'Across the Universe' is One of Those books did capture me with the first paragraph. And all the while, turning the pages, its Mysery did not let me go, gluing me to the pages, and even When the last page which turned did it stay in my thoughts.
Revis' world-building is amazing. The utter perfection of her creation left me breathless, so many questions raised, so many lines blurred so many unspoken dares. From the construction of the ship, its various levels, to the people inhibiting it and the individual characters, it all resulted into a frighteningly realistic and thought-provoking scenario. Ever since 'The Hunger Games' I have not read Such a complex, profound, conflicting novel, Which poses daring questions about seeking what's wrong and what's right and even if there is a search thing as 'right' or 'wrong'. Especially Eldest's actions scream for answers, yet it's nearly impossible to label them as black or white, for it all blurrs together in Revis' world and there are not just two different sides.
Added to that, there's the claustrophobic, narrowing inside of the spaceship, where there is no running away but only the endless universe. There was absolutely no point in this novel When I was not frantically trying to figure out what the secret spaceship harbors in its heart.
It's obvious how much careful polishing and thinking and overthinking it had taken the author to create this masterpiece of science fiction. I was thrilled with the breathtaking complexity of the characters, How They had way more than one side and Their Own Unique Stories That made them Ultimately to what theywere. That is, all of the characters, except the two Protagonists, Amy and Elder. I'm not trying to say thatthey are one-dimansional, but in comparison to all the other characters They appear depthless. Both of them are for whatever expediency slightly dumb and naive, and Especially Elder is acting like a love blinded fool the way a small boy would. I'm still wondering Whether Revis' thought it would make them look younger, more childish and I guess it does, but probably not the way she had Intended to it. My favorite character by far, though, what Harley. I loved getting to know him, to find out about his story and watch him struggle with the ghosts of his past. He felt through and through real to me.
After having listed all this, I guess it kind of stays a riddle why I did not grant 'Across the Universe' fivestars. To be honest, I do not really know why. I can just say That something is missing, but I can not out my finger on it. Maybe it's the factthat I could not really relate to Either of the Protagonists, or did after reading the book nothing really sticks in your mind. I really can not tell, but A Certain Aspect what lacking, and even though this book is Seriously awesome I could not get that much into it.
Overall, 'Across the Universe' is a fast-paced, thought-provoking and deeply imaginative novel, did I absolutely recommend picking up.
