Published: 2005-2007
Pages: 1,596
Source: Borrowed
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Synopsis for Book 1, Uglies:
Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world-- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever...
Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world-- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever...
In short: It's a shame I didn't read the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld a decade ago when the dystopian story elements wouldn't have seemed so derivative.
What I am sure would have seemed like a wholly original premise and storyline to me had I read Uglies in 2006 seemed anything but original reading it now ten years later. Instead I was almost bored at times because we've seen these same sorts of elements before SO many times, and I would say we've seen them done BETTER at this point. And things that wouldn't have annoyed me about Uglies ten years ago - like all the futuristic slang speak - annoyed the heck out of me now.
This is not the fault of Uglies or of Scott Westerfeld, I realize. The fault lies purely with me for waiting so long to read what I am sure would have been a favourite of mine ten years ago. Though I was bored and annoyed at times with the repetition of the dystopian story elements, I can at least appreciate that the Uglies series set the trend before the curve began. And I am glad to finally be able to remove this series from my TBR list where it has been sitting for the past decade. But I think I may need a longer break before I delve into another dystopian again!
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Did you read all the books in the series? I think I read these about five years ago, and I liked Uglies and most of Pretties, but by the end of Pretties, it got way too crazy for me and I stopped being able to relate to the characters. I think you're right though, if these had been able to be read before the whole dystopian craze, I think I would have liked them more, and I think a lot of other people would have too. Love your reviews!
ReplyDeleteYes, I read them all! I would say the first book was definitely my favourite, as well... the star rating here is an average across all the books in the series. Thank you so much!
DeleteAw, sorry this didn't work because tired of dystopia
ReplyDeleteYeah, such a shame!
DeleteI've had that happen to me as well^^ even without the repetitive themes, our tastes evolve, and what we know we would have loved in the past just doesn't click now. I've never been really drawn to this series and considering how you said that we've had better dystopians since, I'm not really feeling this one - but I do want to read Scott Westerfeld!
ReplyDeleteMmm yes, also because my tastes are evolving... I wouldn't recommend making this a priority if it has never really been on your TBR. But I definitely do want to read more from Scott Westerfeld sometime!
DeleteI read the first two books in 2011 when I started reading YA again and it seemed so original. If you do want to read Scott Westerfeld I enjoyed his MG series, Leviathan
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I've heard some very good things about Leviathan!
DeleteI think I had a similar reaction to yours. I enjoyed this series, but it was hard to see it as original at this point, even if it was when it was written.
ReplyDeleteAh, I see i'm not alone in feeling this way.
DeleteMy daughter read two of the books in the series and then stopped. She also said there was a lot of repetitive stuff. I might try this series if I had time and found them at the library. Thanks for reviewing these books.
ReplyDeleteYeah, definitely go the library route for this series if you're not sure.
DeleteI think I'd feel the same way about a lot of series. If I read them now, I probably wouldn't like them as much as I might have in the past. Sorry this felt overdone, now that Dystopia has blown up so much. I haven't read any of these personally, but I'm also not a really big Dystopian fan in general.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
Yes, it's interesting how certain themes in fiction go in and out of trend - I'm sure I would feel the same way about a lot of series too.
DeleteI read this series back in high school and remember loving it. I'm not sure how I'd feel about it now with all the dystopians on the market. It's too bad the series doesn't feel as original anymore.
ReplyDeleteEhh yeah... I wish I had read it back in high school too. Ah well.
DeleteI got hooked on to this series before the whole dystopian thing was all the rage. I really liked the commentary of beauty and cosmetic surgery.
ReplyDeleteYeah, see that element just seemed so played and generic. But I think I wouldn't have felt that way a decade ago.
DeleteI really loved the UGLIES series when I read it, but I read it before the big dystopia craze really took off, so it was still pretty unique to me. I completely understand how it would feel a bit weak and redundant though. It definitely shares a lot with other dystopian teen books. I'm kind of afraid to finally get to a few series and trilogies that I've put off for the same reason that you found Uglies a bit played out, too. The Delirium trilogy, for example...I still haven't read it, and I have all three books, but since dystopia has gotten so redundant, I feel like I'll probably dislike it partially because it'll feel like I've read other books that had the same ideas.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you gave the series a shot though, Eilidh. It makes me want to go back and finally pick up some of the books I've been putting off! :)
Ambur @ Burning Impossibly Bright
Ehhh yeah, I guess that's just the way of things. Trends come and go, and it's easy to get burnt out on certain genres if they're everywhere. Delirium is probably a good example of one that I wouldn't have liked as much if I had read it now - but when I read it in early 2011 I LOVED the heck out of it!!
DeleteOh my God, this is such a coincidence, because just yesterday, Janhvi and I were about how difficult it is becoming to get into dystopian these days and how we should have probably read the dystopians on our TBRs long ago during the Hunger Games days. Nonetheless, it's good to know that you were still able to enjoy this series. Great review!
ReplyDeleteSarika @ The Readdicts
were *talking about...
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