April 27, 2013

Reviewing... [22] The Lost Girl

The Lost Girl is calling for lost readers... Even if you don't think you're lost perhaps you can be found (that's not a quote from the book but it does sound poetic like the book).
This is a quote though, as now you want one:
'You've always been our monster,' says Adrian. 'Don't ever forget that.'

Will she forget that?

Reviewing... [22]
(late review, FYI... Thought I'd post due to the post a week ago mentioning this).

Author: Sangu Mandanna (I haven't talked to her; she's lovely! This hasn't effected my review thought)

Source: Bought from Waterstones (it wasn't free or cheaper so when I say ‘worth the retail price’ it’s not a half-formed opinion). Recommended for: People who enjoy ethical issues being explored, those who liked Delirium (but not for the detail as I wouldn't say this goes in such the same way into the manufacture of the world) The Lost Girl is based on Frankenstein (which I haven't read). But we're going to read it in English (which I only half-hate -.-) We are reading it after this creative writing piece which if it had been reflective of Frankenstein would’ve most likely ended up Fan Fic...

The Lost Girl is Sangu’s debut dystopian and for her first book it slots really well into the genre, but equally it has its own ‘vibe’. The parts when dystopian was woven (pun excused please) most thickly was when the characters would perceive themselves to be a piece of somebody’s chess game... “I won’t be played with.”
*Bells ringing*
Should they be ringing?
It slots in well but,
that's because a new cliche was used...
That’s clearly Eva not wanting to be a part of anybody’s game... I wonder what that resonates with... But this time it is even more true. Not only is Eva’s identity a chess piece, but so is the facade that her life has become. Causing us to question identity, family & also helping us to see this world from different perspectives. At first Eva seemed ashamed about the uneasy relationship she had with her original. She wanted to be different and that was an OK thought- but soon that idea had to be squashed. I thought that Eva was a beautiful character who refused to be ironed out- and it’s very true that beauty is in the inside. I was upset for her and Amarra too- as I’ve said there were different perspectives to balance & this is what separates it from fictitious stories of this kind. It's definitely set roughly in this time. It doesn’t sound very different to how it is, or will be (for a while). As it isn’t as different one doesn’t experience the emotions of entering a new world which leave the reader speechless. However aspects of the Loom have tugged my heart strings. It's not meant to be a Sci-Fi it's meant to be a thought-provoking novel vivid in colour... There are twists, and as I don’t consider this is a twist I’ll mention it. She seemed to be in a sort of clichéd (yes, more of them!) relationship. Personally I don’t take in a plot where romance and action stop/start as well. It seemed to take some of the beauty away from the normal whereas such a relationship, between friendship & love, could’ve worked to the novel’s credit. However I just didn’t get into that aspect.
Your life is dangling by a thread.
In conclusion it’s a fascinating book that's neither black or white. Will you agree?...

4 comments:

Roberta R. said...

I should have read this already...it was part of a bunch of books I ordered months ago...but my Italian webstore wasn't able to locate the (cheaper) edition I had requested at the time, so I received all the other books I had ordered minus this one. What a pity - I was really looking to reading TLG...I'll have to request it again with my next order. Anyway - I read a lot of reviews before I decided to buy this book, but I can't remember any of them mentioning the clichéd relationship. So I guess we are kind of alike when it comes to having issues with too much (stereotyped) romance...I hope it won't ruin the book for me too, even if a little.

P.S.: sorry for deleting the previous comment - spotted a mistake too late ;).

Trish @ Between My Lines said...

Not loving the clichéd romance and surprised there is no world building. Overall it sounds interesting though. Will give it a go sometime.

AwesomeAmy said...

Ah, gah- I owe you both a massive explanation! Sorry it's late ;)
Firstly, Trish, it's just like how in travel journals & stuff they aren't building a new world just experiencing something earthly & not too different from normal things & places so yeah, I stick by that- it wasn't like I expected. I was just taken to places which are familiar to Mandanna- I did enjoy the ride which WAS different to what I expected.
Then... the romance.
It felt like, well... a similar scenario to the bio-romance except Eva doesn't attend school & Sean is the only teenager she sees for a while. It seemed sort of cheesy that this meant he was the one that stuck in her mind- especially as it was forbidden! It wasn't insta-love but it was like every time they saw each other a leap happened so she couldn't move on! I just didn't root for THEM. Each character to their own (independence), I just thought that'd be better (she was indie at times, though, not too bad)!
Thanks for checking out my review- both of you! It is worth checking out, definitely.

Roberta R. said...

I see what you meant now :). Well, anyway, the book is definitely on my TR list!

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