Our Masterpieces...Err, Our Novels

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Debut Author Challenge #2: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Reading Song of the Day: "Prototype" by Outkast

Okay, the next book we chose to read in our 2011 Debut Author Challenge was Beth Revis' Across the Universe. You know, that small book that debuted at #7 on the New York Times Bestsellers List. I wanted to read this book because:

A.) Beth Revis' journey to publication is a total Cinderella story. She was a high school English teacher that finally made her dreams come true--with a 3-book deal no less. There's hope for Quita and me yet. And,

B.) I got to read the first chapter online and my jaw literally hit the floor.

Here's what Goodreads has to say:

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Now without further ado...

Top Four Things You Need to Know About ATU:

1. It's told in dual POVs. We get to hear the voices of Amy, a teen girl who's been frozen for centuries, and Elder, the future leader of the spaceship community. Revis doesn't do anything fancy to differentiate between the voices, but readers just get it. The two perspectives are so different that I never needed a reminder of who was narrating.
2. Do you hate sci-fi? You'll still heart this book! Please don't let the aforementioned "spaceship" scare you. Though the story takes place in a galaxy far, far away, it's more a story about morality and human emotions. This is coming from the girl who's never gotten into Star Trek and only saw the Episodes 2 and 3 of Star Wars (and that's just because Quita thinks Hayden Christensen is hawt).

3. You won't get frexxing confused with the jargon and setting. Again, the story is set in the future, and Revis describes this brand new world casually. She doesn't lay on the descriptions extra thick, but you can actually see the many levels of the spaceship, Godspeed. And the jargon is so natural, I find myself shouting "frex!" whenever I stub my toe. :)

4. Holy M. Night Shyamalan ending, Batman! And I mean this as a compliment--when twist endings were fresh and new. Though book one of this trilogy wraps up in a satisfying way, Revis makes sure to leave you with enough intrigue to snatch up the sequel. (By the way, would that make the third book the "threequel"?)

If you like...

Books: The Children of Men by P. D. James, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, The Maze Runner (Book 1) by James Dashner...then you'll like ATU.

Movies: Back to the Future, Total Recall, Avatar...then you'll like ATU.

Have you read ATU yet? What are your thoughts?

**CONTEST UPDATE**

Two of our winners did not get in touch with us by the cut off date. THEREFORE...we still have two prizes up for grabs. They are:

*Query Critique by K.M. Walton
* 10 Page Critique by both Pam and Quita (double the trouble--huh?)

Anyway, we went back to the drawing board and chose TWO more lucky winners!!! If your name is below please e-mail us at: marquitahockaday@gmail.com to claim your prize. Please rank it from 1, t0 2. We want to give you the prize that you want first.

Okay, without further delay, here are the two NEW winners!

Jessica Byam!

Jamie Manning!


CONGRATS! We'll be looking out for your e-mails :)

11 comments:

Erinn said...

I"ve got Across the Universe on my nook-- once I read my books from the library I plan on diving into to it. now I"m super excited for it.

Amparo Ortiz said...

Great review, ladies!! Can't wait to read it so I can gush about it, too :D

And CONGRATS to the new winners!!! *fist pump*

KatOwens: Insect Collector said...

fantastic review-- can you imagine debuting on the NYT list??? Even cooler to hear it was from someone who'd been working at it for so long.
Very cool, can't wait to check it out.

Abby Stevens said...

I read the first 111 pages online. I just got the full book in the mail yesterday. I can't wait to dive in! (And I loved 'frex', too!)

Melanie said...

Wow, this book really does sound amazing. I have Maze Runner waiting to be read, ATC will be next on my list!

Alicia Gregoire said...

I need to pick up ATU, it's on my short list. Thanks for the review ladies.

Jess said...

*hyperventilates* EEEE!

Also, I CANNOT wait to read ATU. Thanks for the great review!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the review! This seems like a great book :D

And congrats to the winners! YAY!

erica and christy said...

I won a copy from Operation Awesome and I'm almost done with it. It is pretty unique and she does some great world-building with the floors of the spaceship and how/why they are that way.

Although I have to say the word frex did not appeal to me at all. Drove me nuts, actually.
erica

Racquel Henry said...

Wow! Three-book deal??? That is a Cinderella story! I don't like sci-fi, but this book sounds interesting. I may just look into it! Thanks for posting! :)

Jamie Manning said...

After hearing about that "Cinderella-esque" publishing deal now I KNOW I'm gonna have to read this one. Admittedly, the sci-fi element scared me off at first (I was the same way with Star Wars - only watched for hottie Hayden, too!) but now I'm thinking I may give it a go, cause I love me some Shyamalan endings!

And thanks a million for the win...you guys rock!