I just uploaded a video review of Divergent on YouTube, 11 months after posting my written review. Since I didn't think it was necessary to delete the old one, or post a new review - I have combined the two. So here is review 1.0 and 2.0 of Divergent by Veronica Roth.
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Released: May 3, 2011
Series: Divergent Trilogy [Book One]
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 496
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Book Depository (free shipping) | Amazon
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 sometime fascination, 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.
2.0 (July 2012)
1.0 (August 2011)
I will just come out and say it: I
loved Divergent. Veronica Roth has done a magnificent job at creating the dystopian Chicago, her characters and the plot. Even the cover is beautiful - that is what drew me into the world to start off with. The flame design in particular is just amazing, symbolically for the story as well as aesthetically. I would wholeheartedly recommend this novel to anyone I came across. Just
AMAZING!
I only had one thing that I could pick at from the book - the pacing at the beginning was a little slow. The story took a couple of chapters to really pick up momentum and really get into the story, but I didn't find it tedious or dragging. It just simply took a short while to really start getting into the good stuff. But aside from that, the pacing begins to move forward more fluidly and by the end of the story, things are moving along nice and quickly - which suits the magnitude of the action. The book comes shy off 500 pages and even still, I devoured the novel in a day or two.
Roth's writing is so unique and incredibly well with both the story and Tris's character. I developed a connection with Tris emotionally and as I read, I really felt what she would have felt in certain situations: butterflies in my stomach when nervous is fearful; becoming teary when Tris has gone through something upsetting; couldn't stop smiling when something simply adorable or hilarious pops up. This aspect really boosted my opinions for Roth's writing skill.
And just expanding on that last point - I found myself giggling a few times at a couple of instances throughout the book. I don't know why, but this following quote make me laugh so much:
"That's my girl. Tough as cotton balls." - page 411
Tris is a very strong and brave character, and I love her for that. I admire Tris' ability to take control of situations that could go so wrong. Although she has a certain strength, she has a vulnerability that adds more dimension and personality to her character. Nobody is perfect and Tris' flaws both help and threaten her position. She is able to use it to her advantage, whilst it can also be a bit dangerous, depending on the situation. Alongside Tris is a huge cast of side characters which are all so important to the story. The people she meets along the way help Tris to discover who she is, and they were all fleshed out enough to contribute their part to the story without taking over from Tris' journey.
Divergent is a truly phenomenal story, which you should all go out and buy
right now if you haven't already! The plot is so unique and intriguing, the characters are lovable and Roth's execution of her story was done brilliantly. Seriously, read it
now. If you have already, read it again.
What are your opinions on Divergent?
