The Ask and the Answer - Patrick Ness

£7.99 ISBN - 978-1-4063-2247-7

When you read books people lend you books. I can't tell you the amount of times I’ve heard, `oh you'd love this take it home with you` and then you are compelled to read the most boring bit of drivel ever written, usually some kind of chick flick with no plot and lots of shoes! But I was lucky enough before xmas to hear this very phrase and be nicely surprised by reading `The Knife of Never Letting Go` lent to me by a friend (the prequel to this book).The I just had to buy the rest....

The Ask and the Answer - despite this being proclaimed teen fiction it is brutal in many ways. I think the author intended to scare small children. With concepts of mind control, torture and a never ending chase the book is enthralling. Todd and Viola are clearly in love and the main characters that you follow through in their own words as they battle against the mayor and...well mad men mainly! Told by each character in their own words I wonder if the third book will add an additional narrator.

I love the fact the book has key animal characters who are loyal. Often I get bored reading sequels and find writers repeat the same plot or drag out themes for too long but i can honestly say i found this book as captivating as the first one. SPOILER - It is unusual to find books that have a tragic ending and I am hoping the final in the series has a happy ending to be honest.

Themes of war are key in this book with many `just following orders` and gravitating toward power. `Noise` is heard by all of the population in the book but only generated by men. Imagine if everyone could hear what you think all the time? You’re most private and intimate thoughts. That is what it would be like to live with the noise. Calling the series `chaos walking` is exactly right as the ever changing pace of the book makes you feel chaotic and at times lost. It reminded me of `The Road` by Cormac McCarthy due to its pace and ever searching for its next direction.

I'm drawn most to Todd in the book as he changes the most. Viola seems to maintain her sense of self throughout despite being kidnapped, drowned and blown up!

Patrick Ness also seems to have a interesting website http://www.patrickness.com/biog.html if you want to learn more about him. I rarely buy books as I am a big fan of the library which I think more of us should use (otherwise the government will take it….grrr…), but being Christmas it was closed so I bought the book. I actually am glad I paid £7.99 for this book. I have the third book waiting to be read along with lot of other Xmas books :) Reading, skating and drinking coffee is my ideal Xmas.

New yrs resolution - Remember to record what i read and use the library! :)