Rain's Reviews: Gated by Amy Christine Parker

Gated by Amy Christine Parker

Do the gates keep the unchosen out or the chosen in?

In Mandrodage Meadows, life seems perfect. The members of this isolated suburban community have thrived under Pioneer, the charismatic leader who saved them from their sad, damaged lives. Lyla Hamilton and her parents are original members of the flock. They moved here following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:

Pioneer is her leader.

Will is her Intended.

The end of the world is near.

Like Noah before him, Pioneer has been told of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must arm themselves to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.

Lyla loves her family and friends, but given the choice, she prefers painting to target practice. And lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the compound than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands.

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Review

I have written this review twice.  This is my third time trying to come up with the words to illustrate the depth of this book. So when in doubt I will do what I always do, quote John Green.

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

This is how I feel about this book. The world cannot resume rotation, brownies cannot finish baking, nothing in this world can happen until the entire population read this book and take it to heart. I know- weird. 

“This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.”
― Dorothy Parker, The Algonquin Wits

Sometimes you will just want to put the book in the freezer and take a breath and once you've regained your composure you will come back to it and start where you left off. But you can’t! That’s the thing about this book. There is no point in time that you have enough control over any part of your body than do anything but what it takes to complete this story while reading it. 

I feel odd not telling you a lot about the storyline, plot, romance or, anything but I went into this book blind and I think that is the best way to read it. I’ll tell you this- I really enjoyed Lyla, her character, and personality, and thoughts were so human, so intelligent, so real that is gives you a new view on cult members. You hear about cults like People’s Temple, or Heaven’s Gate and as people we automatically, whether subconsciously or not, think that they are incompetent, unintelligent people who don’t know left from right but that’s wrong. And to them we are the stupid ones. 

Gated is this.

“The greatest book is not the one whose message engraves itself on the brain, as a telegraphic message engraves itself on the ticker-tape, but the one whose vital impact opens up other viewpoints, and from writer to reader spreads the fire that is fed by the various essences, until it becomes a vast conflagration leaping from forest to forest.”
― Romain Rolland

~Rain

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Teaser 

"For a brief moment I imagine us linking arms like the characters did in "The Wizard of Oz" when they were preparing to meet the wizard. I'm the Cowardly Lion for sure. I can practically hear my knees knocking together. Will's definitely the Scarecrow with his extra-long arms and legs; Marie, the ruby-lipped Dorothy; and Brian makes a perfect stiffly postured Tin Man. I wish we really were headed down that long hallway in Emerald City, but instead we're making uor way around the stables to the corral." p.100

Goodreads
Liberty Bay Books: Gated
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