Paperback: 416 pages Publisher: Puffin (3 Mar 2011)
Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction/Dystopia/ Source:Publisher
Rating:
"For a moment, he looks back at me and his farewell is in his smile. Then he turns to the stars. And he is gone."
My Thoughts - Across the Universe begins with a stunning opening chapter. It's horrific and vivid to the point where you practically feel your own throat clam up. Although I will agree with many others on this and say that the rest of the book didn't exactly match up to the beginning. I didn't mind too much though, because overall? It was worth it.
I didn't have very high expectations going into the book which may just be the reason behind why I was so pleasantly surprised to find just how much I was becoming engrossed in Across the Universe.
I don't want to get to into the plot. I think in this books case it's best to be as vague as possible and for the reader to do most of the figuring out. So, I'll be focusing more on characterisation.
There were some brilliant aspects of the books that I loved. How Elder practically matured before our very eyes and took charge when he felt something that even Eldest was doing was wrong *take into account that it will take him a while to get to this point*. Throughout the book he showed and proved to Amy and his people that one day when he would lead he would do things right. Also, there was the fact how we could all relate to Amy feeling like an outcast and having to come to terms with this hopelessness of being on this ship with no way out: with having your parents a room away and having to do the right thing as much as your heart tells you something else entirely. I'm not sure I could have been as strong as her if I was ever in such a situation. Other aspects of the book that I loved were not just the concept and the great world building, but also the consistent mystery and twist and turns in the book: they especially kept me on my toes. Not to mention THE ENDING -- JUST GAH!!
This then leads us to the not - so positive things. I could never really grasp what he felt for Amy. Was it love or just lust? I mean, as much as I don't like to think it, it seems obvious to me that he liked her simply because she was pretty/different and from Earth. This niggled at me throughout the book and unsettled me a little. Also there were promising characters like Orion, Eldest and the Doctor that I felt could have been more developed. From this aspect things can be seen as too simplistic and one dimensional. Eldest was just the bad guy, the Doctor heartless, and Orion sympathetic. The problem wasn't just that the secondary characters were one dimensional whilst the MC and Elder weren't, I felt they were lacking too. And as much as I wanted to hate Eldest I couldn't. In a way I empathised with him. What do you tell your people when you are in such a hopeless situation? He was simply going with what he had been brought up to do. The only thing is that he seemed to have crossed the line without realising it, or reached a point where he didn't care anymore. At times we saw this side to him that was weak, full of regret and tired but then suddenly he would become the heartless villain again. Point being -- I didn't understand what the author was really trying to achieve with him: personally I felt like there was more to him: a side that wasn't fully explored. I would've just liked some of the characters to be more developed, to have known a little more about them, to have seen more depth to their personality.
In reality I can't say that I connected with the characters. I mean, I just finished the book a few minutes ago and I'm not exactly mourning for Amy and Elder, or anyone else for that matter. Apart from one character: Harley. He always stood out to me, and that's because I think the author really took her time with him, and allowed us to know a side to him that not many did. We were told of his past, and overall he seemed more human than anyone else on that ship. So human that it became unbearable for him. I ache for him, but not Amy and Elder. I think that's when you know that the MC could have done with some improvements.
There is one scene I want you to look out for. It was completely unexpected and did contain sexual content but I think it served a purpose, and although it shook me it had the desired affect. I want you to read that scene and get back to me and let me know your thoughts on it. Going back to Elder: I liked him, he was a good guy in my opinion if not too much of a follower, but then again if you pay attention you can see that this is what they have all been brought up on the ship to believe: do as Eldest says -- which is why I appreciated how he grew little by little and eventually stood up and made his own decisions.
Things are often quite black and white in the book, or can leave that impression anyway characterisation - wise. Eldest is bad and Elder good. Well, when we are smacked with this ending, and what a ending it is! Sure, we might be sure that Elder will hopefully do right by his people; however, the ending still leaves a very big question mark in your head. Just how different is he really from Eldest? This is the breakthrough, this very ending I feel is what makes this book fantastic. In contrast to throughout the book where it bothered me that certain things were so black and white the ending leaves you with a situation with a lot of assuming and questioning: an ending which isn't just about right and wrong, but about: intent, reasoning ulterior motives, trust and betrayal.
Yes, there were certain times where it felt like a paragraph or two lagged but that wasn't really much of a problem. My lack of empathy and connection with Amy and Elder might have been a very big problem had I not been so impressed by the actual world building and the potential I saw not only in the book but in the actual characters. Across the Universe has its flaws but it's also very very promising: I see a lot of potential. It contains characters that if more developed could make this book not fantastic, but amazing. I'm hoping IF there is a sequel it will provide us with just that. Read this book: that is definitely recommended. Despite my nit picks I will say that it's not one to miss.
"A leader doesn't make pawns - he makes people."
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