You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
so…this book was everything i’ve ever wanted and guess what…we’re not continuing. I could go on a five hour rant on love triangles but all i’m gonna say is, the next books sound so so bad I just want to look this author in the face and ask why she ruined her own series. ANYWAYS, i loved this book but we are not continuing do to everything i’ve heard in the reviews in the next books. I am so unbelievably sad don’t talk to me.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I think this was more of a high three and a half star book, but I'm sick and feeling generous, so I'll rate it four.
I really enjoyed this novel. It was surprisingly thoughtful for young adult literature, and I felt like Oliver really knew both what she wanted to accomplish plot-wise, and what she wanted to say about society. There were quite a few times when I found myself disagreeing so strongly with what Lena--and the society she lives in--thought about love and how relationships and life work that it was hard to keep reading, and I actually enjoyed that about this book. It wasn't just a throwaway, no one can love except special people story, there was a reasoned backstory to what was going on. And I liked that the author took the time to restructure government and religion based on the "Cure" for love. There was clearly a lot of thought put into how the universe worked.
The only thing that drags this book down, as far as I'm concerned, was that the writing style was very passive. I'm actually wondering if that will change in future books, since Lena is now a more active participant in life. In any case, this book felt a lot like Interview With the Vampire as far as tonality and passivity from it's main character. When Anne Rice does it, it works for me, but it didn't come off as well here. The thing that makes up for this is the ending. I felt like if I had taken a little bit more time with the book (I finished it in a day), then I would have been much more affected and devastated by the ending. The last chapter or so of the book was pretty amazing just as far as tying everything together went--both thematically and plot-wise.
I'd definitely recommend this to fans of the genre, although it's not one I'd rec for people just getting into Dystopia, or who came to the genre through the more action-filled Hunger Games or Maze Runner books. (10/7/13)
Edit: I reread this book as a refresher before starting Requiem and I think I was wrong about Lena's passivity as a narrator not working. It actually works very well, I thought, and I was surprised that the book was just as good on a second reading. (5/1/14)
I really enjoyed this novel. It was surprisingly thoughtful for young adult literature, and I felt like Oliver really knew both what she wanted to accomplish plot-wise, and what she wanted to say about society. There were quite a few times when I found myself disagreeing so strongly with what Lena--and the society she lives in--thought about love and how relationships and life work that it was hard to keep reading, and I actually enjoyed that about this book. It wasn't just a throwaway, no one can love except special people story, there was a reasoned backstory to what was going on. And I liked that the author took the time to restructure government and religion based on the "Cure" for love. There was clearly a lot of thought put into how the universe worked.
The only thing that drags this book down, as far as I'm concerned, was that the writing style was very passive. I'm actually wondering if that will change in future books, since Lena is now a more active participant in life. In any case, this book felt a lot like Interview With the Vampire as far as tonality and passivity from it's main character. When Anne Rice does it, it works for me, but it didn't come off as well here. The thing that makes up for this is the ending. I felt like if I had taken a little bit more time with the book (I finished it in a day), then I would have been much more affected and devastated by the ending. The last chapter or so of the book was pretty amazing just as far as tying everything together went--both thematically and plot-wise.
I'd definitely recommend this to fans of the genre, although it's not one I'd rec for people just getting into Dystopia, or who came to the genre through the more action-filled Hunger Games or Maze Runner books. (10/7/13)
Edit: I reread this book as a refresher before starting Requiem and I think I was wrong about Lena's passivity as a narrator not working. It actually works very well, I thought, and I was surprised that the book was just as good on a second reading. (5/1/14)
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Lauren Oliver shows us love is worth fighting for even with all the heartbreaks brought with it. A wonderful book about finding who Lena is, what she wants, and finding love. Can't wait for the second installment.
I wished Alex came with though. The whole Romeo Juliet aspect made me really sad. She's going to truly be on her own now. I'm curious to how Lena's character is going to develop.
I wished Alex came with though. The whole Romeo Juliet aspect made me really sad. She's going to truly be on her own now. I'm curious to how Lena's character is going to develop.
I started out not really liking this book, but by the end of it, I was really enjoying it.
It reminds me a bit of the Matched trilogy by Kiera Cass, but I feel that this book is done much better.
The story follows a girl, Lena, who is awaiting her procedure for the cure for 'amor deliria nervosa' so she can finally be 'normal' and fit in with the rest of the world around her. But of course, knowing what always happens when a character is really wanting something, a glitch happens & she meets a boy - a boy she slowly spends more and more time with and begins to fall in love with. At first Lena is afraid of spending time with Alex, but as she does so, she realizes she wants to spend more time with him. She knows the signs of The Love Disease are in full force on her, but she feels more alive with Alex than thinking about her world with her pair after the procedure.
Twists and turns abound in this book, especially one right at the very end (literally in the last 2-3 pages) that, if I had been thinking, I would have completely anticipated, took me by surprise and kind of broke me. It hurt me that I did not have the next book to dive into (I have to wait until my next trip to the library for it).
Overall, I gave this story 4 out of 5 stars as I really enjoyed it. I found it to be faster moving in the second half, but it did have fairly good pacing throughout. The character development was wonderful, and Lauren Oliver leaves just enough of a cliff hanger at the end to leave you wanting more (which is a good thing when it's book one of a trilogy).
It reminds me a bit of the Matched trilogy by Kiera Cass, but I feel that this book is done much better.
The story follows a girl, Lena, who is awaiting her procedure for the cure for 'amor deliria nervosa' so she can finally be 'normal' and fit in with the rest of the world around her. But of course, knowing what always happens when a character is really wanting something, a glitch happens & she meets a boy - a boy she slowly spends more and more time with and begins to fall in love with. At first Lena is afraid of spending time with Alex, but as she does so, she realizes she wants to spend more time with him. She knows the signs of The Love Disease are in full force on her, but she feels more alive with Alex than thinking about her world with her pair after the procedure.
Twists and turns abound in this book, especially one right at the very end (literally in the last 2-3 pages) that, if I had been thinking, I would have completely anticipated, took me by surprise and kind of broke me. It hurt me that I did not have the next book to dive into (I have to wait until my next trip to the library for it).
Overall, I gave this story 4 out of 5 stars as I really enjoyed it. I found it to be faster moving in the second half, but it did have fairly good pacing throughout. The character development was wonderful, and Lauren Oliver leaves just enough of a cliff hanger at the end to leave you wanting more (which is a good thing when it's book one of a trilogy).
A VERY interesting read. The premise definitely had me skeptical, that love is a disease, but the author did SUCH a good job of making the story believable and realistic, I was totally sold. While the world of dystopian YA can sometimes be one where you do a lot of eye-rolling and just have to go with what the author says in order to make to story function, Lauren Oliver did such a fantastic job creating a convincing reality that I feel reflects many real world events. For example, the banning of certain books, music, and media is common in totalitarian establishments, and the instances of that described in Delirium makes an eerily familiar chill run down your spine. A society like the one described in this book is not a far stretch from reality in the least. I also really liked that Lena was on the opposite side of what you would initially expect going into a story like this; she WANTS the cure, and I think that's a really interesting perspective. A very cleverly written story that you can't help but tear through. And the END! I mean break-neck, light speed ahead type of reading, haha! So good! 10 out of 10 recommend.
I really liked the original idea about love being a disease and it is something to be feared. Some of the characters annoyed me at parts and the plot was kinda slow at times. But an overall great read.