Book Review : Divergent

Book: Divergent (Book #1)
Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Date Published: May 3, 2011
Pages: 487
Source: Kindle and Bookshelf (yes so good I bought two copies)
Date Read: May 3, 2011

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

Wow. I am pretty sure every blogger starts their review of Divergent with those words (well not every blogger but at least 90% of them do), because even if people had little complaints about the world building -which I didn’t- or the reason they where split into factions -I didn’t care why- this book packs a hell of a punch. I am not going to go into too much detail about what Divergent is about because I am sure by now you know, and if you don’t read the blurb above.

So I am not going to write a long review, just something short about why I loved this book and why I think you should read it....

First off, the world... now is it realistic that everyone would split into factions - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) - no not really, because how can someone be just one of these. And I think that is the main point of this book. These people are trained to believe it is better to be the best in one, than well-rounded in all. And it makes for a extremely intriguing story. Some of my favorite highlighted quotes comes from the different sayings of the faction, because in spite of it all there is some truth in their beliefs. One thing I wasn’t prepared for was how extremely they follow their faction and their beliefs...

“Faction before blood.”

I would have liked to learn more about how the factions came to be and how other cities work, but I guess time (and the other books) will reveal more.

Second, which I probably should have listed first, I love Four! Like I am absolutely entranced by him. I love the way the romance was built, I love how vulnerable they are only with each other, and I love that there wasn’t a love triangle - if one comes in later I don’t know what I will do because no one can take Four’s place in my heart, NO ONE.

Third, I love how things aren’t easy for Tris. I don’t know how better to explain this other than she had to struggle and fight for what she wanted and make tough decisions. I won’t say more, because if I keep writing I know I will give something away. But let me just say I can totally see how this will be an awesome movie as there are amazing stunts and nail-biting action sequences, along with hot and sweet loving moments.

I can’t stress how much I loved this book and I am DYING to read more! I know I said I would keep this short but I couldn't help it =D

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:

Memorable Quotes:

It must require bravery to be honest all the time. I wouldn't know. - Tris

and another one...

Human reason can excuse any evil; this is why it's so important we don't rely on it. -Tri's father

Review: Where She Went

Book: Where She Went (If I Stay Book 2)
Author: Gayle Forman

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Pages: 264
Source: My Kindle
Date Read: April 5, 2011

It's been three years since the devastating accident ... three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.


Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Yani's Analysis:

Please Do Not Read Unless You Have Read If I Stay

I thought I loved Adam in the first book, but I never connected fully until I felt his pain, anger, and frustration in this book. I now understand how Mia's choice affected others in her life. The choice was never the easy part, but you never realized the after would be this hard.

Adam has changed since Mia's accident and their subsequent break up. He is bitter, angry, and all of a sudden superstitious to the point he almost seems a little crazy. At first I was like who is this guy?  What happened to him? And then you learn more and more about what has happened since we last saw Mia and Adam. In a short span of time Adam lost Mia, Mia's family, and his love of music. I feel his hurt,  and I begin to cry for a whole different reason than If I Stay. Frustration and regret can eat a person till all that is left is a hollow shell. That was Adam at the beginning of this book.

A beautiful journey and a perfect companion to If I Stay. Adding both of these books to my favorite shelves.

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Characters: 5/5

Memorable Quotes:

"Whoever said that the past isn't dead had it backward. It's the future that's already dead, already played out. This while night has been a mistake. It's not going to let me rewind. Or unmake the mistakes I've made. Or the promises I've made. Or have her back. Or have me back."

Enter the Where She Went Here! 

Review: Sky is Everywhere

Book: The Sky is Everywhere
Author: Jandy Nelson
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Pages: 272
Source: Borrowed
Date Read: March 16, 2011

Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie's struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.

Yani's Analysis:
I started this book and I really really liked it. It reminded me of Elizabeth Scott and Sarah Dessen books.However, as I continued to read something started to bother me. Like how everyone fell into the cliched description and how the characters used tree as a euphemisms for mind? But then I just kept reading and Jany's writing is just so lyrical. She has a MFA in poetry and you can tell. There where poems written by Lenny and they where just beautiful. The poems where my favorite part of the book.

Unlike most people, I wasn't in love with ( I can't even remember his name) instead I completely fell for Lennie's sisters boyfriend, which is completely wrong I know. But the pain, Oh the pain, these characters felt. It just breaks your heart.Lennie doesn't know how to deal with it. Who would? And because of that she doesn't allow herself to move on and instead suffocates herself in sadness and Toby's arms.She doesn't know who she is without her sister.

This book takes you on Lennie's journey. Journey to love, to finding herself, and to finding happiness again without her sister there.

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 4/5

Similar Titles:

Other Memorable Quotes:

"Her face is more open than an open book, more like a wall of graffiti really."

"No way out but through."

"My sister will die over and over again for the rest of my life. Grief is forever."