The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
by Jenners • 08/10/2011 • 3.5 Stars, Dystopia, Fiction, K Titles, N Authors, Young Adult • 53 Comments
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick NessPublisher: Candlewick, 2009
Pages: 496
Genre: Fiction, Sci Fi, Dystopia, YA
Where I Got It: Downloaded it on my Kindle
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Note: I’ve been boring myself to death writing book reviews so I decided to mix things up a little.
If this book was an equation, it might read as follows:
YA/Dystopia x Sci-Fi + Classic Literary Themes = Inventive and Involving Book/Series
Book Overview
- It is set on another planet called New World.
- People from Earth came to New World to settle it but they found out something when they landed.
- All the inner thoughts of men can be heard by everyone else — all at one time. It is called The Noise.
- Women’s thoughts cannot be heard.
- This caused much conflict.
- So much conflict that the men of Prentisstown killed all the women.
- Prentisstown is where our hero Todd Hewitt lives.
- Todd is about to become a man, which involves some type of mysterious ritual.
- Todd is anxious about this ritual but curious too.
- While out on a walk with his dog Manchee, he finds a Hole (Quiet) in the Noise.
- (By the way, Manchee can talk. All animals can talk on New World.)
- A Hole in the Noise can only mean one thing: a girl or woman is nearby.
- Or could it be a Spackle … the native species of New World?
- But no women exist on New World anymore, right?
- And all the Spackle were killed in the Spackle War, right?
- Maybe things aren’t quite as Todd imagined.
Did I like the book?
Yes I did … despite the fact that it started to feel a bit repetitive along the way and there was a character who just wouldn’t stay dead that was getting on my nerves. In addition, I’m still on the fence about whether I liked Ness’s choice to have Todd’s narration be written phonetically sometimes. But overall, I enjoyed the book. And with its cliffhanger ending, I pretty much had to read the second book, The Ask and The Answer. I suspect you will too. The good news is that this is a rare trilogy that gets better as it goes along … unlike some YA/dystopia series I know (cough, cough The Hunger Games cough cough).
Recommended?
Yes!
P.S. I’ll be publishing my reviews of Books 2 and 3 in separate posts.
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I thought this series was pretty good for the genre. I’m not really into dystopia or YA or science fictiony stuff, but all that considered, I liked it. I do think it got better as it went along in the series. The first book was dragging with all of the constant chase and near catches, like you said, but it kept me wanting to know what happened so I pushed through it.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the last two. I think I liked the second book the best. I wasn’t a big fan of the third point of view in the third book. It really slowed down the pace for me and was kind of a little too “out there” for my tastes, but the ending justified that route.
This isn’t my preferred genre either but it worked for me … unlike several other books I’ve tried in this genre. I thought the books got progressively stronger … and I did like the addition of the third voice in the third book, but I totally know what you mean. It took some getting used to.
I liked the bullet approach on how you wrote up this review. For some reason, it helped me to really understand the highlights of the book. Hmm…it sounds sort of science fiction-y to me but probably not enough to peak my interest. We’ll see…I start school next week so it might sound like the best book ever after I start reading some of that snoozer technical stuff.
It was kind of a tough plot to summarize and I was struggling so the bullet format worked really well. It isn’t hard-core sci-fi so it probably isn’t a good fit for you.
This sounds good, I do enjoy YA/dystopia so I’ll have to look for this one. I like your book equation!
If you like YA/dystopia, then don’t miss this series!!
Love this style of a review. It gives me a good sense of this book’s vibe. Sounds like a good introduction to YA fiction for me. Thanks Jenners!
If you want to try YA, this would be a good choice. It was one of the more interesting ones I’ve read.
Another one of your ‘alternative’ book reviews, I’m loving how you keep things fresh. A great book cover, I like the look of this one, thanks for the recommendation.
All three covers are pretty neat-looking actually. And I imagine that if I’m boring myself with my reviews, I’m probably boring others too.
I like the list.
It was so much easier to write than a synopsis.
Hi Jenners, I hadn’t heard of the author or the book before. But I found what you said amusing, when a character won’t stay dead. I have felt that way before, it does get on your nerves.
It was so annoying!! I actually felt glad when he finally croaked for good.
Oh no – please tell me that The Hunger Games has three great books. Just finished the first one and loved it.
In my opinion, the first book was the best. I though the series went downhill after that, but that is just my opinion of course. Lots of people loved them all.
I am a little scared of this book…
Don’t be scared!!!
I have head this one on my shelf almost a year, and both my kids have read it and want to read the sequels. I think it’s about time I look into that, and to read the book for myself. This is one book that it seems is universally loved. Great review on this one, Jenners! I can’t wait to see what you think of the second book!
I think you do need to read it … have a great read-along with your kids!!!
I avoided this when I first saw the reviews but the few I’ve read, yours included, make me think I’d like this one. Except for the killing all the women part!
Well, just keep in mind that not everything is like it seems at first.
I love the mixing up makes a really interesting concise post. I’m glad you like this one, the series is a favorite of mine. I can’t wait to read “A Monster Calls” when it’s released here.
I’ve been hearing good buzz about that one. I suspect I shall read it as well.
It does sound intriguing and not like something I normally read.
It was a departure for me too … but a good one.
Okay… your comment about the character who just wouldn’t stay dead really made me laugh!
Well, it was quite annoying while reading!!!
I have yet to read the last book in the Hunger Games trilogy, the reviews were so mixed. loved the first..liked the second..it was not looking good for the third.
And I know I am in the minority among many bloggers, but I have gotten rather turned off by the whole YA genre for reasons I will not expound on now, because I don’t want to start a fight.
I’ve had my doubts about YA as well … but this was actually a cut above the other ones I’ve read. And I’d just love to see an anti-YA diatribe on your blog … hint hint! : )
How did I never realize that this was set on another world?? Maybe I got distracted by that damn talking dog? Or maybe if I’d actually finished the first book?
I guess the whole spaceship crash near the beginning didn’t register???
Just ditto every letter of Alyce’s comment for mine!
Signed,
hummingbird pretender and comment stealer
Your list of crimes is just multiplying!!!
Now I feel a bit like an idiot for passing on a chance to read this bokk with some other bloggers. The premise just didn’t interest me but your review really intrigues me…Thank you! I’m putting it on my list and will be checking into this book!
It is a pretty good series — a nice mix of adventure, epic battle type stuff, rites of passage, sci-fi and dystopia. I really liked it.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed books 1 and 2 as well. I just got book 3 and hope to get to it soon. I like the addition of Viola’s pov in book 2.
You’ll find another POV addition in the third book! I won’t say anymore than that!
This is one of my favorite YA series, so I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I think you were one of the reasons I read it in the first place! So thanks!
I have this book sitting on my shelves, waiting for me to take the trilogy plunge. I’m 75% sure I’ll like it…I’m drawn to the idea of men versus women (don’t know what that says…I do love my husband though), and I generally like dystopia. And it gets better as the series progresses, with is a shocker. I like how you change it up. I’m bored to freaking death of my reviews. I’m thinking I need to get tipsy when I write the next one.
I’d love to see a tipsy review!! I’m 95% sure you would really like this series. And, like I said, it gets better as it goes.
I know this book has been wildly popular, but I’m kind of hesitant to try it. One of these days, I need to get over my fear and give it a go.
I think you’d probably like it. As YA/dystopia/sci-fi goes, it was pretty good and quite accessible.
I’m not sure this would be my cup of tea. Spackle makes me think of room renovations.
I do like it that women’s thoughts aren’t heard…the men are better off not knowing what we think of them.
And the noise? Is it all about farting, sports, sex and sleep?
The Noise is pretty much about farting, sex, sleep … and sex and murder and sex and violence. Just what you’d expect.
I understand switching things up. It makes reading the reviews more fun, too! I have had this book on my list for a while but have not gotten to it yet.
I think it is worth making the time for it. It was a fun read.
I absolutely loved this series, even though I thought I was going to hate it when I was reading the first few chapters. I pushed on with it because so many of my blogging friends had recommended it. I look forward to seeing your reviews of the sequels too. And yes, that third Hunger Games book really stunk it up.
I saw so many rave reviews to this series that I had to try it. I’m glad I did … it was very satisfying. One of the best YA series I’ve read so far.