Divergent (Divergent, #1) in And So It Begins Reading Challenge

Sep 21, 2010 Nicole rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, won-arc, dystopian, signed-by-the-author

You can find this review and many others on my blog, The Reader's Antidote

If I could give this more than 5 stars I would. It was simply amazing. I had a lot of thinking to do for this one. So much thinking that I decided I needed to read it again to give you a proper review. It was much better than I expected (I was unaware of the hype it was receiving) and I felt like I raced through it the first time. The truth is, I just couldn't get enough of Four... [sigh]... or maybe it's that this book is ...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Skip rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Somewhat similar to Hunger Games. In a future society, 16-year olds select their factions, which have different personalities and responsibilities. Beatrice Prior leaves the selfless government faction of her parents for the brave defenders, but has mixed characteristics and battles for leadership and her own standing in her new faction. I was disappointed by the truly chaotic ending after some great story lines were developed by Veronica Roth.

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Sep 19, 2011 Crystal Paglino rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

Honestly there is not much I can say about this book except that I loved, loved it. It was definitely a great read. I was a little hesitant at first but once I got it and started reading it, I couldn’t put it down.
Tris or Beatrice, depending on who is talking to her, is one of the toughest and most selfless heroines out there right now. What she went through to become Dauntless is horrible; especially the way some of her other initiates treated her. The only good thing that came out of it was h ...more

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Jan 10, 2011 A rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Um, WOW? 4 stars... didn't quite keep me up ALL night (had to sleep, work, do chores then finish the 2nd half) but it came really close. ...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Darlene rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2013, 2013-dusty-bookshelf-challenge, 2013-literary-exploration-challenge, books-i-own, mount-tbr-2013-reading-challenge, audiobook, 2013-ya-audiobook-challenge, young-adult, 2013-just-for-fun-reading-challenge

Dystopia is one of my favourite genres, and Divergent does not disappoint. It totally knocked my socks off, and I am kicking myself for waiting so long to read it!

This dystopian society contains five factions, which developed as a result of people’s blame of different personality flaws for the world’s downfall: Amity (who are kind and loving towards others and blame aggression), Erudite (who seek to educate themselves because they blame ignorance), Candor (who are brutally honest because they bl Dystopia is one of my favourite genres, and Divergent does not disappoint. It totally knocked my socks off, and I am kicking myself for waiting so long to read it!

This dystopian society contains five factions, which developed as a result of people’s blame of different personality flaws for the world’s downfall: Amity (who are kind and loving towards others and blame aggression), Erudite (who seek to educate themselves because they blame ignorance), Candor (who are brutally honest because they blame schemers), Abnegation (who are completely selfless because they blame selfishness), and Dauntless (who are fearless because they blame cowards). The factions all have their own rules of dress, behaviour, food, and shelter.

When a person reaches 16 years of age, she will undergo an aptitude test which involves a simulation to determine which faction she will belong to. The subject is presented with different scenarios and options. How the subject chooses to respond to each scenario will eventually eliminate a faction. The test continues until just one is left. The person then needs to make a choice to either remain in the faction that she was raised in or transfer into another faction. The person does not necessarily have to choose the faction that was the outcome of the aptitude test. Rather, it reveals to the subject their propensity towards one faction over another. Faction transfers are often frowned upon by both the faction they have deserted and the one that they have joined. They often have to prove themselves that they are worthy of the new faction, since they have been raised in a completely different manner with different ideals. Each faction transfer must endure an initiation.

The protagonist of the story is Beatrice “Tris” Pryor, who is a 16 year-old teenager. She was raised in the Abnegation faction and is facing her upcoming aptitude test. Putting all others before herself has never come easily to her. Her older brother, Caleb, makes it seem so easy. Tris struggles with it, and she has always felt like she never really fit in. Her natural instinct is her curious nature, which has been stifled by Abnegation’s rules.

The results of Tris’ aptitude test are inconclusive. The tester reveals to her that she has equal aptitude for Abnegation, Erudite, and Dauntless. These results are rare, and she is warned not to discuss the results with anyone because it would be dangerous for her. Tris is faced with a monumental decision to either stay with her family in Abnegation or join another faction.

Roth’s world-building had me utterly engrossed. I loved the segregation of the society into different factions and how different each one was from the others. I loved Tris, and I could relate to her. Her strength and courage makes her such a great role model. I loved how she evolved and came into her own. I also really enjoyed the budding romance with her love interest, Four!

This is a fantastic YA dystopian with non-stop action, and it was difficult to put it down! I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, Insurgent, which was released last year.

I have really enjoyed the last few books narrated by Emma Galvin (including Kresley Cole's Poison Princess and Jamie McGuire's Beautiful Disaster), and this one is no exception. She was believable as teenage Tris, and she didn’t overdo the characterizations. She has a clear voice, which is easy to listen to, and her pace is bang-on. A great narrator draws you into the story and makes it even more intense, and Galvin certainly achieved this! ...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Renee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, 2012-reading-challenge

<3 <3 <3

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Jun 22, 2011 CrystalBookSnob rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-favorite-reads, favorites, reviewd

I bought this book because everyone was raving about it, pretty much saying that it is one of the best books they've every read. I brought it home and it literally sat on my shelf for at least a month. I was so hesitant to pick it up because I didn't really know what it was about, the raving reviews gave it a lot of expectations, it's almost 500 pages long and I didn't really like the cover. Now I wish I had started reading it the day I bought it because I already want to read it again!

Divergent ...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Kam Brooksmoore rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia, read-in-2013, favorites, young-adult

Divergent by Veronica Roth was a really powerful novel filled to the brim with heartache, romance, and death (yes, DEATH!)

This book has been on my wish list FOREVER and when I saw it on my local library's site, I requested it and got it a few days later. When I started this book, I did NOT expect half as much of what happened. The main character, Beatrice (Tris) was contemplating wether or not she should leave her faction, Abnegation, and go to the Dauntless faction. It is set in dystopian Chic ...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Avital rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, dystopia, romance, thriller

This book gets the first in my top list.
IT WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER READ.
Yeah yeah, it's better than Harry Potter, Hush Hush, Hunger Games, Vampire Academy.
It has so much action, and the idea it very origin!
The plot is so eventful you can't leave it for a second.
It definitely deserves more than 5 stars.
I recommend it! ...more

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