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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Oh. My. God. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!? That ending was insane! Please tell me that he's not really dead... OK, but seriously this was a great book. I was surprised given that the plot could have made it really, REALLY cheesy. But it was beautifully written and I need to get the second one. He's dead isn't he... I'm going to cry..
OK. Now that I've calmed down, I've realized this book is a lot like George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-four in the way that they've tried to eradicate love and compassion. Even the ties between mother and child have been cut. Alex and Lena's safe-house (37 Brooks) is ultimately where they are discovered like when Winston and Julia where discovered in the secret apartment. And they were turned in by the people who were supposed to protect them. Nice touch.
OK. Now that I've calmed down, I've realized this book is a lot like George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-four in the way that they've tried to eradicate love and compassion. Even the ties between mother and child have been cut. Alex and Lena's safe-house (37 Brooks) is ultimately where they are discovered like when Winston and Julia where discovered in the secret apartment. And they were turned in by the people who were supposed to protect them. Nice touch.
This is more like 3.5 stars. I didn't like how long it took for the story to get rolling, but once it did it was wonderful! I think it's an interesting take on love as a disease, which is why I enjoyed the book so much. The beginning was hard for me to get into because I hate when the main characters are all, "I'm not pretty, everyone likes my best friend, I'm never the one who gets attention, blah blah blah, woe is me." I really dislike self-deprecating characters, and I came close to putting this book down. Lena is hard on herself and thankfully she lets go of it.
I liked this book, the attention Lauren Oliver gave to each character, and what she tried to bring awareness to. I wanted to read this for a really long time, because the premise was really interesting.
As I read it, I was getting so annoyed with Lena and her straight as a square way of looking at life. Especially with Hana on her side saying radical things. However, the way the story progresses wasn’t exactly how I imagined it. And the end was definitely a tragedy.
I wanted Lena to discover the wilds through the people who inhabit them. A large reason why there’s a stigma around it is because of the people and they’re described at “ravenous, and crazy”. However, never meets another invalid. I just think that could be an important part for the development of the world and character.
As I read it, I was getting so annoyed with Lena and her straight as a square way of looking at life. Especially with Hana on her side saying radical things. However, the way the story progresses wasn’t exactly how I imagined it. And the end was definitely a tragedy.
I wanted Lena to discover the wilds through the people who inhabit them. A large reason why there’s a stigma around it is because of the people and they’re described at “ravenous, and crazy”. However, never meets another invalid. I just think that could be an important part for the development of the world and character.
A world without love. Love is a disease. Love will infect you. Love will kill you.
Its a tough thing to imagine, isn't it? Yet, Lauren Oliver has created a world where this is a reality. To avoid this deadly disease, everyone is "cured" at the age of eighteen. The "cure" happens to be brain surgery that disables your ability to love.
As I read Delirium, I couldn't help but try and imagine my life without love. How would my relationship be with my husband and my family? How would my interactions with my friends change? I love kids; so how would I feel about them if I was unable to love their adorable-ness? Would I still be a bookworm if I was unable to "love" reading?
For most of us this is right out of a nightmare. But for Lena, is all she has ever wanted. Her mother died because of love. Her mother killed herself because of love and abandoned her daughters. Lena is determined to never be like her mother. Once she is cured, she will never have to worry about being infected with deliria. She will be safe and secure in her future. Everything will be decided for her: her husband, her job and how many children she should have. There will be no risk of deliria. No threats to her life. Her life will be calm, predictable and safe.
....But then she meets Alex. And Lena begins to question everything she wants and everything around her.
Its a tough thing to imagine, isn't it? Yet, Lauren Oliver has created a world where this is a reality. To avoid this deadly disease, everyone is "cured" at the age of eighteen. The "cure" happens to be brain surgery that disables your ability to love.
As I read Delirium, I couldn't help but try and imagine my life without love. How would my relationship be with my husband and my family? How would my interactions with my friends change? I love kids; so how would I feel about them if I was unable to love their adorable-ness? Would I still be a bookworm if I was unable to "love" reading?
For most of us this is right out of a nightmare. But for Lena, is all she has ever wanted. Her mother died because of love. Her mother killed herself because of love and abandoned her daughters. Lena is determined to never be like her mother. Once she is cured, she will never have to worry about being infected with deliria. She will be safe and secure in her future. Everything will be decided for her: her husband, her job and how many children she should have. There will be no risk of deliria. No threats to her life. Her life will be calm, predictable and safe.
....But then she meets Alex. And Lena begins to question everything she wants and everything around her.
It's not a bad read, but it's not as good as the hype claims it to be either.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I'm not a huge fan of dystopian YA by any means. I've really own read The Hunger Games trilogy , and I couldn't get into to Divergent for the life of me. The only reason I picked up Delirium was because I had just finished -- and been completely amazed by -- Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver's previous book.
It's not as excellent as Before I Fall, by any means, and it doesn't do dystopia nearly as well as The Hunger Games, but it's still a totally enjoyable YA read. Lena lives in a dystopian Portland, Maine, USA, that views love -- not just romantic love, but love between friends and family members as well -- as the worst disease of all. At the age of eighteen, all citizens undergo a procedure, essentially a lobotomy, that 'cures' them of love. Lena, whose mother she believes had been driven to suicide by the disease, awaits her cure with the utmost excitement until she meets Alex. You can guess what happens next.
As other reviewers have mentioned, Delirium does not pretend to be anything besides a love story. The world-building that is so integral to a dystopia is lacking and sloppy, and the premise obviously requires some suspension of disbelief. But Lena is a sweet and believable character, and the supporting characters are multi-dimensional and entertaining.
Oliver's ability to create beautiful images in intact from Before I Fall, with gorgeous descriptions of Portland and the surrounding Wilds. I'd say what she lacks here in world-building and plot construction she makes up for in her beautiful descriptions and totally believable love story.
I listened to the audio version of this book, performed by Sarah Drew, the same actress who read Before I Fall. She did a wonderful job.
I'm not a huge fan of dystopian YA by any means. I've really own read The Hunger Games trilogy , and I couldn't get into to Divergent for the life of me. The only reason I picked up Delirium was because I had just finished -- and been completely amazed by -- Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver's previous book.
It's not as excellent as Before I Fall, by any means, and it doesn't do dystopia nearly as well as The Hunger Games, but it's still a totally enjoyable YA read. Lena lives in a dystopian Portland, Maine, USA, that views love -- not just romantic love, but love between friends and family members as well -- as the worst disease of all. At the age of eighteen, all citizens undergo a procedure, essentially a lobotomy, that 'cures' them of love. Lena, whose mother she believes had been driven to suicide by the disease, awaits her cure with the utmost excitement until she meets Alex. You can guess what happens next.
As other reviewers have mentioned, Delirium does not pretend to be anything besides a love story. The world-building that is so integral to a dystopia is lacking and sloppy, and the premise obviously requires some suspension of disbelief. But Lena is a sweet and believable character, and the supporting characters are multi-dimensional and entertaining.
Oliver's ability to create beautiful images in intact from Before I Fall, with gorgeous descriptions of Portland and the surrounding Wilds. I'd say what she lacks here in world-building and plot construction she makes up for in her beautiful descriptions and totally believable love story.
I listened to the audio version of this book, performed by Sarah Drew, the same actress who read Before I Fall. She did a wonderful job.
I decided in the first half of this book, Delirium wouldn't make it past 2 stars on Goodreads. However, Lauren Oliver redeemed herself by the last half of the book and had me captivated to the very end. Lets start with.....
....THE BAD
• I thought the writing and/or characters were a little immature. The dialogue seemed childish at times.
• I didn't get a good sense of the dystopian world Oliver created. I didn't feel submerged into it. The whole plot seemed kind of silly.
• The beginning is so unbelievably slow. The love story unravels at a snails pace while everything else is boring and stale.
• I couldn't stand the relationship between Lena and Hana. It felt juvenile and distant.
• Although there was some character development with Lena, I still feel like this book didn't show or tell the reader much about the characters. Many of them were 2 dimensional.
THE GOOD
• It took over half the novel for the love story to unravel but boy, when it did, it was great! I am such a sucker for romance and Oliver delivered a great heart wrenching tale.
• Character development was good with Lena. The first half of the book I couldn't stand her. She was bland and boring. Nothing captivated me with her but she really grew and developed by the end.
• The ending was action packed and riveting. I was on the edge of my seat reading it.
Overall "Delirium" was a good book. I feel like Lauren Oliver might be a little wet behind the ears but I see great potential in her novels to come. She has enticed me thus far and I will continue to read as I am anxious to see how the rest of the tale unravels.
....THE BAD
• I thought the writing and/or characters were a little immature. The dialogue seemed childish at times.
• I didn't get a good sense of the dystopian world Oliver created. I didn't feel submerged into it. The whole plot seemed kind of silly.
• The beginning is so unbelievably slow. The love story unravels at a snails pace while everything else is boring and stale.
• I couldn't stand the relationship between Lena and Hana. It felt juvenile and distant.
• Although there was some character development with Lena, I still feel like this book didn't show or tell the reader much about the characters. Many of them were 2 dimensional.
THE GOOD
• It took over half the novel for the love story to unravel but boy, when it did, it was great! I am such a sucker for romance and Oliver delivered a great heart wrenching tale.
• Character development was good with Lena. The first half of the book I couldn't stand her. She was bland and boring. Nothing captivated me with her but she really grew and developed by the end.
• The ending was action packed and riveting. I was on the edge of my seat reading it.
Overall "Delirium" was a good book. I feel like Lauren Oliver might be a little wet behind the ears but I see great potential in her novels to come. She has enticed me thus far and I will continue to read as I am anxious to see how the rest of the tale unravels.
This book finally picked up in the middle and grabbed my attention. Took me a while to get through the first half. I'll read the second, because I'm hoping it's more promising, with the way this one ended.
Kind of a letdown after liking Hunger Games and Divergent so much. I liked it fine and I'll keep reading the series.
3.5 starsread for Yound Adult Pay it Forward Challenge
"Sometimes I feel like if you just watch things, just sit still and let the world exist in front of you - sometimes I swear that just for a second time freezes and the world pauses in its tilt. Just for a second. And if you somehow found a way to live in that second, then you would live forever."
Love is truly the greatest feeling there ever is. I am lucky enough to have next to me my soulmate and I cannot see myself without him. So, the premise of a world where love is a disease was highly appealing to me. I didn't have high expectations for this one; but I am glad I picked it up as I enjoyed it a great deal.
The story
"Delirium" portrays a world where love is a disease, but there is a cure for it too. Once you are eighteen, you are taken to the labs where they somehow remove the part of your brain that is responsible for your feelings. Awful? You bet. Friends are no longer friends as they don't feel that closeness anymore; lovers, well they don't love each other anymore. It's a truly horrible premise, because feelings are a part of who we are. It honestly gives meaning to our lives. Otherwise, everything is just plain and then if you don't find anything remarkable what's the point of living?
Outside the walls of Portland, where the story unfolds, lie the Wilds. This is where free people go the ones that don't want to be 'cured'.
The characters
The female protagonist, Lena, is likable. The story is told from her point of view. She is a girl that lived her whole life believing that the cure will bring her peace. You see Lena's mother committed suicide. But her mom couldn't be cured; her feelings of love, love for her husband, love for her daughters, consumed her. Lena then meets someone that changes her perception of love from a disease to something wonderful.
Other notable characters include: Alex, Lena's love (his mysterious past will probably be unraveled in the following books) and Hana, Lena's best friend (who even if she doesn't like the way things work isn't doing anything to truly resist). My favorite character was Gracie, Lena's cousin who everyone thinks is kinda of stupid. However, Lena knows best, as Gracie who never spoke to anyone else is talking to her. For Gracie, I guess Lena is her idol. For me it was the most interesting character because of the premise she was given through the little parts in the story she was in. I bet she will be very important in the next books.
The writing
I haven't read anything from Lauren Oliver before so I cannot compare it with her other pieces, but man her writing was so good. Her descriptions were really well written and the story was nicely paced. I really thought the quotes from various 'books' in the beginning of each chapter were a clever way to immense us into a world where being in love is truly despicable:
The ending
Of course, the story doesn't end in this book. Even so, you could say that there is a closure. I can't wait to read the next one.
