Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

 

Book: Divergent  by Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent #1
Pages: 487
Genre: Young Adult / Dystopian
Buy A Copy: Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Available Formats: Ebook / Hardcover
Publication Date: May 3rd, 2011
How Did I Get This Book: From Publisher for Review
Preview Book: Preview on Google Books
Description: 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.

There have been so many wonderful young-adult-dystopians lately, and Divergent is easily one of the best.  Honestly, I have no idea how I am going to review this one, because it is simply off the charts in pure awesomeness. The story has everything you could ever want in a book; adventure, mystery, conspiracy, romance, excitement and drama.  The characters are all interesting and incredibly dynamic; especially Beatrice. 

The book is seen through Beatrice’s perspective and let me just say, she is an incredible narrator. She is a girl who is trying to desperately trying to define herself; but much to her dismay she seems to live in the grey area. She feels she is both brave and cowardly; strong and weak; accepted and targeted.  She tries to be strong, but her strength sometimes translates into brutality, which frightens her.  Long story short, she doesn’t know exactly what she is, or what she wants to be.

The storyline is in a word – incredible. I was so drawn into Roth’s insane, frightening and rather disturbing world, that I read through the entire book in one sitting. Divergent is one of those amazing books that refuses to be read slowly, it demands to be devoured. I am going to have to read it again, because I flew through it so quickly, that I know I missed things. It just could not be helped. It is that good; I simply could not sit and soak it all in, I just had to see what happened next.

Honestly, I am going to stop here, because no matter what I say, I cannot do this book justice. I actually did not want to review it, because what  do you say about a book like this?  Hopefully you get something out of this incoherent rambling; hopefully you run out to your local bookstore and buy Divergent as soon as possible. I promise you, you will not be disappointed. If you enjoy reading in the slightest, you will enjoy Divergent. It’s romantic, exciting, provoking, edgy and simply brilliant. All I know is that I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel. 

Favorite Quotes

"What do I believe? I do not know; I do not know; I do not know."

"His absence will haunt their hallways, and he will be a space they can't fill. And then time will pass, and the hole will be gone, like when an organ is removed and the body's fluids flow into the space it leaves. Humans can't tolerate emptiness for long."

"It must require bravery to be honest all the time."

"There is power in controlling something that can do so much damage - in controlling something, period."

"Then I realize what it is. It's him. Something about him makes me feel like I am about to fall. Or turn to liquid. Or burst into flames."

"I believe in ordinary acts of bravery; in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another."

"I hear my heartbeat. I have been looking at him too long, but then, he has been looking back, and I feel like we are both trying to say something the other can't hear, though I could be imagining it. Too long - and now even longer, my heart even louder, his tranquil eyes swallowing me whole."

"I stare at him. I feel my heartbeat everywhere, even in my toes. I feel like doing something bold, but I could just as easily walk away. I am not sure which option is smarter, or better. I am not sure that I care."

"He pulls me over the railing and against his chest, gathering me into his arms, easing an arm under my knees. I press my face into his shoulder, and there is a sudden, hollow silence."

"He gives me a conflicted look and touches his lips to my forehead, right between my eyebrows. I close my eyes. I don't understand this, whatever it is. But I don't want to ruin it, so I say nothing. He  doesn't move; he just stays there with his mouth pressed to my skin, and I stay there with my hands on his waist, for a long time."

"We kiss again and this time, it feels familiar. I know exactly how we fit together, his arm around my waist, my hands on his chest, the pressure of his lips on mine. We have each other memorized."

"People tend to overestimate my character," I say quietly. "They think that because I'm small, or a girl, or a Stiff, I can't possibly be cruel. But they're wrong."