Libby: Scythe, Neal Shusterman

Not in a million years would I ever have thought that I would read a young adult, science fiction~type book. This is more the type of book and genre that Mark enjoys. But, I saw '@Stephreadsalot' on TikTok rave about the book, so decided, you know what... why not...?

Borrowed if off Libby (which is an amazing app that links up to your library, and gives you access to ebooks and audiobooks that might not be available at the physical library). 

Firstly, I really battled to actually pronounce the word correctly! 

Pronunciation = Sithe

Secondly, I familiarlised myself with the meaning of 'Young Adult (YA)' books. Young Adult literature is generally described as books written for an audience of 12-20 year olds.

I must admit that I am very grateful for the ebook function to help with terms and words that I am not familiar with. I found many of the words and concepts quite complex. 

The premise of the book is set in a utopian ideology in the future. There is no concept of illness or pain. If you do hurt yourself, then your body has nanites that help you to heal and manage the pain, if you do hurt yourself. You are also able to 'turn the coroner' in age, if you get too old, then you can turn the corner to an earlier age. If you e.g. break your neck, then you get carried off by an ambu~drone to the nearest revival centre and they fix you up there (and you get delicious ice cream!)

There is also no such thing as natural death anymore. There are however scythes who have been trained to do the important job of gleaning people when their time has come to an end. 

We meet Scythe Faraday, who takes on two apprentices to teach them how to become scythes. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! So very different to anything that I have every read, and quite a few twists along the way! I can just imagine that it would make a really good series or movie. And, by the looks of it, Steven Spielberg has shown an interest in getting involved!

5/5

Here is a list of all the words I highlighted that I needed to double check the meaning for:

• Incendiary ~ (of a device or attack) designed to cause fires
• Visceral ~ instinct
• Bokator ~ is considered to be the oldest martial art currently being practiced in the Kingdom of Cambodia, dating back to the 1st century.
• Faraday ~ an English scientist who contributed to the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry
• Running the gauntlet ~ To run the gauntlet means to take part in a form of corporal punishment in which the party judged guilty is forced to run between two rows of soldiers, who strike out and attack them with sticks or other weapons. Metaphorically, this expression is also used to convey a public trial that one must overcome
• Sycophantic ~ a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage.
• Mellifluous ~ (of a sound) pleasingly smooth and musical to hear.
• Bacchanal ~ a wild and drunken celebration.
• Vernal ~ something that occurs in springtime or is related to springtime
• Capybara ~ a giant cavy rodent native to South America.  Inhabits savannas and dense forests, and lives near bodies of water. It is a highly social species and can be found in groups as large as 100
• Pariah ~ an outcast

Quotes I highlightes:

Is it worse to be despised or to be ignored?

Guilt is the idiot cousin of remorse