Reading Response 2: Matched

I’ve just started reading Matched and it’s about this girl named Cassia who lives in a futuristic government called the Society where everything you do it has already been decided for you. Every girl in the Society is Matched at the age of seventeen and on that day, they attend their Match Banquet, where they’ll feast and awaits for their Match. Cassia, the main character, has just been Matched with her best friend Xander. After the Banquet, Cassia has been given a silver box with a micro card that contains the background information of her Match. When Cassia plays the micro card, she discovers that the face of her Match is not Xander’s, so now she faces confusion between the two Matches

Here is a passage from the novel indicating Cassia’s insecurity:

“We always knew he would be Matched with another girl in another City, another Province. But he’s not. He’s Matched with me. I keep my finger locked in his as we walk toward the game center. Maybe, if I don’t’ let go, it will prove that we are meant to be Matched. That the other face on the screen means nothing; that it was simply a momentary malfunction of the micro card.”

I definitely think there’s a connection between this novel and The Hunger Games. Both novels are set in a futuristic type government where officials of the government control their citizens. The Society in Matched controls their citizens by deciding everything for them even not allowing them to make their own decision on who they should love. The Hunger Games, in contrast, also control their citizens by their annual Hunger Games to prevent any rebellion against the government of Panem.

Reading Response 1: A Dog's Purpose

A Dog's Purpose is told through the point of view of a dog. It is about a dog finding its purpose in life. The story begins with a puppy, its sisters, brothers and mother journeying through different parts of a city finding food and shelter. After a while, the family is separated and a boy named Ethan adopts the puppy. Ethan named the puppy Bailey and the story thickens as Bailey explores the new world around him as well as how to behave like a dog and being Ethan’s new best friend. Throughout the story, Bailey frequently asks himself of his whole purpose in life and as he grows up, he finds the answer to his question through all the people he loved. 

I love how this story is told through the point of view of a dog because I have never read a book that does this before. The author’s writing style is very unique because the texts contain descriptions mainly from the dog’s five senses: touch, smell, hear, taste, and sight. The author does a really nice job describing what goes on in the dog’s mind as well as the emotions. The imagery through the descriptions creates wonderful and vivid images for the reader. The texts rarely have any dialogues since it’s mostly descriptions and the most interesting aspect throughout this novel is that you can sense other people’s emotions and feelings through the dog. 

I strongly recommend reading this book because it’s really good and it’s so funny and sweet. The plot is planned out really well and it will keep you reading until the very end. It‘s also a bit sad as well, but other than that it’s a good book worth reading.

Here is a funny passage from the novel:

"When I discovered that the snow had drifted in a huge pile against the fence, I was delighted to climb right up to the top of mound and drop over the other side. It was a perfect night for an adventure. I went over to Chelsea’s house to see if Duchess was available, but there was no sign other than a fairly recent patch of urine-soaked snow. I thoughtfully lifted my leg on the area so she’d know I was thinking of her."