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.

Author Interview: Julianna Baggott previews Pure

For my spotlight on upcoming dystopian/post apocalyptic fiction series, I interviewed over 20 authors with novels coming out in the genre in 2012/13.  These are exclusive first looks at exciting new works.  Enjoy!

Photo credit: Laura Ciociola

PURE is an adult novel that's already getting tons of buzz, and Author Julianna Baggott is here today to add to that buzz with her preview.  The book is due to drop on February 8, 2012 (Grand Central Publishing/Hachette) and film rights have been optioned.


Here's the summary:

A dystopian novel about a society of haves, who escaped an apocalypse in a futuristic dome-covered city, and have-nots, who survived the nearly destroyed outside world. The have-nots are almost entirely marked or mutated in some manner. 

PURE centers around the story of Pressia, a 16-year-old survivor with a doll’s head fused into her left hand, and Partridge, an unmarked Pure who has escaped the Dome to find his mother, certain that she has survived the cataclysm.

The cover is mighty pretty:

And now ... onto the interview.


Why do you think people are drawn to "dark" stories?

People are drawn to compelling stories. We want conflict and resilience. We want to have hope. You can't get to hope without going through some hopelessness. There's no greater way to come to believe in resilience than knowing desperation. In other words, people want darkness because they want to truly appreciate light.  

If PURE had a theme song, what would it be and why? 

For me, while gearing up to write, I like the dark industrial sounds of The Smiths "How Soon is Now?" But a friend of ours saw the cover and sent me a few compositions from Yoko Shimomura from the video game "Kingdom Hearts," pieces like "Dive into the Heart," "Hollow Bastion," and, aptly, "End of the World," beautiful, moody, sweeping. 

What fictional character from another book would Pressia chose as her best friend and why?

I hadn't really thought of this really clearly and consciously, I don't think, until this moment -- and she isn't a fictional character, but we've read her words and the'vey moved us. She's made a huge impression on recent generations -- another girl from a book who had to hide. Anne Frank. (Of course, having Katniss as a bad ass on your side would always help.) 

What are your top 5 Dystopian lit recs and why? 

I haven't read as widely in this genre as you and your readers have. I wrote a novel about characters I loved and the writers I've loved for a long time helped me create this world -- from Aimee Bender to Gabriel Garcia Marquez to Margaret Atwood to Italo Calvino, Fred Chappell and Lewis Nordan. I recently did a YA summer reading round-up for NPR. Two of those titles deserve a much larger readership: Flip by Martyn Bedford and Karma by Cathy Ostlere. Neither are dystopic but both are dark and wild. 

What's on the top of your to-do list before the world ends? (you know, in case it ends next year)

Damn. That's a really brutal question. I suppose I'd like to be part of the resistance -- you know, the group that tries to stop the end of the world. That feels like a good cause. 

How does your novel stand out from other dystopian/post apocalyptic fiction out there?

Well, the world of PURE comes from the dark finery of my subconscious, the twisted parts of my own imagination, the things lodged in my memory, my take on the dystopic elements of our current world. It's mine, I guess, and so it is what it is. I hope it charges the imaginations of my readers -- contagiously. 

Visit the PURE preview website (includes excerpt of the first 7 pages)
Visit Julianna's website
Follow Julianna on Twitter
Add PURE to your GoodReads wishlist

Book Review: Earth the Book by The Daily Show Writers

At the BEA author breakfast back in May, I got to hear Jon Stewart talk a bit about this book -a guide to the Earth and the human race for the aliens that will inevitably find the barren wasteland we leave behind. We were also treated to a short, printed excerpt that produced a ton of giggles between Daniel and me.  Fast forward to the September release date.  We were at Watermark Books for Daniel's Buffalo book signing and saw a copy and had to get it.

Strangely, while the content structure has stayed pretty much the same, the jokes have mostly been changed. They are still giggle-inducing - just different. Be aware this book may not be for everyone (there is a naked picture of Larry King among other NC-17 content) but if you're not super sensitive and you like The Daily Show's brand of irreverant humor, this is one that will keep you laughing for days.  It would also make a great last minute Christmas gift!

Check out the book's website, where you can apply to be reconstituted when and if the aliens who find Earth decide to repopulate the planet.

Book Club Report: The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith

Our October book pick was donated by the lovely publicists at Hachette.  I wasn't aware that THE SECRET SPEECH was the 2nd in a trilogy (that begins with CHILD 44) until I read the author interview at the end of the book.

Short Summary: Stalin is dead and the new government issues a secret speech that condemns the brutality of his regime and those who worked for it, including our protagonist Leo. At the same time, one of the victims of Stalin's secret police starts hunting down former agents in revenge and ends up kidnapping Leo's adopted daughter in a plot to make him suffer as much as she did.

The Group's Verdict: We were divided - some thought the novel was just too violent for their tastes and didn't finish while others were quite impressed by the plot and character development of this historical thriller.  I personally had a hard time putting this one down and am looking forward to picking up the other books in this series (including the upcoming A NEW WORLD, due in February 2011).

Up Next: The book has not yet been chosen for the November meeting, but since I'll be in the US, I won't be able to attend anyway.  I should mention that my choice for our September meeting was THE HUNGER GAMES.  Everyone enjoyed it immensely and immediately wanted to start CATCHING FIRE.  Reactions to CATCHING FIRE were mixed though, with several members abandoning it after just a few chapters.

Read-a-thon Book Review: The Girl She Used to Be by David Cristofano

As a 6 year old, Melody and her parents witnessed a murder in Little Italy that put them in the Federal Witness Protection Program. Melody has been on the run for 20 years when one day, Jonathan, the son of the criminal her parents testified against catches up with her – and against all odds, they fall in love.

Talk about impossible romance! Melody has never felt safe since that fateful day when her life changed forever, and as someone protected by the government who has to be ready to start all over again at the drop of a hat, she has never been able to form close attachments to anyone. Jonathan wants to do the right thing, but the pressures of being in a mafia family are overwhelming. Melody and Jonathan have an amazing chemistry together though, and you really wish things could somehow work out for them.

Fast paced and with tight writing and plotting, this was a perfect readathon read.

THE GIRL SHE USED TO BE just came out in paperback. Find out more about it at the author’s website.

Book Review: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

The year is 2024 and 15 year old Lauren lives with her family in a walled community in LA County. Outside the walls, chaos rules. A water shortage has driven up prices on everything and people are desperate, stealing and killing just to survive. Even the police would rather steal from you than help you. These terrible conditions make Lauren strong, but can she survive all the trials that are coming her way?

Though I thought it got off to a slow start, once I settled into this novel’s rhythms, I was completely sucked in. I found it particularly interesting to see the gradual decline of Lauren’s community over a 3 year period, a stark contrast to a lot of apocalyptic fiction where the world is changed by a sudden event and there is a precisely defined before and after. Of course, even in a world of gradual decline, an individual can still have a defined before and after, and in Lauren’s case, it has to do with the event that forces her out on the road finally to fend for herself which comes about halfway through the narrative.

Lauren is a fighter and a survivor, and once she is out on her own, things start to really get interesting. I read this together with Megan of Po(sey) Sessions (we kept track of each other’s progress via twitter) and it wasn’t until this point that the novel really clicked for her. It’s because once Lauren starts her journey, she meets new people outside of her own experience that really broaden her understanding (and ours) of how bad it’s really gotten. Particularly galling is the government sanctioned slave driving that a lot of companies engage in because there are so many desperate people they can take advantage of. But we also meet (or at least see) cannibals, drug addled pyromaniacs, girls forced into prostitution by their own families, and “sharers” – people who share others pain and pleasure because of a drug they were exposed to in utero.

I wasn’t thrilled about the religion Lauren made up (and tended to skip the passages at the beginning of each chapter that were supposedly her teachings), but I did like that it added to her already very well-rounded and fascinating character. I’d definitely be interested in picking up the sequel, PARABLE OF THE TALENTS, to see how Lauren’s journey continues. (BTW - book boths are available in paperback)

My rating – 4 Zombie Chickens: An Excellent Example of the Dystopian (or in this case, Post Apocalyptic) Genre

See Index of all Dystopian Reviews on Presenting Lenore

Book Review: A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve

Newlyweds Margaret and Patrick embark on a yearlong adventure living in Kenya which ends up putting strain on their marriage.

As soon as Nicole heard I was going to Kenya, she generously offered to send me this novel and I was excited to have the opportunity to read it while I was there (thanks Nicole!). It is set in the late 1970s, but there was still much familiar about the country described, especially in regards to the high level of crime, the recreational activities, and the divide between expats and Kenyans. But although everything that had to do with the setting was incredibly engaging, the story itself meandered about with a bit of tragedy here, a bit of temptation to cheat there, but no real identifiable arc.

I was puzzled why Margaret would find Patrick attractive – he seemed like a self-absorbed jerk to me most of the time. The ending made sense though, and showed how much Margaret had grown over the course of the narrative.

A CHANGE IN ALTITUDE is available in hardcover now. Find out more about it at the author's website.

Book Club Report: The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos

I met with my new book club for the second time on May 27th to discuss The Night Gardener.

Short summary:

When a teen is found murdered in a Washingtion DC garden, it reminds veteran police officer Gus Ramone of a case he worked on as a rookie cop. Could the same killer, dubbed The Night Gardener, be on the loose again?

The group verdict:

The group is all women and we agreed that this novel seems more suited to men. Not only is there is grusome premise and a gritty setting, but the focus is on the male characters, the pages are full of men bragging about their sexual conquests in colorful language, and there is a primarily action driven plot.

We all expressed our frustration at the lack of real closure and the introduction of ancillary characters that had nothing to do with the main story. Perhaps they were there to show that the author has some familiarity with the DC criminal scene, but all the superfluous characters were just confusing to most of us.

I did enjoy the interogation scenes, and specifically that those being interogated always asked for the soft drink Slice and had to make due with Mountain Dew. I guess Slice is the criminal drink of choice in the DC area.

Up next:

Undecided. The next meeting is a movie night to watch Slumdog Millionaire.

Tour of Hachette Books

Another NYC highlight this past week was Kelly giving me, Daniel, Steph (Reviewer X) and Nicole (Linus's Blanket) a tour of Hachette's offices on Monday morning. Kelly took nearly two hours out of her day to answer our questions and show us around. Thank you to Kelly and the whole online team at Hachette. You are doing a great job reaching out to bloggers.

Group shot (Kelly Leonard, Anna Balasi, Miriam Parker, Nicole, Brianne Beers, me, Steph, Valerie Russo)

Our first stop was to visit Alice in the Little, Brown Young Readers division. I can't tell you how cool it was to see her desk piled high with ARCs of HATE LIST, ASH and PROPHESY OF THE SISTERS (all spoken for). No stack of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES because they went superfast!

Alice's desk

She told us a bit about her job and that she gathers up ARC requests and then deals with them all at once about once a week. She loves digest e-mails, so if you owe her links to several reviews, it is best if you wait to send them all at once.

Me and Alice Morley in front of this season's Little, Brown Young Readers sign

We walked around and looked at a couple of the other departments and imprints, with Kelly telling us about what they do.

Kelly points out the various imprints

And of course, she had to show us the ARC closet that Brianne recently organized. I am sure I squealed when I saw it.

Brianne shows off her handiwork

Kelly showed us Hachette's video studio and then took us to a whole different floor to check out Hachette's in-house, state-of-the-art audio recording studio where actors and authors come in to record audio books.

What I'd look like if I was recording an audio book
Hachette is very pro-book blogger and were very early adapters in online marketing. They are both amazingly accommodating and genuinely thrilled to be working with us.

They've set up a platform on ning where book bloggers can sign up to host a Hachette giveaway and another platform where book bloggers can request upcoming titles for review.

Thanks again Kelly!

Book Review: Then We Came to the End

Then we came to the End is by former advertising copywriter Joshua Ferris. That fact alone is a reason for me to read the book, because I like to support my fellow copywriter peeps. This book landed on Entertainment Weekly magazine's top 10 of 2007 book list and it has a unique conceit - namely that it is written in 1st person plural "we" for all of the book except a short interlude in the middle. In my work, I write in 3rd person plural nearly all the time - because companies want to appear friendly and inclusive - but using it for a narrative? That's difficult to pull off - but I happy to report that Ferris does.

We are introduced to a creative team at a Chicago advertising agency who are all trying to look busy so they won't be the ones who fall victim to layoffs. The characters seem familiar to anyone who has toiled in an office - the practical joker Tom, the shy but sweet Benny who is in love with the loud-mouthed Marcia, the trendy overachiever Karen Woo, the depressed Janine, hysterical Chris Yop, loner Joe, Amber and Larry engaged in a "secret" office affair and Lynn, the boss who everyone is scared of, who becomes the heart of the story.

As business becomes worse, characters start getting fired, though the story is not always told in linear fashion, but rather the circular storytelling of office gossip. There are incidents that are hilarious (one involving a office chair), puzzling (such as old Brizz leaving Benny a massive totem pole in his will), disturbing (a certain office visit by Tom after he is let go), and sad (the death of a child, breast cancer) - all told in that breathy "Have you heard about..." tone so prevalent around the water cooler.

I really enjoyed reading this debut novel (there are even some fun ad campaigns interspersed) and look forward to more from Ferris.