Patrick Ness has created a world in which men's thoughts are broadcast as Noise for all to hear. When a scouting ship crashes into the swamp, Todd meets Viola, the only survivor, and the only female human Todd has even seen, except in the distorted thoughts of the men of his town. Todd discovers that not everything he has been told about his town or the death of his mother is true, and that he and Viola are in mortal danger. They flee, heading for Haven, a place where it is said there is a cure for the Noise. They seek healing and hope.
The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Ask and the Answer are the first two books in the Chaos Walking Trilogy. Book three is due next spring. Each book is a tome of 500-odd pages, but they read quickly. Yes, they read very, very quickly!
Besides the intriguing discussion in a previous post, I will say there is much to like about these books. The characters are admirable, imperfect, driven. The bad guys are really, really bad, and the good guys are flawed and sincere.
The most appealing character in The Knife of Never Letting Go is Manchee, Todd’s dog, whom he never wanted, and for whom he seems to have little affection. Manchee is brilliantly crafted by Ness. Loyal, needy, and just as stupid as a dog can be, Manchee escapes with Todd and Viola. Manchee’s noise is poignant and often hilarious, and in his own way, he is the hero of the first book.
The plot is a little less believable, and even tedious at times. I found myself asking, "What's the point?" several times, wondering why the Mayor of Prentiss would seek Todd to the ends of the earth (or, whatever planet it is). But it is a trilogy, and maybe it will come to light in book three.
Nevertheless, there is a great deal of violence. The violence is brutal and graphically described. Todd is beaten senseless numerous times. He also gives his share of beating. But Ness allows Todd to feel an overwhelming and life-changing grief for the violence he perpetrates. This motivates his actions for the rest of the story. However, I could not help but cringe, and even skim when the violence seemed to go on and on.
The center of the book is the Noise. The Noise becomes a tool, even a weapon in the Mayor's personal war. It is like a character of its own. But it is more than that. Besides being a genius plot element, Ness has created a way to make his first person point of view into an omniscient narrator. This omniscience is limited only by the one female character, Viola. This limit is overcome (disappointingly, in my opinion) in the second book when the author alternates between Todd and Viola.
Chaos Walking is a young adult offering (grades 8-12). Many of the gentle families I know would not offer this to their 13-year-olds, or even 16-year-olds. There is violence. There is some harsh language. Todd relates that he said, "Effing, but I didn't use the word 'effing'." The real word is used at least once that I remember, as well as the word G.-d. There is no sex, at least not in the first two books. In fact, there is a genuine love that grows between Viola and Todd, to the point where they are willing to suffer for one another.
Would I recommend this for your child? I recommend you read it for yourself and decide what you think about it. The most astounding part of my job as a librarian is when mothers come in asking me what their children should read. How should I know what YOUR child should read? In the past, even among friends, I have made the mistake of offering books to parents, only to have them turn on me with judgment on my own parenting, "that I would EVER recommend such trash to a child!" So, I have no idea if your child should read it. This blog is not for me to recommend to you, but to tell you what I liked and disliked about books, reading, and writing. I read these two books and enjoyed them, even sitting up late to read just one more chapter. And I am waiting eagerly for book three!
3 comments:
"The real word is used at least once that I remember."
No it's not. I am quite certain of it as for one reason or another I have read the books 3 times.
I think you miss the point about the violence - it is written in a very matter of fact way, *much* of it implied rather than stated, and whenever violence is used, the consequences, psychological and otherwise, are made very clear. As a teacher for these grades, very few teenagers would bat an eyelid at this violence - it is very much part of their world. Their mothers on the other hand wouldn't like it, and that should come as no surprise, but one of the glories of this series is the way in which violence is shown to have clear consequences, something that computer games and the like can never do.
My advice to lots of people is to reread the book - the first read is so fast that you miss lots of the detail. Read it a second time and the author's intentions - even the cliffhanger ending - become much clearer. I have become convinced that the cliffhanger at the end of book one is perfect and leaves the book complete - but there are plenty of people that would disagree.
I am about to read book one with a class of eighth graders so I shall let you know...
I thank you for recommending to parents that they READ the books that are being provided for their children! I completely agree (as you know since you know me so well) that EACH family (PARENT) must decide what God wants and what is best for THEIR particular calling...Anonymous stressed the fact that he/she is a teacher...Again, I thank you...knowing that YOU are also a teacher (which perhaps anonymous does not know) and I find your advice to parents very solid here.
I would hope that in the case of Anonymous, and his/her zeal to share this trilogy with eighth graders, that he/she has sought parental permission FIRST, as it seems, by your post that it is called for with this set of books.
I know from personal experience how frustrating it is when, as a parent, we have forbidden a child to read something and then that same book is given to the child "on the sly" by a teacher or principal.
These books sound very interesting...thanks for sharing!
Thank you to Anonymous and Judy for your comments on my review of the Chaos Walking Trilogy. I am pleased at the conversation taking place here!
I humbly disagree with Anonymous that I “miss the point” about the violence in these books. I stated in my review that “Ness allows Todd to feel an overwhelming and life-changing grief for the violence he perpetrates. This motivates his actions for the rest of the story.”
Anonymous points out that “very few teenagers would bat an eyelid at this violence - it is very much part of their world.” This statement saddened me, especially followed by the sentiment that parents would not like the violence, and yet a classroom teacher reads the book to their children. My experience in the classroom was that, while “very few” would bat and eyelid, a few WOULD. Those sensitive and innocent souls were the ones that required my best consideration when choosing books, not the ones already de-sensitized. Studies show that many teenagers would not bat an eyelid at binge drinking or drug use, yet we as responsible parents do not spoon feed these things to them.
I was never one of those teachers, or mothers, who believed that any book was fine “as long as they are reading.” That is like saying any food is fine as long as they are eating. There are so many fine, literary books that need to be shared with children, books that will help children understand human nature without jading them.
I repeat what both Anonymous and Judy say, and what I posted in my original review: Read the books! The books are wonderful and exciting, and only a parent can know her child well enough to decide if they are appropriate.
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