Paul's August Pick: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Year Published: 2011
Synopsis: "As the spaceship Godspeed travels toward a new earth, the lives of 100 cryogenically frozen settlers hang in the balance after someone endeavors to quietly murder them. The other passengers aboard the ship have never known life outside its walls and are enslaved by the machinations of Eldest, their tyrannical leader, who divides them into three distinct classes. When Amy, a frozen settler from earth, survives being thawed in a murder attempt, she immediately bonds with Elder, Godspeed's lone teen and future leader. Amy’s individuality, her rebellion, and her fierce desire for freedom, inspire Elder to act on his own doubts and defy Eldest--his mentor and keeper--with shocking results. Eldest’s methods of twisting history and altering the lives of this captive community are a frightening echo of tyrants in our own history, and Across the Universe challenges readers to consider the impact of unchecked power, blind trust, and the ability of one dissenting voice to make a difference."  (Amazon)

Why?: I like spaceships. I like dystopias. I will probably like a dystopia on a spaceship. 

Expectations: I really don't know if this is a dystopian novel or possibly the leader is just very evil. I have heard that this novel is like small town living, but in a huge spaceship. I am interested in the science of it. Why are these people cryogenically  frozen? What do the operators if the the ship do?

Judging a book by its cover: The cover shows a boy and a girl almost touching lips in front of a space scene. Maybe there is some Spiderman-style kissing on this novel. Or many some interesting zero-g encounters.The relationship between the protagonist and Elder will probably be a big part of this novel. What I like even more about the cover is that when I took it off I noticed that it is "reversible". All the folding would be messed up, but there is a complete other image. This is of the blueprints of their ship. It seems the ship may be another major character of this novel.

Here goes Month 2. Hopefully we each get both our books read this month!

-PAUL