Caragh Reviews - Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Published - 24th May 2012
Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Format - Paperback
Synopsis - Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.
But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold. Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.

Pretties is the second book in Scott Westerfeld's series. It took me a little while to get into the book because it had been months since I read Uglies and had forgotten a little bit about how it left off and where Pretties was starting.
Tally is now Pretty and is having the time of her life running around with Shay and her new friends, pulling tricks and partying...but something doesn't feel right and with her new crush my her side, she once again tries to find out what's going on.

The world that Westerfeld has created is thrilling, intriguing and totally disturbing. It's a world where children are raised believing that they ugly and must be transformed and become pretty in order to be happy. It provides a disturbing social commentary that at times is hard to really get through. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series but I had a few problems with Pretties.

It felt like a rehash of the first book in a lot of ways and it worries me that each book will continue to follow the same pattern. Tally is like everyone else/Tally discovers something new/Tally goes off on a mission/Tally ends up in trouble/Tally starts a new life. Rinse and repeat. Of course I could be totally wrong about the next book but from what I can tell of the ending of Pretties, the next book seems as though it will do the same thing. At least to me, Pretties didn't really raise anything new or add anything extra to the world that was created and the story that was told in the first book. Pretties was a good read but it wasn't really anything special and I felt let down that nothing more happened. This is a pretty short review because I don't feel like I have much to say about it! It was a good, quick read but I didn't get much from it. Fingers crossed that changes in the next book as there is so much potential for this world and for Tally!

Caragh's Review // Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

Published - 29th March 2012
Publisher - Simon and Schuster
Format - Paperback
Synopsis - Tally can't wait to turn sixteen and become pretty. Sixteen is the magic number that brings a transformation from repellent Ugly into a stunningly attractive Pretty, and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks, Tally will be there. But Tally's new friend, Shay, isn't sure she wants to be Pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the Pretty world - and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn Pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

If you've been following this blog, you'll know that this has been on my TBR for way too long and as promised, I finally read the first book in Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series! Possibly some spoilers here, be warned!

Sometimes, it can be hard to really get into a book when you already know what's going on. I guess that's the problem with reading books so long after they were first published. Totally NOT the case with Uglies though! Hurrah! From start to end I was just so excited! Tally and Shay were the perfect characters for me; sassy, exciting, adventurous, and rebellious whilst still fitting in their world. I adore dystopian-esque books but this one just had that something different. When Tally left to find Shay, though I was curious to learn more about the world and what was happening outside etc, I was a little sad about leaving the Ugly/Pretty world. This is a 4 book series and I have no idea how the rest of the books play out, but I wanted to stay and learn more about the first world and before I knew it I was thrust into something else! I really loved it actually. The reader was just as confused as Tally and we got to take that adventure with her.

I don't know if it was just me, or whether Westerfeld's writing directs me that way, but I felt really untrusting of everyone. Even Tally to some extent. The world was cold and harsh but it was still relateable which was sort of scary, really. I think that plays a part in why I was distrusting - I could see elements in it that made me uncomfortable and I was bracing myself for the backlash I suppose. Uglies felt believable and emotional in a way that i've come to love in dystopian fiction. It says a lot about the world when dystopian fiction becomes more like reality than romcoms..! However, even with the realism and being pulled into the text and the world, it's still fun. There were a lot of parts where I was laughing and smiling (hello, hover boards!). The perfect mix.

With so many books piling up around me, i'm not sure when i'll get to read the next one but i'm making time for it SOON. Definitely recommend this one guys!

Book Haul

As always, I bought way more books than I read which isn't helping my TBR piles at all! I'm happy with what I have though so here they are!

1. Extras - Scott Westerfeld
2. We Bought A Zoo - Benjamin Mee
3. Death Cure - James Dashner
4. The Good Guy - Dean Koontz
5. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol 1 - Alan Moore
6. Future Games - Orson, Scott, Card & Others.
7. Of Light & Darkness - Shayne Leighton
8. The Scent of Magic - Maria V Snyder
9. Lone Wolf - Jodi Picoult
10. Inheritance - Christopher Paolini
11. Twined - A.L.Collins
12. Tempestuous - Kim Askew & Amy Helmes

Some of these aren't available to buy yet but I have a feeling they're going to be great, so make sure you check out the books from this haul if you're curious.

Book Haul

Picked up a few books yesterday - some from charity shops and some from The Works

1. The Maze Runner - James Dashner
2. Specials - Scott Westerfeld
3. The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness
4. The Ask and the Answer - Patrick Ness
5. Monsters of Men - Patrick Ness
6. The Folklore of Discworld - Terry Pratchett & Jacqueline Simpson
7. The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchett

I'm especially looking forward to reading The Maze Runner as it's been on my wanted list for SO long! As always though, it's going to be a while before I can get to these. I have some author requested reviews over the next few months and a lot of University books to get reading.

Keep an eye out for my next University edition book haul which should be coming soon!

Book Haul

I haven't done one of these in so long so the list is pretty big and i'm sure that i've forgotten something.
So here are the books that I acquired in the past few weeks.

1. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
2. Pretties - Scott Westerfeld
3. The Master of Whitehall - Rick H Veal
4. Jack's Outpost - Elizabeth Braun
5. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
6. A Witch in Love - Ruth Warburton
7. Between The Lines - Jodi Picoult (Review already up!)

As well as those, I also have some books on loan from friends.

8. All of the Weather Warden books by Rachel Caine
9. First 3 books of Percy Jackson &  the Olympians by Rick Riordan

I have no idea when i'll actually get round to reading all of those and for the moment, i'm reinforcing the book buying ban again!
I'm currently half way through The Master of Whitehall so expect that review up as soon as possible :)


Have you read any of these? What are your thoughts?

Happy Reading :)