Matched

My kid has heard some positive buzz about Matched by Allie Condie. Here's what the professionals say:
Amazon Best Books of the Month, December 2010: For Cassia, nothing is left to chance--not what she will eat, the job she will have, or the man she will marry. In Matched, the Society Officials have determined optimal outcomes for all aspects of daily life, thereby removing the "burden" of choice. When Cassia's best friend is identified as her ideal marriage Match it confirms her belief that Society knows best, until she plugs in her Match microchip and a different boy’s face flashes on the screen. This improbable mistake sets Cassia on a dangerous path to the unthinkable--rebelling against the predetermined life Society has in store for her. As author Ally Condie’s unique dystopian Society takes chilling measures to maintain the status quo, Matched reminds readers that freedom of choice is precious, and not without sacrifice.--Seira Wilson

Here's my unprofessional opinion:  Overall I liked it.  It is pretty clean and I have no  issues with my daughter reading it. It reminds me a lot of The Giver, so much so that I wonder if Lois Lowery would feel a little ripped off if she read it.  However, The Giver is one of my all-time favorite books, so I didn't mind too much.

I do like how Condie explores the entire idea of "Choice".  Sometimes when I have to make big decisions, I daydream about some super computer that could just analyze all the data and then spit out the best solution for me, but mostly I realize that the freedom to make my own choices is a huge blessing. I also wonder if my husband and I ever signed up for some online dating service if they'd ever put us together (I doubt it).

Book trilogies seem to be all the rage these days, and I keep getting sucked in. I didn't realize this was one or I would have waited until all 3 were published.  Matched could never stand alone as a single book. There are lots of questions and mysteries in this book and none are answered, which I find frustrating and not very satisfying.  I am not very patient.

I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars for now, but if the rest of the triology is lame, I reserve the right to remove some stars.

Have you read it? Thoughts?  Best book you've read this year? ( I'm spending about 10 hours week now watching one of my kids practice some sport and I need some ideas).

Linking up here