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sophieekeeble's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jgurniak's review against another edition
4.0
I had a really hard time getting into Delirium but once I did I read through it fairly quickly.
It's a pretty typical story, dystopian setting, forbidden love. But what sets it apart from other YA Dystopians is that it's not just the love between Alex and Lena that's forbidden, love is thought to be a dangerous disease.
I think one of the reasons I couldn't get into it at first is because the protagonist, Lena, started out as dull and lifeless. I was glad her character developed a personality.
It's a pretty typical story, dystopian setting, forbidden love. But what sets it apart from other YA Dystopians is that it's not just the love between Alex and Lena that's forbidden, love is thought to be a dangerous disease.
I think one of the reasons I couldn't get into it at first is because the protagonist, Lena, started out as dull and lifeless. I was glad her character developed a personality.
calistacyq's review against another edition
4.0
With an interesting plot and characters, Delirium by Lauren Oliver is about a society where love is deemed a disease, and people will receive the cure on their eighteenth birthday and be assigned a spouse.
Summary: 17-year-old Lena Haloway lives in a society where love is deemed a disease – her mother allegedly died from it when she was six. In three months, she will turn eighteen and receive the cure. However, she meets a boy named Alex and falls in love with him.
Tropes/Genres:
• dystopian
• science fiction
• romance
• strangers to lovers
• set in Portland, Maine
Review: In this world, love is a disease – amor deliria nervosa, typically known as deliria. It's an interesting concept, and I think the author explained it in a way that makes sense. While love can make you do stupid things, it's still something worth having in life. It doesn't make sense for it to be called a disease and taken away from everyone once they turn eighteen.
"I love you. Remember. They cannot take it."
Lena is such an interesting main character to follow. I feel bad for her because it's obvious from the beginning (to us readers who clearly know that love is not actually a disease) that she's brainwashed into thinking she's somewhat broken because her mother allegedly died because of love. It's genetic, they tell her. The way she thinks about the system is scarily accommodating until she slowly realises the truth and the issues. She was completely obedient and believed in the system, but Alex and Hana both contributed to her change.
With the story entirely being told through her perspective, we get to see how her view of the world she lives in changes as she spends more time with Alex, falls in love and learns more about its dark sides. Readers can see for themselves how messed up this world is, with everyone telling her that all her emotional problems will be solved after receiving the cure. That's not normal. It's scary how nobody – apart from the Invalids, who live in the wild – in this fictional United States of America realises that they're being controlled by their lack of emotions. They become mindless robots that parrot what the government wants. That's brainwashing, everybody.
Alex is an interesting character as well because of his backstory – he was born an Invalid and lived in Portland from the age of ten under a fake ID. He lives normally but is actually not cured despite being nineteen because he's not even registered in the system. With his involvement in the story, readers get to learn more about what lies outside the fences and what secrets the government hides, with Alex working as a part-time guard.
"You can’t be happy unless you’re unhappy sometimes."
Hana is also interesting because she is clearly privileged, yet she rebels against the system a little bit by attending parties that play illegal music and do illegal things. There's a curfew, by the way, and boys and girls who are uncured aren't allowed to interact with the opposite sex. Crazy, isn't it? But Hana, with all the rebelliousness she has displayed throughout the story, doesn't want to leave the system because she's benefiting from it. She has a family, unlike Lena, and she's set to marry the mayor's son. Meanwhile, Lena's future partner called her ugly. I was appalled. Hana is an example of someone who benefits from the system, unlike Lena, who will lose Alex and be forced to marry a not-so-decent-looking guy who thinks she's ugly.
The writing is not that spectacular. It's readable and tells the story, but it doesn't really evoke emotions. It doesn't stand out. I enjoyed following the story because it was an interesting concept, but I didn't feel particularly attached to the characters. My interest peaked for a moment during the plot twist, which was close to the end of the book, and then it levelled back down afterwards. I couldn't connect with the story completely.
I recommend this book to readers of dystopia. It's a very interesting concept, especially considering the amount of control and manipulation the government likely has to exercise to brainwash people into thinking that love is a disease and people need to be cured of it.
Summary: 17-year-old Lena Haloway lives in a society where love is deemed a disease – her mother allegedly died from it when she was six. In three months, she will turn eighteen and receive the cure. However, she meets a boy named Alex and falls in love with him.
Tropes/Genres:
• dystopian
• science fiction
• romance
• strangers to lovers
• set in Portland, Maine
Review: In this world, love is a disease – amor deliria nervosa, typically known as deliria. It's an interesting concept, and I think the author explained it in a way that makes sense. While love can make you do stupid things, it's still something worth having in life. It doesn't make sense for it to be called a disease and taken away from everyone once they turn eighteen.
"I love you. Remember. They cannot take it."
Lena is such an interesting main character to follow. I feel bad for her because it's obvious from the beginning (to us readers who clearly know that love is not actually a disease) that she's brainwashed into thinking she's somewhat broken because her mother allegedly died because of love. It's genetic, they tell her. The way she thinks about the system is scarily accommodating until she slowly realises the truth and the issues. She was completely obedient and believed in the system, but Alex and Hana both contributed to her change.
With the story entirely being told through her perspective, we get to see how her view of the world she lives in changes as she spends more time with Alex, falls in love and learns more about its dark sides. Readers can see for themselves how messed up this world is, with everyone telling her that all her emotional problems will be solved after receiving the cure. That's not normal. It's scary how nobody – apart from the Invalids, who live in the wild – in this fictional United States of America realises that they're being controlled by their lack of emotions. They become mindless robots that parrot what the government wants. That's brainwashing, everybody.
Alex is an interesting character as well because of his backstory – he was born an Invalid and lived in Portland from the age of ten under a fake ID. He lives normally but is actually not cured despite being nineteen because he's not even registered in the system. With his involvement in the story, readers get to learn more about what lies outside the fences and what secrets the government hides, with Alex working as a part-time guard.
"You can’t be happy unless you’re unhappy sometimes."
Hana is also interesting because she is clearly privileged, yet she rebels against the system a little bit by attending parties that play illegal music and do illegal things. There's a curfew, by the way, and boys and girls who are uncured aren't allowed to interact with the opposite sex. Crazy, isn't it? But Hana, with all the rebelliousness she has displayed throughout the story, doesn't want to leave the system because she's benefiting from it. She has a family, unlike Lena, and she's set to marry the mayor's son. Meanwhile, Lena's future partner called her ugly. I was appalled. Hana is an example of someone who benefits from the system, unlike Lena, who will lose Alex and be forced to marry a not-so-decent-looking guy who thinks she's ugly.
The writing is not that spectacular. It's readable and tells the story, but it doesn't really evoke emotions. It doesn't stand out. I enjoyed following the story because it was an interesting concept, but I didn't feel particularly attached to the characters. My interest peaked for a moment during the plot twist, which was close to the end of the book, and then it levelled back down afterwards. I couldn't connect with the story completely.
I recommend this book to readers of dystopia. It's a very interesting concept, especially considering the amount of control and manipulation the government likely has to exercise to brainwash people into thinking that love is a disease and people need to be cured of it.
sophiaknudsen's review against another edition
4.0
4/5 stars. This was an excellent book all except for the fact that it wasn't very unique. I feel like it was Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, but instead of ugliness being "terrible", it was love. I loved the sweet whirlwind romance and characters(especially Alex).
heidi920's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sophieshelves's review against another edition
4.0
So I see a lot of bad/mixed reviews on this book, why??
Okay, I love love LOVE this book, well this trilogy as a whole!
Lauren Oliver's writing style is honestly so beautiful, it is you are reading a book of poetry, the way she describes everything! Her writing just seems so effortless!
I mean I thought the first maybe 80 pages were slow to start with, but you are going to get that with A LOT of dystopians because the concept needs to be explained and such. Onto the whole concept of the book - love being a disease, if you think about it the concept is actually very scary, or I thought so at least. Like you don't even show love and affection to family. I thought it was really sad actually so to see someone learn to love, it was just beautiful!
Lena and Hana's relationship was so cute, but then they started to like fall apart and that was sad, but inevitable - they were so different.
Onto Lena and Alex - I really love their relationship there was just something about it that just got me so addicted. However I feel like we didn't get to know Alex as much as I would've liked too!
Honestly I was so addicted to this book and I couldn't put it down, I guess that's why I don't understand how people didn't like it - it was so addictive I had to know what happened to Lena and prioritised reading it over everything (yes, even food). Thankfully I already had the 2nd and 3rd to read and I am now reading the 3rd.
Seriously, read these okay?
If you've read this book and wasn't sure on it seriously pick up the second because honestly it is a million times better than this one and I loved this one so that really says something!
Okay, I love love LOVE this book, well this trilogy as a whole!
Lauren Oliver's writing style is honestly so beautiful, it is you are reading a book of poetry, the way she describes everything! Her writing just seems so effortless!
I mean I thought the first maybe 80 pages were slow to start with, but you are going to get that with A LOT of dystopians because the concept needs to be explained and such. Onto the whole concept of the book - love being a disease, if you think about it the concept is actually very scary, or I thought so at least. Like you don't even show love and affection to family. I thought it was really sad actually so to see someone learn to love, it was just beautiful!
Lena and Hana's relationship was so cute, but then they started to like fall apart and that was sad, but inevitable - they were so different.
Onto Lena and Alex - I really love their relationship there was just something about it that just got me so addicted. However I feel like we didn't get to know Alex as much as I would've liked too!
Spoiler
When Alex took Lena to the wilds for the first time, honestly that was the cutest thing ever and to be honest I never wanted that moment to end for the two of them. Then onto the ending I had like 40 pages left and I was like god what is going to happen because it was literally, action action action! I couldn't think straight, I was reading the pages so quickly (I think I ripped like 4). I really wasn't expecting the ending either, and I really just wanted them to be happy, but the fact that he stood there and let him get shot LIKE WHAT ALEX MOVE YOUR DAMN LEGS. I didn't know how to feel after I finished the book, I literally just put it down and cried. I got attached to Alex so quickly and then he was just gone! WHAT? and he had enough time to look at her and say 'run' like no Alex what have you done to my heart?Spoiler
Honestly I was so addicted to this book and I couldn't put it down, I guess that's why I don't understand how people didn't like it - it was so addictive I had to know what happened to Lena and prioritised reading it over everything (yes, even food). Thankfully I already had the 2nd and 3rd to read and I am now reading the 3rd.
Seriously, read these okay?
If you've read this book and wasn't sure on it seriously pick up the second because honestly it is a million times better than this one and I loved this one so that really says something!
nikkit_nzl's review against another edition
3.0
The plot of this book interested me, a world where love is considered a disease to be cured?! Interesting. This book was in the adult section of our library, but I would say it is more of a young adult book. I found it a little slow to begin with, but things got much more interesting once the main character actually fell in love. I hated the ending tho!
nathalyalvarez's review against another edition
4.0
Lauren Oliver ha conseguido cautivar y destrozar mi corazón en un solo libro. No es por nada, pero tenía este libro hace casi un mes en espera, y si hubiera sabido que era así de bueno lo hubiera leído hace mucho tiempo. Amo el tema principal en sí, «Deliria nerviosa de amor.».
El amor es considerado una enfermedad que puede afectar e incluso matarte, cualquier persona que se refiera al «Amor» puede ser encarcelado de por vida o ejecutado. Y se implementa una cura (Que según ellos, no te hará sufrir mas) y se impone a todas las personas a hacerse una operación para estar curados. Toda la ciudad esta protegida por una alambrada, y mas allá de ella esta la Tierra Salvaje; donde esta los «Simpatizantes ó Inválidos» que son las personas que no han sido curadas.
A la historia: Lena Holoway es una chica que cree en la cura y ha creído en ella desde siempre ya que su madre tenia la enfermedad, es decir, «Deliria nerviosa de amor» y ella no quería «sufrir» como su madre. Todo en su vida ha sido controlado, todo hecho a la manera de los demás. Pero unos meses antes de la operación sucede lo que nadie espera: Lena se enamora. Y no de cualquier persona, un Invalido.
Deliria nervosa de amor. La más mortal de todas las cosas mortales. Te mata tanto cuando la tienes como cuando no la tienes.
El amor es considerado una enfermedad que puede afectar e incluso matarte, cualquier persona que se refiera al «Amor» puede ser encarcelado de por vida o ejecutado. Y se implementa una cura (Que según ellos, no te hará sufrir mas) y se impone a todas las personas a hacerse una operación para estar curados. Toda la ciudad esta protegida por una alambrada, y mas allá de ella esta la Tierra Salvaje; donde esta los «Simpatizantes ó Inválidos» que son las personas que no han sido curadas.
A la historia: Lena Holoway es una chica que cree en la cura y ha creído en ella desde siempre ya que su madre tenia la enfermedad, es decir, «Deliria nerviosa de amor» y ella no quería «sufrir» como su madre. Todo en su vida ha sido controlado, todo hecho a la manera de los demás. Pero unos meses antes de la operación sucede lo que nadie espera: Lena se enamora. Y no de cualquier persona, un Invalido.