Synopsis from book cover:
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 sometimes fascinating, 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.
What did I love about the book?
So author's have undoubtly jumped on the new train rolling through town. They are quickly leaving the vampires, werewolves, and faires behind and picking up on the latest trend - dystopian societies. Honestly, I'm thrilled. I was becoming quickly bored with the same ole' Edward - Bella copycats. More importantly, I was yearning (yes yearning) for a new Katniss - Peeta love story. After much searching (most of this summer has been spent reading the new dystopian society books), I finally got the love story in Roth's Divergent.
I really don't know where to begin. I simply could not stop reading (which is so cliche, but totally true), and when I think about why that was it comes down to the world that Roth creates. At first, it seems like Tris' big problem is really just that she went against her family (sure, it's a conflict but not one that's gonna make me read), but then when we go deeper into Tris' new world we realize that this world is scary. It's not at all what I thought it would be, and it's not at all what Tris thought it would be. Roth writes in twists up until the last second of the book, and she keeps her readers enthralled by creating such a beautiful relationship between Tris and her friends and family.
Roth writes spectacularly, leaving her readers holding their breath as the read through the action scenes and pulling for Tris as she deals with her internal conflicts. You simply will not find a better book out there right now. If you LOVED Hunger Games, this book is something you just MUST pick up.
What bothered me about the book?
Nothing. Which is probably why this was the book that made me want to come back to blogging. It was just that fantastic.
