WHOLLY BOOKS!: Audio Review: Divergent

8:00 AM | Posted by Ashley G. |

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Pages: 487

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: May 3, 2011

Rating: 4 Cows

Goodreads Description:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, 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 alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating 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 unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

My Thoughts:

Finally, I joined the rest of the world and can say that I have read Divergent! FINALLY!! While I couldn't quite give it 5 cows I must agree with popular opinion, Divergent is an excellent book. There is plenty action and suspense to keep readers more than satisfied.

I listened to about 90% of Divergent on audio then read the last 10% because I was in a hurry to find out what was going to happen! It took me a little bit of time to get into it. One because I really wasn't into the whole Abengation, selfless thing. That's probably because I would definitely not fit in there because I am wayyyy too selfish! Another thing that was difficult for me was the fact that it had the same narrator as the audiobook I had just finished. I kept getting my worlds confused and kept picturing the wrong protag! Of course, I really can't blame that on anyone!

I really liked Tris! I was so worried that she was going to make the wrong decision but at the end of the book she proves she made the right one. Tris was strong in mind from the beginning but throughout the book she becomes stronger physically as well. I loved how Tris allowed herself 5 seconds of weakness before she forced herself to move on. It just proves that it's okay to have weakness but it's important not to dwell on it. Give yourself time but then you have to move on. I also loved Tris's friends and Four was well, simply put sexy. And not in the over the top kind of way but in the real, unintentional kind of way. By the end of the book, Four had my heart in the palm of his hand.

I was intrigued by the Dauntless from the moment Tris watched them jump off the train. I knew right then and there that if I had to choose a Faction that would be mine. Once Tris got there though it wasn't as awesome as one might expect. There were some cool things that they did (zip lining off of the Sears Tower for instance) but a lot of the Faction was cold, hard and sometimes even cruel. Through it all Tris grows and learns and is determined to make it.

The end had a lot of action and was amazing! I was definitely on the edge of my seat and couldn't wait to see how everything played out. There is love, loss, betrayal and many surprising revelations! Divergent is a book that will leave you aching for more. Since Insurgent is out I recommend having it nearby and if you have a tendency to spill some tears you might want to have some tissues ready too!

3 comments:

Brittany ScramuzzoJanuary 21, 2013 at 8:35 AM
Glad you enjoyed it!! That was how I felt about it too. I really liked it, but not quite enough to be WOWED by it :)
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Kayla BeckJanuary 24, 2013 at 7:10 AM
I listened to the audiobook for Divergent, too, sometime last year, but I just haven't been able to bring myself to post the review. It did not work for me at all, but I'm glad you got into it! (I think I may have been suffering from dystopia burn-out at the time, to be honest.) Anywho, great review! I'll wait to see your thoughts on Insurgent before I break down and read it. ;-)
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EileenApril 9, 2013 at 4:24 PM
How convenient that both of the voices were the same lol! I agree, I didn't love Divergent so much to give it a full fleshed-out 5 stars, but it definitely was super action packed! Tris is an amazing character, but I don't think I could be Dauntless like you and her lol. I'd wimp out; I'll just go and sit in the corner with all of the Amity or something ;)

I'm glad you enjoyed Divergent! I hope you love(d) Insurgent just as much!
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