All These Things I've Done [Unabridged] [Paperback]

Originally reviewed at: [...]
Rating: 4 out of 5 biscuits

I've heard great things about All These Things I've Done in the past few months so I was really excited when I received a review copy of this book. I didn't know what to expect but in the end, I was genuinely surprised. Is that a good thing? Well, in this case, yes. It's different from what I expected it to be but it was interesting nonetheless.

The plot itself centres around Anya, a 16-year-old girl from New York, and her family. Anya, who lost both her parents when she was young and who now lives with her little sister and her older brother, is a member of a criminal family. Since her brother was in an accident a few years prior to the story and he's had a sheltered life ever since, Anya is the one who keeps the family together, who looks after the three of them and who sees to the day to day running of the household. Which is - and I'm not going into details about the story because the synopsis says it all - one of the things I liked about her character the most. I love books with a tough heroine and Anya was definitely one of them.

The first thing that came into my mind when I was reading this story is Romeo and Juliet. Gabrielle Zevin's book is like a modern Romeo and Juliet with a futuristic twist. I loved the way Zevin presented the world Anya and her family live in. We learn that in 2082, chocolate and coffee are illegal and everything we take for granted now in 2012 is rationed. The city is running out of water so what's left is becoming more and more expensive. Books no longer exist (yes, can you imagine that?!) because no one can afford paper, and museums had been turned into night clubs. It really is a totally different world from what we live in now - it was a very clever idea.

All in all, I think it was a great way to start this trilogy - I see why some people might say it's a bit slow paced but I think in this case, it's inevitable for us to get a clear picture of how Anya's family, and the whole society works in 2082. The second half of the book is certainly more action-filled and the ending was brilliant - talk about cliffhangers! Gabrielle Zevin definitely made me want to pick up the next book in this series and I'm really looking forward to seeing how the story goes.

The only thing I don't understand is why it's classified as a `thriller'. I love thrillers but All These Things I've Done didn't seem like one. Dystopian(ish) fantasy, maybe. Thriller, no(t yet). Well, I suppose we'll have to wait and see.

This book is a reasonably engaging, light read. In fairness, I am not its target audience and just because this male grumpy old git didn't enjoy it all that much doesn't mean you won't, but I wasn't terribly impressed with the story, the characters or the development of a potentially interesting setting.

The plot and setting is well summarised elsewhere, so I'll spare you another recap. The story is rather slow to get going but picks up fairly well and has enough interest to hold the attention. It has an original-sounding setting in a dystopian future New York, but the sense of time and place were disappointingly underdeveloped. The characters were reasonably well done but seemed to me to be a fairly bland set of stock figures, often placed in versions of pretty familiar situations. I never really engaged with them, which meant that the romance at the heart of the book fell rather flat for me.

It is generally well-written (apart from the odd moment of very clunky dialogue) which makes it flow smoothly and means it is easy to read. It is plainly aimed principally at young women and I suggest that you read some of the more favourable reviews here from them before deciding whether or not it will be for you.

Welcome to a world at sometime in the future where just about everything, at one time or another, is illegal and that includes 'chocolate'. I had a panic attack at the thought! Of course, there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for substances being banned...the world is running short of resources. The less there is, the more people will do to get it and that's a superb opening for this dystopian/mafiaesque novel.

From the beginning we know our heroine, Anya Balachine, is a tough cookie. She's only just 16 and the opening chapter introduces us to her vile boyfried, Gable Arsley, propositioning her. Get ready for the rest. Nothing's every easy for Anya. Her mafia boss father is dead, murdered, and she's doing everything in her power to protect the rest of the family from various gangsters and their lifestyle. Her sister Natty saw their father die, her brother, Leo, has special needs and relies on Anya for comfort and Grandmother is alive only due to the machines which keep her breathing. That's a lot for anyone to deal with.

Chocolate is very much at the core of the book. It's a massively popular item on the black market and, unfortunately, it's Anya's downfall as she feeds the illegal substance to her boyfriend with dreadful consequences.

I enjoyed the easiness of the writing. All These Things I've Done is almost compelling in it's simplicity, I enjoyed how Anya seems to speak directly to the reader. It's a method which allows the character to give a lot of information about themselves in their own words. You feel you know them as an individual and Anya's situation throws up a few hard hitting questions about society and morality; legalisation of substances, the black market, organised crime, sex and the fate of children born into a mafia family.

Cleverly done for the most part but there are occasions when the dialogue becomes clunky and a later love interest for Anya is much too convenient. I did enjoy the strong feeling of empathy towards Anya as she struggles to do the right thing while caring for her family alone.