Ci sono libri che mi capitano tra le “mani” quasi per caso e che mi sorprendono molto, “Omni” di Andrea Murray è uno di questi. Si tratta di un YA distopico che ricorda per certi versi “The Selection” e “Matched”, ma decisamente è qualcosa di più innovativo.
Purtroppo questo libro è disponibile solo in inglese.

Ho ricevuto una copia di questo libro dall’autrice in cambio di un’onesta opinione.

There are books that I come across almost by accident and that surprises me a lot, “Omni” by Andrea Murray is one of them. It is a YA dystopian that reminds in some ways “The Selection” and “Matched”, but definitely is something more innovative.
Unfortunately, this book is available in English only.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest opinion.

Title: Omni
Author: Andrea Murray
Date of Publication: November 1, 2013
Genre: YA dystopia

Pierce only wants a shot, a real shot, and not just the excuses he’s been handed his whole life. Harmony wants to escape her future, the future she fears will be chosen for her. After their chance meeting, they might get exactly what they want.

Since taking over the US government years earlier, the Omni party has created a perfect existence. From consorts to job assignments, every choice, every facet of life is under their control. Each citizen has a specific role in one of the four strata. Seventeen-year-old Pierce is a Drudge, the lowest social stratum in society. For over two years, he’s hoped—prayed—that his upcoming aptitude test will finally free him from his virtual slavery and give him a chance at a better existence. When he rescues Harmony, an Artist and member of the most successful stratum, at a publicity event for her latest movie, his life takes an unbelievable twist. With his gallant act and good looks, he becomes a media sensation. Every stratum in society seeks his membership for their publicity, but as he becomes closer to Harmony, Pierce realizes what fame in the all-seeing eye of Omni is truly like. His choices will not only affect him but Harmony as well. The life Pierce thought he wanted may not be worth the cost to either of them.
.

function toggle(obj) {
var obj=document.getElementById(obj);
if (obj.style.display == “block”) obj.style.display = “none”;
else obj.style.display = “block”;
}
In italiano

Pierce vuole solo una scossa, una vera scossa e non solo le scuse che gli sono state date durante la sua intera vita. Harmony vuole scappare dal suo futuro, il futuro che lei teme sia stato scelto per lei. Dopo la loro chance di incontrarsi, potrebbero avere esattamente quello che vogliono.

Da quando ha preso in consegna il governo americano anni prima, il partito Omni ha creato l’esistenza perfetta. Dai consorti all’assegnamento di un lavoro, ogni scelta, ogni sfaccettatura della vita è sotto il loro controllo. Ogni cittadino ha uno specifico ruolo in uno dei quattro strati. Il diciassettenne Pierce è un Drudge, lo strato sociale più basso dell’intera società. Per più di due anni, ha sperato – pregato – che il suo test d’attitudine in arrivo lo possa liberare dalla sua schiavitù virtuale e gli possa dare la chance per una vita migliore. Quando salva Harmony, una Artist e un membro dello strato più famoso, in un evento pubblico per il suo ultimo film, la sua vita prende un piega inaspettata. Con i suoi modi galanti e il suo bell’aspetto, inizia presto ad essere apprezzato dai media. Ogni strato della società cerca di averlo per sé per scopi pubblicitari, ma più si fa vicino ad Harmony, più Pierce comprende di che cosa è veramente fatta la fama nell’occhio che vede tutto dell’Omni. Le sue scelte non riguarderanno solo lui, ma anche Harmony. La vita che Pierce pensava di volere potrebbe valere il costo di uno di loro.

Goodreads – Amazon.com – Amazon.it – Smashwords – B&N

For three years the seventeen year old Pierce is part of Drudges, the lower social stratum in the society created by Omni, but this may change soon. After the hard work and efforts shared with his best friend Hale, he will soon be able to do the Aptitude Exams and from there will begin his real life: based on the result, the Omni will place him in one of four stratum. Or so he thinks.
Everything changes, however, the day when he sees for the first time Harmony, a beautiful Artist who is promoting her latest movie in the same place where he works. Harmony is an Artist since she was only a child, just like her twin sister Caprice, but, unlike her, Harmony is unable to have fun for years and she does not like that life. The two sisters are physically very similar, although completely different in personality: Caprice is flashy, she likes to show off, loves to be on everyone’s lips, while Harmony is kinder and more reserved. That day, Harmony approaches the crowd watching them to greet the fans, but is attacked by a man. The person who will save her, and not just once, will be Pierce.

The characters are all well defined: Pierce is the hero generous and never selfish, always thinking of others and never to himself; Harmony is the classic damsel in distress; Caprice the girl who shows self-confident, but decidedly is not; Hale the trusted friend. We can say that the one between Pierce and Harmony is a love at first sight from the moment where they know, although among them there could not be anything as belonging to two different social strata. Yet things did not get better, even when everything will change.

The society managed by Omni is a real dystopia, a Big Brother that sees everything that happens and control the life of citizens in every aspect. Everything seems to be run by “superiors”, by officers of the party and by the media. Even the life of Caprice is only a facade devised for public opinion, and that’s why her sister does not want to accept the decisions that were made for her.

In conclusion, “Omni” is a YA dystopian very special to read in one breath with beautiful characters, a beautiful love story and a surprise ending that I hope will soon lead to a sequel.

Rating:

function toggle(obj) {
var obj=document.getElementById(obj);
if (obj.style.display == “block”) obj.style.display = “none”;
else obj.style.display = “block”;
}
Recensione in italiano

Comments

comments