The Ask and The Answer

February 7, 2012 Uncategorized 0

The Ask and The Answer

Author: Patrick Ness
Publisher: Candlewick (book), Brilliance (audio)
Publication Date: September 8, 2009
Pages: 519
Series: Chaos Walking, book two
Source: Audiobook from library 

No spoilers for book two but don’t read on if you’ve never read book one and don’t want to know major events!

About the Book: Reaching the end of their tense and desperate flight in THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO, Todd and Viola did not find healing and hope in Haven. They found instead their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss, waiting to welcome them to New Prentisstown. There they are forced into separate lives: Todd to prison, and Viola to a house of healing where her wounds are treated. Soon Viola is swept into the ruthless activities of the Answer, aimed at overthrowing the tyrannical government. Todd, meanwhile, faces impossible choices when forced to join the mayor’s oppressive new regime. In alternating narratives — Todd’s gritty and volatile; Viola’s calmer but equally stubborn — the two struggle to reconcile their own dubious actions with their deepest beliefs. Torn by confusion and compromise, suspicion and betrayal, can their trust in each other possibly survive?


My Thoughts: I feel so emotionally invested in these books. Like, ridiculously invested. Just ask Lisa (when she is not busy nerding.) She got a number of emails and DMs on Twitter full of CAPITAL LETTERS and lots and lots of italics. They didn’t really make sense and were usually just full of me freaking out. She was very wise and gracious, virtually patting my back and drying my tears with an, “I know, Heidi. I know.or a Let it out, my friend. I’m here to hear it all.” (Note: You cannot have her. I need her to get me through Monsters of Men.) It got to the point where I had to stop listening to the audiobook for about a week. I just couldn’t handle it. Even when I wasn’t listening to it I was thinking about it. The Ask and The Answer just got to me on a level few books have. Patrick Ness has crafted a truly amazing world. The Chaos Walking books are fast becoming some of my very favorites. 


Okay. As far as the actual story goes… this book picks up right where book one left off. Todd and Viola have finally managed to reach Haven only to discover Mayor Prentiss (who is crafty and categorically evil, in my opinion anyway) got there first. Viola is near death so she is sent to a house of healing. Todd, on the other hand, is kept close to the mayor. Thus begins my pain. Todd and Viola both have to fight to survive in “New Prentisstown.” Since they are kept apart their fights are different. And oh my stars there is so much I want to say here but it is all so spoilery. 


What I can say: My heart broke again and again for Todd and Viola (and a host of other characters, some that surprised me!) Todd and Viola just seem so young, so alone, so in over their heads! Yet the don’t give up. They are fiercely loyal. They survive. I respect and admire them. At the same time I just want to shake them. Or take them in my arms and comfort them. Gah! These books are maddeningly wonderful. 


Audiobook Notes:
I am certain that one of the reasons I am so affected by these books is the quality of the narration. If you read my review of The Knife of Never Letting Go you know I love Nick Podehl as a narrator. Add Angela Dawe to the mix and you have one stellar audiobook experience. Nick Podehl and Angela Dawe really brought the characters to life for me. There were times when I was driving in my car yelling at the characters in my horrible imitation of Nick Podehl’s voice for Todd or Angela Dawe’s voice for Viola. Objectively I knew that the characters couldn’t hear me and would not respond. Still, I just felt the need to interact. I couldn’t just sit back and watch. I was invested

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