Morbid Romantic

Book Review & Personal Blog

Title: Battle Royale
Author(s): Koushun Takami
Genre: Fiction – Dystopia
Tags: alternate universe, dictatorship, dystopia, fascism, japan, survival, violence
Finished: January 5, 2009
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review:

I’ve been eager to read this book for a while since I own both Battle Royale movies and I read the manga years ago. This book is as troubling as it is insightful– troubling because it shows you the truth depth of human desperation and troubling because it makes the reader enjoy it. This book isn’t full of thesaurus words or flowery, flowing descriptions. It’s simple and to the point, and every effective. The book shows us how people, normal people, can descend into madness. How many of us would be able to kill someone? I’m sure many people would say, “not I,” yet how do we know until we’re put in that position? Each character in the book experiences their own personal reaction to fear, violence and the threat of death, which could come at any moment. How each handles this situation is where the insight comes in. We come to see that fear is more complex than the word describes. Some justify killing with logic, however poor, some do it out of instinct, and some do it to protect others. This isn’t a book to pass over lightly because of its subject. I know that the thought of middle school students killing each other off on an island is sour, but Battle Royale is an excellent book about human nature and how humans exist in a world out of their control. There is hope, though! The main characters Shuya and Noriko fight a force far larger than themselves, which gives a glimmer of hope in the madness. Granted, there is no peaceful resolution at the end. The world as the characters know it does not crumble or end. It stays strong and in control, but the resistance of a few is only a minor shine to the possible resistance of many. Even in a world of chaos and death, there is loyalty and friendship.

- More can be found in my Reviews section or on my Biblio page. If you would like to see my book list for 2009, go here.

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I just won Without a Backward Glance by Kate Veitch from Diary of an Eccentric.

Can’t wait to give it a read!

Here are the latest book giveaways I have come across in my travels through the world wide web. Whenever I see a book up for giveaway that I think sounds like a good read, I will post a link to the giveaway so that all of you, my readers, can go to the website and snag a chance to win for yourself. Below you will find cover images (clickable to their Amazon.com page), the name of the author, the name of the book, the link to the giveaway, and the date the contest ends. If you need any help or have any questions, feel free to comment.

If you are hosting a book giveaway and would like me to list it here, leave me a comment with the contest URL or send me an email at morbidromantic@gmail.com.

Win Philip Smith’s Walking Through Walls at J. Kaye’s Book Blog
Contest ends January 17th

Win L.E. Modesitt Jr.’s Imager at Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist

Win Kirk Curnutt’s Breathing Out the Ghost at Diary of an Eccentric
Contest ends January 12th

Win Justin Gustainis’ Evil Ways at Amberkatze’s Book Blog
Contest ends January 11th

Win James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet’s Sundays at Tiffany’s at:
A Bookworm’s World – Contest ends January 26th
At Home With Books – Contest ends January 19th
Cafe of Dreams – Contest ends January 23rd
Chery’s Book Nook – Contest ends January 30th
Enroute to Life – Contest ends January 27th
Fiction at Fruition – Contest ends January 19th
Joystory – Contest ends February 14th
Literary Menagerie – Contest ends January 31st
Peeking Between the Pages – Contest ends January 14th
She is Too Fond of Books – Contest ends January 16th
Reading With Monie – Contest ends January 18th
So Many Precious Books, So Little Time – Contest ends January 30th

Win Alyssa Day’s Wild Thing at Yankee Romance Reviewers

Win Alafair Burke’s Angel’s Tip at Lori’s Reading Corner
Contest ends January 15th

Win Hallie Ephron’s Never Tell a Lie at J. Kaye’s Book Blog
Contest ends January 24th

Win a book of choice at Stone Soup – Contest ends January 11

Win Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain at The Bluestocking Society
Contest ends January 16th

Win Brenda Janowitz’ Jack with a Twist at Footnotes
Contest ends January 16th

Win Rachel Hauck’s Sweet Caroline at Cornhusker Academy

Win Brandilyn Collins’ Violet Dawn at Cornhusker Academy

Win Ben Sherwood’s The Survivors Club in audiobook at Rhapsody in Books
Contest ends January 22nd

Win Carmen Rodrigues’ Not Anything at Mrs. Magoo Reads
Contest ends February 1st

Win Camy Tang’s Only Uni at Cornhusker Academy

Win Rob Parsons’ Bringing Home The Prodigals at Cornhusker Academy

Win Cara Putman’s Sandhill Dreams & Captive Dreams at Cornhusker Academy

Win Daniel Serrano’s Gunmetal Black Tara’s View on Books
Contest ends January 27th

Win Joanne Rendell’s The Professors’ Wives’ Club at Free Book Friday
Contest ends January 16th

Win three audio books at Cheryl’s Book Nook
Contest ends February 7th

Win Elizabeth Chandler’s Kissed By An Angel, Power of Love, and Soulmates at J. Kaye’s Book Blog
Contest ends January 31st