Delirium (Delirium, #1) in Shut Up & Read

Dec 05, 2011 Elise rated it really liked it · review of another edition

OMG I love this book. The plot was Romeo and Juliet but it was done in such an original way you can't say at all that it is cliche. It was sad, beautiful, and heart-wrenching. The beginning was a little slow after all she had to set up the story, world, and characters before the good stuff. The twists and turns at the end make the slow beginning totally worth it.

The story is set in a distopian Portland, Oregon, USA where love is considered a disease and there is a cure for it. Everyone on there ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

May 30, 2018 Marla rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, zz-2018, audiobook, zz-2018-ammp-fairytales, challenged, library-audiobook, dystopia, science-fiction, romance, adventure

Intriguing premise that love is a disease and a Cure has been found and is required when you turn 18. I wasn't a huge fan of Lena to start, but I liked Alex, though you only get to know him through Lena's eyes.

Abandoned:
After 2 books, but accidentally borrowed the 3rd audiobook from library. I thought this book was okay. I was bored and underwhelmed by the next book. So decided to not read the last book which had very mixed reviews. (2.5 stars from me for both 2nd and 3rd books, so not worth it ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 19, 2011 Cheer Papworth rated it really liked it

Shelves: dystopian, ya

I really liked the premise for this book...a world without love or passion; a world that "fixes" teens in order to anesthetize them from love for it is the root of all of the world's problems...war, suicide, depression...but seriously why would you want to exist in this environment? I would give this book 3.5 stars...I thought the premise was better than the characters themselves. I just want a story with characters that I can stand-up and cheer for and this wasn't it. Still, I will read the nex ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 12, 2012 Yzabel Ginsberg rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, dystopia

I hesitated between 3 stars and 4 stars, but in the end, since I found it an enjoyable read I wanted to know more about, I decided on 4.

When I first heard about this book, the pitch seemed intriguing to me; I know there are other dystopian stories around with a similar theme, but I haven't read them, and so it seemed new enough in my own experience to catch my interest.

Although a few sentences made me cringe, I found the author's writing style flowing and pleasant to read, with really beautiful I hesitated between 3 stars and 4 stars, but in the end, since I found it an enjoyable read I wanted to know more about, I decided on 4.

When I first heard about this book, the pitch seemed intriguing to me; I know there are other dystopian stories around with a similar theme, but I haven't read them, and so it seemed new enough in my own experience to catch my interest.

Although a few sentences made me cringe, I found the author's writing style flowing and pleasant to read, with really beautiful imagery. At first, some descriptions seemed a little redundant, but as I was reading, it occurred to me that considering Lena's world and background, it would be normal for her to go back over those very things she's discovering. I also appreciated the excerpts from books, poems, documents, etc. at the beginning of each chapter. They're part of those little things that make me interested in a book, and I felt that the author must have taken pleasure in writing and integrating those.

When I started reading, I couldn't decide if the pace of the book was too slow or not; at any rate, it kept me in no matter what, and I read it in a breeze, which in itself was a good sign. This story won't be satisfying if you're looking for more action and less description; however, once again, given the backdrop against which it is set, this descriptive mood was appropriate, allowing me to get into the world presented here, and to get to know the characters. After all, it's about a young woman, still a child, almost, who's been told all her life that love was a dangerous disease, and who finally gets to experience it, to feel it—this thing, this 'curse' she's supposed to fear more than anything else. With this in mind, what I'd probably have found grating in another novel felt right in its place here (of course it's going to be somewhat sappy, a teenager's first love... but isn't it what Lena's meant to discover, in her world that would never allow her to?).

I wasn't totally satisfied with the society developed in the story. Well, mostly it was convincing and interesting, but there were still a few elements that seemed a little fragile—mainly how it all came to be, in fact. How the government managed to impose such views on people. This I found somewhat rushed. I also wondered at some point if the problem was really 'love', because the 'cured' to me seemed to lack everything else too, everything remotely connected to 'passion'. But then, it dawned on me that 1) the cure (which is nothing else than a lobotomy) couldn't be so perfect and precise as not to interfere with other brain areas, and 2) maybe that was exactly the point: getting people rid of 'passion' in general, because from passion, so many other things are born, that male those same people harder to control. No emotions meant more control; a theme that perfectly fits the whole dystopian side. All things considered, this is why this slight dissatisfaction remained exactly that, and didn't impede my reading.

Finally, the ending: it felt just a tad bit rushed, to be honest. Maybe compared to the rest of the book? On the other hand, it had a certain Romeo & Juliet feeling, in accordance with the overall theme, and it leaves room for more, because we can't know for sure what really happens after that. I can only hope that the second installment of the series will deal with those threads left open! ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 12, 2011 Monica Millard rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, own-paper

At first I was a little worried about reading this so soon after reading Matched. There was no need to worry though. The world Oliver has delivered is a frightening look at what could happen given the right circumstances and manipulations. And the worst part of it is that the person responsible probably thought they were doing what was best for us.

It's an idea/theme that was also done well in one my favorite movies: Firefly. The end result of course, being a bit different.

Lena, the main charact ...more

Like · see review

Jan 05, 2012 Jessica Payne rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult-read

What if the root of all societal problems was a disease? And even better, what if there was a surgery that could cure this disease or prevent it from happening? Would you want the surgery? Would you want your children to have it? Would you want it to be mandatory for everyone in your society, to ensure a peaceful existence free from crimes of passion or suicide? What if there were added benefits to the cure – the ability to accept things easily and to make decisions based on logic instead of emo What if the root of all societal problems was a disease? And even better, what if there was a surgery that could cure this disease or prevent it from happening? Would you want the surgery? Would you want your children to have it? Would you want it to be mandatory for everyone in your society, to ensure a peaceful existence free from crimes of passion or suicide? What if there were added benefits to the cure – the ability to accept things easily and to make decisions based on logic instead of emotion? I'm guessing the answer to these questions for many would be yes. But what if I told you this horrible disease has a name. It’s called amor deliria nervosa, or in other words, love.

In Lauren Oliver’s book Delirium, Lena Haloway can't wait to be cured of the delirium. The date of her surgery is scheduled for September third, her eighteenth birthday, and by the end of the summer, her best friend Hanna will be cured too. Lena and Hanna have been best friends since grade school and plan on having a great last summer together. But each of the girls have different ideas of what a “great summer” entails. Hanna wants to really live it up before it’s too late, and starts going to some forbidden parties with alcohol, uncured boys, and forbidden music. Lena can’t think of anything more undesirable and dangerous. While trying to stop Hanna from going to one of these forbidden parties, she sees Alex. Alex has been cured, but he seems different than other Cureds. He loves forbidden music and poetry, and he’s somehow kinder and softer than other Cureds. Lena finds herself a victim of the deliria as she can’t help falling in love with him. But Alex has a secret, not only about himself, but about a life outside the society they live in. Lena is left with the question of whether she will go through with her surgery, or if she can imagine a life outside the one she’s always known.

Delirium is a very well done dystopian novel. The author expertly weaves the description of Lena’s world through many chapters, slowly revealing the secrets of Lena’s past and illustrating the constant fear and conflict that lives within her. The tone of the book creates a world of anxiety and discomfort, which is exactly how I imagined Lena would feel existing in such an oppressive society and doing things that are forbidden. One of the most clever aspects of the novel are the references to The Book of Shhh (The Book of Safety, Health and Happiness Handbook), which is the handbook that rules Lena’s society. Many of the chapters begin with excerpts from The Book of Shhh, and really serve to illustrate how the cure evolved, and just how detrimental Lena’s society thinks the deliria can be. Just the name, The Book of Shhh, adds to the feelings of being stifled and controlled.

I absolutely fell in love with the characters in this book. Lena’s evolution throughout the book was interesting as we watch her go from someone who is constantly scared to someone who becomes more confident and in control. Hanna is such a great contrast to Lena’s character, she’s bold and daring in the beginning, but it was also interesting to see how Hanna’s character also evolved, almost as if Hanna and Lena seem to switch roles. But most of all, I love the romance between Lena and Alex. Alex is such a great character, he’s easy to love – he’s romantic and altruistic and makes incredible sacrifices for Lena.

If you like dystopian fiction, you should definitely put this book on your reading list. ...more

Like · see review

Nov 29, 2011 Angie Taylor rated it really liked it

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." What if you were told that all the feelings or emotions that bring you joy, happiness, heartache, and pain, if left unchecked, could result in a disease called 'amor deliria nervosa'? And what if you were raised in a society where showing any true or real emotion was looked at as someone having contracted this disease? I loved this book for so many re ...more

Like · see review

Aug 19, 2012 Tracy Kennedy rated it it was amazing

LOVED IT.

Cliff's notes....The world has decided that love is a disease and so when you turn 18 you get 'cured' with a procedure so as to not feel love and you pretty much forget anything that incited passion. Girl is a follower...finds love...fights to save humankind from the 'cure'. If you liked Hunger Games or Divergent then you'll love this. ...more

Like · see review

Dec 25, 2011 Sunny rated it liked it

not quite a 4, but a definite 3 plus

Like · see review

Aug 28, 2011 Bridget rated it really liked it

So I have heard so many wonderful things about this series, so I had very high expectations going into reading it. To be honest it fell a little flat for me. It took me a while to connect with the characters and to get into the story. Once the story finally picked up I did really enjoy the book. So I didn't think it was as amazing as everyone else but it was a good read and I will be reading the next book of the series!!! ...more

Like · see review

Jul 10, 2011 Stephanie rated it it was amazing

What a great book! This one had an ending to die for. It made me incredibly excited for the next book in the series. Lauren Oliver really has a hit series on her hands with this one.

Like · see review