28/12 - I had a whole plan of what I was going to read, and when, going into the new year, but this has thrown a wrench into those plans. I had been looking forward to reading this for months, watching as it moved its way up through my suspended holds list, finally reaching the top yesterday. It wasn't until it became available to 'pick up' after being on hold for about nine months that I realised that the book I had put on hold all those months ago had turned into an eBook without me even being notified. I'm not much of an eBook fan and I was a little grumpy about the fact that I was being forced to read it in digital form rather than the expected paperback, especially as I only get a week to read it instead of three and it can't be renewed at all instead of up to two times. Plus, as I said, I had a plan and an eBook that needs to be read immediately before all other books will screw that plan up quite badly. The one thing this book has going for it at the moment is that it's quite short, so shouldn't take too long to read, fortunately, because my next library book is due back two days after this is, and then the next one after that is due two days after that. I'm going to be busy!To the book itself...I have seen the movie a couple of times and enjoyed it enough to give it a rating of 3.5 to 4 stars. As long as neither of the main characters have annoying internal monologues I believe that this will be a solid 3.5 to 4 star rating, my feelings likely matching my feelings on the movie. To be continued...30/12 - Both Lina's grandmother and Doon's father sound like serious hoarders, and I should know I'm a big fan of Hoarding: Buried Alive. I watch the show for educational purposes and in an attempt to learn the signs that I'll need to watch out for as I get older and the one main obstacle stopping me from becoming a full-blown book hoarder, my mum, gets older herself. But, with the fact that Ember citizens rarely throw anything out I imagine the whole city are hoarders, and that's better than throwing something out only to find that it would be useful a few days down the track (see, that's pure hoarder talk - I sympathise with the hoarder's plight, especially if they're hoarding books which will eventually be my downfall).Later - This is clearly not really meant for adults, or even young adults, unless young adults start at around the age of nine. YA tends to have hints (or complete whitewashes) of romance and more adult themes than the natural death of a grandparent or the corruption of government. The language is far simpler than I would expect from a book aimed at 15 - 20-year-olds and events or items (that are found in the City of Ember) are explained much more extensively than what a teenager should need. There are also a number of 'lessons' the characters, and through them the readers, are learning, and it's not like the lessons are in any way subtle - the book tells you quite clearly what the right way to behave is, and what isn't. Lina is learning that "sometimes it was a good thing to go fast and sometimes not", and Doon is learning that "when anger is the boss you get unintended consequences". Both direct (or close enough) quotes from the book. To be continued...Later - Huh! That ended abruptly. I thought it was the end of the penultimate chapter, not the end of the book. I guess it doesn't help when the movie doesn't end that way, not being made to be a trilogy, as the book was. But still, that didn't feel like the end of the first book in a trilogy, it felt like the end of a chapter 3/4 of the way through the first book in a trilogy. I guess a complete and utter cliff hanger (if ever I saw one) is a really good way to get your readers immediately desperate to pick up the next book in the series. No older child/young teenager could possibly hold out weeks or even months before reading the next book, their attention span isn't nearly long enough.Anyway, I enjoyed the book, but found it a little simplistic in the language and slightly preachy with its messages. As I said, it ends with a horrible cliff hanger so it won't be long before I get my hands on the next book in the trilogy.
I didn't realize what the biggest problem with this book was until I had finished it - which, thankfully, only took about an hour from start to finish. The biggest problem is that the entire city, society, economy, and all, feels like it was only created to give the main characters something to do with their time.It seems impossible to me that a city could exist for 200+ years with no innovations, no improvements, no advancements, nothing. They're all dependent on a dwindling stock of canned goods and panicking about the periodic short-term blackouts (the longest mentioned in the book is 7 minutes) even though the blackouts have been part of life for everyone there as long as they can remember. Even beyond that, it explicitly states that no one in that 200+ years has managed to create *any kind* of portable light.Think about that. Not only are there no flashlights, there are no lanterns. There are no candles. There are no oil lamps. A couple of people manage to catch a stick on fire and wander into the darkness outside the city with it, only to go mad when the stick inevitably burns out - and NO ONE tries any experiments with any other type of flammable substance to see which might last longer, how it might be fueled, or even think about carrying, what, maybe a back-up stick?The thing about humans is that they're always trying to find out "what happens IF." What happens if I combine vinegar and baking soda. What happens if I set my deodorant on fire (don't laugh; my brother actually did this). What happens if I push this big red button. Without any hint that the people of Ember were being controlled by radio waves, or drugs in their food, or hypno-dream-therapy, I find it completely unbelievable that every single one of them would have such a complete lack of curiosity or even just desperation at their existing circumstances that they don't even attempt to see, maybe, what kinds of fungus are edible, or experiment with any of the electrics while they were still in full supply to find out how they really worked.And that brings us to our heroes: the only two people in the history of Ember who seem to have both an understanding of the deterioration of their society AND the impetus to do something about it (besides marching ineffectually with placards in front of the mayor's house - another sign that the general population of Ember is pretty much standing around begging for someone else to save them). This is why I say that the city is basically a straw-man argument - the only reason for it existing the way it does, for the people acting the way they do, is if you have pre-determined that you want to have a couple of twelve-year-old heroes who are the only ones clever enough, brave enough, and determined enough to accomplish anything at all. The rest of the population is just a monotone backdrop to let the two of them stand out even further.
What do You think about The City Of Ember (2004)?
City of Ember is a reminder to me of how much better YA novels are than middle grade. It seriously took me way longer to finish this book than it probably should have. I found the writing to be very repetitive with awful sentence structure. The plot was really predictable and the characters were so boring and generic. The protagonists were not relatable and a bit naive at times which just made the book even more dislikable. I was also hoping that Doon and Lina would get together, but of course, it never happens in this book because it's middle grade! Nothing about this book really stands out from other novels. Though I did appreciate the great world building, I thought the story was overall ironically dull.
—Carleigh
OMG! This book was really gooood!!!I was reluctant to read another dystopian after the disaster with Divergent, but this book was something I really needed after those 'heavy but 3 stars' books!This book is about Ember, a city of darkness which is running out of its resources. Lina and Doon find the secret to save the city but no one believes them. So now they have to save themselves and their people before Ember completely drowns into darkness.The book was really simple about survival and escaping from darkness but what makes is good is the kids in this book are childlike! They are innocent and good hearted. The book has some unexpected turns and keeps you engaged to the end!Really looking forward to the next book in series! :)
—Gehna
I'm currently reading this book, I was at the library and just picked it up not really knowing what it was about. Anyway, as soon as I started reading it I couldn't stop. It's one of those books that you cant put down. Infact I have been late for school a few days because I stay up so late reading it.It's not a very large book. But the story is incredible!From what i've read so far it is about a girl who lives in a strange city called Ember, where there is no such thing as the sun. The whole city is lit by lights. Because 300 years ago, people called the builders decided to create the place. Ember is now in danger of dying away, because all the supplies are running out (the builders built giant storage places and filled them with supplies) And nobody knows how to make anything themselves. Another problem is the generator, recently their have been frequent power failures that last only minutes, but without the power their is no way to see, or do anything. Then one day the main girl finds a strange letter that seems to have been written by the builders. I wont say anymore, as to not spoil it.
—Owen
