Paperback: 496 pages Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks (3 May 2011) Genre: Dystopian Source: Publishers
My Thoughts - Oh my gosh.... I am pretty speechless right now. I mean this book is just incredible! I am struggling to find the words to explain its awesomeness GAH! Since I freakishly enough struggle to review books that I love this will be a tough one, but here I go!
Sixteen year old Beatrice loves and is dedicated to her family. She more than readily conforms to the rules that abide to her fraction. Being Abnegation (the selfless) she has always known that she doesn't really belong. Whilst others from her fraction seem to not even think twice before being selfless, for her it's a chore almost. It has been long weighing on her shoulders, and the fact that she feels this way, so selfish, goes against everything she believes in. Worse yet, now that she has turned sixteen Choosing Day is near where she will have to choose which fraction she belongs to, if she does not choose her own, her family will disown her.
Things only get more complicated when her brother Caleb starts acting a little strange which leads her to the thought - did she ever really know him at all?
Being Abnegation her fraction focuses on blending in. To ensure this they wear their hair simply in a bun, wear the colour grey, do not look in mirrors, and think about others before themselves. These things are implemented to hinder; jealously, vanity, and selfishness. This is why their fraction represents Selfless. And our dear MC is having a bit of a tough time with it.
Oh she's a good girl trust me. She still has the typical mind-set of her fraction, but she feels guilty because she is not "as" selfless as the others.
I had no idea that Divergent would blow me away the way it did. The thing that I loved about Divergent was it's clear pace; not too fast and not too slow. This gave me the opportunity to take my time with it and in doing so I was able to savour each page. What I loved even more? Is how unconventional the MC is. Tris is not pretty. I never thought this would be so refreshing to me, but gosh it was! We focus so much on the male/female being great looking that once the author confirmed that she wasn't pretty, and I'm not talking about "but" she had amazing eyes, or such a physical feature that made her striking, no. The author plain out said it. Tris is not pretty. I felt like standing up and giving the author a big "THANK YOU" because you have to admire the author for doing something so out for the norm. But damn is Tris one hell of a heroine.
I have to ask you something Tris.
I kind of like have been meaning to ask you this for like a month now.
I want your determination, and I want your strength.
I want your motivation and courage.
Could you share some, pretty please? I have chocolate...
No really, I do!
Throwing the chocolate aside for a second I have to say what makes her so admirable is how regardless of being brought up in this tight circle, and with these specific beliefs - she is probably the first to question herself and who she really is. She thinks outside the norm according to her society. That's not something that you can say for a lot of protagonists.
When Choosing Day arrives her father is confident that his son and daughter will choose them. Her mother it seems knowingly expects more. On that note I need to throw in how much I adored her mother. How much I admire that woman. I mean what an incredible lady, such a pillar of strength. No seriously.
This is the thing with Tris, she is incredibly naive. It's what makes it hard for the reader when that naivety slips away once she stars to go through the rigorous training with the Dauntless. Oh wow, and how rigorous it is.
Now she is a Dauntless, an Abnegation transferring to Dauntless is almost unheard. It's a HUGE step and the two couldn't be more different. In fact, it could be described as a dangerous change. Whereas she has been brought up to be selfless and kind, dauntless live for the thrill. They; fight, hurt others, jump of cliffs and trains, live life to the absolute extreme on the verge of life threatening, and even kill. She couldn't have crossed a wider side of the spectrum, and she is soon to find out that being Dauntless is no easy ride.
As soon as you choose a fraction you have to pass the initiation process. In the case of choosing to be a Dauntless it holds the initiation process that challenges you the most physically, mentally and psychologically. Many will quit from the get-go. If you are going to choose Dauntless then be prepared for it to be a matter between life and death. Jumping from trains - to roofs is just the beginning of worse to come. It is clear that some will not make it. There's no time for regrets though. This is what she chose; there is no going back for Tris now.
I couldn't put it down, I just couldn't. Not one single thing could pry me away from the book. Every. Single. Character. Held their own. That is very rare which is what made this book what it is. Amazing. I can not believe that a debut author wrote this book because she is one talented woman!
Beatrice now named Tris is slowly changing. She is no longer the girl that keeps her head down and wears loose clothing. With her initiation process becoming more demanding and dangerous day by day she has to step up and keep up or she will be let go. That is not an option. If you don't pass the initiation process you become fraction less, you are no one. An outcast. And that is not an option.
There is no love triangle. Yet the romantic aspect of the book is just as enticing. I am not going to say names. I want you to read the book and soak it all in for yourself.
Tris knows she is different that is clear, but it's something she is told she must keep secret or it could ruin her. She can't understand what being a Divergent means and why she has to hide it. The more time she spends among the Dauntless the more it starts to become clear that something is amiss, and it might have to do specifically with what she is.
Through entering this fraction she meets fellow initiates and friends; Al, Will and Christina as well as enemies; Peter, Molly and Del.
Part of the initiation is training. This is where he gets most of his fun from.
Sparring against each other is no easy task. Eric decides the one to be knocked out cold is the winner. There is lot of bone breaking, blood sputtering and dirty tactics. Opponents are not chosen according to size or strength. It doesn't matter if you are a boy with a small build or a girl. As a girl you will fight against a boy, regardless of him being stronger. The boy with the smaller build will at some point face a much bigger boy. Training is not about being fair, it's far from fair. It's a jaw breaker. Pun intended. For a girl Like Tris who has been sheltered all her life, never fought or even touched a boy, you can only imagine how the sudden change of environment and expectations can affect her.
Surprisingly she fits in too well almost. You don't want to get too good though, it makes you stand out, once you stand out the wrong people might notice you, and then. You’re gone.
Four was just *sighs* amazing. It wasn't about his good looks, but purely his personality. He is guarded and far from kind. But he is strong and even caring if he opens up enough. He is the one person who as the reader you find yourself trusting. And in this book that is a big deal. It becomes clear to Tris as time goes by, regardless if these people have now become her friends. They will all do anything and everything it takes to be number one. Even if it means getting rid of one another.
This is why I have fallen in love with Dystopia. Every time I read a Dystopian novel it brings something new to the table, it talks about a subject which leaves me deep in thought and makes me questions things. Divergent might just be the best Dystopian book I have read to date. What makes the book so fantastic in my opinion is how it makes you analyse yourself as a person. The things that you’re afraid of or you believe are your greatest strengths. Tris is not your typical MC and the things she goes through are incredibly difficult at times. You'll find yourself questioning what you would do when she has a choice to make. There's no doubt that Divergent is a definite highlight for me this year. A must read.
Don't believe me? Let the rating speak for itself.
Posts
