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Title: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation)
ISBN: 0763636797
Author:
M.T. Anderson
Publicate Date: 2008-01-22
Publish: 2008-01-22
List Price: $10.99
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $4.79
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $4.59
Amazon Merchant Price: $8.79
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Sounds good, but a Disappointment
I thought that Octavian Nothing sounded like a great book for teens, and so I bought the book as soon as it came out. The plot sounded good from the description, not like many teen books that are pure fluff. It took me a long time to get through and I was happy when it was finally over. I was very disappointed how it turned out, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
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2: one of the best novels I've read in the past year--YA or otherwise
I LOVED this book. However, it is most certainly not for everyone. This is a challenging read. The language is difficult and even antiquated in parts, but 1) I make it a habit to read with a dictionary nearby so this didn't faze me, and 2) even when I wasn't in the mood to stop reading to look something up, I was still able to figure out the meaning of the text based on the overall context. Besides, after about 50 pages or so, I became accustomed to the writing style and then I blazed through the rest of the book.
If you're willing to put in the effort, the payoff is huge. The characters are believable. The story is horrific, heartbreaking, and somehow hopeful at the same time. The language is stunningly gorgeous in parts. The subject matter is fascinating, and it made me think about our country's history from a different perspective. Also, if you don't read too many reviews that all but spoil the plot for you (Anderson slowly reveals the reality of the situation to the reader as Octavian begins to realize what's going on), the tension and mystery of it propels you along. The cliffhanger ending was perfect, and I cannot wait for the second book in the series to be published.
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3: Great
The bood was in great condition, it came on a timely basis, and there was not a single hassle.
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4: A Good Yet Disturbing Read
M.T. Anderson does an amazing job of capturing the heartache and brutality of slavery in this early American story. Complex characters and a plot with many twists and turns add to the quality of the read, and one is rarely sure who is a friend and who is an enemy. The vocabulary of the book is clearly intended to help the readers remember that they are in a different time, but it is not difficult to comprehend. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for good, challenging historical fiction. I do offer one warning though: this book may not work for those with weak stomachs.
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5: Wasted Read
Unfortunately selected by our book club, I can find nothing positive to say about this book. The most cogent portion might be all the pages where the writing is literally crossed out. Presumably written for teens, the vocabulary is inaccessible. Circumlocution, arcane forms, obscure references, all combine to creat a book that will lead teens to despise their teachers. Will donate the copy to Goodwill.
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