through first :P I hope you enjoy it!!

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    2. I actually finished this book weeks ago! And I can't agree with you more! The characters were just great! When I started reading this book, it was 12:15 AM, by 3:00AM, I had to FORCE myself to go to bed. Sheesh! Talk about book addiction! Well. Meaning: AWESOME BOOK. Everything you said about the book was spot on! Whoo!

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  14. Sounds fantastic! Thank you for the review! I'll definitely get Shatter Me. I also have this book on my tbr since I've seen the cover. That cover is pure perfection. And you've said the story is well written :) Can't wait to read it.

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  15. Great review, thanks! I've already ordered my copy :) Hope I'll love it. I've heard all good things bout this book.

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    1. I hope you'll love it too! It's a really great book!

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  16. For someone who loves dystopian novels, I think it's a shame that I haven't got around to reading this book yet. And with your review and all, I really think I should go and grab a copy of this already.
    I'm curious about Juliette's power (or curse, as I see it). And I want to meet Adam. :D

    - Noely Jeleen

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    1. My husband said to me the other day "What's up with you and dystopian lately?" Well maybe if they weren't so awesome!!! That and it seems like most books coming out lately are dystopian. I hope you enjoy it when you read it!

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  17. I got this book for Christmas, but I haven't read it yet!! It sounds great & I can't wait for the sequel!

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  18. I have heard so many good things about this book. Its also one of my aunts favorites right now. Thank you for the great review. It does sound like a good book after I read your review. I am going to have to cheak it out.

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    1. Thanks! It is really good! You should definitely read it :D

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  19. Great review! I really want to read Shatter Me, I love characters that you an relate and connect to! I think I'll have to get this!

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