Moving from the popularity of the supernatural in novels, dystopian (or more depressing-themed literature) seems to be dominating the shelves in bookstores and publishing houses. Hundreds of new stories about post-apocalyptic worlds come every year. Sometimes events in these stories are rooted on events in human history. Pure by Julianna Baggot is one of these cautionary tales.
The book takes place in a world destroyed by atomic bombs. Some people in the book took shelter inside bomb-safe domes while those who were not as fortunate were fated to live their lives, altered by the bombs. The totalitarian government told them that everything would be fine, and that things would go back to the way they were before.
The Pures thought life would be good again, but it never was the same, and just when the two characters named Pressia and Partridge meet, the world begins to shatter all over again.
The book is brilliantly written. It is one of the most imaginative dystopian novels. The concept is new and frightening because the information was based on actual events. The story is incredibly slow-paced, making for intimate detail and providing greater impact for every truth that comes to light for the characters. The characters are believable and well written, displaying a good combination that both shows and tells who they are.
Pure is a fresh new novel that stands out on the shelves. The steamy piece is set in one of the most realistic, horrifying post-apocalyptic worlds in literature to date. Cruel yet hauntingly beautiful, readers are surely in for the thrill of a lifetime that hopefully never becomes a reality.
