Monday 6 August 2012

Pretties - Book Review

Pretties (Uglies #2)
by Scott Westerfeld


What is it about:
Gorgeous. Popular. Perfect. Perfectly wrong.

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.

But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.

Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.


What did I think of it:
Although a nice read I didn't like this book as much as Uglies, the first book in this series.

The world building is still lacking enough explanation to satisfy my curiosity. The whole society feels unreal because of that.

Then there's the mixed messages Westerfeld is giving in this book. The Pretties and their world are wrong, he seems to want to say, but at the same time his lead characters, who are fighting against the system, are all but anorexic (there's a reason they're not eating, but still) and at one time in the story Tally practically gets worshipped because of her Pretty looks.

And of course: We can't have a YA series without a love triangle, now can we?

Those annoyances aside I enjoyed the story. Tally is still likeable, even as an airheaded Pretty and Zane (the newly introduced last side of our love triangle) was a very interesting and cool character as well. I rooted for them to find a solution to their problems.

The book ended in a cliffhanger ending that would have annoyed me if it wasn't for the fact I know I can borrow the next book in this series from a friend as soon as she has finished reading it.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice Dystopian YA read


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6 comments:

Nina said...

I have heard lots about this series. It sounds ok, nothing spectacular. I haven´t seen this cover before.. but, I like it.

titania86 said...

Pretties is my least favorite in the series. My favorite was Specials, so I hope you like that one better too.

M.A.D. said...

I'm not sure if it's because too much time had elapsed between my reading The Uglies and then starting on The Pretties, but I had a real hard time with this one as well, and ... honestly, did not finish it. Maybe someday lol ;)

Melliane said...

I didn't know this one was the second book. I don't know what to think about this series I heard a lot of mix things about it... thanks for the review!

Amber at The Musings of ALMYBNENR said...

Oh I really loved the whole series and I read it way before I ever started blogging. I don't think Westerfeld is sending mixed signals, it's just that as Uglies they were on the outside and wanted to fit in and then as Pretties they were brainwashed further and made to lose their individuality. Tally can't change much about her pretty looks other than put on some weight and that would take time, especially later on when there's not much to live on, if I remember correctly. Plus, she fought to regain herself. This is all just my opinion though. I think you'll enjoy it more if you continue on to the next book and find out where everything leads. :)

Sullivan McPig said...

She fought to regain herself by being anorexic, to stay 'bubbly' that's pretty much a mixed signal to me. But I might be overly critical. I will read Specials asap.