Forest of Hands and Teeth

The Forest of Hands and Teeth
by Carrie Ryan
pub: March 2009
320 pages

"In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future 0 between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?"

I don't know what it is, but these days I seem to pick up books that are well written, but I just don't like them.

I can describe The Forest of Hands and Teeth in one word - DEPRESSING!

Glancing at my bookshelf, I say "Holy crap. I have to read all those in one week?" So I grab Carrie Ryan's story just to start making a dent. I began this at 10 pm telling myself I'll just read until there's a happy point, then end my night on a positive note.

At 2 AM (!) on page 258(!!!), I finally realize there is going to be no turning point from depressing. Nothing good is going to happen to this poor, selfish girl.

Finishing this book made me real appreciative of my life - all the freedoms I have, the invention of GPS, and my loved ones still alive...

Mary, at times, acts a tad crazy, like she should probably be institutionalized crazy, but given her extreme circumstances the bouts of insanity are realistic. I found it to be annoying as the book progressed, but it did make her character believable.

Mary is also very selfish. She'll get what she wanted and is still not satisfied. If you're like me, you'll be reading and say, "Oh come on! This is what you wanted! Put a smile on and be happy! I've waited hundreds of pages for something happy to happen and you are ruining it!"

This book is emotionally deep, VERY heavy and devoid of humor... with absolutely nothing, to lighten the mood. Be warned. This book is not for the faint of heart. Those looking for a Hollywood ending, those looking for an uplifting read, or just some sort of satisfaction, will be sorely disappointed.

Similar to Thirsty this book is well written so you go through the emotional draining Mary and her posse endure. She never gets a break and neither do you.

There is a sequel, but I won't be reading it. I've already had one book suck away my good humor like a Death Eater possessed. I'm going to do my best to refrain from voluntarily grabbing another one.