Divergent (Divergent, #1) in ♥ Nothing Better Than Reading!! ♥

Feb 06, 2012 Lindsay rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5stars, ya, lmaiangowi-s-150-for-2012, read-in-2012, reread, read-in-2016

First read Feb14/12 to Feb18/12. Library edition.

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Feb 12, 2012 Samantha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Summary from Goodreads:

"In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all."

My Thoughts:

Divergent is one of those books that is SO engrossing and SO amazingly good that when I closed the last page I wanted to start immediately back at the ...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Diandra Knutson rated it really liked it

Shelves: new-closet-bookshelf, 2017-physical-library, 2022-physical-library

This review (and more like it) can be found on AmbrosiaBooks.

I’ll start with the thought that constantly played in my mind when I read this book.

Tattoo artists are going to HATE the month of March this year. MAN! I wonder how many teens, young adults, and grown ass people will be in a tattoo parlor saying “Ink me. I want to officially declare myself Dauntless.” I see a lot of eyes being rolled. But I won’t lie. I, too, want a Dauntless tattoo. *sigh* Yes, I’m that person.

“Divergent” is the debut This review (and more like it) can be found on AmbrosiaBooks.

I’ll start with the thought that constantly played in my mind when I read this book.

Tattoo artists are going to HATE the month of March this year. MAN! I wonder how many teens, young adults, and grown ass people will be in a tattoo parlor saying “Ink me. I want to officially declare myself Dauntless.” I see a lot of eyes being rolled. But I won’t lie. I, too, want a Dauntless tattoo. *sigh* Yes, I’m that person.

“Divergent” is the debut novel of Veronica Roth and the first book in the extremely popular Divergent Trilogy. The story follows a young 16-year-old girl named Beatrice, who has never felt like she belonged in her faction (think Hunger Games). Well, turns out that at 16 you get to go through this whole test that will help you choose a different faction or stay in the one you’re already in. And boy oh boy, did this girl pick a new faction. Beatrice is pushed to the limit in her new home, all while she tries to figure out if her new life is for her or if she should have just stayed where she was. Not only that, she also has to deal with a potential political uprising that may destroy everyone she has left behind. Throw in a hot guy love interest, some action, a couple of broken ribs, dystopian Chicago, and you got a novel that held my attention from beginning to end.

I really enjoyed this story. I enjoyed it way more than I was actually anticipating to. I used to not read YA novels because when it came to authors writing for teens/young adults, it literally felt like I was dumbing down. The use of vocab was pathetic, the story was written horrible, the descriptions were never describing ANYTHING, etc. But “Divergent”…wow. Roth built a word that literally blew my mind. Everything was described from the dew on grass to the breaking of one’s nose. I smiled, I laughed, I winced, I didn’t cry (but I wanted to). Roth is a true storyteller.

For all those who said that this book is like the Hunger Games, I am appalled. You might as well say that all Dystopian novels are like HG, because the only similarities in this book to HG is factions. I would say training as well, but in Hunger Games, the training was based more on showcasing. In Divergent, it was more of a skill that needed to be learned because that’s who they are. Actually that’s pretty good. Hunger Games = Show. Divergent = Way of Living.

And the fight scenes! OMG!!!! I can’t wait for the movie. It’s gonna be gruesome!

Each character seemed to have a story, I applaud Roth for that. We learned every characters background enough to where at the end, we weren’t confused about who was who. I finished this book knowing each characters name, where they came from, their personality. Even the ones who had a small part, if you said their name there is a good chance I know who you are talking about. My favorite character in this book was probably Trice’s mother. An amazing character even though she wasn’t in the whole novel. That lady is AMAZE-BALLS, I loved her. Trice herself is a great character who I can really relate to. You really get inside of her head and realize that a lot of the questions she was asking herself, I asked myself many times a day. Who am I? Where am I? Am I doing the right thing? Do I continue to act strong? Am I too strong? Where exactly am I heading? I love how Roth made Trice a literal reflection of many people around the world that is coming to age.

My least favorite part is, for some reason, the relationship between Four and Trice. But my favorite part is the relationship between Four and Trice. IS THAT WEIRD?!?! I hate the fact that this relationship even happened. I don’t know, maybe I’ve heard the phrase “If you don’t love yourself, how the hell are you goin to love somebody else?” way too much. Or maybe i’m just sick at the fact that love somehow explains it all. It happens in every book, i’m just annoyed. But it’s my favorite part because it wasn’t a normal relationship. Four pushed her. He broke her. He helped her see her full potential in HERSELF. Way too many novels have chicks seeing their full potential in a man. What happened to INDEPENDENT WOMEN? Glad to know that Four loves himself a lady that can take care of herself.

I can see why people love this book/trilogy so much. It was easy to read, straight to the point, and simple. Roth didn’t feel like she had to PROVE herself to anyone because it was her debut novel. It felt more like a “This is how I do. Take it or leave it, bitches. I’m holding gold in my hands.” The plot was very well developed and I can’t wait to get “Insurgent” (the 2nd book). And I definitely can’t wait to see the movie in March! Make sure you get those tickets! The trailer looks amazing and I feel this one will stick very close to the books. I give this book:

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