Comments on: Goodreads Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

By: Liz Page

Liz Page — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:59:58 +0000

I totally gave you an award, even though other people have already given it to you

By: Phoebe

Phoebe — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:33:29 +0000

I found this interesting and wondered if this had anything to do with the audience, too–there's always so much controversy that surrounds any message that could feasibly be taken as anti-Christian in "children's books." While that controversy exists in adult lit, it's not present with nearly the same amount of fervor. Perhaps she was afraid of offending someone.

By: Phoebe

Phoebe — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:30:21 +0000

I might still read the sequel, since I've heard it does similar things but better. Nice to hear that the characterization of the love interests is one of those things!

By: Phoebe

Phoebe — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:29:44 +0000

Thank you!

By: Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:16:47 +0000

You've pinpointed several of the problems I had with the book, especially the handwaving of the interesting mysteries at the heart of the Sisterhood/continued zombie problem. One thing I found particularly irritating about this was Ryan's refusal to engage fully with this idea of religious oppression. The scripture referred to is never identified specifically as Christian, nor is the Bible quoted anywhere despite Mary coming across various carved inscriptions. Moreover, the nature of the Sisterhood's meddling is never fully revealed. I found this frustrating.

As for the domestic portion, I found this fairly dull. I see what you mean about the theme of commitment, and I thought it was daring of Ryan to imply that Mary had begun a sexual relationship with Harry before moving over to Travis. Despite this that segment dragged for me.

By: Naomi

Naomi — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 09:46:58 +0000

Hey

I liked reading your review. It was interesting to read about your reactions.

I love this book (I'm a 5 stars fan). I know what you mean about it being like 2 books. In my mind I definitely divide it into two parts as well, but I found both equally compelling.

I liked the sequel as well, but had niggling thoughts about a number of things in it – probably very similar to how you've felt about this one The sequel does a similar thing – shifts focus half-way through. I still gave it four as I can help but like the world she has created. it also has a (rather unsuccessful) love triangle, although the two boys in it are much more fleshed out and appealing than the first one.

By: Remilda Graystone

Remilda Graystone — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:33:10 +0000

Interesting review. I enjoyed reading it. You had many great points, and you explained why you felt that way, which is what made this review so great.

Thanks for it!

By: Phoebe

Phoebe — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:54:43 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Angie!

I'd actually agree that it was character-driven, rather than plot-driven. But if, as you say, Mary's choice was always clear, then (especially as it was told from a first-person perspective), it really should have been more clear to us why Travis (the brother she liked more) was such a superior choice to Harry. She tells us from the outset that he is, but doesn't give us a reason. Is he cuter than Harry? Kinder? More noble? Ryan actually gives Harry a few more redeemable qualities than she does Travis until pretty far into the book–he comes across as a pretty endearing character in the opening scene, and in those just before their intended marriage.

I like your metaphoric take of the ocean, though. I'm not entirely convinced that Ryan developed this sufficiently for it to be really supported by the text–her longing for the ocean is so vague and undefined, and really no better developed than the love triangle aspects. But I still think it's an astute reading.

By: angie

angie — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:48:09 +0000

So I'm going to say that I never really thought that the whole love triangle thing you're speaking of was a central theme. We always knew that she loved the one guy more than the other (sorry, it's been a while and I can't remember their names), we always knew that he was the one she wanted. For me the whole book was about Mary looking outside of her sheltered life for something more – something beyond the fence, something different than what was expected of her. The ocean represented her going out in the real world to discover what was out there – which is something that I think teenagers can relate to especially as they're starting college and work life. The domestic scene, I actually kind of liked. She was getting a taste of what her life could have been like if the fence hadn't been breached, even though it was short-lived and we knew it wouldn't last. Teens generally make one choice that sets the direction of their lives and they don't get a chance to see what the other choice could have brought. But in this case it was kind of like Mary got that chance. It also didn't bother me that the thing with the sisters was never sorted out. I know others who've said that the story lacked plot because of that, but for me it was a character driven novel rather than plot driven. It was about Mary's character and her coming of age rather than a story about the society that had developed. Anyway, those are my thoughts. Thanks for the review!

By: Phoebe

Phoebe — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:48:26 +0000

Definitely! I think the novel should have been at least twice as long to properly develop all the plot points she introduced. OR, if she'd just focused on the Sisterhood, perhaps could have made it a nice, claustrophobic story–something a bit like Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale.

So it definitely wasn't just you . . .