Review/Discussion Post + Giveaway: Pure by Julianna Baggott

So Michelle of Galleysmith and I thought since our joint reviews were so successful last August, we'd do it again. These are more in-depth than my usual reviews and discuss plot points in a non-spoilery way. We'll post about a different book every Thursday, and our third book is PURE.

First, the summary (from Goodreads):

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet, she thinks about what is lost--how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies.

You'll notice that I gave PURE the Zombie Chicken Merit Badge for twists. I felt it had a strong element of surprise and originality in the genre.

Michelle and I decided to discuss four topics: Genre classification, Myths, Mutations and Pacing/Length. The first two we discuss below, the second two we discuss over at Galleysmith.

Genre classification

Lenore:

PURE is an interesting case because you have an obvious post-apocalyptic scene going on outside the dome. People are fused to other objects, breathe in ash, don’t have much to eat, and long for what the “pures” inside the dome must have. People inside the dome may live luxuriously in comparison, but inside is no picnic either. The leadership forces “coding” (gene manipulation) on the population to control them, decides whether they can reproduce or not, and throws anyone who dissents into jail.

Michelle: 

PURE is certainly a tough one to classify into one particular genre/category. There are definite dystopian qualities to Pure too. As you mention the folks in the dome enacting population control through gene manipulation, but also outside the dome there is the roving patrols of the OSR. The taking of children of a certain age, the indiscriminate killing sprees, and other methods of control and persecution definitely speak to a more dystopian feel.

Lenore: 

Ah yes - the OSR. When you find out what they’re really up to - who they are really controlled by --- it’s chilling. Those were some of the most horrible scenes in the novel. If this were a movie (and it may well be one day, considering rights have already been optioned), those are the parts that would have me covering my eyes.

Myth inclusion/creation

Lenore: 

I found it fascinating how the author incorporated classic tales such as The Swan Wife and the myth of the phoenix into her plot. Not only that, I also enjoyed her exploration of myth creation and its dissemination (i.e. the message from the dome, the “whispers” and the Good Mother). It added a whole other layer to the story for me.

Michelle: 

But do you think that it was too subtle? What about those who may not know those myths, does it really enhance the story or just give a bit more to those in the know about the particular myths?

Lenore: 

You’re right that literary allusions are tricky, since not everyone is going to be familiar with them. Heck, there was probably a bunch more stuff in there that I missed. But it does point to the kind of depth that gets books included on school lesson plans. I’m sure English teachers would love to pull this apart.

Michelle: 

I agree, there is no question there is a lot of depth to this book but I wonder if some of it is too subtle. For me, if there was a bit more definition of that mythology I may have walked away from the book feeling more of it’s meaning. This is a huge factor especially if those feelings and that meaning was significant to the plot of the book. Sure I got the Phoenix references, but the others, not so much which is a shame.

Don't miss the rest of the discussion over at Galleysmith! 

Series order:

PURE - out now
FUSE - release date unknown

THE NEW AFTER - release date unknown

Visit the official book website for more info and to read the opening pages. Also, check out the PURE preview interview Julianna did last Dystopian August.

I have one copy of PURE to give away today curtesy of the publisher. To enter, fill out this form by Feb 24, 2012 at 11:59 pm CST. US and Canada only.

See index of all dystopian reviews at Presenting Lenore

FTC disclosure: The publisher sent me this book for review.