Post by Matt on Aug 2, 2011 10:14:48 GMT
Here's a review of Divergent I did a while back.
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Divergent:
I bought this book for two reasons, one being it's shiny, and the other is so I could read it before my friend.
This book was, in a nutshell, awesome. I know that's a pretty blanket view, but it is really a great read. It has elements of every good book published, and ideas which are totally new. I guess I like it because I can see myself in the main characters place, and I actually want to be there. I think every book I like, has an element of this, but Divergent has it in bucket-loads.
So Beatrice Prior is a 16 year old girl. Simple enough so far. In her world, however, people are split into 5 factions, groups of people who all live with the same ideology, Abnegation (The faction Beatrice belongs to) believe in selflessness and thus they compose the government, a selfless government is a incorruptible government. Dauntless stand for bravery, which they show everyday when they have to jump on and off moving trains to get from A to B. Amity represent peace, something every world must have. Candor symbolizes honesty, believing it to be the most important virtue one can have. Finally we have Erudite, the intelligent. Scientist and Teachers are all Erudite and thus strive for knowledge as, as the saying goes, knowledge is power.
Here's the twist though, on one day, every year, all the 16 year olds are taken from the faction they were born into and have lived with for their entire lives, and given a choice. A choice to switch ones alignment from where ever they may be, to a different faction. Every 16 year old is given a test, before they have to choose, and they alone are given the results of where they truly belong, then they can make their decision, either basing it around where they actually belong or not.
Beatrice is worried about this test, her brother, the more selfless of the two, seems fine about it, which makes Bea more anxious. When her time comes, she has no other choice but to go through with the test, and unveil the truth. The 'test' is a simple simulation, where the actions you take, determine what faction you belong in, and Beatrice has no idea how she's done. The woman who administers the test, a Dauntless member, tells her some shocking news; She isn't a part of a faction... she's part of three. The woman quickly erases the logs and manually puts her as Abnegation, telling Beatrice to go home quickly, but she doesn't know why it is seen as a bad thing.
Tris's world is then submerged into terrible choices, treachery amongst the factions and a scenario where danger is no longer a game... and the people she loves begin to get hurt. All because of her Divergence.
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I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, it's full of romance (but not over the top lovey dovey stuff), action (but not bullets whizzing through the air every second (although there are lots of bullets. Yay!)) and emotion for a book I've not felt since I first read the Percy Jackson series in about 7 hours.
I'm giving this book 9 matts out of 10. I think the story goes a bit off track at the end, but not enough for me to give it any less than a 9. <3
--------------------------------------------------------------
Divergent:
I bought this book for two reasons, one being it's shiny, and the other is so I could read it before my friend.
This book was, in a nutshell, awesome. I know that's a pretty blanket view, but it is really a great read. It has elements of every good book published, and ideas which are totally new. I guess I like it because I can see myself in the main characters place, and I actually want to be there. I think every book I like, has an element of this, but Divergent has it in bucket-loads.
So Beatrice Prior is a 16 year old girl. Simple enough so far. In her world, however, people are split into 5 factions, groups of people who all live with the same ideology, Abnegation (The faction Beatrice belongs to) believe in selflessness and thus they compose the government, a selfless government is a incorruptible government. Dauntless stand for bravery, which they show everyday when they have to jump on and off moving trains to get from A to B. Amity represent peace, something every world must have. Candor symbolizes honesty, believing it to be the most important virtue one can have. Finally we have Erudite, the intelligent. Scientist and Teachers are all Erudite and thus strive for knowledge as, as the saying goes, knowledge is power.
Here's the twist though, on one day, every year, all the 16 year olds are taken from the faction they were born into and have lived with for their entire lives, and given a choice. A choice to switch ones alignment from where ever they may be, to a different faction. Every 16 year old is given a test, before they have to choose, and they alone are given the results of where they truly belong, then they can make their decision, either basing it around where they actually belong or not.
Beatrice is worried about this test, her brother, the more selfless of the two, seems fine about it, which makes Bea more anxious. When her time comes, she has no other choice but to go through with the test, and unveil the truth. The 'test' is a simple simulation, where the actions you take, determine what faction you belong in, and Beatrice has no idea how she's done. The woman who administers the test, a Dauntless member, tells her some shocking news; She isn't a part of a faction... she's part of three. The woman quickly erases the logs and manually puts her as Abnegation, telling Beatrice to go home quickly, but she doesn't know why it is seen as a bad thing.
Tris's world is then submerged into terrible choices, treachery amongst the factions and a scenario where danger is no longer a game... and the people she loves begin to get hurt. All because of her Divergence.
--------------------------------------------------------------
I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, it's full of romance (but not over the top lovey dovey stuff), action (but not bullets whizzing through the air every second (although there are lots of bullets. Yay!)) and emotion for a book I've not felt since I first read the Percy Jackson series in about 7 hours.
I'm giving this book 9 matts out of 10. I think the story goes a bit off track at the end, but not enough for me to give it any less than a 9. <3