Monday, February 20, 2012

Book Shelf: Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtueshe 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 areand 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. (Blurb from Goodreads....)


Review:

I’m not even sure there are words to accurately describe the brilliance that is Divergent. Veronica Roth’s debut novel is completely compelling and exciting; a dystopian novel in a world of its own! This action packed and driven tale is full of depth and emotion and will sweep you up into a futuristic world so dark, yet enticing you’ll dread ever having to leave!

Divergent was tipped as one of the best books of last year and as someone only just stumbling into the dystopian genre, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I don’t think I’ve spoken to anyone who has had anything negative to say about Divergent, but I was still hesitant. Now, having finished this, I feel as though I wasted an entire year of my life; a year I could of spend reading Divergent! I’m not even sure I’m able to write a review that does this book justice. It’s incredible, simply incredible. It deserves every single bit of praise it has ever received and then some!

From the very first chapter, the world Veronica Roth has created had my attention. Inexplicitly. From the very beginning Tris’s choices and the decisions she faced had my heart pounding and my adrenaline pumping. This happens to me often with books, but never so early on. Divergent is one of those rare books where the world is so cleverly crafted by the author that it takes on an entire life of its own. Every element, every aspect that churns within it is so compelling and there’s such an aura of importance to every choice each of the characters make. Every moment of action, humour, romance and betrayal have the ability to capture you completely in a way that connects you to the book.

Each and every character within this book is exceptional. Colouring the book with individual personality, drives and fears, every individual Tris meets throughout the story will captivate you with their complicated natures and in some cases, devious intentions. From the friends she makes in the Dauntless faction, to the family she leaves behind, they will all spark your interest and make you think about their motivations.

Divergent really explores the complexity of human nature. In a dystopian society divided into 5 factions, individuals are allowed to choose the faction they will forever belong to at the age of sixteen. Choosing between Erudite (the intelligent), Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Amity (the peaceful) or Dauntless (the brave), initiates will either remain with their family or transfer and begin a new live with their newly chosen faction. The idea itself is so intriguing, but factor in that nothing is as it seems and things really begin to get interesting. Each faction prides itself on one basic human characteristic, but we as human beings are complex creatures. We are never one thing. We cannot be completely selfless—we simply don’t have it in us, nor can we be always brave and never show fear. In human nature no one is black and white and we all have a little bit of everything in us. It’s these small inconsistencies that make us who we are and when the collective focus is on one driving trait above all others the outcome is an individual so warped with this impossible sense of who they are that they simply can’t function in any other way.

Beatrice Prior is from Abnegation. She’s been taught to think, act and believe certain things; to always put others above herself and to be completely selfless. However this isn’t her. She doesn’t fit in with the members of her faction and when the choice comes to choose, Beatrice makes a choice that will change everything she’s ever known. Becoming Tris, she soon learns of the tough initiation process that will either make her a Dauntless or see her faction-less....forever. Plus, Tris isn’t normal....Tris is Divergent and she has to hide this from her newfound friends and faction or loose them regardless.

Tris has to be one of the best characters I’ve ever heard about! Honestly, I’m totally girl-crushing on her right now. Tris is everything I love in a heroine and it was an absolute pleasure reading about her. Being Divergent makes Tris so much more than what people expect her to be and it’s the flaws she holds and her struggle to define who she is that makes her so relatable and fantastic to read about. Her “voice” within the book is a constant tether to all that it means to be human. She hold so many traits that would make her Abnegation, but she wars with the other part of herself that covets being strong and independent; able to take care of herself and to be seen that way by others. There’s so much growth in Tris throughout this book; from the small, miniscule rebels she makes in the beginning, progressing all the way in length throughout the book to the sacrifices she’s willing to make in the end. The choices Tris has to make and the decisions she chooses were a constant reminder to me of the desperate situation she was in where failing simply wasn’t an option, no matter how hard, how meek things became. Tris found the light and the good in moments that helped shape her and I loved watching every moment of that.

When it comes to talking about Four my initial response is to either swoon or drool, perhaps a bit of both, but I’m going to try to coherently talk about why I love this guy. Upon her arrival at the Dauntless camp Tris soon meets Four and I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that he caught my attention from the get go. However as the novel progressed, every action of his made me fall for him a little bit more and here’s why....Four is tough, fierce and an incredible character. As a Dauntless trainer he’s fearsome and slightly frightening, but underneath he’s a man not afraid to face his fears and who wants to be the best person he can be. As the story evolves you quickly learn that Four isn’t who he appears and while I easily pieced together his true identity, it didn’t lessen the fun of watching it all unfold before my very eyes. He’s had a hard life and towards the end of the book it becomes apparent that he still bares the scars of that life and it’s this vulnerability that helps to add to his complexity. How can someone be so brave and strong, yet be so human and you not love them?

For all her inner strength Tris is still exceptionally innocent. Coming from a faction where physical contact and intimacy isn’t broadcast, Tris has never kissed a boy let alone been drawn to one as she finds herself drawn to Four. At first, she doesn’t understand the small signs in the pit of her stomach that signal her attraction to Four. Having never experienced something like that before, it’s sweet watching their relationship develop from trainer and innate to friends and then eventually to something more. The sexual tension between the two of them is electric despite their experience and every touch, kiss and caress holds so much power.

Brimming with action and adventure, Divergent’s masterful tale of love, betrayal and self discovery will leave you begging for more! The explosive ending will have you breathless and wanting to get your hands on the next book, Insurgent as soon as it’s released!

Rating:
Source: I Bought.
Format: Paperback.
Recommend: YES!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy it--you need to own this!
Cover: I'm in two minds about the cover. I see good sides to it, but I also don't think it does the book justice.
Read sequel/continue with series: Hell to the yes!

Buy it here:

buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

16 comments:

  1. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
    YOU READ DIVERGENT!

    "I’m not even sure there are words to accurately describe the brilliance that is Divergent."

    YES! It's one of those books you need to read to believe. I didn't expect to have such a deep emotional connection with this book and its characters, but it's PERFECTION.

    "Each faction prides itself on one basic human characteristic, but we as human beings are complex creatures. We are never one thing. We cannot be completely selfless—we simply don’t have it in us, nor can we be always brave and never show fear. In human nature no one is black and white and we all have a little bit of everything in us. It’s these small inconsistencies that make us who we are and when the collective focus is on one driving trait above all others the outcome is an individual so warped with this impossible sense of who they are that they simply can’t function in any other way."

    Oh my goodness, yes yes yes! EXACTLY! This is what I loved so SO much about it! I LOVED that Roth created a world of absolutes so she could poke holes in it and pull it to pieces and show how absolutely wrong absolutism is.

    OH MY GOODNESS: "Tris so much more than what people expect her to be and it’s the flaws she holds and her struggle to define who she is that makes her so relatable and fantastic to read about." YES! Tris is just... OK, we rave and rave and rave about her, but it's because she's perfect. She's what every single amazing protaganist SHOULD be. Brave, intelligent, layered and... Seriously, I'm LITERALLY getting chills.

    "Her “voice” within the book is a constant tether to all that it means to be human."
    *sigh* ohhhh yes. Err... I'm gonna stop quoting bits of your review now.

    Oh goodness, Rachel, your review is perfection. What you said about Four? You've described him perfectly. He's about so much than a drool-worthy love-interest. He's as layered and interesting as Tris herself. It's all about WHO he is... and who he is, like Tris, isn't perfection... but it's his imperfections (and Tris') that make him perfect.

    Just... PERFECT! I ADORED YOUR REVIEW. EVERY. BLEEDING. WORD.
    ♥♥♥

    Err, so sorry for massive comment... please don't hate me *runs away*

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    1. First of all Sarah....your comment....SQUEEEEE! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥!! I loved reading it, it was so amazing!! You're such a sweetie!! <3

      Oh, yes! Yes, yes! I put off reading Divergent, (and The Hunger Games as well you know) for a long time simply because I thought I wouldn't like it. Now, I can honestly say Divergent is on my favorites list. I was off raving to my closest friend on Goodreads straight away. Begging her to read it. LOL!

      I think Roth was really clever in the way she shaped her world. As you said, she poked holes in it in such a way that it forces you to consider what being human is about, even though it's a YA fiction novel. Which I thought was brilliant on her part!

      Right! I never understood why people raves on about Tris so much, especially considering this is the first book and we don't have an entire series to have gotten to know her yet. Tris is so well developed. Yet she continues to grow. She's everything we are as people; a complex mix of everything and when you find that in a book it's so much easier to enjoy the tale because it feels real!

      Lmao! Quote all you want, hehe. This was actually a harder review for me to write than some of my others, simply because I had so much to say and I wanted to say it right. I wanted to say what I felt and I hope I did the book justice :)

      Exactly! Couldn't have put it better myself! Everything you said about Four is utterly correct. We have so many male leads who a strong and brave, but have fears too, yet we rarely see them confront them the way Four does.

      THANK. YOU. SO. MUCH. YOU. BEAUTIFUL. WOMAN! You made my day!! <3

      LOL! I could never hate you *hugs*

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    2. EEE! Thank you :D

      I did EXACTLY the same. I totally put off reading it because, yeah... I just didn't think I'd like it for some reason. I mean, I think I was like 'eh. The cover looks action-oriented. Not my thing.' which is SO insane, because I LOVE that cover now :S

      It SO deserves all the accolades it's garnered. It's one of my favorites, too!

      AND YES! Tris! She's... EXACTLY. Such a well developed character. She's like an onion. SO MANY LAYERS, AND SHE MAKES ME CRY! (you know, because she's so overwhelmingly awesome).

      Oh, I so know what you mean about wanting to say so much, but Rachel, seriously, your review was PERFECT. SO. SO. PERFECT. You took my thoughts on the book and worded them exactly how I couldn't. It was so eloquent and perfect, and it's so hard to do a book this good justice, but you did! EEE!

      *hugs back*
      :D

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    3. Neither did I. I thought I'd be bored seeing as I wasn't a fan of dystopian novels until recently. Instead I lived it and I'm dying for the next book! Kinda glad I waited in part though cos it means that the wait for Insurgent isn't as long, lol.

      It really does!!

      Haha! Yes, like an onion. There's so much depth to her--gotta love that girl!

      Aw, I'm touched you think that :D I'm glad what I wrote made sense and wasn't just crazy gibberish like it sometimes seemed when I was writing it. Haha.

      <3

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  2. wow thats the longest review Ive ever seen, and every sentence was just pure awesomeness. GReat review, and I am really glad you enjoyed this book! One of my fave books ever.

    ✿FICBOOKREVIEWS✿

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    1. Wow!! I really didn't realize it was so long until you pointed that out. Sheesh this is probably my longest review ever, lol.
      Thanks! <3

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  3. I can't write a comment as long as Sarah but all I CAN SAY IS AWESOME REVIEW, Rachel! I am so SPEECHLESS after reading your review because it's SO AWESOME, Well-thought, detailed and I can feel your heart and soul in the review!! <3 FOUR IS AAAAAAA..JUST SO SWOON-WORTHY!!! <3 LOVE LOVE HIM. SO glad you enjoyed it, Rachel!!! I can't wait to read Insurgent!

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    1. Aw, thank you Celine <3 Me either! I'm gonna get it as soon as possible. So excited for it!!

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  4. Awesome review Rachel! I loved, loved, loved Divergent. Second best book I have read this year. Four is just beyond sexilicious. And I agree with Sarah - you just can't understand the ABSOLUTE AWESOMENESS until you read it for yourself.

    I had problems putting together a coherent review too. It's so hard to describe this book without it turning into one big gush-fest.

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  5. One of my fave books I've read this year so far. Very true. I never understood the brilliance of this book until I read it. Now I do.

    Lol. I know what you mean Heather. My review is a lot of gushing. Hard not to do with this book!

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  6. Damn, Rachel! I now completely understand why Sarah responded to your review with a review-length comment of her own LOL. Seriously, this is AMAZING and you have superbly captured everything that makes this book the such a masterpiece. The characters, the worldbuilding and all the innumerable layers Veronica has so carefully structured into the plot. Tris and Four... just, wow. I loved these as both indiviuals and the sweet, strong bond they share together!

    The last 1/4 especially had me looking like this --> :O My jaw forget how to close and I was just flicking faster, faster, faster through the pages!! VERONICA ROTH IS FREAKING GENIUS! And oh gosh. I love the scene where Four takes Tris into his fear landscape... how he allows her to see his vulnerabitilies and how she stands up for him and OH MY GOD I WANT TO GO REREAD!!

    Can I hear a 'GIVE ME INSURGENT NOW, #%^$%^&!". LOVE YOUR REVIEW! <3

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    1. Aw, thanks Brods. <3

      Ditto! I couldn't put it down---I just HAD to know what would happen next the entire time I was reading, but especially towards the end! YES!! That was one of my fave parts too! It really showed us his vulnerabilities when he shared that with Tris while also showing us how strong she could be without actually thinking about it. It sure did alter their relationship in my mind from then on out.

      Ha! GIVE. ME. INSURGENT!!! Noooowww!
      Thanks babe!! <3 <3

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  7. I LOVED, LOVED, LOOOOOOOOVED this book! YES it was one of the best of 2011, and NO I also have not seen or heard a single negative review yet. Have you seen any of the teasers from INSURGENT? Total squeeeeeeness! Can't wait!

    And what a superb review you wrote :-)

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    1. Only one on Goodreads from someone's review although mentioning it makes me wanna chase them up. Think I will do that actually.

      Thanks :)

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Hi everyone!

Thanks so much for leaving a comment at The Rest Is Still Unwritten! I read each and every comment, even if I don't reply to them all and appreciate your interest in my blog.

Hope you have a great day and Happy Reading!
~Rachel
xoxo