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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I do enjoy racing through a dystopian young adult trilogy. Certainly the premise, in this case that love is a disease that must be cured, generally doesn't stand up to serious thought, but the action, characters and relationships are compelling. I am not enjoying the setting as much as in other series, but I am definitely keen to find out what happens next (it pays to read these series once they are completed) so will move straight on to Pandemonium.
The premise was really interesting and I loved seeing how the world is changed by the lies of love being dangerous. But I will not be reading anything more in this series because of so many reasons. The story started with good substance and seemed like there was so much to explore in this universe, but the story very quickly became a romance. This book went from dystopia to Romeo and Juliet, which I did not sign up for. It's well written and although it isn't particularly suspenseful, it does keep you reading. It makes good romance book. I really enjoyed the plot and pacing (even being so romance heavy), even the slightly bland but likeable characters. But overall, I think it works better as a stand-alone, I didn't like where this series seems to be heading as a dystopia fan. So I personally chose to not continue the series and just keep this book as an enjoyable romance experience, set in a dystopian world. I do recommend it as an easy read, not so much a thinker as it loses it's dystopian depth early on, I'd recommend it to a fan of romance first and then dystopia.
I admit that I had VERY high expectations of this book, mainly because I loved Before I Fall and the great premise of Delirium. I've been itching to read it, my world was shattered when I was denied to read it on NetGalley, I screamed when I saw it within my reach for less than the price of a pizza...well, you pretty much get the picture. From the beginning, I had a love-hate relationship with it. First of all, the slow build up didn't work for me (someone told me that they preferred it that way, so it's a matter of taste, obviously.) Lena as protagonist was pretty dull, and I wanted her to be stronger, more decisive, less obliging and all-together more alive. With all that "I can't wait for the procedure", she was already getting on my nerves. Yes, I get it, that's the world she lives in, that's what she was taught, that's what the government requires...At moments it felt like Lauren made her do things for the sake of the story, not the other way round. Like she needs to do them because she is the main character, not because that's what she would do by her own will. I also wish we actually met someone from the other side, because freedom and love aside, I imagine it's not milk and honey there either (guess we'll have to wait for Pandemonium...sigh).
Now that I got the things I didn't like out of my way, here's what I loved:
The great sense of totalitarianism that Lena's world is caged in. The terror of getting caught in doing something illegal that oozed from the pages. The brutality of the system, the submissiveness in the atmosphere. In terms of getting the dystopian aspect done, the author did an amazing job. Like in Before I Fall, there were parts that were so charged with nostalgia that they brought tears to my eyes. I loved the writing, Lauren's beautiful writing was visible even in the translation (which was surprisingly well-done.) And needless to say, the ending. Cliffhanger as expected, but boy, it made me yell and shiver.
The cover of the Croatian edition is beautiful. All over the cover, there's 'love' written. (Recall a particular scene from the book.)
Final verdict? A very good book. Maybe it didn't completely live up to my expectations, but I loved it still.
Now that I got the things I didn't like out of my way, here's what I loved:
The great sense of totalitarianism that Lena's world is caged in. The terror of getting caught in doing something illegal that oozed from the pages. The brutality of the system, the submissiveness in the atmosphere. In terms of getting the dystopian aspect done, the author did an amazing job. Like in Before I Fall, there were parts that were so charged with nostalgia that they brought tears to my eyes. I loved the writing, Lauren's beautiful writing was visible even in the translation (which was surprisingly well-done.) And needless to say, the ending. Cliffhanger as expected, but boy, it made me yell and shiver.
The cover of the Croatian edition is beautiful. All over the cover, there's 'love' written. (Recall a particular scene from the book.)
Final verdict? A very good book. Maybe it didn't completely live up to my expectations, but I loved it still.
Perhaps the best description of the physical sensation of falling in love that I've ever read. What a great book.
It was pretty good. The only question I have is: Where is Alex? Is he in Pandemonium at all? or is he dead?
I enjoyed Delirium. It is a warm, well written book about Love. About the transforming power of love, and the destructive potential of Love. The book is an homage to love in all of its forms. The main character lives in a dystopian world in a parallel present in which love has been banned and citizens effectively lobotomised to protect them from all powerful emotions.
The society ostensibly functions well, and there is little crime and divorce, and young people are matched up with those chosen by the government of similar intellect and interests. It is then every couple's unpleasant duty to procreate and work on making themselves a life together. There are some particularly hair raising scenes portrayed of the indifference of 'cured' parents to their children's cries and pain, and a nasty little scene of a family dumping their pet into a rubbish alley after it has been shot by 'inspectors' for barking too loudly.
There is a whole cultural literature base devoted to the falsified history of the ills that love has supposedly been responsible for in the educational annals of this society. At the same time, Oliver (perhaps stretching our credulity a little) is able to quote beautiful love poetry from the supposed catalogue of evil and forbidden writings - and back in the real world of our readers this is a lovely thing, as it can drive the reader to seek out other beautiful works by great Love Poets. In this society, Romeo and Juliet is not studied for the beauty of its words and thoughts and celebration of love, but as a cautionary tale of the errant path down which love takes young lives. Because of this society's paranoia, books are relatively rare treasures, and very strictly edited, and human potential is grey and dull and lifeless. In the first part of the story, Oliver does a nice job of presenting a main character who is observing and justifying her society uncritically, whilst very effectively stirring the horror of the reader from our world.
The society ostensibly functions well, and there is little crime and divorce, and young people are matched up with those chosen by the government of similar intellect and interests. It is then every couple's unpleasant duty to procreate and work on making themselves a life together. There are some particularly hair raising scenes portrayed of the indifference of 'cured' parents to their children's cries and pain, and a nasty little scene of a family dumping their pet into a rubbish alley after it has been shot by 'inspectors' for barking too loudly.
There is a whole cultural literature base devoted to the falsified history of the ills that love has supposedly been responsible for in the educational annals of this society. At the same time, Oliver (perhaps stretching our credulity a little) is able to quote beautiful love poetry from the supposed catalogue of evil and forbidden writings - and back in the real world of our readers this is a lovely thing, as it can drive the reader to seek out other beautiful works by great Love Poets. In this society, Romeo and Juliet is not studied for the beauty of its words and thoughts and celebration of love, but as a cautionary tale of the errant path down which love takes young lives. Because of this society's paranoia, books are relatively rare treasures, and very strictly edited, and human potential is grey and dull and lifeless. In the first part of the story, Oliver does a nice job of presenting a main character who is observing and justifying her society uncritically, whilst very effectively stirring the horror of the reader from our world.
This series is quite slow. It works its way so gradually, but it has this intrigue that kept me going. The forbidden made me curious to discover what would await the two main characters in the future. The relationship between Lena and Alex is sweet and the blossoming of love is so emotionally written that I became attached to the characters. For certain, there will be others who find a deep, powerful meaning behind a single word: LOVE.
I was pretty much reading it non-stop. Really interesting premise. A lot of the execution was cliched and I knew what was coming, basically, but the ending was good and I just NEED to know what happens.