It is beyond my understanding how this book became one of the Truman nominees. I really had high expectations for this book; it was a great idea. I especially liked how Bodeen brought up serious issues like world hunger and moral issues on bio-engineering to make a story. Growing humans that can photosynthesize has great potential as sci-fi story material. Unfortunately, her character development practically stops when Mason, the main character, meets Laia, the human autotroph.
The narrative makes me feel like he was only helping Laia because she was pretty. Plus, I honestly didn't think that the science experiment was “gruesome”. Personally, I thought it was pretty interesting! I thought that Bodeen exaggerated Mason’s reactions when he was in the greenhouse and the plot was so predictable. The Gardener is his dad? Really? That’s the best you could do?
Still, I’ve read plenty of books with predictable endings that I still enjoyed. Why? I think I simply didn't like reading this book. It was bland and boring. The whole story just seemed fake. It just felt like all of the thoughts and actions of all the characters were played out too perfectly by the author. If Bodeen had made it seem more real and less artificial, I think the story as a whole would have been much better.
So...people with tubes shoved into them are "interesting" to you? Have fun with the skeletons in your closet, I guess.
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