I like my bit of action-packed dystopia, but it’s so easy getting lost in the numerous YA dystopia series popping up all the time. It’s literally a jungle out there. I’m very careful about what I start reading because it’s so easy getting lost. On the other hand, I don’t want to miss the next Hunger Games or Vampire Academy. So I take my chances, and sometimes I’m really lucky and get hooked on a new series, like Sookie Stackhouse. A series that becomes my sanctuary, my sweet escape. Other times, I’m not so fortunate. And sometimes, I don’t discover that this one isn’t for me until the second installment.
This happened to me about a week ago when I found myself stuck in Insurgent, the second installment to Veronica Roth‘s Divergent series. I just didn’t care about the characters anymore and wasn’t at all excited about the story line.
I adore dystopian novels, but they have to be well-written, creative and interesting. In my opinion, the Divergent series is neither. I would much rather read unique dystopias, like The Road or Hater, than a clichéd book trying to be the next Hunger Games. So after 122 pages, I decided to let it go, and added it to my list of shame: the abandoned books (I hope there will only be this one in 2014, but I’m going to keep track anyway on my page for this year’s Reading Challenge). I have no problem whatsoever with giving up on a book – life’s too short for bad books, and reading books that I don’t like means not reading a book that I do like.
What are your thoughts on the jungle of YA dystopian/fantasy series out there? Recommendations are more than welcome!
Jeg har hørt fra selv de mest loyale fans, at tredje bog i serien er den værste i Divergent-serien. Jeg kom aldrig selv længere end den første bog, som overhovedet ikke tiltalte mig; jeg synes der var for mange genkendelige elementer i den fra andre storhit (og knap så gode bøger).
Hvor er det befriende at høre, at jeg ikke er alene! Tak fordi du delte din mening, Nikoline!
I didn’t have a problem with these books but they are not as good as the hunger games 🙂 Have you read The Giver, A Handmaids Tale or The Maze Runner series?
Åh ja, det er en jungle. Jeg læser sjældent den genre netop fordi der er så mange dårlige serier på markedet, at det er svært at finde de gode….
Yes, I’ve read The Giver – I really liked the first one but didn’t care that much for the other two.
The Handmaid’s Tale! If I hadn’t already read it, this would be a great recommendation, Jamie! I LOVE this book! Atwood is my favorite author.
I haven’t read the Maze Runner – but I’ll definitely give it a go! Thanks for stopping by and helping with some recommendations 🙂
Bestemt! Og man kan ikke altid regne med anmeldelserne fordi de ofte er skrevet af folk, der kun næste kun læser denne genre :-/