Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth -> Restarting July 21st, 2022

[Jackie]

Elizabeth and Hannah will be reading the series. To join, comment below. :)

[Hanna]

This is, what I am assuming basically a read at your own pace, I am on book 2 (Insurgent). I believe Elizabeth is on book 1 (Divergent) I am suggesting, that spoilers be hidden. :)

[Elizabeth Emily, Ghost Mod]

Yep that's fine and I'll be starting the first book at some point this week:)

[Jackie]

Yes, read at your own pace and hide spoilers. I will add that later.

[Hanna]

Ahhh so many exciting things are starting to happen in the second book, but I can't talk about them yet! All I can say is OMG!!!

[Hanna]

I wish you were on the second book I am so confused and I think I missed something but I don't want to backtrack! lol

[Hanna]

Did anyone start the second book yet? I stopped reading it, I haven't picked it back up yet.

[Alaina]

***************************************************************
***************************************************************

RESTARTING OCTOBER 1ST, 2018

*******************************************************************
*******************************************************************

[Alaina]

About the book:
"In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, 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 alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating 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 unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

[Brittany]

Started this morning and so far am 13% though, but I have a few things I'd like to say about it and will hide because it MAY contain spoilers. (view spoiler)[ So far I am finding this book really interesting. I am excited to learn about other factions. I don't really like that once they choose a faction if it is different than the one they are from, they basically are disowned and they no longer see their family. Are they like not going to see each other ever? Like will she not get to see her brother again even though he is likely to become a teacher or a researcher?? That's the only thing that really bothered me. I am now curious on what faction I'd be in... Haha (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

50% (view spoiler)[ Dauntless is a ruthless faction. I have no idea why someone would choose to go there. There is no way I would want to train as hard as they do and then potentially not even be able to get initiated. Soo people are starting to find out Tris is Divergent. I wonder what happens to them if they actually get killed or if they are just sent off somewhere else and if there are so many of them why didn't the government just create a faction for them?? Probably because they would be better than everyone else. (hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

Going to join in this evening!

[Brittany]

75%: I have freaking flown though this book and I can't stop. (view spoiler)[ I feel like this is going to be a pretty basic book, but that doesn't stop me from binge reading it. I LOVE Four he is so sweet! I am excited to see how they are going to get word to their families about the supposed war. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

100%: I binge read this book today and feel like it was over-hyped. I did like it but it wasn't the best book I've ever read. I am excited to read the next book because I want to know what happens next. (view spoiler)[ I don't like how once you choose a faction you basically don't associate with other ones or get to see your family again. I was so excited with Tris was able to see her parents again and then they freaking died.. I am so glad she was able to find Tobias though. I wonder what happened to her other friends from Dauntless. (view spoiler)[ Stay tuned as I read the next book! (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

38%... (view spoiler)[
Is it always this hard to relate to Tris?

And also, the fight with Molly, I'm cringing. We're supposed to not like Molly, but WTF TRIS kicking her while she's down until she's bloody with some kind of busted nose situation? I just don't understand, I don't think I would like anyone in Dauntless.

Pfft... I wanna go see more Erudites, see what they are doing.
(hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

Brittany wrote: "
100%: I binge read this book today and feel like it was over-hyped. I did like it but it wasn't the best book I've ever read. I am excited to read the next book becau..."

(view spoiler)[ The "faction over blood" thing is really bothering me. It fits well into the dystopian ideology, but it's unsettling. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

25%: So far, I don't really think anything really interesting has happened. (view spoiler)[ Tris and Tobias have been taken to the Candor HQ and are getting injected with truth serum, though they didn't really do anything so I have no idea what will happen after. Will Candor fight against Erudite? Is Christina going to be mad if and when she finds out about Tris killing Will or is she going to accept it and say it was of self-defense. And speaking of why in the world did she even KILL Will? She could have easily shot him somewhere else and he probably would have backed off. (hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

68%... (view spoiler)[ Four invites Tris to his fear landscape. That's so personal!!!! This part of the book develops all of the emotions for Four. And most importantly, we get to see the truth about Four's father, an Abnegation leader. Not very selfless at all.

(hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

81%
(view spoiler)[
"You were an obstacle in my Fear Landscape"
Put that shit on a Hallmark card!! ♥

(hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

50% (view spoiler)[ I seriously don't understand why Tobias and Tris are so angry with each other for not telling the other important things. Like they both held onto them, so really who is to blame? The Candor turned on them, as I assumed would happen. Now they are back at the Dauntless HQ and I have no idea what they plan to do to fix this. But they did kill Eric, and seriously, he deserved it. (hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

100%
(view spoiler)[
Struggling between saying this book is "Not Bad" and "It's good". It's just not fantastic... But it's good.

UGH! These are the hardest books to review.
Not the biggest fan of Tris.
Love Four.
Also annoyed that Four is more interesting.

Just make the book about him please. Thanks!

(hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

20%...
(view spoiler)[
I really enjoyed peace-serum Tris. She's so nice and funny.
Laughed so much at her thinking about how it would have been nicer to just rub Peter's arm rather than try to kill him... And just wants to kiss Four. That sounds like a nice book. :D

BUT that didn't last long.... lol
(hide spoiler)]

34%
(view spoiler)[
Alright now we're talking, Tris and Four are confirmed divergent!
And it appears to be genetic...
NEED.MORE.INFO.

(hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

73%: (view spoiler)[ CALEB HOW COULD YOU!!!??? (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Patty wrote: "
20%...

I really enjoyed peace-serum Tris. She's so nice and funny.
Laughed so much at her thinking about how it would have been nicer to just rub Peter's arm rathe..."

SAMEEEEEEEEE I thought she was hilarious on the peace serum

[Patty]

Brittany wrote: "Patty wrote: "
20%...

I really enjoyed peace-serum Tris. She's so nice and funny.
Laughed so much at her thinking about how it would have been nicer to just rub Pet..."

It was so great hahaha!

[Brittany]

100%: I liked this book a lot more than the first book! I was so impressed with the ending and in turn am so excited to start the next book. I thought Tris was a lot more relatable in this one than she was in the last one, or maybe she is just growing on me? (view spoiler)[ I was really upset that basically the entire book Tris and Tobias were arguing. Finally Christina was able to forgive Tris and that made me happy because I was really worried their friendship would be ruined after she shot Will. Also WHO KNEW that the factionless would turn against everyone in the end. I certainly did. I wonder what is going to happen now that they know why they have been secluded from civilization (hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

Just finished as well!!

I agree, this one is better. More is happening. Tris grows on you more. I'm curious if she's been making the right choice in the people she's trusted... And I don't know if I'll be able to forgive Caleb.

I wonder what happens with that next.

[Aly]

25% (view spoiler)[ I've read this before, but I forgot a lot of the characters like Will and Al. They're cute, especially Al, who probably should have chosen Amity since he's so peaceful. Tris needs to train a lot so she can kick Peter's ass. I hate him ugh. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

50% (view spoiler)[ I wish someone would kill Peter for real. He stabbed Edward in the eye because he couldn't handle someone being better than him. Ugh he disgusts me. I like that we've gotten to the simulations now. That's the fun part. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

75% (view spoiler)[ I was so mad at Al that he hurt Tris and then he expects her to forgove him when she could have died. And then he killed himself which is horrible. So many things are happening. At least Tris and Four are together ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

100% (view spoiler)[ I'm sad Tris's parents both died and mad that Peter is still alive when Will is dead. At least they stopped the simulation, but now things are pretty awful. Got to read book 2 now! (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

25%: (view spoiler)[ Okay, so now we are REALLY getting into it. They are not the only city that has been sectioned off to become a better population They are now learning about why they were. This is really really interesting to me. I also find it interesting that the books up until now have never mentioned their city is Chicago. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

50%: (view spoiler)[ Why is literally everyone rebelling?? (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

75%: (view spoiler)[ It doesn't seem like Tris and Tobias are going to break up anymore which is good. I find it really sad that Tobias blames himself for Uriah's death, but it is nice that he is willing to tell his family. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Chapters 52-54: (view spoiler)[ CRYING. OH MY GOSH (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

100%: (view spoiler)[Okay, so I loved that ending. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

The Transfer: (view spoiler)[ Okay, it is really great to read from Tobias' point of view. There was also a note from the author stating the originally wanted the whole Divergent series to be about Tobias but couldn't quite get passed page 30. As I am reading this, I love getting to know Tobias better and watching him become the man we met in Divergent (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

The Initiate: (view spoiler)[ I really liked this story because it showed more into Abnegation customs that I feel the series doesn't discuss that often. Also still don't understand why Dauntless cheer for people who have committed suicide. Also why in the final examination are they aware, while in training they are not?? (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ahhh I need to dive into this series!! I have them all on my kindle

[Brittany]

The Son: (view spoiler)[ This was a cute story. I didn't find it super entertaining though. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

The Traitor:(view spoiler)[ Okay, the chapter that talks about Al's suicide is SO FREAKING SAD. Poor Four! (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Alaina wrote: "Ahhh I need to dive into this series!! I have them all on my kindle"

UGH! Yes they were sooo good!!

[Lane]

25% (view spoiler)[ No, not Tory! She's been there the whole time trying to protect them :( And I feel like the characters didn't have as big of a reaction as I would expect for a character that saved the MC's whole life like three pages into the whole series. (hide spoiler)]
50% (view spoiler)[ Kinda nuts that Four isn't divergent! And Tris is right, I don't trust Nita at all. And Four is dumb for thinking it's just jealousy. Tris is pretty annoying but she's never really been jealous. (hide spoiler)]
75% (view spoiler)[ I really hope Caleb didn't volunteer just for forgiveness. That's not how Tris should lose the last member of her family, no matter how mad she is at him. (hide spoiler)]
Finished (view spoiler)[ Who the heck kills their MC?! Ohmygod I'm in actual shock. I mean I know everyone said it was a suicide mission, and of course I knew Tris would do it herself, but I really expected her to get out of it. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

Chapters 1-13
(view spoiler)[Chapter 1 - I thought the test was really weird, but I guess that is the point. It needed to be something that was unexpected to see how the test takers react.

Chapter 6 - That is a tough decision to have to make at 16. Some teenagers have to choose between leaving their family behind and going to a faction that is better suited for their personality, or stay with their family, but be forced into a lifestyle that isn’t right for them. Also, failing initiation means you become factionless. That’s a lot of pressure...

Chapter 12 - I like how Tris is learning how to use her small physique and her mind to her advantage. You don’t necessarily have to be the biggest and strongest to succeed in the Dauntless faction. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

Chapters 14-20
(view spoiler)[Chapter 14 - Peter is such a jerk. I really want him to get kicked out of Dauntless, or at least come to respect Tris.

Chapter 16 - Again, Peter and his friends are awful. I can’t believe they would do that to Edward!

Chapter 20 - Tris has been getting really lucky with people covering her for being Divergent. She probably wouldn’t still be alive if those people weren’t deleting or lying about her test results. (hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

I'm a bitter bitter person over this book... It takes far too much suspension of disbelief for me to enjoy. At least give Tris laser beams for eyes or something if we're going this far....

30%
(view spoiler)[
It's nice, I guess. But it's kind of strange that Tobias gets his family back in this book. His mother and his brother. He's not that happy about it either. Just kind of unsure about it all.
And he's really letting Tris have it... They are both so stubborn and angry. I'm kind of just annoyed at the betrayals . Like get some couples counseling cause I'm bored with it!
(hide spoiler)]

40%
(view spoiler)[
Okay. I'm tryinggggg to not get annoyed by this plot. But it's not good science... and I'm trying to just ignore it! But I don't like eugenics being used as a plot line when the hero (or possibly the author) is so ignorant. First of all, I have to get over the fact that the idea that you can separate genes of personality and then modify humans that is soooooo much more of a complicated topic based on what we do know about genetics. It's making me crazy. But okay. These scientists are just really smart, and they found a way to do it without removing vital organs or limbs from our bodies. Great.

But the idea that you could throw a bunch of DNA stripped of it's ability to feel selfish or angry, and throw that into a community and expect them to breed and give you back those genes you removed-- the Divergent. NO. Nope. Sorry, not how biology works.

(hide spoiler)]

60%
(view spoiler)[
Erase everyone's memory? That's the solution??
I'm over it.. Like the bad guys already have been erasing people's memories.
I think they should have built a time machine. That makes more sense than erasing memories of people WHO HAVE BEEN GENETICALLY MODIFIED AND CANNOT FIX THEIR GENES.

I haven't gotten to the end. I know Tris dies.
I really don't care...

(hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Patty wrote: "

I'm a bitter bitter person over this book... It takes far too much suspension of disbelief for me to enjoy. At least give Tris laser beams for eyes or something if w..."

[Marissa]

Chapters 21-28
(view spoiler)[Chapter 21 - I am so upset that Al did that. I really liked him despite not being a good fit for Dauntless. I thought he was really nice, and then he goes ahead and does this with Peter…

Chapter 24 - I feel bad for Al, but he made a lot of bad choices since the Choosing Ceremony. He was obviously not a good fit for Dauntless. He became so desperate to rank higher that he helped Peter hurt Tris. I am sad that he died, but he was not a very redeemable character in my mind.

Chapter 27 - I know it is supposed to be, but the fear landscape just sounds horrible. Especially since it is tailored to your own fears. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

Chapters 29-End
(view spoiler)[Chapter 29 - I am actually really curious as to what Tris’s fear landscape is going to be. We have seen various things that scare her, but I am not sure if there are more than that.

Chapter 31 - Tris and Tobias are so cute! They are honestly one of my favorite YA couples.

Chapter 33 - Will the factions know who is behind this Dauntless attack or will they assume that it was just the Dauntless acting on their own accord? I hope the Erudites in charge of this attack (and the Dauntless who are actually willingly helping them) on Abnegation gets what they deserve.

Chapter 37 - This was a great chapter. I liked all the action and the emotion in it. It is really sad that Tris lost both of her parents one after another, though.
(hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

OKAY I FINALLY READ A BOOK! Thank god for being sick? Right?

Chapter 2: (view spoiler)[lowkey would've snuggled the shit out of the dog because I remember that puppy was freaking adorable in the movie. is snuggling an option? it should be! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 8: (view spoiler)[...four is so god damn swoon-worthy. Is it bad that I want to watch the movie so I can see that beautiful man again? Also, I love Tris and Christina's friendship. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 20: (view spoiler)[because I didn't mention it yet.. drunk four is adorable. I also really like seeing her take on these "challenges" but I also know that four is suspicious of her and maybe he's divergent as well?? (hide spoiler)]
Finished: (view spoiler)[OH SHIT! That whole fight scene was intense. Even though I've read this series before and watched the movie.. that scene between my two beautiful babies always tears my heart. 'CAUSE what if he didn't come out of the trance and he did shoot her?? That's a big what if that always freaks me out.. cause then my ship would be over... and now I need the second book STAT! (hide spoiler)]