Divergent (Divergent, #1) in CPL's Book a Week Challenge

Jan 21, 2012 Michelle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: love-it, best-of-youth, fun, 2012, yayaya

This book has been getting lumped into the "if you like Hunger Games read this" category. Divergent is so good, the saying could/should/will be switched around. It was fast paced, thoughtful and well written. Strong character in Tris who ventures way outside of her comfort zone but is more self aware than Katniss in Hunger Games. Roth also knows how to write romantic tension and weave romance into the plot line without sticky sappiness. In fact, I think she does that excellently; she gets the ph ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 01, 2013 Sunny rated it really liked it

Shelves: covered-in-dust, popularity-contest

What a ride! What a heart-pounding, adrenaline-pumping, mind-blowing, nail-biting, roller-coaster of a ride that was! Who cares that there was an occasional typo that some editor didn't catch? Who cares that the writing wasn't even all that brilliant?

That was just plain fun. Pure and simple. Must read the next book NOW!

P.S. - I took the faction-quiz in the back of my edition of the book, and I'm inconclusively Erudite or Amity. It was a tie. 3 points Erudite, 3 points Amity, 1 point Candor. Just ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 16, 2011 Christina (Reading Extensively) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, read2011, dystopian

What makes Divergent stand out from the crowd of YA dystopian fiction is the conflicted heroine Tris. Veronica Roth could have easily made her a super strong character like Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games but instead Tris is not very strong physically and quite realistically unsure of herself and the decision she makes. She is torn between what is expected of her as Abegnation and the kind of person she is on the inside. Tris has a lot to learn about the world she lives in and what she is c What makes Divergent stand out from the crowd of YA dystopian fiction is the conflicted heroine Tris. Veronica Roth could have easily made her a super strong character like Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games but instead Tris is not very strong physically and quite realistically unsure of herself and the decision she makes. She is torn between what is expected of her as Abegnation and the kind of person she is on the inside. Tris has a lot to learn about the world she lives in and what she is capable of. I think Tris's weaknesses and struggles make her a more relatable character.

Tris's Chicago is divided into factions because it is supposed to be better for society, a way to eliminate what causes people to harm each other. The system has been in place for years and people thought it worked but Tris can see the cracks in the infrastructure. This is the kind of dystopian world seen in The Giver or Matched-people have accepted a certain way of life and its rules and regulations because they buy into the belief that it is what is best for them. The factions were created with a noble intent but greed, corruption, and complacency have caused people to lose sight of the original aims. Dauntless used to be about bravery and protecting people but now it has become a faction of cruelty. Erudite's search for knowledge and desire for intelligence has been turned into a hunger for power. Even Abnegation which is supposed to be all about selflessness and helping others has become a Puritanical group which controls its members with guilt.

There are deeper themes that are explored in the novel but Divergent is also filled with action and violence. There is a bit of romance as well between Tris and her mentor Four but I was glad it didn't overshadow the plot and there was no love triangle. For all its many positive attributes, I had some minor issues with the book. I didn't quite buy the reasoning behind why people went along with dividing into factions or believed that members of Candor wouldn't lie for example (they can lie just like members of Abnegation can be selfish). It just seems really naive of that society. I had some questions that went unanswered and I think the back story of why the factions exist could have been more developed but perhaps that will come in the sequel, Insurgent. Overall I thought Divergent was a well written page turner that would please fans of The Hunger Games trilogy and Delirium by Lauren Oliver. It is certainly my favorite book of 2011 so far.

Readalikes: The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Delirium by Lauren Oliver, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, Matched by Ally Condie ...more

Like · see review

Nov 05, 2011 Carrie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, dystopian

In a dystopian Chicago (where the Sears Tower is now known as The Hub) society has divided itself into five factions. Each faction values and lives by a specific quality or virtue. Beatrice, the 16-year-old main character, is a member of Abnegation - the selfless faction where they don't celebrate birthdays or even look at their own reflections in mirrors. Once a year, all the 16-year-olds take a test, in a virtual reality sort of way, to determine to which faction they are most suited: Abnegati ...more

Like · see review

Dec 09, 2011 Kristina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, dystopian-utopian, books-i-own, cute-romance

http://krinakbookworld.blogspot.com/2...

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.

I was so excited to read this book. I am a huge fan of Dystopian novels/series and this one did not change that. I loved the main character Beatri ...more

Like · see review

Mar 17, 2013 Rachel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own-kindle, favorites, young-adult, series-finished, series-unfinished, first-in-a-series, dystopian, sci-fi, romance

Ah, Divergent, I was so afraid of reading you. I was so afraid that I had made a bad move by waiting until Allegiant was about to release because the hype about this series had reached a fever pitch and I was so worried that it wouldn't live up to all the hype. I haven't had much luck with hyped up books lately.

Well, I shouldn't have worried. Veronica Roth is an incredible writer with an even more incredible and special idea for a series. This book was absolutely, hands down one of the best book Ah, Divergent, I was so afraid of reading you. I was so afraid that I had made a bad move by waiting until Allegiant was about to release because the hype about this series had reached a fever pitch and I was so worried that it wouldn't live up to all the hype. I haven't had much luck with hyped up books lately.

Well, I shouldn't have worried. Veronica Roth is an incredible writer with an even more incredible and special idea for a series. This book was absolutely, hands down one of the best books I have ever read. At least in the top 5, but really probably in the top 3. It has been so long that I have read a rather lengthy book (over 400 pages) this fast, and because I wanted to, not because I forced myself through it, skimming along the way.

I'm going to go with the love/didn't love format again.

What I loved: How much thought and care she put into creating the factions, even down to the names of those factions. I love that Tris is a strong female character. I love how strong, yet sensitive, Four can be. I love the setting, and how you can feel like you are right there with the initiates at all times. I love the idea of someone being Divergent and the danger that comes with it. I LOVE Veronica Roth's writing in general!

What I didn't love: Well, obviously I didn't love Eric and the whole situation at the end, but it was more of a "love to hate" situation because it certainly didn't make me like the book any less. Also, and this barely matters, but in the first 50-60 pages, I was enjoying the book but it wasn't a 5 star book at that point, but then, what book is? So that's it. That's all that I didn't like.

In short, this book was amazing. I don't really think I need to say any more because most people have either already read it, or are planning to read it. I recommend this book to everyone - young or old, boy or girl, dystopian lover or not - it doesn't matter. Just read it!!!! I just hope the movie does the book justice. From the clips I accidentally saw (I prefer to wait until after I read a series to see the actors playing the characters) I think they did a good job on it!
...more

Like · see review

Aug 13, 2013 Susan Novak rated it it was amazing

I loved this story!! It sucked me right in from the first few pages and didn't let me go. The only regret I have is that I didn't have the second book ready to go when I finished it. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 10, 2011 Katie Walton rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian-reads, first-in-the-series, young-adult

Meet Beatrice Prior, all of her young life has been lived according to strict guidelines designed to force modesty, self-sacrifice and morality. Everyone in her faction lives by the rules. She'll have a chance to switch factions, but doing so means leaving behind her entire family and way of life.

What would you do? Would you take a chance to find yourself, or stick with the familiar?

I love this book so much. You should definitely read it if you haven't.

I'm also excited about the movie version ...more

Like · see review

May 09, 2013 Kim rated it it was amazing

This was an excellent book. I am not sure they chose the best person to fit the persona of Triss in the book, but enjoyed the movie too. Lots of great action and surprises, not to mention, great romance chemistry. I think I love teen books more than adult ones!

Like · see review

Jun 02, 2013 Dusty rated it really liked it

I can see why my students love this book, however I feel it falls in line with the typical YA dystopian futuristic books. Easy and quick read with predictable but likable characters.

Like · see review