Divergent by Veronica Roth | Book Review

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[book-info]

My Thoughts

Divergent is different.  When I read it last year (yes, I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed it yet!), I was shocked, to say the least.  I mean, I haven’t read anything of the sort before.  And yes, I think Four is hot.  LOL  Okay, now for the real review and enough of my shenanigans.

Divergent is different and it is not something that I have read before.  Obviously, because I do not read dystopian books as a rule and this is the first dystopian book that I read in this dystopian sub-genre.  I have managed to convince my hubby to read this book and review it for this blog (Hubby Reads Divergent).

The book takes place in dystopian Chicago where everything is in shambles and there are five factions.  I will not go into detail about these factions only that each faction has a certain characteristic/trait that they have to uphold.  Once they reach the age of 16, the teens are tested and are able to join a faction (kind of like what the sorting hat does in the Harry Potter series).  The main character, Tris, decides to join a different faction from that of her parents and she chooses Dauntless.  Her brother also chooses a different faction.  There is a war brewing on the horizon and the truths of all the factions are revealed.

The first part of the book basically shows us the rigorous training the Dauntless go through.  This part is gritty and a little bit disturbing to me.  As the main character, Tris plays an underdog who manages to come out on top.  She also struggles through everything: her decision to join a different faction when her father clearly disapproves of her choice, missing her brother and actually visiting him in his faction, overcoming her own fear while trying to hide her being divergent and trying not to care about Four.

The male protagonist Four is interesting.  I immediately gravitated towards him and wanted to know more about it.  I was delighted when his past is revealed.  There are also a few surprises about him.  I love that despite his being divergent, he was able to hide it from everyone.

Tris and Four’s love story is not the main focus of the story.  A fact, which I loved.  I liked that it was a typical love story (my hubby will disagree with this) in that you could feel their attraction for each other and yet try to deny it at the same time.

The book is by no means a page turner.  Although the story sucks you in, it drags on in some parts.  In fact, the last few chapters are the most interesting and action packed.  It is gritty and disturbing at the same time, however, I liked how Ms. Roth weaved in the conspiracies during the war.

I am looking forward to seeing the film and hoping that I will not get disappointed.

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