I'm starting my reviews with Divergent by Veronica Roth, because I think it's one of the best books I've read in recent memory. I've read it several times over the past few months and am on the edge of my seat for the sequel.
From Goodreads:
“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.
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.”
This is actually the first young adult dystopian novel I read, and it's been hard to live up to it since. I sat down and read this book in a day, barely able to tear myself away for food and bathroom breaks.
The first thing that really drew me in about this book was the main character, Beatrice (later renaming herself Tris), which you have to admit is a pretty good thing to draw you to a book. She is simply a great, but realistically flawed, character. You can related to her, as well as admire her. She is brave without forcing it, and selfless without realizing it. There are little things that she does that really illustrates this, and Veronica Roth shows you her character rather than telling you.
The side characters are great as well. Especially Four. Love him. His and Tris's relationship grows slowly and makes more and more sense as you learn about them and their pasts. There are other characters that will make you grit your teeth, and you'll want to reach through the pages and smack them.
The world the author sets up within the book is unique, and fascinating. The different factions, and how extreme they take their dedication to whatever characteristic they are devoting themselves to and the little things such as the choosing ceremony, the governance of the society, etc are all interesting.
Ultimately what I took from the book was the message that it doesn't work to dedicate yourself to one characteristic to the exclusion of all others. Being selfless is brave, standing up for someone weaker than yourself is courageous and it isn't cowardly to put others needs before your own.
Divergent at Amazon.com
