Today, I'm talking about DIVERGENT by my fellow Bookanista, Veronica Roth. If you've been living in a paper bag and haven't heard about this yet, here are the deets from Goodreads:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.
Totally intriguing, right?
So here's the thing about DIVERGENT. I love a good action story, and this book delivers. There are fights. Dangerous stunts. Honestly chilling baddies. People leaping off trains. People getting attacked by birds.
Yeah, birds.
All that action makes for a fast-paced, hugely exciting ride. I loved the ups and downs of Tris' adventure, and I honestly couldn't put the book down mid-read. I can see why this got optioned for film, because Veronica has a very cinematic eye. And it's all set against this fascinating backdrop of a world. I'll be honest--some things about the world didn't seem plausible to me at all. I don't see how we'd ever get there as a society, although that's just my opinion and feel free to disagree. But for me, that added an additional element of interest. Could a society like this work? Why don't I think it could happen? What does that say about me?
If the mark of a good dystopian is that it makes you think about the world differently, then DIVERGENT did it for me. But it didn't beat me over the head with it, and I appreciate that.
DIVERGENT will go on my bookshelf for pulse-pounding adventures, and I'll be recommending it to all my friends. And I'll never look at birds the same way.
Okay, maybe I was exaggerating a little on that last bit. But you should still read it. :)
Don’t forget to stop by Myra McEntire’s blog for more awesome info on our first Bookanistas Give Back project
And, as for the rest of the Bookanistas…
Elana Johnson thrills over The Third
Christine Fonseca takes a shine to Demonglass
Shelli Johannes-Wells scribes about The Story Board
Shana Silver is rapturous about Moonglass
Rosemary Clement-Moore adores Enclave
Stasia Ward Kehoe has Perfect cover love
Veronica Rossi enthuses over Enclave
Megan Miranda travels the pages of Blood Red Road
5 comments:
I've heard such great things about this one. Can't wait to get my hands on it!
I read the first hundred pages when the publisher released them online for a couple of days, and I was hooked. Waiting for this book to come out is driving me a little bit crazy. And I kind of see what you mean about the world not necessarily being something we're headed towards, but then again, I think it's an extreme version of the kind of pigeon-holing we tend to do anyway, and for that reason I thought it was really interesting. Like you said, it makes me ask questions about the world we do live in.
Jessi and Ishta, you'll have to let me know what you think once you read it!
I have it, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet. Every review I read makes me more determined. :-)
I was surprised how much i like this book. The first few chapter dragged me a bit but as soon as she picked i was hooked and i didn't want to end. And i cant wait to follow the sequel of this book.
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