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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
(Full review can be found on my blog, Paper Riot.)
In a sentence: I was afraid the hype had gotten to me, but then I slowly fell in love.
Reading this book was like getting to know a new friend: you're excited to meet them, but it's awkward at first, and you're not sure this person is going to end up being important to you. You see all the things that you don't like about them and you have the feeling they're never going to replace the friends you already have, the ones you share a history with. But then, slowly, gradually, you get to know them and see things you didn't before. You know what they like, and you know why they act the way they do. And then, suddenly, you understand them so well that you can't remember not being friends with them anymore.
The first time I read this book I didn't know how to possibly express what I felt in words. Now that I've re-read it, the words are slightly coming back to me, so I'll try to share my thoughts in the best way possible. It was no insta-love for me. I was afraid that the hype had gotten to me and my expectations were too high. The story appealed to me, but I felt no connection to Lena and the other characters at all.
But both the first and second time I've read Delirium, my affection grew while reading. With every chapter, we understand more of Lena's background and Hana's motives, we get more information on the world-building and the exact philosophy that caused the fear of deliria. With every new piece of information I got more eager and enthusiastic, because everything slowly began to fall into place. The end left me fully satisfied and with nothing but respect and admiration for Lauren Oliver's brilliant storytelling.
Since I had huge issues with Lena at first, getting to know her was most intriguing: I love the way Oliver mixed parts of her present life and memories of her upbringing together to a well worked-out, likeable and still relatable main character. It was something I didn't see coming before, and therefore something that surprised me. And Lauren Oliver is GOOD at surprises! There were some mind-blowing twists and turns, and a Cliffhanger with a capital C. Though I don't usually like cliffhangers, this one was brilliant! It broke my heart a little, but I was smiling because it was so unexpected. Readers will HAVE to read on after finishing this book.
I'd heard many things about Lauren Oliver's writing before, and I quite enjoyed it the first time, but I fell in love with it upon re-read. Her poetic phrases and the mix of action and background information blend together very well and create a beautiful story. I was very pleased when I finished. This book will appeal to all fans of dystopias or great love stories, and it's definitely a must-read for every YA reader.
In a sentence: I was afraid the hype had gotten to me, but then I slowly fell in love.
Reading this book was like getting to know a new friend: you're excited to meet them, but it's awkward at first, and you're not sure this person is going to end up being important to you. You see all the things that you don't like about them and you have the feeling they're never going to replace the friends you already have, the ones you share a history with. But then, slowly, gradually, you get to know them and see things you didn't before. You know what they like, and you know why they act the way they do. And then, suddenly, you understand them so well that you can't remember not being friends with them anymore.
The first time I read this book I didn't know how to possibly express what I felt in words. Now that I've re-read it, the words are slightly coming back to me, so I'll try to share my thoughts in the best way possible. It was no insta-love for me. I was afraid that the hype had gotten to me and my expectations were too high. The story appealed to me, but I felt no connection to Lena and the other characters at all.
But both the first and second time I've read Delirium, my affection grew while reading. With every chapter, we understand more of Lena's background and Hana's motives, we get more information on the world-building and the exact philosophy that caused the fear of deliria. With every new piece of information I got more eager and enthusiastic, because everything slowly began to fall into place. The end left me fully satisfied and with nothing but respect and admiration for Lauren Oliver's brilliant storytelling.
Since I had huge issues with Lena at first, getting to know her was most intriguing: I love the way Oliver mixed parts of her present life and memories of her upbringing together to a well worked-out, likeable and still relatable main character. It was something I didn't see coming before, and therefore something that surprised me. And Lauren Oliver is GOOD at surprises! There were some mind-blowing twists and turns, and a Cliffhanger with a capital C. Though I don't usually like cliffhangers, this one was brilliant! It broke my heart a little, but I was smiling because it was so unexpected. Readers will HAVE to read on after finishing this book.
I'd heard many things about Lauren Oliver's writing before, and I quite enjoyed it the first time, but I fell in love with it upon re-read. Her poetic phrases and the mix of action and background information blend together very well and create a beautiful story. I was very pleased when I finished. This book will appeal to all fans of dystopias or great love stories, and it's definitely a must-read for every YA reader.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
relating to a dystopian book with a corrupted government was not in my 2024 bucket list but here I am.
p.s: read this while seeing teenage deaths, protest for basic rights, internet blockout, and well i guess, a literal war that is going on in my country. was the book good? not really. but did it help me a little while i stayed inside my room helpless because of the curfew installed by my very own government? yes.
don't know if i'll continue this, i heard there's a love triangle. i can survive a uprising and a stupid fmc but love triangles are where i draw the line.
p.s: read this while seeing teenage deaths, protest for basic rights, internet blockout, and well i guess, a literal war that is going on in my country. was the book good? not really. but did it help me a little while i stayed inside my room helpless because of the curfew installed by my very own government? yes.
don't know if i'll continue this, i heard there's a love triangle. i can survive a uprising and a stupid fmc but love triangles are where i draw the line.
I was attached to this book from the passage of her describing her favorite color. I almost couldn't put this book down, it was great! I will def. be reading the trilogy.
It was ok- def from the hype era of the dystopian novels but not quite as good as some others.
I saw an ad for this book somewhere and was intrigued by it, then happened across it while perusing Barnes and Noble over winter break. I read the first few chapters in the store and my mom ended up buying it for me. I finished it the next day, and loved it.
3.5 Stars really.
The first half of the book was really confusing and very, very slow. However it got better after Lena slowly understood how wrong her world, and everything she thought she knew was. I thought the progress of her realizing this was beautiful and very well done!
AT first I didn't really like Lena. While I understood how she wanted the procedure, she seemed kinda off to me at first. Unbalanced. Maybe it was suppossed to be this way. After Alex came into her life she seemed more sure and I began liking her then. As for Hana...I actually can't really stand her. I thought it was weird what she said at their evaluation and I was a firm believer that there was more than just her going to forbidding parties. Maybe there will be. We'll see. At first I didn't like Alex as well but now I totally love. He seems really lovely.
Gracie kept me confused. I thought first that she was Lena's sister, then her cousin, but Williams granddaughter? Either I hadn't paid enough attention or there was some mistake in the book.
As for the world. I haven't quite worked out what is fence din and what not? Is it only Portland? If so, what is the rest of the world. If it's not just Portland, how big are the Wilds? Is it like Disctrict 13 that just got wiped out and forgotten? I hope to see this explained further in the next book.
Also the rules are really confusing because you have people who are infected, who only get cured and they are okay and you've got people, sympathizers, who get put in the Crypts immediatly? Like what is the actual law on this? I don't understand what is worse and how this whole system works to be honest.
Anyway As I was halfway through I didn't think to continue the series but the last 200 or so pages kept me on the edge and now I am intrigued on how it will continue, thus 3.5 stars.
The first half of the book was really confusing and very, very slow. However it got better after Lena slowly understood how wrong her world, and everything she thought she knew was. I thought the progress of her realizing this was beautiful and very well done!
AT first I didn't really like Lena. While I understood how she wanted the procedure, she seemed kinda off to me at first. Unbalanced. Maybe it was suppossed to be this way. After Alex came into her life she seemed more sure and I began liking her then. As for Hana...I actually can't really stand her. I thought it was weird what she said at their evaluation and I was a firm believer that there was more than just her going to forbidding parties. Maybe there will be. We'll see. At first I didn't like Alex as well but now I totally love. He seems really lovely.
Gracie kept me confused. I thought first that she was Lena's sister, then her cousin, but Williams granddaughter? Either I hadn't paid enough attention or there was some mistake in the book.
As for the world. I haven't quite worked out what is fence din and what not? Is it only Portland? If so, what is the rest of the world. If it's not just Portland, how big are the Wilds? Is it like Disctrict 13 that just got wiped out and forgotten? I hope to see this explained further in the next book.
Also the rules are really confusing because you have people who are infected, who only get cured and they are okay and you've got people, sympathizers, who get put in the Crypts immediatly? Like what is the actual law on this? I don't understand what is worse and how this whole system works to be honest.
Anyway As I was halfway through I didn't think to continue the series but the last 200 or so pages kept me on the edge and now I am intrigued on how it will continue, thus 3.5 stars.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes