After reading Divergent by Veronika Roth, I have been keeping my eyes open for more dystopian books and Delirium was one that I found recommended on the Blog of Erised, where I found the Dystopian reading challenge.
I could not find the book in ANY book store I went into, neither at my library, so I eventually ordered it to be brought in from a neighbouring library. And I did not regret that at all. Really enjoyed this book! So much so, I went off to purchase the second in the series – Pandemonium (review to follow) and found out that the last and final instalment will be due out this month! Yippee! Love when I find a series close to when the last book comes out, make the reading so much nicer than having to wait year after year for the story to carry on…;-)
The Book Blurb:
There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it. Then, at last, they found a cure. Now, everything is different. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning 18. Lena Halloway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be bored. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But then, with only 95 days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable…
So, what I thought:
Similar in nature to The Hunger Games and Divergent but yet completely different. What I really enjoyed about this book is that Love was a disease and when one turned 18 one received a cure, which of course, turned one into a zombie but thats besides the point…
I really liked how the characters believed in their world, (until they didn’t) and at some wierd level I could understand why the ‘powers that be’ wanted the world to be the way it was. Clean, no war, no hatred but to the complete loss of love, care and passion. I read this book the day after a 17 year old girl was found brutally murdered and raped in South Africa,(all over the news and FB) which really got to me and so the idea of there being no violence or hatred somehow appealed to me But there is no such thing is there? If one cannot feel, then one cannot love and one cannot heal or forgive or do something to change, so on a deeper level this book did get to me, which is I suppose a little strange…
I also like how the main character Lena, discovers how even though there is no violence in plain sight, there is indeed violence (but all without hatred as there is no feelings in the ones who are cured) and how it begins to rock the world that she lives in and that is what begins to change herself, her memories return with a clearer understanding and meeting an ‘uncured’ boy, an invalid who has lived in the wilds (the names of the people who live in the forbidden areas beyond the fence) and so begins another chapter of Lena’s life.
What I didn’t like: was how Lena was portrayed in the beginning of the story. It always seems to be the same, girl who doesn’t think she is pretty or strong, a nothing, invisible to the world and then as the story goes on, she gets braver and stronger and with the love interest, prettier. But, I am glad to say, that was the only thing I didn’t like and getting to the second book, that Lena has completely dissapeared, yay! I just think that it would be nice, if the main character knew that she was strong, or brave or pretty but without being smug about it, you know?
Anyway, it is a brilliant book I thoroughly enjoyed it! I think it may have to go onto my birthday book list for my neice.
Do read it and let me know what you think…
