11 Reasons why you should read “Divergent” by Veronica Roth
Author:
Book: Divergent
Release: May 3, 2011
Series: Divergent Trilogy 1
Source: Personal Library
Purchase: – Book Depository
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.
1) Amazing world building. In order to really connect with a place it’s important to understand the complexity of it. This was done wonderfully. I jumped right in and the story made sense to me exactly when I needed it to.
2) Phenomenal Characters. The lead character is a young girl that I instantly felt like I knew and could relate with. She is struggling between how she was raised to act and how she feels-and those are universal emotions that everyone has dealt with at some point. But, she isn’t the only character we see grow. Throughout the entire book we see how various feelings (jealousy, depression, fear, greed, arrogance) and circumstances (fights, bullying, separation from loved ones) impact the way we act and that if one is truly brave, they learn from both the good and the bad.
3) Really awesome setting of Dystopian Chicago. From Navy Pier to Sears Tower to the railways, I love Chicago;).
4) A unique concept of factions-which yeah, technically could be part of the world building but it felt like they were their own characters to some extent. In my opinion the factions represent the typical stereotypes that we place on people. I found the factions to be metaphors for stiff and frigid religious conservatives, brainy know it all liberals, tough tattooed alternatives, hippy tree huggers, and brash and blunt loud mouths. It demonstrated how we cannot judge people based on perception alone, because there is more than meets the eye in every faction.
5) The sweet and seemingly honest relationship the heroine begins to have with a boy she meets. Their interactions and the mystery made me feel like a teenager again wanting to analyze every little detail and pondering the boys motives right along with the lead character.
6) Overcoming fears and making tough decisions. This is a really inspiring message of determining what our fears stand for and confronting them and also of how sometimes we have to make really hard choices that we won’t like doing. Great message for Young and Old adults alike;)
7)The parents of the heroine in this book were incredible. I felt like I knew them, and could respect them…especially by the end of the book.
8) The mystery. I loved that “sitting on the edge of your seat” anticipation I had while reading and piecing together the mystery.
9) The satisfying ending. Although the book left some details left unsolved, it ends at a place where you wont be pulling your hair out.
10) The fact that this is a debut book from a young author is so impressive. I was blown away!
11) NO LOVE TRIANGLES…nuf said;)
There you have it folks. This is the best book I have read this year and that speaks volumes because there have been so many wonderful books released so far in 2011. I read the book, then went straight to audible and purchased the audio version and have listened every day since I downloaded it- What can I say? I absolutely LOVE this book!
Do yourself a favor and read DIVERGENT immediately!
Agree on all those points about the book. I love it too.
Thanks Julie! I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVED this book! You were so lucky to have been able to read it before me!
I picked this book up today at the shops and put it back. Obviously I shouldn't have…..
I'm so excited just from your excitement! Will have to pick this up ASAP!
@Strange Candy Reviews- If you enjoy dystopian fiction than this is a must read. I know that everyone will have a different opinion, but I feel as passionate about Divergent as I did The Hunger Games (if that tells you anything). This book is more about discovering ones full potential and human nature. It blew me away!
I'm reading this right now! I'm not at the ending yet, but I agree with your other reasons.
Medeia- I LOVED this book! It continues to get better! Let me know what you think once you have finished! :)
1. It's a book! (which should be reason enough to read anything in my opinion)
2. It's supposed to be a really great book!
3. All the authors that are popular right now are raving about it!
4. The Facebook quiz is eerily accurate.
:) Hope that helps!
LOL! Very clever comment Amber:)
Lists are fun!
Reason number four is so true and the divergent are the few people who are outside of the stereotypical boxes, but are being forced to stay in them or die.
I'm in love with this book! LOVEloveLOVEloveLOVEloveLOVEloveLOVE!
I have given this book to firends now and we play "What faction would this person be in?…" I am Divergent of course;)
[...] to mention the detail that there is NO LOVE TRIANGLE in this book…thats right, none! (Read my unconventional review of Divergent)There were many more that I could have added, but some of the other dolls already selected those and [...]