Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)

by Tahereh Mafi

Kate Simses (Narrator)

Ostracized or incarcerated her whole life, seventeen-year-old Juliette is freed on the condition that she use her horrific abilities in support of The Reestablishment, a post-apocalyptic dictatorship, but Adam, the only person ever to show her affection, offers hope of a better future.

• ISBN10: 006211123X
• ISBN13: 9780062111234
• Publish Date: 15 November 2011 (first published 1 January 2011)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Edition: Unabridged edition
• Format: Audiobook (MP3)
• Duration: 9 hours and 13 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[Nessa Luna]

Read this review, and many more on my blog October Tune!

I had heard about this book not long after it has been first released. I went looking for it in several shops, but I couldn’t find it anywhere, so I decided to stop looking. I bought other books and kinda forgot about this one. Until this month, when I took a look at some books on the Book Depository. Shatter Me was among them, and I decided to buy it because the summary sounded really interesting to me.

It was indeed an interesting book, and I liked how some of the sentences in the book were crossed out, like you see on the cover of the book as well. I had hoped for some more explanation for Juliette’s ‘power’, but I think (and hope) we’ll find out more about that in the second (or third) book.

Overall I liked the story, I liked the way it was written, though there was one part that I didn’t like at all, but that’s a bit of a spoiler (but to anyone who’s read the book, I hope you can guess which part I mean, if you’ve read my previous reviews).

There is a novella, called ‘Destroy Me’, and a sequel called Unravel Me. A third book and another novella are both confirmed to come out, but neither of them have titles yet.

[Linda]

I don't really have any words to articulate the awesomeness of Shatter Me right now.

Full review to come soon.

This and all my other reviews were originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews

Shatter Me is a complicated story about Juliette who can kill just by touching someone. Everybody is afraid of her, so afraid that she has been put in an asylum, completely isolated from other people, the world, fresh air and sanity.

This is such an amazing start to a great series. I love this book and I couldn't put it down. It's one of the best sci-fi books I've read in a long while. I love the world Mafi has created and I really like Juliette the main character.

This was a definite page turner and it made me want to continue on with the next book to see what would happen next.

[littleread1]

It was difficult at first to listen on audio, as it is a diary type book and there are a lot of strike-throughs, but the narrator did a great job.

[liz089]

With the release of Restore Me, I really wanted to re-read this series. It is one of my favourite series and I loved reading it SO MUCH the first time. Which is also the main reason why it took me so long to pick it up again.. Because what if I don't like it the second time around ?? It has been 5 years (I feel old..) since I've read this one, and I have changed a lot, I have become a lot more picky and select with my books.. I did not want to ruin my good memories of this series by re-reading it.

But in the end I did re-read it and...

I STILL LOVE IT !!!

Thank God haha XD I even read it in one day !! I spend most of my afternoon and evening reading this one and even though I know most of the plot already, I forgot some details that made it still interesting to read. And the first time I read this, I remember HATING Warner... but now I also know what is going to happen in the other books and it made me look at his character and their relationship very different. Interesting development !

So now I already started the second one and hope to get through it this week (because work) and get started on the third one, so I can just move right on to the new one later !!

[inlibrisveritas]

Shatter Me turned into one of those rare reads that I devour in one sitting and then panic because it’s over. This is also one of those reads where despite its issues and flaws I still really enjoyed it, which in itself is kind of rare for me as well. I’m also in a weird place with this one because I know I may not ever be able to read it again. As I was reading it I realized that most of the love was coming from a ‘first introduction’ kind of reaction and I know that if I read it again it won’t hold that same power over me.

The book didn’t really go the way I pictured it would because of the blurb and the hype, I was expecting something a bit more ‘in your face’ and gritty. Instead I was treated to the exact opposite, but thanks to Mafi’s beautiful writing it turned out to be a one of kind experience. I have a hard time thinking of another YA author that uses such lyrical writing in their books and while it does take away from the grit of the world she created it kind of adds a unique voice to Juliette. She’s good with numbers and tends to repeat things, and while in a normal book I’d probably hate her for this I found that it fit the character perfectly. My issue with her lays in the fact that I didn’t feel as if I knew her, despite having learned her history and being privy to her thoughts. Then of course we are introduced to Adam and Warner…and boy are these two on the opposite ends of the spectrum from each other. I wasn’t really all that fond of Adam, I liked that he was loyal, brave, and sweet but he was a bit boring for me. He had a touch of promise that I’m hoping to see expanded in the next book but I wasn’t overwhelmed by him. Warner however practically demands attention, you either love him or hate him and I love him. He’s so despicable and crazy that it’s hard not to hate him, but I found myself loving the scenes that featured him and I definitely want more Warner in the future. I had the same problems with these two, I knew them as much as the book allowed but it didn’t feel like it.

The plot is where I have most of my issues because it’s very small, or at least it felt that way. The world building is there and Mafi paints a troubled world, but at the same time there isn’t enough of the history involved in the story. I kept needing to know why and I wasn’t always getting an answer. The development of knowledge about her ability was one that really held my interest though and by the end I was dying to know what exactly was behind it all, and what she was truly capable of. I also loved the mental aspect of the plot, which is a very big part of this due to the first person point of view.

I do feel odd for rating the book a 4 when I have clear issues with it, and I can understand some hesitance in taking my review as a helpful one. I think the main reason it is rated so high is because despite the amount of issues I have with the book I still really enjoyed it and found myself truly absorbed in it.

[jeannamichel]

Juliette can’t won’t touch anyone. If she touches someone, they could die. She has been locked in a cell room as a safety precaution for a long time. Adam is her new cellmate. To be locked in with someone is extremely risky and Juliette doesn’t understand what is happening. Since the Reestablishment, things in the world have not been the same. They are at war and the army wants to use Juliette as the ultimate weapon. The only thing Juliette needs to do is to want it too. Is this curse gift going to rip Juliette’s life apart?

Shatter Me just blew me away. It was fantastic. No it was beyond fantastic, it was one of the best books I have read in a while. I didn’t know what to expect from this debut author, Tahereh Mafi. I’ve seen some of her videos on Youtube and had read some interviews on blogs, but I really had no clue what to expect from this book. I am shocked that it has taken me this long to sit down and read it. Shatter Me is one my favorite books of the year.

You can read about my thoughts on the cover HERE. http://thebucketlist-gn.blogspot.com/2011/07/cover-discovered-shatter-me.html

This book reminds me a lot like Rogue from XMan. That is not necessarily a bad thing. I love Rogue and to hear Juliette who has the same power as Rogue is definitely a twist on how I see the power. Juliette is so independent and clever, I know I would have probably gone crazy in an asylum but she seems to keep it together.

There is one thing that I didn’t truly understand. Before reading this novel, I knew there was going to be a love triangle. I was ready for one. Are you Team Adam or Team Warner? But upon reading this book, I don’t understand why anyone is Team Warner. There is a sequel so it might be further explained in that book. But Warner is obsessed with her power, not in love with her. As of right now, I am not choosing sides because I don’t really care for my choices so I’ll get back to you on that. However, this is the exact point I am trying to make. This is what the book is doing to me. It is making me question sides. It is making me question everything.

Mafi’s plot is so interwoven with twists and turns that I am constantly questioning what is going on. Her writing is genius. Juliette, in first person, was a perfect way to go but that’s not all. The entire thing is written in stream of consciousness and you have words and phrases crossed out, Juliette second guessing herself. I haven’t read a book in stream of consciousness in a while and to be fully immersed in the work is something I truly loved. Oh, and Mafi has a way with her figurative language. I just couldn’t even… I don’t even know what to say, Mafi is a fantastic writer and I can’t wait to read more works from her.

Compared to the entire book, the ending was a little disappointing. There is a sequel, so I will definitely be diving into that one as soon as I can. Throughout the entire book, I was jumping up and down, out of my seat, constant action and then I felt like the book was like my exercise routine. I start out on the treadmill a little quicker than I should, get the work out part out of the way, and then cool down. No book needs a cool down. I was ready for the ultimate cliffhanger, which there was but it wasn’t a very oh-my-gosh cliffhanger. The cliffhanger didn’t hit me as hard because Mafi was putting us through a cool down.

Overall, this book is one of my favorites. If you haven’t read this one yet, you need to go get a copy and dive in. This is one book that you do not want to miss. If you love dystopian, XMen, or even figurative language, you are going to fall in love with Shatter Me just like I did.

[Kelly]

Beautifully written, verging on poetic, where you quickly become absorbed into the oppressive world Tahereh Mafi has created. Absolutely loved it.

As seen at: Miss Book Reviews

Well, I decided to read this book after reading a few of the raving reviews. All I have to say is: What does everyone else see that I do not? Or rather, how does no one else see what I see?

The content:
This book held my interest in waves. I found the beginning to be dull and it didn’t hold my interest very well, I realised I kept checking to see how much more of the book I had to go and I nearly DNF’ed it. But then suddenly something unexpected and exciting happened and I found I buried myself in it instead. That burst of interest held for a while. But it slowly died down and I started wondering how much longer till I reached the end again. Then BAM! Something would happen that would make me power through the next fifty pages. Therefore, it held my interest in waves. And when it held my interest it really held my interest. But when it didn’t I could barely focus on the text.

The way this book was written was unique, I haven’t seen this writing style before, I thought it was pretty cool to begin with. I wasn’t blown away by it though because I had expected it after reading a few comments about it, so I’m not as enthusiastic as those people. At the beginning I liked the way that the lines were crossed out and in the middle of sentences they were randomly moved to the next line with no punctuation and no sense. It caught my attention. It made me think Juliette really was insane. But then as I kept reading, when there were so many lines crossed out it started to annoy me, because I felt like I was reading a lot of the things that didn’t happen or weren’t said. The things that would have been more interesting than what was really said. These were in the parts of the book that I was bored stiff in so this is probably why I was getting more annoyed as I read on.

Juliette and Adam as characters weren’t that memorable for me. Or maybe the were over-shadowed by Warren? Warren was very memorable. He’s the ‘villain’ in this story, he does nasty things but the thing is he believes he’s doing right. He believes this 100% so it suddenly doesn’t make me think he’s all that horrible because he has validated reasons. Then, he does something that makes me think ‘You really didn’t need to do that.’ and I’m back on the I-don’t-like-Warren bandwagon. Ohhh but wait, I suddenly find I’m sympathising with him? I understand why? And I’m back off the wagon. But then he does something that makes me hate him and I’m at the level where I can’t stand him. I jump on the I-can’t-stand-Warren bandwagon instead. And I’m determined to stay on this one.

That characterization right there is the reason I liked Warren the best in this story. I couldn’t make up my mind about him, I was all over the place. I kept getting surprised and half the time found myself rooting for him. It was great because you really don’t see that a lot. Author’s can rarely make you feel like that with characters. Mafi did a great job on this.

As for Juliette she annoyed me to no-end because she was vulnerable yet she kept saying no and refused to do what was wanted of her, but then she was still the damsel in distress? She has this weird power where whenever she touches someone (Skin contact) they are put through terrible agony and could die. Yet she has high morals and won’t use this awesome (Yet horrible) power to get herself free. Yeah, I get that she was locked up and this power has traumatized her. But I really thought she wasn’t going to be the damsel in distress type. She really was. It was predictable. I was hoping for a lot more butt kicking… The summary sure makes it sound like there should be a lot more butt kicking.

Adam just wasn’t very memorable at all. The only thing I can remember is the forced romance. The romance feels forced because there is hardly any build up, they’ve known each other since before Juliette was put away but I wasn’t convinced there were any real feelings of romance there. There were some hot and heavy scenes which I think were written well near the end, but at the same time I wasn’t swayed, it felt more like hormones than attraction.

The romance tried to take too much of the stage in this story and I really don’t think that should have been the point. That someone could love strange Juliette with this deadly power. If it had taken more of a back seat and had slowly developed then this story might have been a lot more interesting with a different focus.

The writing style is really the only awesome quality to this book.

The end:
The ending of the book felt like it came out of nowhere. I mean the very ending. There’s nothing in the rest of the book that indicates anything about the ending. So I was like ‘What on earth is going on?!’. Then I thought it was pretty cool and my interest sky rocketed.

The ending is the only reason I want to pick up the next book, it says that it has the potential to hold my interest a lot more than this book did. Although, the ending made me think of a certain comic book franchise/cartoon/movie, and I did find I couldn’t keep thinking it felt like it was almost identical in the idea.

Overall, I had hoped this book would be one of those books that surprised me at how good it was, because it’s getting a rating of five everywhere. But instead it surprised me that it is getting a rating of five everywhere… Personally I don’t understand. This book is different, the writing style is awesomely different (Unless you get bored throughout the book like I did), and it is exciting and very interesting at the end. But everything else just didn’t come up to par for me.

Shatter Me is a uniquely written book that ends with such a high that it makes you feel like you need to read the next book.

Unfortunately I was mostly disappointed with this book alone but I will be picking up the next one in the series with the mind set it will be more exciting and there will be more ass kicking. It definitely has that potential.

[Ashley]

As posted on booknook - YA and Fantasy book reviews

This book. How the bloody freakin' hell do I review this book? This amazing, gorgeous, breathtaking, nail-biting book.

Shatter Me is written with such unique voice. It's from Juliette's point of view and immediately we can tell that she's empty. She's not psycho, she's not brain dead, but she's empty. She's lost her passion, her spark, and her sense of true emotion. But then her thoughts are shown in such an awesome way in the book! Tahereh Mafi uses crossed out phrases to distinguish between what Juliette says and what she actually means. We can see how she's holding herself back and trying to stop herself from thinking certain thoughts. And man, the prose. The way this book is written is almost poetic. It's not written in verse, but sometimes it feels like it is.

Okay, so after I dug into Shatter Me, I was really enjoying it but I wasn't fangirly. I honestly don't know how to explain it. I was loving it, I was getting through it quickly, but maybe something was missing. The book wasn't exactly 'slow,' but I think after a while I was really just itching to find out more about Juliette and we weren't getting the info. I mean we learn bits and pieces about the deteriorating world and society, and there's an incredibly breathtaking and delicious romance that had my heart racing and brought back memories of my boyfriend and I. But really I wanted to know more about Juliette. Why is she the way she is? Why is it that she can kill people with her touch? How the heck did this happen! For most of the book we're kind of deprived of this information. But then holy crap.

It's suddenly like someone flipped on the X-Men switch and it's freakin' amazing. I let out an outrageous fangirl scream that probably disturbed my poor neighbours. I slammed the book shut and dug into some ice cream. (Coffe Heath Bar Crunch, by the way.) Okay maybe that makes no sense. Maybe I'm just weird. Why did I slam the book shut? I was just so enveloped in delicious awesomeness that I felt like I had to take a moment to bask in the beauty. Seriously. All of a sudden, all the answers are pouring out. Everything is getting intense. I'm getting the answers I was so long waiting for — and they're amazing.

Do you ever feel that way? Like a book is just so good that you have to take a minute to stop and think about it? Imagine the possibilities? Maybe prolong the inevitable ending just a moment longer? That's how I felt.

I feel like I'm not being very specific in this review, but that's only because it was that good. It's so good that I don't know how to dig into details. I just don't know where to begin. Especially because, in my opinion, the best parts were at the end. So naturally I'm trying to avoid spoilers! But one thing I will say is that Adam is the best character ever! He reminds me of my own boyfriend: selfless, determined, funny, sweet, absolutely and incredibly amazing and perfect and way beyond words. And the romance is so.. so.. TAUNTING! You'll be squealing and begging for more and more and more, and wishing you had someone you could share that with. Well, I was! :D

I also adored Juliette's character. She's constantly moving between a little nervous and insecure (due to being prodded, tested, and locked up in isolation), and powerful - and loving it. I adored the moments when she suddenly has a moment of power. It's not an evil kind of power, it's just a really strong "take action" kind of power. I can see her starting to become an awesome kick-ass female character!

I was terrified of this book ending. I wanted to hang onto every last word and just soak up every piece of information and story that Tahereh had to offer. I'm now desperately and impatiently awaiting the sequel, Unravel Me.