Transcription of Matched - GondringerEnglish
1 MatchedAlly CondieDutton Juvenile (2010)Tags:Social Issues, Love & Romance, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, Fiction, Fantasy,General, Marriage, Manga, Dystopias, Comics & Graphic ReviewMatched, the Society Officials have determined optimal outcomes for all aspects of daily life, thereby removing the "burden" of choice. WhenCassia's best friend is identified as her ideal marriage Match it confirms her belief that Society knows best, until she plugs in her Match microchipand a different boy s face flashes on the screen. This improbable mistake sets Cassia on a dangerous path to the unthinkable rebelling againstthe predetermined life Society has in store for her.
2 As author ally condie s unique dystopian Society takes chilling measures to maintain the statusquo, Matched reminds readers that freedom of choice is precious, and not without sacrifice. Seira WilsonAmazon Exclusive: Author Q&A; with ally CondieQ: What inspired you to write Matched ?A: Matched was inspired by several experiences specific ones, like a conversation with my husband and chaperoning a high school prom andgeneral ones, like falling in love and becoming a : How do you think Matched differs from other dystopian novels?A: I think it s different in that it s perhaps less action-oriented and more introspective. This is really the story of one girl, Cassia, learning to : The cover for Matched is so eye-catching and mysterious.
3 What does the image represent to you?A: I cannot imagine a more perfect cover for this book. To me, the image is a clear representation of Cassia, the main character, and the way sheis trapped in her world. It s kind of a lovely world the bubble is beautiful but it s confining nonetheless. And, of course, the color green is veryimportant to the book. I m just so thrilled about this cover. Theresa Evangelista, the designer, and Samantha Aide, the photographer and model, areincredibly : In Matched , each member of the Society is not only assigned a spouse, they re also assigned a job, and Cassia, your maincharacter, is a data sorter.
4 If you lived in the Society, what job do you think you d have?A: I would definitely not be a data sorter. I am terrible with numbers and patterns. I think I would probably be a teacher or instructor. Or maybe one ofthe people did a mundane task, like dishwashing. I have a feeling that I wouldn t fare very well in the : Dylan Thomas classic poem, Do Not Go Gentle, is part of a theme that you ve woven throughout Matched . Do you rememberwhen you first came across this poem? What made you decide to use it in your novel?A: I don t remember when I first read this poem, which is pretty embarrassing. But I do remember the first time I heard a recording of the authorreading it.
5 I remember feeling almost reverent, and paying close attention to how he said the words and went through the lines. This poem came tomind almost immediately when I started writing the book. It s probably the most universal poem I ve ever encountered. The first line alone resonatesimmediately with almost : What do you like about writing for teenagers?A: Everything. I like talking with teenagers themselves about books. I like trying to capture the teenage voice. And I like writing about teenagersbecause they have SO MUCH happening in their lives, and they are passionate about those : What were some of the books you loved as a teen?
6 Did any of these books influence Matched at all?A: I loved (and still do) Anne Tyler and Wallace Stegner. I remember being introduced to those authors in ninth grade and being floored by thebeauty of their writing. I also loved anything by Agatha Christie. I think these books did influence me not in any concrete, specific way, but in that Iwanted to write a story about a character worth caring about even though/because of the fact that she is flawed and : What would you like your readers to take away from the experience of reading Matched ?A: I hope they can take away whatever they need from the story. I hope there is something there for a reader whether it s relating to a character orreading a scene that feels true or anything : Will there be more books featuring Cassia, or set in the world of Matched ?
7 A: Yes! There will be two more books in the Matched Do not go gentle into that good night. Cassia s feelings of security disintegrate after her grandfather hands her a slip of paper just before hisscheduled death at age 80. Not only does she now possess an illegal poem, but she also has a lingering interest in the boy who fleetingly appearedon her viewscreen, the one who wasn t her match, the man she will eventually marry. What s worse, she knows him his name is Ky, and he is anorphan from the Outer Provinces. How could she love him as much as Xander, her match and best friend since childhood? The stunning clarity andattention to detail in condie s Big Brother like world is a feat.
8 Some readers might find the Society to be a close cousin of Lois Lowry s dystopianfuture in The Giver (1993), with carefully chosen work placements, constant monitoring, and pills for regulating emotional extremes. However, theauthor just as easily tears this world apart while deftly exploring the individual cost of societal perfection and the sacrifices inherent in freedom ofchoice. Grades 9-12. Courtney Jones1 Table of ContentsTitle PageCopyright PageDedicationCHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 16 CHAPTER 17 CHAPTER 18 CHAPTER 19 CHAPTER 20 CHAPTER 21 CHAPTER 22 CHAPTER 23 CHAPTER 24 CHAPTER 25 CHAPTER 26 CHAPTER 27 CHAPTER 28 CHAPTER 29 CHAPTER 30 CHAPTER 31 CHAPTER 32 AcknowledgementsALLY CONDIEDUTTON BOOKSA member of Penguin Group (USA) by the Penguin Group Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
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10 | Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, EnglandThis book is a work of , characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely (c) 2010 by Allyson Braithwaite CondieAll rights part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or broadcast.
