A review by thislittlebook
Delirium by Lauren Oliver

2.0

I started reading this book because I really loved and enjoyed reading The Hunger Games and EW recommended this book for fans of that series. This is certainly no Hunger Games. The writing is not bad and the story line is somewhat original. Parts were even enjoyable to read, but overall the story lacked some character development and the heroine sort of got on my nerves. The basic premise is that in the future the government has found a "cure" for the disease of love. Once a person turns 18 they must undergo a procedure that will make them void of any emotion associated with love. This story line has potential, but I am really tired of young adult authors who portray their female heroines with low self-esteem and no real confidence until some good-looking guy comes along and suddenly they discover their real self-worth. Please. That is one area The Hunger Games really excelled at. Katniss did not need a man to tell her that she could start a revolution or do anything of worth. That is the type of character I can get behind. Not someone who describes herself as plain and unexceptional in every way until she meets a boy who shows some interest in her. Suddenly she is beautiful and can do anything. Ugh. Ms. Oliver does know how to write, but her overuse of metaphors and similes makes the flow a bit sluggish at times. We do not need a flowery comparison every other sentence of Lena's every thought and feeling. I found out this is supposed to be a trilogy. That is good for those who really enjoyed this book, because the ending is quite abrupt. I just do not think there is enough for me to like about the characters and the world of the future the author created to care to come back for a second round.