The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road

by Cormac McCarthy

Published: 2006
Genre: Dystopia
Paperback: 304 pages
Rating: 5

Description from the amazon:
A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there.

They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other.

The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, "each the other's world entire," are sustained by love.

Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation.

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): the good guys

While reading the start of this book I was thinking dystopia = depressing.

Also, I'm finding this genre as scary as reading horror. The future is not looking good.

With the holly jolly season upon us, I'm taken aback. Dystopia is making me reflect on humanity and myself in it.

This road takes us to the extremes.

One path shows us the absolute worst of humanity.

As the father and son travel to warmer climes and hopefully to better living conditions, we see what it takes to survive.

Because of this extreme, I am swayed to wait for the DVD of the movie instead of watching it on the big screen. I'm sure the desolate landscapes of a grey world will come out with such impact on the big screen. But its the other scenes in this story, I'm not too keen on seeing larger-than-life. brrrrrr.

However, the other extreme depicted is hopeful.

The best in us - in the human spirit - shines through.













*part of my Dystopia challenge

Dearest Darcy dress

If books were dresses...

(a weekly post where I create fashionable wear with book cover art)

My Dearest Mr. Darcy

(third in the series)

by Sharon Lathan

Release date: January 1, 2010

I'm still in the Pride and Prejudice mode. ;-D

Description from amazon.com:
Married life is bringing out the best in the Darcys. Their mutual attentiveness brings readers into a magical world of love and wedded bliss.

Elizabeth is growing into her role as Mistress of Pemberley, and Darcy has mellowed under her gentle teasing and light-heartedness. Pemberley becomes a true home and a welcoming environment for loving family and friends.

The Darcys travel to the seaside, welcome their firstborn, celebrate their anniversary and second Christmas, and at every moment embrace the love gifted to them.

"I love you, my Elizabeth. You are my soul, my blood and bone, my very life."

Series:

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One (Mr & Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy)

Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley (Pride & Prejudice Continues)
My Dearest Mr. Darcy: An amazing journey into love everlasting

*** Blogosphere giveaway ***

Queen of Happy Endings is giving this book away along with some other books.

List of her giveaway books:

My Dearest Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan

Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati

The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

-offer ends January 31, 2010

*source for silhouette

Genesis by Bernard Beckett

Genesis
by Bernard Beckett

Published: 2009
Genre: Dystopia, SciFi
Hardback: 150 pages
Rating: 5

Description from the amazon:
2041 - First global dust storms, 2050 - First shot in The Last War fired, 2051 - The Great Sea Fence completed; the Republic founded, 2052 - First plague released, and 2077 - The Great War begins.

A...Fourteen-year-old Anax thinks she knows her history. She'd better. She's sat facing three Examiners and her grueling five-hour examination has just begun. If she passes, she'll be admitted into The Academy - the elite institution that runs her utopian society.

But Anax is about to discover that for all her learning, the history she's been taught isn't the whole story. And that The Academy isn't what she believes it to be.

The reader is about to discover a provocative novel of dazzling ingenuity. Anax's examination leads us into a future where ancient - eternal - philosophical questions have dramatically collided with the march of technology, where just what it means to be human is up for debate, and where the concealed stain of an Original Sin threatens the very existence of her Brave New World.

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): sea fence


Well. Whoa. I totally didn't see that coming. Super twisty ending - which means I can't say too much for fear of spoiling the story.


However, I can say that there's more to that orange hair on the cover than meets the eye.


This dystopia novel goes into many issues of life and humanity. The main questions I'm left with after the reading is what does it mean to be human? Also, what becomes of us when we reach our perfect selves?


Such interesting book covers were out there, that I just had to post those that I found. Although, I think the first cover above depicts the story perfectly.

I first heard of this book back in April from reading an engaging round-robin book review/discussion given by Presenting Lenore, Pop Culture Junkie and Sharon Loves Books and Cats. You betcha, their discussions led me to this spectacular read.


Excerpt from Presenting Lenore:
Lenore: Alea, you knew this was labeled dystopia when you started reading. Was the novel what you expected? In addition to this, you've also read The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Are you intrigued by the genre? Or would you say it's not for you?

Alea: I guess I wasn't really sure what to expect when reading Genesis. I would definitely say there was far more philosophy than I was expecting. I would say I was hoping for a bit more information on the background of the story and the world that the author has created (but I think I always expect that, I love the details). I would definitely say that Genesis sparked my interest in this genre, definitely more so than The Forest of Hands and Teeth. While the Forest of Hands and Teeth left me sort of bored and not surprised, Genesis shocked me several times over and gave me the chills. I loved it! And I definitely hope to read more in this genre.




Excerpt from Pop Culture Junkie:
Alea: Being much more familiar with this genre were you surprised with how the events unfolded in Genesis? Did the ending take you by surprise? Would you consider Genesis to fit in easily with other dystopias or is it in a class of it's own?

Lenore: I was shocked by the ending. It’s not that is totally original – I’ve read several stories that are surprising in a similar way – but I really didn’t see it coming until it was there. And then in that moment, you think back on all you’ve read up to that point and realize, just like Anax does, that it couldn’t really end any other way. After reading, I’m actually a bit surprised that Genesis is being marketed as YA since, as a dystopia, it more resembles adult titles of the genre. Teen titles tend to have a lot more action and have a more active protagonist – but Anax doesn’t do anything in the novel besides study and take her exam.



Excerpt from Sharon Loves Books and Cats:
Lenore: Would you rather be a laborer in a safe society based on Plato's republic - or would you prefer to take your chances in the outside world beyond the fence (after all, we don't find out what's going on out there)?

Sharon: This is such an insanely difficult question! I would love to think that I would have risk it all and made a break for the outside world, but I really can’t say for sure. There is a certain comfort that people feel living in a safe and predictable society. I don’t know that I want to break away from that sense of security. Then again, I’d also be very curious to know what is going on outside my little fenced in community. I’m honestly a bit of a wimp so I’d probably stay behind the fence and not bother to take such a huge risk.



*Please visit their sites to read more of the discussion.
*part of my Dystopia challenge

Waiting on Wednesday - 24

I'm waiting for...

Battle of the New York Zombies
(third in the Amanda Feral series)
by Mark Henry

Release date: February 23, 2010

Who is Amanda Feral?

Description from Happy Hour of the Damned:
Seattle. One minute you're drinking a vanilla breve, the next, some creepy old dude is breathing on you, turning you into a zombie. And that's just for starters. Now, the recently deceased Amanda Feral is trying to make her way through Seattle's undead scene with style (mortuary-grade makeup, six-inch stilettos, Balenciaga handbag on sale) while satisfying her craving for human flesh (Don't judge. And no, not like chicken.) and decent vodkatinis.

Making her way through a dangerous world of cloud-doped bloodsuckers, reapers, horny and horned devils, werewolves, celebrities, and PR-obsessed shapeshifters--not to mention an extremely hot bartender named Ricardo--isn't easy. And the minute one of Amanda's undead friends disappears after texting the word, "help" (The undead--so dramatic!) she knows the afterlife is about to get really ugly.

Something sinister is at hand. Someone or something is hellbent on turning Seattle's undead underworld into a place of true terror. And this time, Amanda may meet a fate a lot worse than death...


*** Blogosphere giveaway ***

Enter to win an ARC of Mark Henry's Battle of the Network Zombies.
-offer ends December 7, 2009

Pre-order the mmpb:
Happy Hour of the Damned
Battle of the Network Zombies

Pickup a copy:
Road Trip of the Living dead at the all new BARGAIN PRICE of $6.00 at Amazon



* Waiting on Wednesday
was created by Jill at Breaking the Spine

*also part of my Weekly Zombies

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver
by Lois Lowry

Published: 1993
Genre: Dystopia, Fantasy, SciFi
Paperback: 192 pages
Rating: 5

Description from the amazon:
Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

My two-bits:
In-a-word: stirring

Whoa. I can see why this is among the classics.

This book is a good way to start off with if you're new to the dystopia genre. Actually, a must-read.

In this future world, the question of whether or not things are better off prevails which is in keeping with the dystopia genre.

There were a couple subjects among many others touched upon that grabbed me while reading this. One was mentorship between elders and children. The other subject I was left to ponder was the importance of memories.

Series:
The Giver
Gathering Blue
The Messenger

*part of my Dystopia challenge
*part of my Newbery challenge
*source The Giver illustration by J. Michael Stovall