Monday, July 2, 2012

Review of Divergent by Veronica Roth




Goodreads Synopsis:

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.

My Take:

I loved Divergent. I found the factions unique and I even found myself wondering what faction I would belong to. It was a different way of looking at society, which I believe Veronica Roth captured well. (And I LOVE how it wasn't uber complicated, but easy to grasp) One downfall I noticed (I know, kill me) was that Tris reminded me occasionally of Katniss (I’m sorry!) but otherwise it was a great read. There’s plenty of action and romance to keep one turning the pages or--in this day and age--tapping the touch screen. We really find a way to root for our heroine and even when we question the life she’s chosen, we understand her decision. As strange as having people jump in and out of a moving train is, we start to understand why they do it, what it stands for. So just as Tris comes into her own, we the readers, understand her train of thought, why she does what she does. We get to watch as this heroine transforms before us, even though she had always been capable of the person she becomes. THAT is what makes a book great, having the ability to flesh out a character’s fears, wants, and personality to the point where they grow and where even if we don’t always agree with the choices, we as readers can empathize and understand.

My Rating:

4.8 Stars

~Liz

3 comments:

  1. This is timely since I just finished reading this book last night. I really appreciated that Roth never got so caught up in the action of the story that she failed to keep it character focused. I always knew how the situation was impacting Tris. Great book.

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  2. I've never read this book, but I've heard SOOOOO much about it from so many people. I think I might give it a go....

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  3. SC I so recommend it!

    And Sarah, exactly! BUT I will say she had enough action and challenges in there to really keep a reader entertained :)

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