The City of Ember (Books of Ember)
by Jeanne DuPrau
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Book Reviews of The City of Ember (Books of Ember)
Book Review: Best in the Series
Summary: 4 Stars
It's been a while since I've made a post, not because I haven't read anything but because I usually post about a book series as one post rather than as separate posts for each book. But having read 3 of 4 books for the City of Ember series, I've decided to make an exception because each book is distinctly different, with a very different tone and feel.
What's funny about the City of Ember is that about two weeks before I went and bought it, my dad came to me and said "there was just this movie on TV that I think you would like, but I can't remember the name or really how to explain it to you." Then when I started telling him about this book after I read it he was like "hey, that's the movie I was telling you about!" So clearly, he was right.
Onto the book. City of Ember is about a self-contained city. Beyond its borders is nothing but darkness. The people know nothing but the city. The only problem is that the lights have been starting to flicker and die, the pipes are bursting, supplies are running out. But what can they do when there's nowhere else. Except that maybe there is somewhere else. When Lina discovers a note that contains instructions for how to leave, she and her friend Doon want to tell the city. There's just one problem: the mayor is corrupt and doesn't want the people to have more than him. There are many mysteries to resolve though, like how the people ended up in Ember in the first place, what the rest of the world holds, and can they get out before it is too late?
Jeanne DuPrau creates a fully realized reality. It feels very real. You can feel the terror of the citizens whenever the lights blackout. Of the three books I've read so far, this one is the best. It has the most tension and drama, there's more going on. The last bit is a little over the top (in a "life is beautiful!" sort of way), but otherwise it's exciting and realistic.
Book Review: This is a really excellent book!
Summary: 5 Stars
Initially I didn't have high expectations because it was a "children's" book, but this book exceeded my expectations by a lot.
It was very easy to read and I was captured by the first few pages. What this book most reminds me of is the old masters like Arthur C. Clark, except in a children's form. Children are really lucky today because they have so many authors catering to them. When I was a kid oh-so-many years ago, when you wanted to read science fiction you read Asimov or Arthur C. Clark, just like the adults, and you had to struggle through the difficult words and nuances.
This book reminds me of Rendezvous with Rama, except for kids, it's the atmosphere, it's you know something's going to happen, but you're just going to have to read on to find out type of atmosphere. We are introduced to 2 kids who live in a city named Ember. This is a very strange city, unlike any other. The author never tells you outright what the city is, why it is, who the inhabitants are and why they are living there. As you progress in the book, you are given hints about it, and you form conclusions on your own bit by bit. You see the city through the eyes of the 2 children and the city is revealed to you slowly and you guess the missing parts. That really is inspired writing, you want to know, but you can only know if you continue reading. That is what I mean about the atmosphere. I think it's just great, and follow in the footsteps of the old masters.
I really highly, highly recommend this book. It's a great start for kids who want and like to read sci-fi and I can't think of a better introduction than this book because this is not just good sci-fi, it's good writing. I've already got the sequel and will read it right after I post this review.
Book Review: City of Ember
Summary: 5 Stars
City of Ember's plot was intricate and throughout the story keep me wanting to know what would happen next. I was surprised at how much I liked this book. The story was written for a younger YA audience that I usually like to read, but I won't hold that against it. I think one of the reasons that I enjoyed this book so much is that I didn't know really anything about the plot; I would recommend NOT reading any reviews or plot summaries if you haven't already read the book.
The builders of the city of Ember created an underground city with the hopes of allowing the human race to survive. They left a box with Instructions for Egress in the hands of the mayor of the city. Each mayor was to pass the box to the next mayor until it was time for the box to open. Somewhere along the line a corrupt mayor put a kink in the whole plan leaving the members of the City of Ember living in a dying city. Doon and Lina grow up in this dark underground dystopia and don't question it, because it is all they have ever known. At the end of their schooling, they are randomly assigned jobs. Lina happens to run across the box in her grandmother's house and works with Doon to figure out what the message inside means.
I think just about everything was a little bit too easy for the main characters, but at least I didn't have to read through a bunch of failures before whatever it was they were doing finally worked. I loved how everything in the plot fit together and made logical sense at the end of the story. I am eager to read the next book (right now) to find out what happens with the main characters and the rest of the people of the City of Ember.
Book Review: Drew me in from page one
Summary: 5 Stars
Lina and Doon are graduating from school. At twelve years of age, all graduates are given a work assignment for the city of Ember. Lina wants nothing more than to be a Messenger, to run free and explore the city. But Lina draws out a Pipeworks assignment. Doon draws the Messenger job and sulks. Lina can't understand why anyone would be angry to be a Messenger.
After class, Doon asks Lina if she'd like to trade. Thrilled to get her wish after all, Lina accepts. As Lina and Doon start their new jobs, they both discover things are not well in Ember. Blackouts have been happening more frequently and for longer periods of time, and supplies are running very low. What will the citizens of Ember do if the lights go out for good? What will happen if they run out of supplies altogether? Many have walked into the unknown regions only to come back half-mad, swearing there it nothing out there. Lina stumbles onto a mysterious message that may hold the answer to these questions. But can she and Doon decipher it before it's too late?
This book drew me in from page one. I love the world DuPrau created in Ember. Lina and Doon are both fun but naturally flawed characters who stumble along trying to find their way in their world. This book gives you a lot to think about as to where life comes from, although the author leaves the answer to that question open to the reader to decide. I found it brilliant how the people in Ember asked questions about their life, that they knew something was missing, that the darkness didn't seem right, even though they knew nothing else. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages.
Book Review: I really can't figure out why I didn't love this...
Summary: 3 Stars
Huh. I really have no idea why I didn't love The City of Ember. I'm just perplexed. I really should have loved it. There were no flaws that I could think of. The heroes weren't annoying at all. The villians weren't too dastardly that I hated their scenes with every fiber of my being. The City of Ember was pretty suspenseful. I just. don't. know. I'm a bit disheartened.
The writing in The City of Ember wasn't amazing, but that sort of thing doesn't bother me unless it's like really, really bad or it's average yet the book won a Pulitzer. That doesn't apply here. I guess my main problem was that I couldn't bring myself to care. Oh, Ember is losing power quickly? Wow, sucks to be the citizens of that city. I wasn't attached to the characters or the plot. I mean, don't get me wrong is was mildly interesting and I did speed through the book, but again, I just didn't care. I had no feelings while reading this. Maybe The City of Ember was too juvenile for me. However, I have enjoyed countless Young-Adult novels so maybe I'm just grasping at straws.
So, I didn't hate The City of Ember, but I didn't love it either. I was just "meh" about it. It did keep me turning the pages, but it was sort of like a reflex with no conscious thought. Although, to be perfectly fair, this book did follow To Kill a Mockinbird for me and any book following that one is just bound to fail. Anyway, I am interested in reading The People of Sparks, the second installment of The City of Ember (it's right there on my shelf) and I'm hoping that that one gets more of a response from me.
P.S. Completely useless review, you say? I know, but I just. don't. know.