Roth, Veronica; Divergent (Divergent #1) "Relaxed Buddy Read" Start Date August 3 2013

[Nicole]

I know we are finished with this book, but I've mentioned how striking the Ferris Wheel scene was before. And then someone posted this picture up today, and I just thought: This is a day time version of that Ferris Wheel scene in Divergent.

https://twitter.com/AbandonedPics/sta...

And then of course I had to share it with you ;)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Oh wow, that is amazingly beautiful. Thanks Nicole!

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

BUDDY READ REVISIT! BUDDY READ REVISIT! BUDDY READ REVISIT!

Divergent by Veronica Roth



Synopsis
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves... or it might destroy her.

[Debbie (Doc)]

I just finished and not quite sure if I want to continue this series, but then I hate how the book just ended. I was listening on audible and thought perhaps my audio simply stopped. There were twists and turns along the way, but it just didn't measure up in my opinion. In my opinion, this book is similar to The Hunger Games as well as The Giver with some modifications.

I did enjoy the narrator and may listen to more books from her. My 16 year old daughter read this so I thought it would be a fun read to discuss.

[Kristie]

Hi everyone! If you decide to continue on with the series, could you post in the buddy read thread? I may read the next one with you, depending on when you start, and I know there were a couple other people interested too. Thanks!!

[Emma (M)]

I will be starting this one today. I'm looking forward to it as I really liked the film.

[Elena]

Starting it today as well. I enjoyed the movie too, I try to read it first but hubby wanted to see it. Finally getting to the book now and hoping there will still be a few surprises in it for me.

[Emma (M)]

Wow, I'm only up to chapter nine but so far the movie has mirrored the book ver closely. After watching the movie though I did expect Four to be a lot older.

[Emma (M)]

About 50% of the way through and I am really starting to enjoy it. (view spoiler)[ I think the concept of the factionless is really interesting. It seems to be saying if you don't fit into a social stereotype you are of no use and exiled. The threat of being factionless is also very clever way to keep the initiates in line with faction rules. (hide spoiler)].

[Elena]

I'm a little behind but will try to catch up now! It's hard not to compare the book to the movie while reading and I agree they did a pretty good job following it.

Chapters 1-12

(view spoiler)[Ch 12 ends at flag capture. I’m enjoying the writing and the pace, getting to the point now where I don't want to put it down but can't afford to do so! There are similarities with other dystopian novels, but that’s to be expected, hard to come up with something entirely original with a genre that’s so popular!

I really like seeing things from Beatrice's perspective – such as knowing what motivated her to make choices she made during aptitude test or how difficult transition from one faction to the other is, how much she misses her family and all the things she's experiencing for the first time.

I can’t remember very well what happened to the world that led to dividing the society into factions, hope there will be some mention of it.

The author isn't trying too hard to hide who Four really is, is she? lol Even if I haven't seen the movie I think I would've figured it out. (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

Emma wrote: "About 50% of the way through and I am really starting to enjoy it. [spoilers removed]."

(view spoiler)[I agree, the threat of being factionless provides great means of control. I think I remember one of the characters saying they would rather die or something like that. The way this society is structured makes it look like you can survive only if you find a place to belong in and you can only belong if you fit certain criteria (very twisted and taken to extreme too I must say, like absolute selflessness for Abnegation of bravery to the point of recklessness for Dauntless). I guess that’s why divergents are being considered so dangerous, they fall outside the box and are much harder to control. (hide spoiler)]

[Emma (M)]

Finished this yesterday.

I ended up really, really enjoying Divergent. I think the world building was pretty great, although like you Elena, I would prefer to know a bit more about how this world came to be. Hopefully this will be explored further in the following books. I really like Tris as a good strong female character. I like that she could recognise her flaws (such has not being selfless enough for Abnegation) and make the right choices for her by taking them into consideration. I like that although she is a strong character, she also showed the vulnerable side, especially in regards to her relationship with the other Dauntless intiates.

(view spoiler)[ I also really like that her relationship with Four grew over time and wasn't this all encompassing instanlove that a lot of YA does. It felt a lot more realistic. (hide spoiler)].

I am looking forward to getting to Insurgent when I get the chance :)

[Elena]

Just read about Candor initiation (view spoiler)[and the idea of being interrogated with lie detectors for days until your most guarded secrets are revealed makes my blood freeze. That would certainly be part of my fear landscape! :) (hide spoiler)]

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

Emma wrote: "Wow, I'm only up to chapter nine but so far the movie has mirrored the book ver closely. After watching the movie though I did expect Four to be a lot older."

That was my thought too.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

I'm near the end of the book and find that there is more in the book than the movie but like my daughter states there is no Theo James in the book :) I think the book has more little things that the movie didn't have like (view spoiler)[ the mom having a tattoo under her arm, they had visitation day where the father didn't come, also how they didn't allow the parents to see their son on visitation day, and how the mother knew that Beatrice was divergent and the mom was introduced to Four and she thought she knew him and Four made a snide remark so that she wouldn't push the issue about knowing him. (hide spoiler)] I'm going to continue with the series since I'm going to definitely going to see Insurgent with my daughter and I'm curious as to how its going to be compared to the book, even thought this book and the movie weren't that far apart.

[Emma (M)]

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "I'm near the end of the book and find that there is more in the book than the movie but like my daughter states there is no Theo James in the book :) I think the book has more little things that th..."

The only problem I had was Theo James looked way to old to be playing a teenager. I know they have older actors playing teenagers a lot, but I was really shocked when I read the book and found out the character was only 18 or 19.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

I was surprised at that too. I wasn't expecting the character in the book to be that young. I have to say the movie and the book weren't that far off.

[Emma (M)]

I know, probably one of the closest book to movie adaptations I've seen.