Book Review: The Glimpse

The Glimpse

Author: Claire Merle

Publish Date: June 2012

Publisher: Faber and Faber

In a near future, society is segregated according to whether people are genetically disposed to mental illness. 17-year-old Ana has been living the privileged life of a Pure due to an error in her DNA test. When the authorities find out, she faces banishment from her safe Community, a fate only thwarted by the fact that she has already been promised to Pure-boy Jasper Taurell.

Jasper is from a rich and influential family and despite Ana’s condition, wants to be with her. The authorities grant Ana a tentative reprieve. If she is joined to Jasper before her 18th birthday, she may stay in the Community until her illness manifests. But if Jasper changes his mind, she will be cast out among the Crazies. As Ana’s joining ceremony and her birthday loom closer, she dares to hope she will be saved from the horror of the City and live a ‘normal’ life. But then Jasper disappears.

Led to believe Jasper has been taken by a strange sect the authorities will not intefere with, Ana sneaks out of her well-guarded Community to find him herself. Her search takes her through the underbelly of society, and as she delves deeper into the mystery of Jasper’s abduction she uncovers some devastating truths that destroy everything she has grown up to believe.

There are a lot of dystopia books available now, and with each passing day I see more and more begging to be read. It makes choosing just one to read difficult, but I chose this one. I’m glad I did. 

The environment is a little on the familiar side. Card swipes to get from area to area are a common denominator in a lot of YA Dystopia.  The “outcast” society that lives on the fringes of the much nicer community is unfortunately also pretty common  There’s nothing about this environment that stands out from other dystopia’s which make it familiar and comfortable to be immersed in. 

Ana is a typical heroine. She’s spunky, thoughtful and quiet rightfully so scared for her life. She’s overly stubborn and slightly naive which, create enough of flaws in her thought process that she’s not a boring character. Her rational is not normal compared to today’s line of thinking, but add in her environment and she’s perfectly sane. 

Jasper is very rarely seen actually. With as prominent as he is in the synopsis the reader is lead to believe there will be more of him than there actually is. He’s also kind of wooden, however when taken into account what he’d been through that’s also feasible. In the end he’s self preserving and that’s disappointing. 

Overall the story isn’t a bad one. There’s enough of newness to the familiar that create a new enough world that is entertaining and captivating until the last page. A wonderful read for the lover of dystopia but if not a dystopia lover this isn’t your cup of tea. 

My Rating: