Delirium (Delirium, #1) in The Dusty Bookshelf

Aug 28, 2012 Jennifer rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, young-adult, dystopian, reviewed, three-stars

REVIEW ALSO POSTED AT The Bookie Nook

In Delirium we are introduced to Lena who is counting down the days until her eighteenth birthday. Because shortly thereafter, she will be cured. Of deliria nervosa…love. Citizens of the United States go through the procedure after their eighteenth birthday, and they also go through the process of being matched and having their futures decided for them. After all, those in the labs and the government know best… don’t they? There are a lot of restrictions that REVIEW ALSO POSTED AT The Bookie Nook

In Delirium we are introduced to Lena who is counting down the days until her eighteenth birthday. Because shortly thereafter, she will be cured. Of deliria nervosa…love. Citizens of the United States go through the procedure after their eighteenth birthday, and they also go through the process of being matched and having their futures decided for them. After all, those in the labs and the government know best… don’t they? There are a lot of restrictions that are placed on their lives in this young adult dystopia, parties are not allowed, there are only approved books that they can read, and music they can listen to. Boys and girls pre-cure are segregated, to keep them from becoming infected. There are strict curfews for those who have not been cured yet.

I honestly struggled with the first seventy-five pages of the book. It felt like I would never get past that point in the book. The best part about the early section of Delirium was being introduced to Hannah, Lena’s best friend, who also happens to be one of my favorite characters. I found that there were a handful of characters that I really enjoyed, and others who I really disliked. I know that so much of my dislike of certain characters had to do with them being Cured, but I really struggled with trying to like them, trying to find good in them. They reminded me of zombies going through their own little world. Going through the steps just because that is what they are “supposed” to do. Not feeling any sort of real human emotion- not love, not hate, not frustration, not admiration, not fear or disgust… The world building was not perfect, but it made me think.

Even though Hannah and Lena’s friendship isn’t one that is perfect (what friendship is?), I really loved their dynamic. I think in each other they saw so much of what they want to be. In certain aspects they are so completely different from each other, and yet on a lot of levels they are very similar. I felt like their friendship is a much more true reflection of what a friendship is, rather than what is often displayed in many young adult titles.

And then there is Alex, who throws a little wrench into Lena’s excitement for the procedure. She meets Alex, and then she falls in love. The one thing that was not supposed to happen, especially so close to the procedure. Will Lena be able to hide that she’s infected? Will she be Cured?

My Rating: 3.5 ...more

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Aug 18, 2013 Mandy Sickle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, rd-reviews, fiction, read2review, first-in-series, ya-paranormal, dystopian, read-2013

I picked up Delirium for my reading challenge this week. Lena lives in a world that fears love, where on their 18th birthday they get cured. Lena has just started her evaluation which isn't going very well when it’s interrupted by a herd of cattle. The evaluation is important it will pair Lena with her future husband and set the path for the rest of her life. The higher the score the better the life; however it’s a life without emotions after she’s cured.

It’s while running with her best friend H
I picked up Delirium for my reading challenge this week. Lena lives in a world that fears love, where on their 18th birthday they get cured. Lena has just started her evaluation which isn't going very well when it’s interrupted by a herd of cattle. The evaluation is important it will pair Lena with her future husband and set the path for the rest of her life. The higher the score the better the life; however it’s a life without emotions after she’s cured.

It’s while running with her best friend Hana does she meet the boy who was looking down on her when the cattle entered her evaluation room. He invites Lena to meet with him later before curfew, which is conflicting because boys and girls don’t interact until they are paired. While Lena is worried about breaking the rules her best friend Hana is all about doing what she wants. When Lena tags along with Hana to an illegal party she sees the boy from the lab Alex. Lena learns that Alex has been admiring her from afar; the two embark on a forbidden romance that will challenge everything Lena has known. Will Lena get the cure or will she risk it all for love?

At first I wasn’t sure about Lena she’s a good girl who follows the rules while her best friend is all about living and being herself. I found Hana interesting, but the more the book progressed I started to like Lena. I was sold on Lena when she started sneaking away to spend time with Alex it’s a unique twist on the Romeo and Juliet concept if you think about it. Forbidden love in a world where love is forbidden. As the book progresses Lena breaks out of her shell into an interesting character plus she has Alex you can’t help liking right from the start.

I admit the concept sounds interesting, a world without love that’s a first for me. A unique modern twist of Romeo & Juliet meets dystopian society. I love the story takes place in Portland because I've been there so I can really imagine what Lena’s world looks likes. The characters are interesting easy to connect with, but Lena is a little slow getting started, because I liked her more after she started meeting Alex. I love how sweet the romance is between Lena and Alex their story is beautifully done. Delirium is a captivating story it instantly sucked me right in I had to know what was going to happen next and what Lena would do when it came time to be cured. The book is well written it flows along smoothly, with interesting detailed facts that the author has researched and added to the book. I enjoyed the book, found the characters intriguing and I’m looking forward to the next one. This is my first book my Lauren Oliver but I found her writing style one that teens as well as adults will enjoy. ...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Ani rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, read-in-2012, favorites, 5-star

The ending! I cried! Just wow!

review up soon....

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Jul 29, 2012 Mindy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Amazing! So amazing! So creative! I loved the characters though Lena annoyed me a little. Alex, however, is one the perfect guys you see everywhere. But in Delirium, Alex is part of the resistance, and he pulls Lena in with him. BUT THAT END!

Making a trip to the bookstore.
MUST HAVE PANDEMONIUM!

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