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Guest Post by Kim from Two Girls and A Novel!
Top 5 Dystopian Books!
Dystopian novels are quickly becoming some of my favourite novels –
especially in the YA genre. There’s something so compelling about worlds set in our potential future where everything has either advanced or crumbled. It might be strange, but I really like thinking about how our own society could end up like something out of any one of these books. We have the technology, the power to want to control everything and the passion to break from any one of these disastrous societies.
When Claire told me there was going to be a Dystopian December, I was so excited. A whole month dedicated to my newest genre obsession, what could be better than that? Well, apparently being part of the month’s celebrations. So here I am, ready to gush about my Top 5 Dystopian Novels.
The Hunger Games – Suzanne
Collins
This is the series that started my dystopian love. Strangely enough, I avoided reading The Hunger Games for almost 6 months after I got my hands on the first book, but I got there eventually. What really pulled me into the story is the passion behind fighting back. The rebellion. It’s a dangerous world, Panem – You imagine the Capitol has everything under control, that sending teens to kill each other for entertainment couldn’t possibly result in any trouble, especially not 74 years after the Capitol took control. But the hint of revolution is still there. You know when you have that one character that stands out above the rest? For me, Katniss set the standard for fierce female leads in dystopian novels; all because The
Hunger Games showed me just how powerful YA dystopias could be. There’s so
much tension, excitement and action – what’s not to love?
Under the Never Sky - Veronica Rossi
Government control? Not as big a focus in Under
the Never Sky as in other dystopian novels I’ve read recently. Sure, a
portion of the world’s population has access to advanced technology that simulates different societies – and that are regulated by officials who dictate how everyone dresses and behaves – but there’s life on the outside; tribes that have become primitive with fighting for survival and hunting for food. But these different lifestyles are overshadowed by the environmental issues. I love idea of the environment fighting back; changing and causing trouble; it is so possible for us - even now. It’s not always the government that could bring about a dystopian world. I don’t just love Under the Never Sky for its world building, I adore the main characters: Aria and Perry (especially Perry). To me they are the perfect mix of teen and adult – restricted by their societies, prone to emotional outbursts and incredible love. I can’t get enough.
Slated - Teri Terry
This has to be the most confronting dystopian novel I’ve read this year, not so much because of the content – although it was a pretty intense read – but the way the world is practically modern Earth. We still use cars, computers in everyday life. There are buses, TVs, support groups and medical centres. And watch-like devices that register our emotional levels – oh, wait... Slated uses these devices (LEVOs) to keep track of criminals and terrorists. You know you’ve done something wrong when you’re wearing a LEVO and are being reintroduced to society, like what happens to main character, Kyla. The problem is you don’t actually know what you’ve done because your memory has been wiped clean, like a slate – Slated.
This book left me constantly wanting more. I needed to know if the memories
would ever come back. I needed to know how to escape a life of being constantly watched and monitored. I’m dying to know what happens next.
The Pledge - Kimberly Derting
What I love about this book is the mix of dystopia and magic. While the world
is ruled by women – because “we all remember what happened when a King was on the throne” – there is a strict class structure that’s represented through languages. You have your language and a common language, unless you’re the main character, Charlie, who can mysteriously (or magically) understand all languages. There’s this need to not be only controlled by your language and the limitations of the class you’re born in. I sense rebellion in the air; which is good because there are rebel forces in place, determined to overthrow the current Queen’s regime. The Pledge is a pretty intense and interestingly structured book, I’m looking forward to the sequel.
Divergent - Veronica Roth
This one made it into my Top 5, not so much because of the world’s structure – which I love: a closed off society broken into 5 groups that represent
different actions, personalities and emotions – but because of the characters. From the moment I met main character Tris, I loved her. She was smart, fierce and willing to overcome fears at any cost; and to top it all off she had an equal strong male counterpart, Four, who was full of emotion, strength and all round awesomeness. Veronica Roth really knows how to draw a person in with her characters.
Even though I have an endless love for the crazy worlds created in dystopian novels, I hope I’ll only ever have to enjoy them in books.
There’s an incredible amount of fantastic dystopian novels out there and I
can’t wait to make my way through more of them.
Kim
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Thank you so much to Kim for joining us today!
The only one I haven't read on your list is Under The Never Sky...but I must get round to it, it sounds really cool! :)
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