Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself - and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Buy this book here: The Selection

Title: The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Pages: 352

Publisher: HarperTeen

With the third book in this series having just come out a few days ago, I thought I would share my thoughts on the previous two books, and ultimately why I won't be buying or reading the third installment anytime soon. 

For me, this book felt like ABC's The Bachelor, only held in ancient times. 35 girls are chosen to compete for the hand of the Prince. At anytime they can be sent home, its all up to Prince Maxon. Starting to sound similar to anyone else? There is lots of drama, girl-girl drama, girl-boy drama, and ultimately the book finishes with no real resolution.

I understand the book is the first in a trilogy, but I was surprised when the second book picked up immediately where the first one left off. Like word for word?!? Since when did that become a thing? I noticed the same thing happened in the Divergent books. And honestly, I wasn't really a fan of that style. I think its because I felt like Cass was simply stretching out the storyline in order to sell more books and convince people they needed to read the next one.

I really felt like the whole "Selection" process could have been resolved in a single book, and then Cass could have looked at different story lines and developed those in future books. Instead she dragged out a single plot into three different novels. By the time the second one finished I was no longer interested, and so I won't be reading the third book. I'll ask my friends to see what the ultimate conclusion was, but I just can't bring myself to read it.

The characters seemed immature and unfinished. America (yes, her name is really America) lacked substance and background. And I hated the fact that her name was America. I understand why Cass chose it, to show her fighting nature. In the end though, it fell short of that.

If you are looking for a quick easy read, then this is a book for you. There was very little substance, but at least the first book kept me interested enough to finish. If, however, you are looking for something with depth, with characters that excite and enthrall you, and a great adventure that you can dive into, this is probably not the book for you. I give this book a 2 arrow rating. Don't waste your time unless all you are looking for is something to waste your time with.

Movie Mondays: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Welcome to Movie Mondays! Here at Found in the Fiction posts on Mondays will be devoted to reviewing books and the movies that followed them! I'll be looking at the differences between the two, and ultimately deciding which one was better. So, if you've read a book and are wondering if the movie is worth it, check back on Mondays! Also, if you've got any suggestions of books-turned-movie, feel free to comment below! I'd love to check them out and possibly review them here!

So, without further blabbing on my part, the first installment of Movie Mondays:

In dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five faction, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both.

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Pages: 427

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

But this book here: Divergent  

I first heard of this book in the movie theater actually, as I waited for Catching Fire to start. They had an advertisement for the upcoming movie, and I knew I had to read the book first. I'm a firm believer that a book should be read before you watch the movie that is based on it. Maybe I'm just a purist, but I think there is something more authentic about the experience that way.

When I dove into Divergent, I didn't have a lot of expectations. I didn't know a lot about it, and I didn't know many other people who had read it either. I was pleasantly surprised by the world that Veronica Roth created. It had more depth than I expected, yet was easy to follow.

While the dystopian-society-book-drama is becoming overdone, I felt like the first installment of this series was worth reading. Tris is a relatable character that I feel girls anywhere from 9 to 25 could relate to. She comes from Abnegation, seems timid, shy, and unsure of herself. Yet, as the novel progresses the faction Dauntless helps her to gain courage and strength that she didn't know she had.

This book is a fast read that will keep you entertained. I finished the book in under a day, I couldn't put it down. I really liked that Roth focused on Tris' initiation into Dauntless so thoroughly. She made me felt like I was right there, not missing a single step. I really liked the book, but at the end of the day I can only give it 4/5 arrows. Don't get me wrong, its a great read, I just don't think that it was life changing in anyway. It is simply a well written fun piece of Young Adult Fiction.

. . . . . . . . But what about the movie you say? . . . . . . . .

Lets take a look!!

I really enjoyed the movie version of Divergent. My biggest complaint about it is that I'm not a huge of Shailene Woodley, the actress who played Tris. This is probably because of the few times I watched The Secret Life of the American Teenager and I was not impressed. I feel like she was missing some of the emotion, the excitement, fear, anger, that Tris needed to have. Tris was much more volatile in the book then the screen version conveyed. I was however very pleased the casting of Four. For me his character was exactly spot one!! 

I know the movie did take some liberties when it came to plot choices and character to include from the book, but overall I felt like it had a similar feel to the book. My husband watched it with me, and he had not read the book. With book-made-movies I always wonder if they are understandable if you haven't read them before. My husband liked the movie and didn't have very many questions, so as far as that goes it gets my stamp of approval!

The only downfall of the movie was the deletion of Uriah. He was by far one of my favorite characters from the book, and to be completely missing was sad. I'm really hoping that he makes a grandiose appearance in the next movie!!

Book v. Movie :  For me the book definitely wins here, but the movie was close behind. I think the book mainly wins out because I simply love to read more than I love to watch movies! What can I say, I'm a nerd :)