Insurgent (Divergent, #2) in Around the World in 80 Books

Dec 29, 2012 Nadine in NY Jones rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, dystopian-and-post-apocalyptic, stayed-up-way-too-late, cotton-candy

This book is like cotton candy: it's not really particularly good, but yet I JUST CAN'T STOP. My thoughts while reading the first chapter: "wow this first person present-tense is SUPER annoying! I don't remember Divergent being this annoying ... I'm not sure if I want to even read this ..." Next thing I know: "holy crap it's 2am and the only reason I'm setting this book down is that my head aches from reading for so long."

I kind of hate Tris, I kind of love Four, and I can't wait to find out wha This book is like cotton candy: it's not really particularly good, but yet I JUST CAN'T STOP. My thoughts while reading the first chapter: "wow this first person present-tense is SUPER annoying! I don't remember Divergent being this annoying ... I'm not sure if I want to even read this ..." Next thing I know: "holy crap it's 2am and the only reason I'm setting this book down is that my head aches from reading for so long."

I kind of hate Tris, I kind of love Four, and I can't wait to find out what happens next. Annoying First Person Present Tense be damned ...

*

It gets better. After a while, you get used to the annoyingly self-aware narrator and her annoying first person present tense, and you CAN'T WAIT to find out what happens next. Many of the characters (except the annoying narrator, Tris) grow and change and may surprise you, and the good guys are not always nice or pleasant (I LOVE that! I LOVE GREY!!! black and white can be so boring ...).

And there are some great lines in the book, including:

People, I have discovered, are layers and layers of secrets. You believe you know them, that you understand them, but their motives are always hidden from you, buried in their own hearts. You will never know them, but sometimes you decide to trust them.

The ending was deeply satisfying, which is what earns this 4 stars. (Would have been 5 if Tris was a more interesting character.) I was sad as I closed the book, because I didn't want it to be over. I can't believe I have to wait until next fall for book 3 Untitled!! (which will, of course, be titled "Detergent") Based on how satisfying books 1 & 2 have been, I have every confidence that book 3 will be worth waiting for. I just wish I didn't have to wait.

But the ending held some annoyances. (view spoiler)

To prospective readers: consider waiting until Book 3 is closer to publication, because you won't want to wait between books. ...more

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Nov 18, 2013 Lori rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult

Great second part to the trilogy. I loved how this book picked up the exact moment the first one left off. It made it seem like one book rather than two. I'm hoping the third book does the same. ...more

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May 01, 2012 Sarah rated it liked it

Shelves: kindle, young-adult, dystopian

On the second reading, this book loses a star. I loved its predecessor, Divergent. But this book seems to be too focused on the relationship drama between Tris and Tobias and as I am not a 16-year-old girl, I got annoyed with that. Here's hoping that book three will be as good as the first and better than the second. ...more

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Jul 23, 2013 Ashley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A great and fun book to read . A little slow to get to the main action . The last chapter has got me stumped. I don't get it . Was the faction system created by people who already had identities and were given new ones? Can someone help me with that? ...more

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