The Knife of Never Letting Go – Patrick Ness
Chaos Walking Trilogy, Book 1
Walker Book, 2008
This is the kind of book I have to write about, rather than want to write about, because I just don’t think I could capture my thoughts on paper well enough to express how much I loved this book. Before anything, I want to tell you that you have to read this. The Knife of Never Letting Go is the kind of book that will set all prejudice about Young Adult literature not being for grown-ups to right. It is one of the cleverest books I have ever read, and certainly deserves all the praise it receives in the book blogging world, and a lot more attention in the world of the general reading public. I know that the people who haven’t read this yet, but know about it, are probably either nervous to pick it up, or feel that the premise of the story doesn’t sound like it would be of interest to them. At least, those last two reasons are why I was at first hesitant to start reading this first book in the Chaos Walking trilogy. I hope that you will be able to set them aside, as I have, because this book is well-worth the read. More than that, I think it turned into one of all-time favourites when I was only in the middle of it. (Oh yes, another reason why I was hesitant to write this post is because of all the gushing that is about to start).
Tod Hewitt grew up in Prentisstown. He is the last boy living there, and will be the last to become a man, when he turns thirteen in a month. In Prentisstown, every one can hear every one else’s thoughts. The Noise, the name for this phenomena, is due to a virus released by the Spackle during the Spackle war. The same virus also killed all the women. There is no escaping the Noise. But, one day, when Todd visits the swamp with his dog Manchee, they find a space of silence, something that he has always been told doesn’t exist.
It is difficult to discuss The Knife of Never Letting Go without revealing spoilers right from the start. How to convince someone who hasn’t read it, that it is worth your time, without giving anything away? What I can say is that Patrick Ness uses his world-building, his main character Todd, the story he spins around him, as well as the power of words (both through The Noise and his use of specific words, fonts, etc) to discuss a list of complex issues, such as war, the danger of stereotypes, the power of knowledge, etcetera. What I particularly loved was how these issues are intermixed with the story, never in your face, never something you have to consider, transporting you outside of this fantastic world, but are rather interwoven with the whole plot, and sure to take many directions in the following books.
Spoilers:
I could not resist having a little section where I can squeee a little more about this book, for those who have read it already.
Manchee: I loved Manchee. Halfway into the book, he was my favourite character. As if I needed anything more than a talking dog to make me love this story. I cried like a baby when he died. I still get sad thinking about it. And for a small amount of time, I hated the idea that I had been telling everyone on twitter how amazing Manchee was, and how you all must have known what was bound to happen.
The cleverness of Ness’ story still gets to me. His creation of a gender divide to discuss the issues surrounding exactly a believe in that divide. I loved Todd’s defence that Viola was not his girl, but her own person. I loved the scene where Todd realises he can read Viola, as if she had Noise too. I loved Todd’s struggle with the Prentisstown ideal of manhood, how he eventually rejects the “age is a number” idea, and the rite of passage attached to the birthday. The discussion of ideologies, the different takes on Noise wherever Todd travels, but mostly how it took on the form of oppression, Todd’s struggle to resist the lure of the “safe” story he was told throughout childhood, Todd’s struggle with Violence. That scene where he killed a Spackle. I cried so much. I really can go on and on about this book.
And that cliffhanger, what can I say?
End of Spoilers
As I write this, I have already finished the second book in the series, The Ask and the Answer, which will, I am sure, result in another post that tells you to GO READ IT. I am nervous about starting the third book, sad to have to say goodbye to the story once I finish it. Struggling to handle another book with this much tension. Because though the book is beautiful, it is difficult as well. Another one of Patrick Ness’ strong points is that he clearly does not believe in a simple story, nor does he seem to think making the world easier on the characters he created is right in teenage fiction. And I have to say, I loved this story all the more for it.
Other Opinions: Things Mean A Lot, The Zen Leaf, Becky’s Book Reviews, Presenting Lenore, Renay, The Well-Read Child, Fantasty Book Critic, Wands and Words, YA Reads, The Page Flipper, Lisa the Nerd, Bitten by Books, Confessions of a Bibliovore, books i done read, Jenny’s Books, Regular Ruminations, Serendipity, Nothing of Importance, Bart’s Bookshelf, Flight Into Fantasy, where troubles melt like lemon drops, Farm Lane Books, Fyrefly’s Book Blog, The Knife of Never Letting Go.
Did I miss yours? Let me know and I will add your review to the list.
I actually bought the set for a friend this Christmas as she had just finished The Hunger Games (which I’m about to start) and I had heard so much about it (mainly from Ana). But it looks like I’ll have to get a set for myself too!
Great review. I just loved this series also. For the first couple pages it seemed so odd and I thought, why is everyone liking this so much, but it didn’t take long to find out!
OK, I may finally have to give in on this series. It sounds like something I want to read but every time I come across it, I put it off thinking it’s too hyped. Maybe I just need to read it to end my endless curiosity.
I am going to be reading this series in the new year, and am incredibly excited about it! I have heard such good things about this book, and it’s sequels, and know that it’s going to be a really good set of reads for me. I am so glad that you loved this one so much, Iris!
Talk about gushing feast, Iris! I have it in my wish-list ever since the other gushers started blogging. I confess I’m a bit afraid of the heat-ache I know it will bring…
I have seen a few gushing reviews for this book lately (which is why I bought myself a cheeky copy a few weeks ago). I must get to this soon!
I love these books SO HARD. They are some of the very few books that really are just as fantastic as everyone says they are. It’s been a year since I finished the series and I still well up with emotion at just the thought of them. They are heart wrenching, insightful, and action-packed – a combination that doesn’t come around too often. That Mr Ness really does have a talent for story telling.
Do make sure your read A Monster Calls by Ness – it’s the one book I’ve been giving away to anyone and everyone this year.
This is sitting on my shelf and I cannot wait to read it, don’t know why I haven’t yet!
I so agree with your thoughts here, especially about Manchee! I remember Ana mentioning him in some bookish updates and you’re totally not alone in crying when it happened.
i still haven’t read the third one. i need someone to assure me that it ends beautifully and that i won’t cry too much.
I have never read anything by Patrick Ness, and everyone lurves him so much! Maybe over break I will look for his books in the library.
I’m really glad you told me about this post – it made me really happy and I’d have hated to miss it. I’m so glad you loved the book, and I can’t wait to hear what you think of the rest of the series <3
What you said about Twitter: that happens almost every single time a friend picks up this book. I've received DMs that simply say "Nooooooooooooooo!" from someone who's reading it on more than one occasion, and of course I know right away what it's about. When people go on about loving that character before they get there, part of me is flinching for them inside – but at the same time, I love how we get to share that experience, if it makes sense.
Yayyyyy, I’m glad you liked this. I love it so hard, Patrick Ness is the best. I’m a little jealous of you reading them now, when all three books are out and you don’t have to wait. The Ask and the Answer wasn’t out yet when I read The Knife of Never Letting Go, and then after it came out I had to wait another whole year for Monsters of Men. But it was so worth it. Monsters of Men made me cry like a little baby.
Gosh I can’t believe all the amazing comments on this series. I thought the ideas were good (and loved Manchee as well) but it was poorly paced with large swathes of time (and pages) during which nothing really happened. By the end I was really over the relationship between Viola and Todd and thought it was completely over-done. I loved the Hunger Games and was recommended the Chaos Walking Trilogy as being up to that standard, but I was very disappointed.
I just read this one too and Manchee, oh my gosh, Manchee. That’s all I can say.
I really need to read the third book in this series. I am holding off on reading A Monster Calls before I read that, even though I know that they aren’t even connected in any way (almost like I am punishing myself for not having finished this trilogy yet!)
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There are lots of times when I’m reading something that I find myself breathing shallowly, caught up in the story. But I swear, I was actually holding my breath in that scene that you’ve described in your spoiler section. And shaking my head, thinking, surely Ness wouldn’t do that. Not to his readers, not to his characters. Almost scanning the pages, desperate to know what’s going to happen. Get a grip, man, you’re the writer, I’m thinking, don’t make that happen. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve had such a visceral reaction to a scene. The next time I use the word ‘breath-taking’, I’m going to be thinking about that.
I saw just enough of your post on the third book to see that you’ve enjoyed it, so now I really do want to finish this series; I’m glad to know that you feel it holds up throughout.
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