Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23566912-spare-and-found-parts?ac=1&from_search=true
Rating: 5/5
Plot: Set in a futuristic,post-apocalyptic and slightly steam-punky version of Dublin, Spare and found parts is a modern Franenstein retelling with a twist. The story follows our young heroine, Nell, part girl and part machine, as she tries to change the world once more by changing her life to begin with and creating something never seen before. Equally depicts the search for companionship and the search for breakthrough.
Thoughts:
I quite honestly am at a
loss of words when it comes to expressing my love for this book in a way that
would do it justice ever so slightly.
First off, I must admit
that I found it unbelievable that this is Sarah's 1st published novel.Though I
know she's done a fair share of nonfiction in the past,I do believe this is her
first actual novel,which my brain simply cannot compute.This does not read like
a debut at all,her writing style is polished and her narrative voice set.Though
I knew I should expect wonders in this area after seeing her moderate a few
events and hearing her talk poignantly,I was still taken by surprise by how
this wonderful lady just has a way with words.THOSE CHANGES OF PRONOUNS WERE
WHAT WON ME OVER FOR GOOD.
The worldbuilding was
captivating and kept me guessing and waiting for more.The whole concept of
it,start to finish was intriguing.
THE CHARACTERS.Oh,don't
even get me started on the characters.I found it easy to feel for the
protagonist from the very beginning and was actually questioning just what had
made me like her so much from page 1.Then it hit me.Nell Crane,though a
complex,round,well shaped character in her own right,reminds me in many ways of
some of my favourites.Were you to put together DC'S Cyborg's (think angsty New
52 Justice League Cyborg as opposed to joking Teen Titans Cyborg) feeling of
being inbetween and not fairly comfortable with his body's making and where it
places him in society,Katniss Everdeen's aversion towards humans for the most
part,doctor Frankenstein's desire for knowledge and his monster's aching for a
companion that understands and loves him,then you do get something close enough
to Nell.
The side characters did not
disappoint either. I found Ruby to be an absolute delight and the friendship
dynamics between her and Nell felt authentic and organic.They had the aspect of
uncertainty that comes with real life friendships,they were expecting a fall
out while struggling to keep their balance because they valued each other's
friendship.They were messy and believable.
Then,I must admit,I was
pretty impressed by my feelings towards Oliver.Though at times it was quite
clear that Nell herself was not the biggest fan of him and that having her as a
narrator should've made me feel the same way, I still found myself rooting for
him -rightfully so,if I do say so myself.That,my friends,is not something that
I'd think of as being easily achievable.
Overall,I found this to be
a fantastic read that I'd love to revisit in the future and I'm more than
excited to see whatever else Sarah Maria Griffin comes out with in the future.
To conclude,I must add that this has now solidified itself as one of my absolute favourite books of all time and I am prepared to support anything Sarah comes with in the future.
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