The List

The List by Patricia Forde
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The concept for this book enthralled me. Showing how words have power by taking them away is something I've never seen done before. Using names like Noa and Ark did make me feel uncomfortable. I understand the symbolism behind those choices, but I still would have preferred something else.

Because many of the characters only speak List, the words that are still allowed in Ark, there are times when the dialog is choppy. It's hard to read, but that seems to be the point. When something as simple as a word is taken away, you realize how much harder you have to look to find a way to express what you are trying to say. In a world where most words have been taken away, the villagers no longer have a way of expressing pretty much anything. This makes it easier for those that do have all the words to stay in control.

The end of the book becomes really dark, so if you are looking for a fun light-hearted read, this is not it. If you are looking for something that forces you to think about human nature, this is a good book to read. The List is a good book, it just was a little too dark for me.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Patricia Forde
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Publication Date: 1 Aug 2017

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