Walker Books Ltd.
Reviewed by: Nancy
3 out of 5 stars
Summary
Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone
else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month
away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee --
whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an
area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible,
something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee
must run for their lives.
My Review
Young Todd Hewitt is on the verge of manhood and living in
Prentisstown, a world without women and where the thoughts of men and
“creachers” can be heard. Todd’s dad
died of illness and his ma was the “last of the women”, according to Ben, one
of two men who are raising him. Todd
likes to go to the swamp to collect apples, because it is the only place where
he can get a break from men’s “Noise” – their secrets, their thoughts, their
memories. While out on a walk with his
talking dog, Manchee, Todd encounters a break in the Noise, a pocket of
silence. When Todd and Manchee return
home, their Noise reveals what happened in the swamp, and Todd, with Manchee, a
packed bag, Ben’s big hunting knife, and his mom’s journal, is sent away from
the only home he’s ever known.
When Todd encounters a girl on his travels, and comes across towns
filled with men and women, everything he’s ever known about the world is
changed in an instant. The men of
Prentisstown are harboring a terrible secret and will stop at nothing to get
Todd back.
I really wanted to love this story.
It won several major literary awards, including the 2008 Tiptree Award,
and a few of my Goodreads friends enjoyed it.
I had reservations about reading this, because it is the first in a
series and I knew it had a cliffhanger ending.
It wasn’t a bad book. It took
me just a few pages to get used to Todd’s language that reveals his innocence
and lack of education. At the same time,
he is a very well-developed character, with strong sensibilities, hope, and a
will to survive. From the start, Viola
and Todd are bonded together in a quest for freedom and survival. There is no romance, for which I am
thankful. Since Viola doesn’t have any
Noise, she is shrouded in silence. It
takes a little longer for Todd to get to know her, but he eventually does and
is able to read her thoughts. The
development of Todd’s and Viola’s relationship is my favorite part of this
story. One thing I am bothered about is
there was no mention at all of Ben’s and Cillian’s relationship. Were they roommates, best friends,
lovers? Why was the nature of their
relationship kept a secret, while everyone else’s thoughts were laid open? Since they were such a significant part of
Todd’s life, I would have liked to know more.
The Knife of Never
Letting Go was fast-paced, dark, and compelling. I liked the plot, the suspense, the world,
and the concept of hearing every man’s thoughts while women’s are much more
difficult to read. I would have liked
more well-developed secondary characters and less chase scenes. The story engaged my emotions, made my heart
race, and left me exhausted. It also
left me feeling vaguely empty and unsatisfied.
I knew about the cliffhanger at the end, but nearly every chapter had a
cliffhanger as well. At times I felt I
was watching a TV show instead of reading a book. And I won’t even talk about Aaron, the
charismatic preacher of Prentisstown, who was one of the most one-dimensional
characters I’ve ever encountered in YA fiction.
Also
posted at Goodreads
