Played Out... The Knife of Never Letting Go

 

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness is very standard post-apocalyptic, sci-fi YA fare, with a twist.  In this world, men’s thoughts can be read.  This “noise” accompanies them everywhere, and in some areas of this New World it has led to catastrophic results.  This is a good premise, but Ness has a far longer novel than he needs to get his work done.  There is a great deal of repetition, therefore the plot gets lost.  The central idea of men and violence also gets overplayed, and therefore watered down. We are also stuck in Todd’s first person narration for the entire novel, which is not a pleasant place.  His naivete more often than not sounds like whining.