From the Bookshelf of The Perks Of Being A Book Addict…

Divergent (Divergent, #1)

Veronica Roth

Start date: March 1, 2013

Finish date: March 31, 2013

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What Members Thought

Dec 11, 2011 Falling for Books (Tia) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Favorite Quotes: “It must require bravery to be honest all the time. I wouldn’t know.”
“I am pure adrenaline.”

My thoughts:
This book has been on everyone’s To Be Read List including mine. So, I decided to go for it and read it. I really loved this book from beginning to end. This book had me hooked all the way to the last page. This book has definitely deserved the praise it has received!

I really liked Tris as a character. I thought she was strong when she needed to be and vulnerable at times ...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Cindy rated it liked it

I'm not sure I understand the fanfare that accompanied the arrival of this book on the scene. It's a solid addition to the genre but nothing really amazing about the story stands out. In a world gone wrong somehow, this future features a society divided into mankind's "best" features. Humans are forced to sublimate multiple inclinations AND human nature, either through genetics, chemicals, or upbringing, and choose one path in life. The paths are adventure, knowledge, truth, peace, and helpfulne I'm not sure I understand the fanfare that accompanied the arrival of this book on the scene. It's a solid addition to the genre but nothing really amazing about the story stands out. In a world gone wrong somehow, this future features a society divided into mankind's "best" features. Humans are forced to sublimate multiple inclinations AND human nature, either through genetics, chemicals, or upbringing, and choose one path in life. The paths are adventure, knowledge, truth, peace, and helpfulness. Once in their chosen faction, they must embrace the monotonous, routine life and turn away from their "family" unit and focus on the community. This is a staple of distopian fare BUT I find it harder to swallow. Furthermore, again I understand this is YA but that doesn't mean I have to accept one dimensional characters. Admittedly, this actually CAN WORK in this novel because people in this society are trained to be one thing only and if one person just happens to be "evil" then it makes sense. But it doesn't mean I have to like it. I also understand that, because this is YA, we have to be subjected to teeange angst, insecurity, and misunderstandings. Tris is very much someone teenage females can connect to. A young girl, insecure, trying to find her way, her strength, and doubting herself...and yet still gets the guy-this is exactly what every teenage girl wants to imagine can happen. It just would be nice to see a bit less of it and a bit more of a stronger female. She certainly gets there and I wish she would have realized her strength with or without Tobias. I wanted to like her more. But every time she would stumble or be described as a female yet to undergo puberty I was frustrated. And the author could have had drama without so many miscommunications between Tobias and Tris. It just seemed an unnecessary ploy. I understand it's from her point of view and this is part and parcel of teenage drama but her guilt and silence felt so self-indulgent. It was her selflessness that made her reckless and that made her racked with guilt. But it was also that that made her unable to see everyone else's pain and inner turmoil.
Anyway, like I said, I wanted to like her more and the book more. But instead I felt it was "meh". THAT IS UNTIL...
...I read Insurgent. The fight scenes were too long for my taste and I really felt that enough was enough BUT the final reveal at the end, after so many hints, made me appreciate the premise, that I didn't like, and look forward to the third novel.
...more

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Jul 31, 2011 JenniferC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads

I enjoyed the dystopian society that Veronica Roth weaves into Divergent. I love finding a book that has a strong female character; Tris is brave, smart, and compassionate.

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Jul 22, 2013 Una rated it liked it

Don't get me wrong, i enjoyed the premise of the book and i was very into it until the last few pages of it. It just became so confusing. I didn't know if it was an other stimulation or 'real' life situation or what was going on. I am not sure i want to read book 2. ...more

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