While stumbling through Amazon one day, I came across Divergent by Veronica Roth. The star rating was 4.5/5 and the books listed in the “customers who bought this item also bought” were mainly books that I had read and liked. The price was right (only $10 for a hardcover), so I figured that I would give it a chance.
As an adult, very few books have made me stay up all night to finish them (Twilight, Harry Potter, maybe Vampire Academy?). I can now add Divergent to that list. It was similar to other books that I have read and yet unlike anything. Set in a dystopian Chicago with a female heroine at the center, it was reminiscent of Hunger Games. The teacher/student relationship was similar to Vampire Academy. But the underlying themes of people’s true natures and the source of discord in our country kept me thinking and guessing throughout.
The book was equal parts social commentary, romance, and adventure. I know that doesn’t even sound possible. The premise is that the main character Beatrice (Tris) must make a decision whether to stay with her family and live a life that she doesn’t think suits her or join another part of society and risk losing her family forever. Along the way she learns more about herself, her family, and her government than she bargained for.
Amazon lists Divergent as one of the “Best Books of the Year So Far” and I do not doubt it. I think it may end up being one of the hottest books of 2011. Summit has already optioned the movie rights and is rumored to be casting the movie, hoping it will become its next big franchise.
Did I mention that Divergent is only the first book in the Divergent Trilogy? It’s going to be a long wait!
I read Divergent and really enjoyed it! I got into this book and found myself not wanting to put it down. There was plenty of action and romance to keep my interest. The initiation process that Beatrice (Tris)went through was greuling and I found myself rooting for her character. The romance was like a roller coaster, with a slow build up, that kept me reading just so I could find out what was going to happen. I let my 13 year old daughter, who introduced me to the Hunger Games, read Divergent this weekend and she loved it too. I found myself not only interested Tris and her choices, but also in the world view of the book, the society, the factions and how the government conflict would play out. I would recommend this book for a fun summer read.