Listen to more in the Uglies series, including Specials and Extras.
©2005 Scott Westerfeld; (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC
"Riveting." (Booklist)
“Westerfeld has built a masterfully complex and vivid civilization. His characters are multidimensional, especially Tally, who wrestles with what she has done in the past and what she will be forced to do in the future. Uglies and Pretties are both nearly impossible to put down.” (School Library Journal)
“Riveting and compulsively readable, this action-packed sequel does not disappoint. Just as good as its predecessor, it will leave fans breathlessly waiting for the trilogy’s final volume.” (ALA Booklist)
"Split Decision"
I read the book Uglies and am now listening to Pretty's. I enjoy the concept of the books in spite of their clumsy teenager angst. I find the writing to be a bit immature. I don't mean this in a negative way, just in a "not that polished" kind of way. There are some very interesting concepts presented that I thought could be expanded upon. I know it is written for teens, but am always disappointed when junior fiction books read as if their audience is a bit dense. That aside, I do like the author's idea of what our world progresses into and the way those generations look back to our time.
The real reason for the low three star rating is the narration. I find the nasally voice extremely grating. I don't even know if I can finish listening to this book. I may have to go back to reading Prettys and Specials. The characters all sound completely brain dead - even the one's who aren't supposed to be. I can't decide if it would be better with a different narrator, or it's just the way the books are written that give it a very "patronizing" feeling.
Summary: Book 4 stars, Narration 2 stars.
"Excellent story, horrible narration"
I was so sad when I heard the narration for this wonderfully intriguing and fun novel... It is monotone and slow. The story is great, I recommend reading this series instead of listening to it.
"A decent second book...."
I've been impressed with this series so far. The concept isn't very original, but it's handled extremely well. The world of the Pretties is well thought-out.
That being said, this book was not as good as Uglies. The character of Shay, in particular, is annoying, and not quite consistent with how she was in the first book. Also, while the first book was a self-contained story that ended with a cliffhanger to set this book up, this one seems to be only half the story.
I do, however, really like the mythology within the world that is being established... I will be reading the third book next.
"Wish I had listened about the Narrator"
I just started listening to Pretties. I am only in the first 10 minutes, but the way Shay's voice is done by the Narrator is horrible. I am going to try to continue listening, but after finishing a wonderfully narrated book (Fragile Eternity), I am going to remember NEVER to buy any audiobook using this narrator again! She really detracts from the story.
"Slooooow...readeeeer"
Not really. It would have saved much more time if I'd just read the book myself.
She reads too slowly, and it made my mind drift off more than usual during audiobooks
- Criminal Justice Graduate - Farrier
"Better than the first book!"
I enjoyed the audio version because I got to lay back and imagine the world as its read to me! The narrators voice is horrid in the first hour of the first book, but you get use to it!
My favorite part was when the main character found herself stuck in a test experiment. The experiment being a guarded sanctuary with different tribes of wild people killing each other!
Shay was my favorite because the narrator used a chill voice.
Not moved, but made me laugh out loud a couple times!
I felt this book was written better than the first. I enjoyed it very much and would recommend it to any of you that like Dystopian books.
"loved it"
The story was awsome scott westerfields an awsome author
Plus the narrator reading it made the story way better she was a great addition
"Great Series - Slightly Annoying Accent"
The performance was very good. However... the accent of the narrator was a bit annoying. Every "o" sound was pronounced as an "a" - rather like the accents of the locals where I grew up in Maryland. She would say "far-ed" instead of "forehead," "arange," instead of "orange," "harrible," instead of "horrible," etc. If you can get over that, then the rest of the narration was excellent. This is a superbly written dystopian series - very different but just as good as the Hunger Games series.
"Great Story"
I love this series, it makes a lot of statements about our society and where we are heading environmentally and also with our fascination with everybody having to look beautiful to be accepted. There are times where I find myself starting to nitpick holes in the feasibility of the society structure, but the story is well written and the plot is fun and exciting enough for me to just put that down to my being old and looking for things to complain about. I do wish Tally was more assertive, and adventurous on her own instead of being dragged along for everything and then being given credit for being in the forefront. I did enjoy the book and I continued to read the entire series and I enjoyed all of it.
"Another great story, another painful narration"
The narrator's take on Shay's voice was like nails on a chalkboard. Almost made me turn it off the first time I heard it however the story grabbed me enough to keep me listening despite the fact that I cringed every time Shay spoke.
No