What do you think of Uglies so far?

Ok, so for those of you who are still reading Uglies, here is a post for you.

In my previous post, "Tally's transformation," I talked about the books from the perspective of having finished the series. But for you who are still reading Uglies, I want to know what you think.



Obviously, there's the startling but not so far-off idea of everyone turning into "pretties." It manages to be a new idea because of its placement in a future, dystopian society. But it also already exists among us.

Don't tell me you haven't seen all the billboards, commercials, and ads for cosmetic surgery. It's still expensive and not necessarily standard for everyone, but... it's becoming more and more standard and it's startling to me.

Several years ago I was talking with a co-worker about having kids one day. Just casual talk. Until she asked me, "so aren't you planning on getting a tummy tuck after you have kids?"

I just stared at her, thinking, "ummm... what?"

She had asked me so matter-of-factly, like it was just an assumed thing that every woman who goes through the physical trauma of having a baby is entitled to a tummy tuck to get her body back. Initially, yes it sounds nice. But on principle, it's just a vain idea.

I do not object to post-baby surgery, by the way; let's just make that clear. I certainly don't judge anyone who decided they needed it for whatever reason. Maybe even urgent medical reasons.

But I am never going to say that some cosmetic surgeries should just be standard because our vanity demands it. If my tummy sags after having a baby, I'm going to exercise like a mad woman and eat as healthily as I can, and then maybe after all is said and done if my quality of life is just the pits because of a relentlessly sagging belly, then MAYBE I would consider it. (In case you missed it, there was a little bit of sarcasm in that sentence.)

Anyway, these are just some of my thoughts about the theme of cosmetic surgery. I really like the book for its adventure too.

I also think it was particularly intriguing of Westerfeld to tell the story through Tally, who starts out believing in the cosmetic surgery and desiring it even more than Shay, for example. I like how we get to see Tally's world through her imperfect eyes and her gradually morphing perspective on things.

So, tell me whatcha think.