The whole idea of “subliminal messages” is fascinating to me, and I like how Bachorz just took the concept to the nth degree to see what might happen if we started depending on them to shape our behavior. On the whole, I really enjoyed Candor and was engaged in the story. And Oscar’s gradual ability to care for someone other than himself sets into action a chain of events that even I couldn’t see the end result of. When Nia moves into town, though, all of a sudden he wants more than ever to not be alone in his ability to withstand the messages, and suddenly doing the “right” thing doesn’t seem quite as important. Oscar knows that there is more to life - but he has to keep up appearances, right? His dad can’t KNOW that he can withstand the messages, otherwise he’ll make sure that Oscar’s defenses are wiped away and he’ll never be the self that he knows again.

All that nasty decision making will be removed from your daily living. Messages that “help” your brain to make good choices: you’ll always be courteous, always crave healthy food, always keep the rules. Let our illustrious town founder, Campbell Banks, give you a tour of our beloved city and see for yourself that while your home will make you happy - the clean and cheerful Candor itself will make you even happier.ĭo you know why it will make you happy? Do you know why there are no homeless, no drug addicts, no overweight people in Candor? Oscar Banks, the son of the town founder, does - and it’s a secret that he has figured out how to manipulate. (Sept.For sale: one gorgeous house in the idyllic town of Candor. On the whole, it's a compelling story that quickly becomes a page-turner. But Bachorz needs this high-stakes bit to justify why kids can't simply run away. Some of the premise is difficult to swallow, such as that within days, residents of Candor become so addicted to the Messages that even a few hours without them could mean death. Proof that the Messages work.” But when Oscar falls for the new girl, Nia, he's forced to rethink his entire identity. Secretly, he's the town's biggest rebel-he illegally shuttles kids to freedom before the Messages can take hold (for a price)-while on the surface he's “the model Candor boy. Oscar Banks, the son of Candor's founder, leads a double life. Avoid physical contact”-that dull any impulse toward creativity, rebellion or even sexual desire.

In the town of Candor, conformity is law negative emotions are banished and residents are fed a steady diet of subliminal Messages-“Respectful space in every place. Debut novelist Bachorz delivers a dystopian novel that takes place in the present, giving the genre a fresh twist.

Pam bachorz books