I love an intelligent dystopian novel; unfortunately, this one just didn’t pass the test (ha! couldn’t resist). It goes without saying that any dystopian novel written after the hugely successful Hunger Games, will inevitably be compared to Collins’ work. However, when a novel mirrors Collins’ work so closely, the author is just asking for degrading comparisons.
To begin with, I must say that The Testing is not nearly as richly imagined as The Hunger Games. The setting is mediocre, at best. The plot is ill-conceived and illogical. The characterization is weak, and the relationships are incredibly underdeveloped, leading to very little chemistry between the subjects.
Secondly, can she have imitated the Hunger Games arena any more closely??? Young people are thrown into a sectioned off area of wilderness with nothing more than a few items to aid in their trek. Life-saving gifts are given to the “favorite” female heroin from an anonymous donor, during the next-to-impossible journey. Mutant animals attack the contestants along the way. Cameras and other forms of surveillance equipment keep the "powers-that-be" aware of their location and conversations at all times. The youth form alliances, and some are ruthless in attempting to kill others to eliminate competition. Does any of this sound familiar?
In addition the relationship that Charbonneau attempted to develop between Cia & Tomas seemingly came out of nowhere, whereas Katniss and both of her love interests had a meaningful history. In the beginning chapters of the story, there seems to have been very little interaction between the two of them throughout their lives. A few chapters later, is when the reader discovers that there was, in fact, a lifelong friendship between the two. This revelation enters the novel too late in the game; precious time was wasted, and could’ve been used in building their relationship for the reader.
Another issue, is that the description of the event that occurred which lead to the current post-apocalyptic world, is not explained until the last ¾ of the book, at which point it’s too late. Charbonneau misses her mark throughout the book, and therefore the novel, itself, does the same.
Read 4/20/16
To begin with, I must say that The Testing is not nearly as richly imagined as The Hunger Games. The setting is mediocre, at best. The plot is ill-conceived and illogical. The characterization is weak, and the relationships are incredibly underdeveloped, leading to very little chemistry between the subjects.
Secondly, can she have imitated the Hunger Games arena any more closely??? Young people are thrown into a sectioned off area of wilderness with nothing more than a few items to aid in their trek. Life-saving gifts are given to the “favorite” female heroin from an anonymous donor, during the next-to-impossible journey. Mutant animals attack the contestants along the way. Cameras and other forms of surveillance equipment keep the "powers-that-be" aware of their location and conversations at all times. The youth form alliances, and some are ruthless in attempting to kill others to eliminate competition. Does any of this sound familiar?
In addition the relationship that Charbonneau attempted to develop between Cia & Tomas seemingly came out of nowhere, whereas Katniss and both of her love interests had a meaningful history. In the beginning chapters of the story, there seems to have been very little interaction between the two of them throughout their lives. A few chapters later, is when the reader discovers that there was, in fact, a lifelong friendship between the two. This revelation enters the novel too late in the game; precious time was wasted, and could’ve been used in building their relationship for the reader.
Another issue, is that the description of the event that occurred which lead to the current post-apocalyptic world, is not explained until the last ¾ of the book, at which point it’s too late. Charbonneau misses her mark throughout the book, and therefore the novel, itself, does the same.
Read 4/20/16
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