Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
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| Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi |
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now. Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
So, in the past couple of weeks I couldn't help but to hear nothing but great things about this book thought the book blogging and booktube communities. Needless to say I went into this book with very high expectations. However, I did have some concerns because she is married to Ransom Riggs (author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children) and seriously how could that much talent be produced in one relationship (outside of Sylvia Plath/Ted Hughes and F. Scott/ Zelda Fitzgerald)? Apparently a hell of a lot of talent. Seriously, this literary couple is bursting at the seams with talent and creativity. I loved this book and am way to excited to finish this series. Seriously, I need the other books now!
This book is a beautiful dystopian romance novel. I know, I know typically the phrase "beautiful dystopian novel" is an oxymoron in and of itself. However, in this case it's the perfect way to describe this book. I was hooked from the get go. By setting the protagonist, Juliette, in a cell alone at the opening of the scene we were able to get a sense of who she was as a person and how she truly perceived not only her situation within the world but the society as a whole. Mafi utilized a cross-through effect on sentences, they are our way of seeing Juliette's true feelings and concerns. Immediately Mafi has enabled us to feel wholly connected with the protagonist we were able to see both her true emotions and thoughts as well as the way she portrayed herself to the outside world. A bond is formed between Juliette and the reader from the start of the novel which is a tough feat to conquer.
Furthermore, Juliette was a realistic character. Though she was good through and through seemingly without fail she came across a real person. Her reactions were what my reactions would be if I were in her situation. Though she could have been a flat holier than thou character she had flaws and she had attitude. She wasn't completely all good, though she truly strove to be, nor was she entirely bad. Juliette truly reads as a young woman dealt a horrible hand and merely dealing with that.
I did have my concerns with the novel whilst reading it to be honest. The relationship seemed to come about way too quickly for my liking at first. However, Mafi remedied this with the interactions, the situation the characters were placed in, and the backstory. And what a back story it was. It was heart wrenching while staving of being melodramatic and truly added to the characters developments. It was a backstory with a purpose.
Mafi is a wordsmith, that was made blatantly obvious from this novel. Often, Mafi's writing was very rhythmic and had a lyrical quality. This was reminiscent of beat poetry in my opinion. Though this could be very distracting the switch from straight prose to this type of lyricality was gradual and it was all done with purpose. It was not frills or fluff. It was an inside look into the protagonist and helped the timing of the novel.
This novel has become one of my favorites. I do have one true issue with this novel and that is that I did not find out much at all about these powers (or "disease"). It was pretty vague and I really want to know more. However, that's probably my impatience showing since it is a trilogy. So I suppose I will have to find out. I will be completing this serious as soon as I can get these books in my hands.
Have you read this novel? Have you finished the series? What were your feelings?
