The Glimpse

Rating: 4.5/5
The cover:
This cover is just pure. It is well connected to the story and it represents the love that develops between the two main characters and the barriers they had between them.

The storyline:
This is the first dystopian YA book I've ever read and I was lucky enough to have it as my first. In three words: it was amazing.
It is hard to summarize what happens in the story because there is so much going on at the same time. And I'll probably just spoil the book for you, since I'm in love with this book I won't be able to contain myself and I'll just spill it all out. So, this time, I'm going directly to what I liked and what I didn't but before that here's one sentence which a quote actually from the book that summarizes the story very well :
Things are not what they seem.

What I loved:
- First of all I should thank Claire for the amazing story and how unique it is. I wished I was living in that time and place. The story is so alive and full of emotions.
- I thought the concept of human beings being separated according to their genes was amazing.
- During the story, we get to read from different point of views. I thought it was suitable for this book. This way we could know what was going on with each important character during the same period time or just after it (Something happens with one character and in the next chapter we get to hear what happened with the other one just after the previous chapter or at the same time, depending on the characters him/herself).
- I loved the characters, all of them (except the Wardens, Ashby, Cusher and the whole Three Mills staff to be honest. I thought they were predators).
- I loved the futuristic setting where everyone have an internet connection and have interfaces and no one used normal PCs or phones. It was pure pleasure to me ^_^.
- The relationships between the characters kept going on and twisting until I didn't know who was telling the truth. That kept me reading until the last page!
- This book is full of mystery and is somehow thrilling. It has death, murder, torture, betrayal, love, fraud and many more. It's like a whole unique world that Claire created and it kept only getting better.
- I appreciate the London atmosphere in the book. I kept imagining the surroundings (thanks to the books I read about and set in London ^^) and the characters' accents while reading.
- I'm not a romantic person whatsoever, but the romance in The Glimpse made me wish I had someone like Cole. The romance was clean, slowly developing and safe. I appreciated that.
- May I say the ending was so great in a cliffhanger way that I kept re-reading the last three chapters looking for answers I didn't find. Which made me wonder, is there a sequel? praying for a sequel

What I disliked:
- The story at the beginning was slow paced, for me. Now that could simply be because of how I kept reading few pages while I was suppose to study for my finals. I just felt things started too slow, but maybe it's because I love the action so much I can't wait!

The characters:
Ariana Barber (a.k.a Ana): is the main protagonist. A 16 years old at the beginning of the book, the age in which she was diagnosed as a BIG 3 sleeper. Then she's 17 and one month away from turning 18, in the rest of the book. So all of the story happens during that month or so. Ana is simply smart, beautiful, stubborn in a good way and yet friendly, nice and understanding. I think in all the books I've read by far, she's my favorite protagonist. This is a character you could count on if you were alone with in a deserted place full of Zombies (She hates zombies, by the way ;)).
Jasper Taurell: is a pure boy that Ana befriended when she first moved to the Community. She fell for him and then they were bound waiting for their joining when she turned 18. (Joining is technically marriage. Except there's no option for a divorce once joined). He somewhat bothered me at the beginning of the book like something was wrong with him. And then I understood why. He is handsome and smart but he has this feeling about him that I don't like. Oh! and at the end of the book, I couldn't believe what I read! Sorry, Jasper, I just don't like you nor do I sympathize with you.
Tamsin: is the long lost friend of Ana. They've been friends since they were fourteen but seven months before Ariana's bounding, Tamsin disappeared. She's later discovered by Ana and yet again, they get separated.
Lila: is a girl living in the City (where the “Crazies” live). She and Ana meet when Ana goes to the City searching for... someone. During the story they become friends.
Cole: is supposed to be a terrorist and a suspect in three different cases. Ana helps him after knowing he's Lila's brother. Towards the end, a love sparkles between them. He's strong, determent, sometimes scary, intelligent and loves music.
Ashby Barber: Ana's father. I don't think I ever hated any character's father as much as I hate him right now. He's a puzzle to be solved, yet it is obvious he's ignorant when it comes to others' lives and selfish. So selfish.
Other characters worth mentioning: Nate, Cole's brother. Jack Dormant, a Warden working for Ashby.

Conclusion:
This book is essential to any dystopian reader. You won't be disappointed.
I have a strong feeling this book is going to be my favorite read in 2012, and so far, it is!
I should thank Faber & Faber for granting me the opportunity to read the book. Thank you.