Divergent (Divergent, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

May 01, 2014 Charlotte (Buried in Books) rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, post-apocalyptic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So, this was my second attempt at reading this. The first time I couldn't get past the first page. Then I saw the movie - and finished the book in about 10 hours (spread over 4 days). OK, so the movie is virtually identical to the book, that's not a bad thing and yes I pretty much already know what happens at the end of the final book (thanks to all those who like to write reviews and not flag spoilers). But I really liked this book.

Yes, it has a fair sprinkling of teenage angst (the whole "I re So, this was my second attempt at reading this. The first time I couldn't get past the first page. Then I saw the movie - and finished the book in about 10 hours (spread over 4 days). OK, so the movie is virtually identical to the book, that's not a bad thing and yes I pretty much already know what happens at the end of the final book (thanks to all those who like to write reviews and not flag spoilers). But I really liked this book.

Yes, it has a fair sprinkling of teenage angst (the whole "I really like you, but I'm not ready to go to the next level" - "well that's OK because I'm not ready either, but I think I love you"). Praise the lord that we don't get a love triangle, because I probably would have screamed and given up at that point.

Yes, it has a lot of similar themes to Hunger Games, but this time it feels darker. Tris is a very complex character, realizing that in order to find herself she has to leave her family and find her own way, in a dangerous faction - Dauntless. Instead of Districts, we have Factions, society has been split into 5 factions, each with their own characteristics and place in society. But the clever one (Erudite) want to take over the running of things.

A large part of the book relates to Tris and testing, selection of Faction and her initiation into Dauntless. She learns early on that she is Divergent (she could belong to any of the factions) a dangerous thing to be, as everyone appears to end up dead once identified.

Tris falls for her instructor - Four, hmmmmmmm Four, 2 years older than her and covered in tattoos. Hmmmmmmm Four...... Theres a lot more to him than just tattoos though...... hmmmmmm Four..... Sorry, lost my train of thought there for a moment.

There is a darkness to this book, one that draws me in and makes me want to read more, it feels real, it doesn't shy away from hard subjects. It doesn't go soft. The one issue I have is the ending, it feels rushed. One minute the Initiates are celebrating the end of training and the next day they're braindead zombies shooting anything that moves. I hope that's not a trend that continues. ...more

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Aug 07, 2013 Sue rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, series, natalie-bk-club, dystopian

This book started out slow for me and I felt at the beginning that I had been there and read all this before. I was 150 pages in and if I hadn't been reading this for my book club, I probably would have gotten sidetracked and put it down in favor of something else. But I stuck with it because a friend said I would like it. And it turns out I did. A lot. The sense of deja vu sprang from the sense of YA dystopian books having some similar features and I hadn't found anything yet that made Divergen ...more

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Apr 15, 2014 Krissy rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobook, scarred-nerdy-imperfect-heroes, imperfect-heroine, virginal-hero, abuse, buddy-read, read-before-2015

Decent

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Jan 07, 2015 Avigail rated it really liked it

Shelves: physical-book, 2015

This story grabs you on page ONE! Divergent introduces readers to a world where society is divided into factions. The world building leaves a vivid image, the plot keeps readers on their toes it keeps you guessing but reveals enough though the story that you don't get frustrated with the plot. You, as the reader, become one with the world, engaged by Beatrice, aka Tris. Her voice resonates within us, any reader whether male/female can relate to her inner "emotional" struggles, as well as, her ph ...more

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Aug 06, 2013 Meredith rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

It's not wholly original but it took all of my favorite elements from The Giver Quartet and the Hunger Games trilogy and made itself into something that could possibly be my new favorite dystopian series. Can't wait to read the next one :) ...more

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