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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
This was a really interesting premise for a young adult dystopian future novel. I really enjoyed Lena's progression through the novel, and I think that the author captured her feelings very well. I also enjoyed that her change of heart wasn't totally contrived - she wasn't able to give up all of the ideas she'd been raised to have overnight. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
Wow! I was blown away. I read this in one sitting, which for me is all but unheard of, especially given how long the book is.
I fell in love with the characters, and I love how the author took the tropes of the dystopian, totalitarian future, and twisted them just enough to make them feel believable and realistic without dulling their impact. One of the best books I've read all year (and my wife agrees)
I fell in love with the characters, and I love how the author took the tropes of the dystopian, totalitarian future, and twisted them just enough to make them feel believable and realistic without dulling their impact. One of the best books I've read all year (and my wife agrees)
Delirium by Lauren Oliver, a Kindle book I read throughout this third week of June. Released among other YA dystopian books, I felt the US-centric, future-looking, pandemic storyline was really intriguing.
First off, the lore and muted/propaganda literature of this world is incredible and very detailed. I found myself really getting involved in their rules and the Book of Shhh. Anything else (character interaction included) was definetely of a young-adult, they-don't-understand-us, they've-never-felt-anything-like-this, selfish tone. I had almost wanted the destruction and big-bad of this book to really happen to be further inducted into tones more readable, but, no, no, they went the way of the heroine and freedom. Damnit.
First off, the lore and muted/propaganda literature of this world is incredible and very detailed. I found myself really getting involved in their rules and the Book of Shhh. Anything else (character interaction included) was definetely of a young-adult, they-don't-understand-us, they've-never-felt-anything-like-this, selfish tone. I had almost wanted the destruction and big-bad of this book to really happen to be further inducted into tones more readable, but, no, no, they went the way of the heroine and freedom. Damnit.
In the beginning I enjoyed the world Oliver tried to create; at least she was attempting something (somewhat) original. Unfortunately, in the end the story fell a little flat. I will say that I did care about what happened to the characters, but their professions of love never seemed quite genuine enough and bordered on cheesy. I felt there were so many missed opportunities with the ending. It was a major disappointment and felt rushed. My favorite part of the book were the brief moments where it reminded me of the film Equilibrium. While both have very similar storylines, they are executed in drastically different ways. If I had to choose between the two, the film would win every time.
I was prepared not to enjoy this book. After a string of pretty bad YA dystopian forays, I was becoming disillusioned with the genre, to put it mildly. And to add in a serious romance? It's risky. But let me tell you - Lauren Oliver did it pretty darn well.
The pacing of this book was really superb. A lot of times, especially with a YA novel that's working on limited page-length and a teenager's short attention span, both the romance and the action goes zero-90 in 3.7 seconds, leaving you as the reading thinking... no way. Not buying it. NOT SO with Delirium! The main character, Lena, really grew into her own rebellion, slowly, believably, as if she really was coming out of a brainwashed state that the government put her under. And the romance grew naturally, fluidly... I liked it. I really, really liked it.
My only complaint is the ending. And I suppose, in this post-Twilight and Hunger Games era, I should have known it was coming, but I hate cliffhangers. I know, I know, everything's a trilogy nowadays, but geez. Can I get a HINT of satisfaction? Please? But hey - I WILL be reading the next in the series, so I guess it did its job.
4 stars.
The pacing of this book was really superb. A lot of times, especially with a YA novel that's working on limited page-length and a teenager's short attention span, both the romance and the action goes zero-90 in 3.7 seconds, leaving you as the reading thinking... no way. Not buying it. NOT SO with Delirium! The main character, Lena, really grew into her own rebellion, slowly, believably, as if she really was coming out of a brainwashed state that the government put her under. And the romance grew naturally, fluidly... I liked it. I really, really liked it.
My only complaint is the ending. And I suppose, in this post-Twilight and Hunger Games era, I should have known it was coming, but I hate cliffhangers. I know, I know, everything's a trilogy nowadays, but geez. Can I get a HINT of satisfaction? Please? But hey - I WILL be reading the next in the series, so I guess it did its job.
4 stars.
I feel like I write reviews like this very often, and that is that I think that the concept was good, it was interesting enough for me to read the book, but the story line itself?
Not so much.
One of my least favourite tropes is "outside boy shows unique girl real world and truth" and that is basically the definition of this book.
Is it wrong that I was kind of hoping she would just submit to the enemy then do some epic escape? Because that would have been way better.
Can barely remember any details of this and I think that says everything.
Not so much.
One of my least favourite tropes is "outside boy shows unique girl real world and truth" and that is basically the definition of this book.
Is it wrong that I was kind of hoping she would just submit to the enemy then do some epic escape? Because that would have been way better.
Can barely remember any details of this and I think that says everything.
Although the plot looked very good I was unable to read past page 236 as I found the story very slow and boring.
In my YA dystopian novel era apparently. But I really enjoyed this and immediately bought the second book.
I don't know what it is about this genre that is so addicting to me. This one, especially, had the element of "easy to read" which is nice when my typical genre is psychological thriller or mystery, while also not being the cheesiest thing I have ever read which is usually the downfall of this type of series.
The shift in Lena's perspective throughout the book is so good, and the moments of her excitement and curiosity that immediately sling shot back to fear and reluctance were written so well that I just Got Her. Even though, as a reader, it is obvious who the "bad guys" are in the book, the way Lena's comfort and understanding of the world around her are written creates a perspective that I can fathom.
My only gripe with this book, and it does get a pass since it was written in 2012, was the constant, "I am just so average," "I'm nothing special... just normal." That I was faced with on every page. However, honestly, even this trope (that is typically so awful it's a TIkTok trend right now) wasn't too awful in this book. I appreciated that it evolved into Lena gaining confidence, and not just in a "well Alex think's I'm pretty"-type-way, but rather that Lena herself actually began to feel that way about herself.
Man, sometimes there's a YA book that you would have read when I was 13 that you decide to pick up at 23 and it just hits the spot. And that's what this series is doing to me. To be fair, I do honestly truly think reading it with the experience of having loved someone in real life as deeply as Lena loves Alex also makes the book more enjoyable because, again, I Get Her. Ha.
Love this book! More than I expected! Enjoying my YA detour I'm on.
I don't know what it is about this genre that is so addicting to me. This one, especially, had the element of "easy to read" which is nice when my typical genre is psychological thriller or mystery, while also not being the cheesiest thing I have ever read which is usually the downfall of this type of series.
The shift in Lena's perspective throughout the book is so good, and the moments of her excitement and curiosity that immediately sling shot back to fear and reluctance were written so well that I just Got Her. Even though, as a reader, it is obvious who the "bad guys" are in the book, the way Lena's comfort and understanding of the world around her are written creates a perspective that I can fathom.
My only gripe with this book, and it does get a pass since it was written in 2012, was the constant, "I am just so average," "I'm nothing special... just normal." That I was faced with on every page. However, honestly, even this trope (that is typically so awful it's a TIkTok trend right now) wasn't too awful in this book. I appreciated that it evolved into Lena gaining confidence, and not just in a "well Alex think's I'm pretty"-type-way, but rather that Lena herself actually began to feel that way about herself.
Man, sometimes there's a YA book that you would have read when I was 13 that you decide to pick up at 23 and it just hits the spot. And that's what this series is doing to me. To be fair, I do honestly truly think reading it with the experience of having loved someone in real life as deeply as Lena loves Alex also makes the book more enjoyable because, again, I Get Her. Ha.
Love this book! More than I expected! Enjoying my YA detour I'm on.
I really, really loved this book. When I read the description beforehand I thought it sounded chilling and expected it to be a great read. The imagery used by the author was amazing; she wouldn't just say write something, she would describe it in the best way possible and so that you could really see it as though it were happening right in front of you, which I sometimes have difficulty with when reading. One of the best love stories I have ever read!