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

Nov 12, 2012 Zey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, ya, hot-hero, kick-ass-heroine, dystopia, book-boyfriend, i-want-him-to-be-real

I finished reading this book last year but whenever I try to write a review, I just couldn't do it. I guess it's harder to write a review about a book you love than a book you would rather burn to ashes. It's easier to rant than to convince people to read the book you love. And I love this book, so I will try my best to keep a serious tone throughout this review. Because I think this book deserves a decent review.

Divergent is not perfect. In fact, it has so many flaws, much of it doesn't make an I finished reading this book last year but whenever I try to write a review, I just couldn't do it. I guess it's harder to write a review about a book you love than a book you would rather burn to ashes. It's easier to rant than to convince people to read the book you love. And I love this book, so I will try my best to keep a serious tone throughout this review. Because I think this book deserves a decent review.

Divergent is not perfect. In fact, it has so many flaws, much of it doesn't make any sense at all... But that does not prevent me from loving it. The story is so gripping it hooked me right up from the first page. It is deep, the kind of book that will make you think right after you've finished it.

Welcome to Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, where the society is divided by 5 factions: Abnegation (The Selfless), Candor (The Honest), Erudite (The Intelligent), Amity (The Peaceful) and Dauntless (The Brave). Once the kids turn 16, they have to choose their own faction. First, there's a test that will determine which Faction they have the aptitude for. But the result doesn't really matter. They can choose to stay in the faction they are born to or choose to transfer to other factions and leave their family. Either way, their choice will determine their destiny, because once you have chosen, there's no turning back. You will have to live your entire life loyal to the faction of your choice. Faction before blood. Or so they say.

Many who have read this book express their disappointment about the society itself. Some say it's far fetched from reality, some claims it's not believable, while some just don't get it. And I agree with them. The explanation for the establishment of the factions is pretty lame: to prevent war. Yeah, we can totally prevent war by dividing people based on their values and segregate them away from each other. Good idea, Veronica Roth. Really genius.

Sarcasm aside, the society's pointlessness doesn't bother me at all. As a matter of fact, I think I know what Roth did there. This is a dystopia. And really, what dystopian society ever really made sense? It is dystopia because it's something we think is crazy, unorganized, chaotic, and totally something that steers away from logic. So the senselessness kinda make sense to me. Now I'm not making any sense.

Now, meet the story's narrator and of course, the main protagonist: Beatrice Prior or Tris. She's abnegation born who decided to transfer to Dauntless on the choosing ceremony and she's Divergent; people who has aptitude to two or more faction and is aware when they're in simulations. The whole story technically revolves around Tris' initiation to Dauntless. From being a stiff, Abnegation, we get to follow Tris' journey on being dauntless, the brave. And when I say it's action packed, believe me, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat, biting your pinkie finger and holding your breath. And why not? If you have a train-jumping-ass-kicking-knife-throwing-trigger-clicking bad ass of a heroine, then the action just comes in handy, right? Trust me, you don't really wanna mess with this girl. Do I like her? I don't know. To be honest, I have a love/hate relationship with Tris. There are times when I am in awe of her, and there are times when I just want to smack her in the face. I don't agree with most of her decisions and way of thinking. But I respect her. Roth did a good job in writing a character as complex as Tris. She's the story's main protagonist but she's not all goodness and light. You will hate her AND you will love her. Either way, you won't help but root for her.

If you are still reading this review right up to this point, then let me warn you that from this moment, my fan-girl mode will be on its highest alert. Because you have now reached the part when I just have to introduce you to Four, the sexiest Dystopian YA hero I've ever read so far. Oh, how I love Four. He is just so perfect to me. He is that kind of hero you can always rely to. He is a deep and complex character. He is tough on the outside but vulnerable on the inside. He is the perfect combination of bravery and reason. And I'm inlove with him. And here I am again with my thing for bad boys. Sigh. But really, Four is something. He is Tris' inititation instructor and he's Dauntless' faction manifesto personified. Tris and Four's relationship is sweet but modest. It's not cheesy and puke inducing. And its a breath of fresh air.

There are also a whole bunch of lovable characters such as Uriah, Will and Cristina. Even the evil characters are interesting, such as Peter and Eric.

Though you may find the Dauntless such idiots and reckless daredevils rather than fearless warriors, I can feel that there's still hope for Dauntless after all of the mess.

So I advise you to read this book, because it is so good. If you are into action packed dystopians with a good twist, then this book is definitely for you. ...more

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Feb 14, 2014 Carrie Ardoin rated it really liked it

Shelves: i-own-this, dystopia

So yeah it took me a really long time to read this book, considering I own it and it's so hyped and stuff. I just like to tell myself that I waited to read it until right before the movie so everything could be fresh in my head.

It took me so much longer to get into Divergent than I thought it would. Tris is not the most interesting MC, IMO. She starts to really hit her stride in the second half of the book, once it's clear that being a part of Dauntless has truly changed her. Still, I had my iss ...more

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Mar 19, 2014 Holly Letson rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: first-volume-or-book, movie-related, books-i-won, did-not-finish

I gave this one a decent chance. But, I just couldn't get into it. ...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Lola Mark rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, dystopian

ok.... here it comes...

PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH THIS BOOK.

1. The hype, is way to high for this series/book.

2. lets face it y'all, its trying to be THG

seriously though...

3. ok I think my biggest problem with Divergent is the romance filling little girls minds with the idea that an illegal relationship is ok, move over that it is glamorous she is 16 people, 16. Four is 18. almost 19. SHE ISN'T EVEN LEGAL!! ugh.... and they make it look "cute" and "romantic"

please when you do relationships like that ...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Rebecca rated it liked it · review of another edition

I really enjoyed the plot with the factions and the war etc, and I defiantly want to read the rest of the series, however, I feel the romance between Four/Tobias and Tris was just so not real. Unlike, for example, in The Hunger Games and Nicholas Sparks' book's etc,I fall in love with their relationship, I feel like it's real and they genuinely love each other, but this I felt they were immature and too child like. I'd have preferred the book if there wasn't a romance because I really enjoyed th ...more

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Nov 27, 2012 M rated it really liked it

Shelves: full-series

At first I was a bit bored, then got interested, then got bored again in the middle, but then when the action picked up I got more interested, so yes i enjoyed it! Can't wait to read the second, however before that I want to finish the first book of vampire academy because I want to see the movie. ...more

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Aug 09, 2013 Cat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favorites, 2014-favorites

This was so good! I can't even form an articulate review right now. But I'll just say that Will Herondale might have some competition from Four. And Tris is such a BAMF! Maybe I'll write something of value at some point but for now that's all I have. Just read it! ...more

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