Delirium (Delirium, #1) in Once Upon a Twilight blog

Aug 11, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mundie-moms-reviews, signed-books-arcs, books-i-own, 2011-release, 2012-100-book-challenge

Warning: while reading this book you may experience severe reactions to amor deliria nervosa, also known as falling in love, something that's "cured" aka banned in Delirium's society. Side effects may include sleepless nights while reading Delirium, the inability to concentrate on anything else but reading this book, nervousness over what's going to happen to Lena & Alex, having your heart ripped out, sighing, finding yourself sitting on the edge of your seat, kissing your book, running out to p Warning: while reading this book you may experience severe reactions to amor deliria nervosa, also known as falling in love, something that's "cured" aka banned in Delirium's society. Side effects may include sleepless nights while reading Delirium, the inability to concentrate on anything else but reading this book, nervousness over what's going to happen to Lena & Alex, having your heart ripped out, sighing, finding yourself sitting on the edge of your seat, kissing your book, running out to pre-order PANDEMONIUM, petting the new beautiful cover, telling all your friends to go pick up this book, and of course falling helplessly in love with the brilliant, and breathtakingly beautiful writing of Lauren Oliver.

Can you imagine living in a society where LOVE is a disease?! I seriously loved the way Lauren created a fascinating society that "cures" love. Yes it may seem hilarious, but when you read DELIRIUM it totally makes sense. Lauren's writing is just awesome! It's richly detailed, it's poetic, captivating and I love that she really makes me think. Lauren is truly a gifted writer and I swear she could write a story about the most outlandish thing and make it credible. Here's a taste of Lauren's beautiful prose, which is also one of my favorite quotes from DELIRIUM:

Sometimes I feel like if you just watch things, just sit still and let the world exist in front of you- sometimes I swear that just for a second time freezes and the world pauses in it's tilt. Just for a second. And if you somehow found a way to live in that second, then you would live forever. - pg 153

This is one of the many reasons why I adored Lena, the story's main protagonist. She's insightful and I admired the way she fights to believe in something she's grown up being taught vs something that's right in front of her face telling her otherwise. I love a character who has a quest for finding the truth, no matter how heartbreaking that truth can be and how much they'll have to sacrifice in order to get it. Alex is a character I immediately loved. He challenges everything that Lena has been taught. I love the way in which he makes her think and helps her open her eyes to the truth around her. I of course loved the way their relationship developed over the course of the book.

I'm surprised at how much I loved this book considering there isn't a lot of action, there's no paranormal characters and the characters aren't as in-depth as I usually like them. What a beautiful change of pace this book is for me! This is a book that completely snuck up on me and swept me off my feet with it's beautiful writing style, romantic story line, and it's well developed characters. Oh Lauren Oliver the things you did to my heart in this book..... Luckily my heart won't be ripped out for long as I'm off to drown my broken heart in PANDEMONIUM. Seriously, if you haven't already go PICK UP DELIRIUM! You'll enjoy every moment experiencing the side effects of amor deliria nervosa while reading Lena's story. ...more

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Sep 23, 2011 Melocotón rated it liked it

This book was a mixture of books that I have read, yet unique in its own way. When this book began it reminded me of the Book Uglies where Tally was so excited and wanted nothing more than to have her surgery and be pretty, yet she had kind of rebellious friend Shane that wanted to experience more aka Hana. Then it reminded me of Matched in its way that controlled the pairing situation with its people. I definitely enjoyed the romance way more in Delirium than in Matched. It also gave me reminde This book was a mixture of books that I have read, yet unique in its own way. When this book began it reminded me of the Book Uglies where Tally was so excited and wanted nothing more than to have her surgery and be pretty, yet she had kind of rebellious friend Shane that wanted to experience more aka Hana. Then it reminded me of Matched in its way that controlled the pairing situation with its people. I definitely enjoyed the romance way more in Delirium than in Matched. It also gave me reminders of Enclave, where they completely controlled everything and lied about the world they lived in just to maintain order. I guess it expected since all those books mentioned are in the dystopian genre, but nonetheless amazing.

I love the premise of the book which was love. I really enjoy books that make me question my own beliefs or even my logical reasoning. Example: Blood Promise: Richelle Mead, I really wanted to Rose to do the unthinkable in that book, something that is completely opposed to who she is and what she represents. I won’t what it is for those who haven’t read it, but for those who have you know what I mean. This book had me considering and if Love really is a disease. I love all the quotes and text above the chapters, it really tied the story nicely. As well as the symptoms of Amor Deliria Nervosa. The book so realistic in its own way.

The characters were really great. I loved that Lena had a bff in Hana and she was her confidant. I loved that Alex and Lena didn’t just fall head over heels in love after just one meeting; as well as Lena’s gradual acceptance in the reality of her world. The world building was really great; it wasn’t done in a way that seemed boring or lengthy. The book had it’s own way of building suspense while still being slow. I was left wondering what would come of Alex and Lena throughout the whole book; as well enjoy the tie back story of the mother.

I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to Pandemonium. Delirium ended in a nice cliffhanger kind of way that makes me ache for more.
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Jan 27, 2011 Between the Covers rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, dystopian

Reviewed by Christin for Between the Covers

Alright, regulators, come and lock me up: I LOVED this book. Once again, this is a book where all the hype is definitely well-deserved.

Lena dreams of the day when she will be able to be cured from the amor deliria nervosa, when she will hopefully, finally be free of the whispers surrounding her family and her mother's death. She has prepared endlessly for her evaluation, hoping that she will receive a good score and therefore a good pairing. But somethi ...more

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May 04, 2011 Kathryn Roberts rated it liked it

Okay, so the three stars probably isn't deserved. I should give it four for writing, but let me explain. I am very squeemish when it comes to swearing in a book. I know I'll get raked over the coals for that one. At first I thought, okay, I can understand why she is using such strong language, but it began to wear after a while.

Other than the swearing and one inapropriate scene, I thought the story was compelling and well drawn out. The only thing that held it back for me was the fact that ther ...more

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Feb 04, 2011 Nikki rated it it was amazing

this book is amazing.It grabs you from the start and never lets go until you read the very last word. The book was beautifully written and was set at a great pace. Through-out the book we see the characters grow and blossom. Especially Lena. Her Character was the most thought provoking character that makes you feel deeply for her and Alex. The Entire way you think to yourself they might actually be able to be together. It brings hope. until the very end where ms Oliver shatters that hope and rep ...more

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Dec 24, 2011 Gabby (What's Beyond Forks?) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

Full Review at: What's Beyond Forks?

This is another one of those books that I thoroughly enjoyed right up until the ending. I'll admit, it did have moments where it dragged a little, but for the most part it gripped my attention. The people are required to have a procedure that removes their ability to love once they turn 18. Most do it by choice. This means they don't love anything. Not even their spouses, children, or pets. They just go through life in a fog, with their biggest emotion being f ...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Jennifer Monzon rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2012

Delirum by Lauren Oliver is by far the most over the top, buckle your seat belts and hold on roller coaster ride of your life. The intensity of this book leaves you breathless at the end. Again another book with the main character’s face on the page giving you the visualization of the person who’s world you are beginning to understand.

In a world where love is being stripped from your brain at the age of eighteen because it is said that it’s a disease. A world where the government not only monit Delirum by Lauren Oliver is by far the most over the top, buckle your seat belts and hold on roller coaster ride of your life. The intensity of this book leaves you breathless at the end. Again another book with the main character’s face on the page giving you the visualization of the person who’s world you are beginning to understand.

In a world where love is being stripped from your brain at the age of eighteen because it is said that it’s a disease. A world where the government not only monitors but controls every aspect of your life, your career, your financial stability and arranges the people who you are supposed to spend the rest of your life with simply by an evaluation scheduled right after your graduation. This is the world that Lena lives in. We begin with Lena who’s life we follow as she nears the time of her procedure. She’s a senior in high school and is about to graduate. She’s getting closer to the day of her evaluation and the suspense is killing her. She’s ready to have all of this behind her. But that’s until she meets Alex. Her entire world seems like it’s going to collapse one Lena finally opens her eyes and can see clearer. Her entire world begins to fall apart when she begins to doubt everything that has been instilled in her head since the day her mother died. And to make matter’s more confusing she meets Alex. Gets to know him, starts to like him and ends up falling in love with him.

The characters in this story make the story come alive. I instantly fell in love with Lena as I felt the emotions she felt. I felt as if I was living in her world and experiencing the same things she was. Lauren Oliver did a fascinating job with the descriptions of the people who have been cured and the ones who haven’t. The difference between the government and the people. She specified how and who controlled this world and the consequences should you deny your or in this case resist the procedure or their way of living. The most incriminating part was the Crypts. I couldn’t believe how descriptive it was and how I was able to imagine every single detail from there as if I was inside this story. Lauren Oliver is definitely in my favorite author’s list. The way she captivates you from the very first page and throws blow upon blow in every chapter leaves you like an addict wanting more. If you haven’t read Delirium, you HAVE to go a grab it. You will not regret it and if you have already, pick up the next book in the series called Pandemonium and stay tuned for my review of Pandemonium. If you have read Pandemonium already, pick up Hana’s which is a short novella ebook of Hana’s story in the book Delirum. And stay tuned for information on the third installment of this remarkable book Requiem later this year.

I hightly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story! You will not be disappointed. ...more

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Feb 07, 2011 Kristen rated it really liked it

I thought in the beginning that it was going to take forever to read. It was really slow in the beginning but then in the middle it brings things up to a faster pace and gets better and better as you read on. I thought it was similar to Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series. But I highly recommend it especially with Valentine's Day coming up! ...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Jazzy rated it it was amazing

I loved this book! Lena and Alex are perfect for each other! And yes I cried at the end!

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Jan 12, 2011 Jamie Manning rated it it was amazing

Lauren Oliver's Delirium is outstanding. Excellent writing, amazing world-building and a very unique premise and plot make this book impossible to put down. From the very first page I was drawn in and the excitement didn't stop until the very last one. The only downside to reading Delirium is that I now have to wait for the sequel. I'm happy to rate this one 5 stars. ...more

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