Book review: Feed

I’d just finished reading the hunger games trilogy and was looking for something else to suit my fancy. I googled and found Feed.

Review
Feed is one of those books that will stay with you for years if not a lifetime. It will make you question who you are, what you believe in and where our Country and our world is going. It is a powerful book that every one should read.

The Good
The ultimate best part of Feed is the world this story takes place. A future America where the majority of the population is “plugged in”, no pun intended. The world is presented to you through the eyes of a 17 year old boy and you only get bits and pieces at a time. You have to read through to at least the middle of the book to really get an idea of what is going on. The world the story takes place seems eerily similar to the world we live in now but with a hypothetical “if we continue like this” kind of scenario. It really jolted me and made me think. Feed made me look at myself, and my habits and how I want my daughter to see and be within the world and her country. Feed made me address things like privacy, trends, and just life and relationships all together. I love when a book makes me look within myself and makes me have to develop an opinion on a subject. It made me think and from now on, the book made me wake up and be more aware about my surroundings. I think every American pre-teen, teenager and young adult should read this book. Along with The catcher and the Rye, Animal Farm etc, Feed should be part of the English curriculum in school. Now that does not mean it’s not fun and a good read, it just offers so much especially for young people.

The Bad (Or not so Great)
The story is told in first person by a 17 year old boy and is written in the “slang” of the day. Because this is the future and I am unfamiliar with future slang, this took a little getting use to. At first it was really annoying. I had to read things a few times to understand things that were being said. Also, I wasn’t in love with the narrator, or Violet or anyone else. I personally didn’t make a deep emotional connection with the characters. I cared, but didn’t. It was a weird feeling. I didn’t cheer for the characters nor did I wish them bad, I was non committal. However, that feeling may have been a part of the experience of this world and the story, so I don’t know.

The verdict
Feed, is an excellent book for anyone who lives in the modern world. It gives a glimpse of a not so far off “what if” scenario that we living today would have a direct hand in creating. It should be read by everyone. Go get it. I rate Feed 5 stars for the world building and 2 1/2 stars for the underlying story, that’s a average of 3.75 stars. A must read.