1/2
Review:
I got swept up in the hype, that's the only way I can explain my indifference to this book. With Crossed coming out, everywhere I looked was something mentioning Matched: twitter, book blogs, good reads, everyone and their mother was talking about. Given the description, Matched seemed to be right up my alley so I was happy when I got in the mail, then one thing happened. Delirium happened.
I know I shouldn't have, but I couldn't stop comparing Matched to Lauren Oliver's Delirium which I have a soft spot for and sadly Matched didn't match up (ha. ha. ha).
Matched is told from the perspective of 17 year old Cassia Reyes who is eager to have the government reveal her future husband. She is ecstatic to find out that the future love of her life is no other than Xander, her best friend since forever, but when she goes home to review the data she doesn't see Xander's name on her Matched profile. Cassia must choose between what is safe and what she wants as she begins to question everything the Society dictates and see the world for the first time.
The overall plot was solid, but I was not interested. There was never a moment when I was dying to find out what happened next. Even though the story moved along at a steady (and maybe sometimes slow) pace, I felt some actions happened entirely too quickly. I would have loved to get to know some of the characters (besides Cassia) better, but they were glossed over to pave way for the love story. I felt that Condie's world got the short end of the stick as well, I would have loved an in depth introductory rather than spend most of the novel on 'the Hill.'
The love story was more of a love triangle which I have come to the conclusion that I do not like. Cassia may or may not have romantic feelings for Xander, but it's obviously that she is falling in love with Ky quite quickly. None of the love stories were developed; her and Xander's arc was based on the expectations that they were in love, while her and Ky's romance was based on a series of passed notes and drawings. I didn't buy it.
Condie mistake was making things too 'flowery.' The romance, the writing, it was all overdone in my opinion. Condie writing is very poetic which does not seem suitable for a 17 year old girl. Even the romance was done too poetically. Cassia falls in love with Ky based on his scrap pieces of paper and drawings which he uses to describe to Cassia his past. It seemed forced, like Condie was trying to make this the next literary classic, I would rather that she tone it down a bit with the language and have the kids fall in love the old fashion way, by hanging out. .
I realize that I pointed out a lot of negative aspects about this book, I didn't hate it, I was just bored with it. This is partly the fault of Delirium which I kept longing for while reading Matched. I know it's not fair to Matched but I can't help how my brain works. I may pick Crossed up out of sheer curiosity.
I recommend this novel for those who are interested in a story centered around a love story and also those who are fans of dystopia.
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.