Divergent (Divergent, #1) in YA and Beyond

Aug 12, 2011 kb rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-reads, 2014-faves, 2014-reads

Cover art
Not something my eyes would automatically go to, but not something that would bring embarrassment to whoever is lunging it around in public either.

In a nutshell
BUT MOM. DO I HAVE TO???

Spirit animal
I'd love to say I'm like Tris in many ways, but I'm not. For instance, I'd say I'm brave, but not that brave that I'll leave everything I've ever known and everyone I've ever loved to "find myself." So I'm picking Christina. Because I see and say things as they are.

Magical moments
So. many. act ...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Sarah Reid rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult

I. Overview:

The book opens with a 16-year-old Beatrice and her brother about to be sorted into “factions” through an aptitude test. We soon learn that the setting is a future United States (Chicago to be exact). Beatrice and her brother live with their parents in the faction Abnegation, one of the five factions that society is broken into based on dominant personality traits: Abnegation (the selfless who wear boring colors and run the government), Erudite (the smarty-pants), Candor (who believe ...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Cinnamon rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio, favorites

My to-read pile is astronomically high. In fact, it takes up a whole bookshelf at home. Funny thing about accepting books for review, oftentimes your own books tend to get less priority. Now that I've taken to listen to audiobooks in my driving and walking time, however, I find that I'm actually able to get to some of the books I've heard so much about and experience them for myself. DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth was such a book.

DIVERGENT popped to the top of my list after a friend finished reading My to-read pile is astronomically high. In fact, it takes up a whole bookshelf at home. Funny thing about accepting books for review, oftentimes your own books tend to get less priority. Now that I've taken to listen to audiobooks in my driving and walking time, however, I find that I'm actually able to get to some of the books I've heard so much about and experience them for myself. DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth was such a book.

DIVERGENT popped to the top of my list after a friend finished reading The Host by Stephenie Meyer and was looking for another post-apocalyptic type dystopian. Everything we could find suggested trying DIVERGENT next. I thought the cover looked pretty (you know me) so I suggested it to my friend. A few days later she had finished DIVERGENT and the second in the trilogy Insurgent and just wouldn't stop raving about it. I sighed and traded an Audible credit in for the book mainly to get my friend off my case.

Holy buckets! DIVERGENT is an excellent read/listen!

Beatrice Prior has just turned 16 and as such will get to take part in the Choosing Day - the day that she chooses a faction to spend the rest of her life in. There are five factions (learning about them is half the fun of the first part of the book), each with their own guiding principles. Beatrice starts as Abnegation - a selfless faction who believe in viewing and doing for others before themselves. But, is Beatrice really Abnegation? Can she spend the rest of her life living selflessly, never thinking about herself, and always putting the needs of others first?

DIVERGENT follows Beatrice as she struggles to make a decision, makes that decision, and then struggles through the consequences that her decision entails. While this is all happening, Beatrice learns that her perfect society may not be as perfect as it claims. Something dangerous is approaching and it seems to be tied to the Divergent.

I'll have to admit, I came into DIVERGENT expecting a light read with some neat dystopian elements. I was surprised by how real Roth made the story. Beatrice's emotions are the real emotions I would expect from a girl in her situation, with her actions staying fairly true to the actions I would expect her to take. Just because this is a young adult novel doesn't mean that Roth spares us the pain and difficulties that come from living in parts of this society. She doesn't glaze over the terrors that some of the characters have to live through, instead putting them out in the open and letting us experience the world right along side Beatrice. This is probably the one thing I loved most about DIVERGENT.

With some great action sequences, a fantastic storyline, and really good drama and tension, DIVERGENT is an excellent read for anyone looking to escape for a while. This won't be a walk in the park, but I can pretty much guarantee that once you've finished it, you'll be clamoring for the next book in the series. ...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Nan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: series-of-books, read-in-2012, young-adult, romance, friends-copy, sci-fi, first-read-from-author, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic

What I expected: The book to be extremely good. So obviously due to the high ratings, I went into the book with high expectations.
What I received: It.. BLEW ME AWAY. I just, WOW. You don't understand until you read the actual book.

I feel so hollow right now and super sad I don't have a copy of the next book in my vicinity. But I shall have it soon! XD

Beatrice Prior our heroine, lives in a PERFECT society. A society that believe in "Fraction before blood".

There are five fraction:

Dauntless This fr ...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Atmika Singh rated it liked it

Shelves: wish-he-was-real, romance-love, young-adult, swoon-worthy-hero, i-own, dystopia, confused, tstl, entertaining

Divergent is Fun. Lots of action and never a dull moment. It will keep you interested for 500 pages or so, (it's really big!!!) which is a praise-worthy thing, right?

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And, I really liked Four. Like REALLY!!(He kinda reminded me of Dimitri)

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But, I have problems with world-building. Nothing is explained adequately, there is vagueness and a lot of loose ends. I have issues with Tris and her actions. She acted so stupid sometimes, other times she just got on my nerves. I really want to rant a ...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Mary Ann Rogers rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult

I wondered if I was going to find another distopian series as good as "The Hunger Games". I picked up "Divergent" on a whim and started reading. I couldn't put it down. Beatrice (or Tris) is as strong a female main character as Katniss and just as strong and resourceful. Veronica Roth creates a full formed, fascinating dystopian world. If you enjoyed "The Hunger Games" trilogy, read this book. There's a follow up-novel "Insurgent", the second in a trilogy. I will be buying both books for my libr ...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Ria rated it really liked it

Shelves: dystopian

It's a nice mix if everything you need in the book. There is tension, and fighting and love, not to forget the governmental issues. I think the character was built very strong. There were no gaps in her personality, no misunderstanding. I loved the pace of the book. There was no dragging between the chapters, and no jumping either. I loved the book, and waiting for the next. ...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Becky rated it liked it

Shelves: ya, sci-fi, library

I'd probably say closer to 3 1/2 stars. The plot moved quickly and there was lots of conflict & suspense to keep my attention. I do think there were a few holes, though, which my logical mind finds annoying. ...more

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