Saturday, December 31, 2011

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi



"You can't touch me," I whisper.
I'm lying, is what I don't tell him.
He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him.
But things happen when people touch me.
Strange things.
Bad things.
No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.
But Juliette has plans on her own.
After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.(synopsis from Goodreads)




Shatter Me, has been on my wish list since I began reading the reviews of fellow readers and bloggers. A group I belong to on Goodreads chose it as their January Book of the Month. (sorry guys I couldn’t wait) So I bought it with B&N gift cards I received for Christmas.  This is the last book I read for 2011 and boy did I go out with a bang. I absolutely loved, flipped out over ,loved, couldn't get enough of, loved loved this novel. I was immediately captured by Mafi’s lyrical writing style and her use of metaphors. This novel was beautifully written and I found the story line engaging. Shatter Me is so refreshing and the writing style so unique that each line is poetry. When I finished reading I was spent and wanted more...

Protagonist Juliette is seventeen years old and has been imprisoned in an asylum since she was fourteen. She has been told she is a freak, a monster, and murderer.  She hasn’t touched another human being in years.  She keeps a secret journal and watches from her cell window for a white bird. Despite all that has happened to her, she cares, she loves and she hopes. I love that she isn't a whiner, that she is fearless and hasn't lost her humanity. 

The world she lives in is controlled by the Reestablishment. They control the food and water supply and are ruthless; killing anyone who opposes them. We aren’t told a whole lot about how this change occurred. Often the first book of a new series is bogged down with back history and details. Mafi slowly feeds us these details and truths.  The seasons have changed, birds no longer fly in the sky and animals have sicken and died. People have committed suicide over hunger. Only parts of the earth are inhabitable and towns and cities are abandoned; as survivors move to sanctioned areas.

Juilette has not spoken to anyone in three years and is told she will have a cellmate. In walks Adam. Gorgeous blue eyed Adam.  I have never declared myself team anything…but I am a new member of team Adam. The way, in which Mafi describes his emotions through facial gestures and actions makes you fall in love him. The chemistry between Juliette and Adam is almost overpowering, bittersweet and eternal.  The connection and back story of their meeting is touching.  You immediately want these two to be together, to escape and somehow find a happily ever-after in this godforsaken world they live in.

Warren is the son of the Reestablishment leader. He has been placed in control of his own sector. He has been raised in a twisted way and the mention of his mother unhinges him. He seeks power, control and most of all Juliette. I detest Warren. He makes my skin crawl. He is feared by his soldiers and is ruthless in obtaining what he wants. He demands total allegiance. I don’t think he will ever stop pursuing Juliette…unless he is dead.

The ending sets us up perfectly for book two; which is yet untitled. The expected publication is November 2012 with a third book set to be released in 2013. I will be checking netGalley and B&N like an insane fan waiting to get my hands on it  patiently waiting for the release of book two. Mafi has earned a spot on my list of must read authors. I highly recommend Shatter Me to fans of dystopias, fantasies and romances.

I gave this book 5 coffee cups out of 5.                Kimba
                                    



Author's website:Tahereh Mafi

Buy it at B&N here(click book cover):           


Or at Amazon here :

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10 Comments:

At December 31, 2011 at 6:36 PM , Blogger Tia said...

Great review. I'm adding Shatter Me to my TBR list. I seen this books floating around online but never really paid attention to it, but now I'm totally sold. I'll come back in a couple weeks and buy it through your Amazon link.

 
At December 31, 2011 at 7:13 PM , Blogger cris said...

Thank you so much for the wonderful comments on my blog! I love reading books, I do the occasional book review here and there! Love Love LOVE your blog!
Happy New Year
Cris

 
At December 31, 2011 at 8:53 PM , Blogger hbjgvhuogyihpo said...

This is a great review! I haven't heard much about this book, but it sounds great! I think I'm going to have to get it so I can read it (:
New follower!
http://tabithabookblog.blogspot.com/

 
At January 1, 2012 at 1:27 AM , Blogger Lisa said...

So glad to hear you enjoyed this book! It's in my 2011/all-time favourites list :)

 
At January 1, 2012 at 2:21 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

So glad to see that you liked this! I'm really looking forward to reading this as soon as I've finished my current read. The cover is gorgeous.

 
At January 1, 2012 at 6:25 AM , Blogger Krazzyme(Young Readers) said...

I want to read this one so badly!! :)
my expectations are TOO HIGH.




Krazyyme @ Young Readers

 
At January 1, 2012 at 9:35 AM , Blogger Sally@Always Lost in Stories said...

Awesome! Like you I saw so much hype about this book that it made me NEED to have it. I got this for christmas and CAN'T WAIT to read it now!

 
At January 1, 2012 at 11:00 PM , Blogger Midnyte Reader said...

I got this book at ComicCon and I don't know why I keep hesitating reading it. Everyone seems to like it. I'll have to give it a try.

 
At January 2, 2012 at 8:44 AM , Blogger Melissas Eclectic Bookshelf said...

This book has so many wonderful reviews! I ca not wait to get my hands on it!! Thanks for reinforcing the hype!!

And Happy New Year!!

♥ Melissa @ Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

 
At January 2, 2012 at 4:40 PM , Blogger anaavu said...

I won Shatter Me and I'm so excited to read it! Thanks for an amazing review!

 

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