Divergent took the world by a storm… Similar to other popular books turned into movies in last few years, this as well is a dystopian trilogy. It’s written by Veronica Roth who studied creative writing and obviously it payed off very well! Divergent – first book in the trilogy came out in 2011 and the following years the two next books came out. The first film in the series came out in 2014 and despite mixed reviews have been considered to be a success.
The book follows Beatrice also called Tris, who, like everyone else in her town (future Chicago), needs to go through a test in order to find out in which of five factions she belongs to. Nevertheless, the choice is hers, if she wants to be in the faction her parents are she is free to do so, if it is the faction the test showed – sure. And even if it is an unrelated faction – go girl! Tris is sure that her brother will chose his current faction, because he fits in so well, but she is different, she can’t live with the restrictions her parent’s faction has, she can’t change her personality to fit in. She has a difficult choice and her test results confuse her even more. Tris starts to wonder about her world and rules, and we all know that thinking in any anti-utopia is a bad thing.
I had very diverse experience with this book. I held back and didn’t read it for so long (5 years?), but when I asked Tom to bring me a book, he brought me this one and I felt like I have to read it, to not disappoint him for not knowing what exactly I want to read. When I started the first chapters, it was a fast and not complicated read, but I still didn’t feel like it is the right time to read it. The next day it changed, I got sucked into the story.
This is one of the books that is silly, there’s stupid and classic romance, there are the same main lines as most of dystopian books and some things that makes no sense at all, yet it is such a fast and easy read that you can’t keep but wonder why you like it. Most of young adult books are like this to be honest, but in this one I felt it especially, because I remember how hard it was for me to read Throne of Glass and how much I disliked it (still haven’t gotten courage to try the second book), but this went easy. By the end it got boring, true, but it was easy to read.
So, the language used wasn’t anything special. Sure, the author studied writing and definitely can write better than I do, but it is no masterpiece. If I compare books where I really liked the writing (from the last books I’ve read, I distinctly remember Night Circus and the 100 Year old Man…), here I didn’t care for it. Besides, sometimes the author gave a description (for example, of the water falling, it’s colour, sound, direction etc.), yet there was no reason to give it – it was not important (I know how water looks, believe it or not), besides she did it in one or two sentences and there was no artistic value to the description, because if there was white foam, she would just say that there was white foam.
Yet if someone says to me that there’s roaring waterfall I would imagine all the things that are associated with that, including white foam. This did appear in some places, but although I am describing it here, it didn’t bother me much. These books by young authors are their first children, they will get better and better at writing and very often in these types of books writing doesn’t matter (if it doesn’t disturb the reader).
Let’s go on to the liking part – I really enjoyed the first part of the book. I loved the training sessions, I loved the romance that kind of bloomed and that there was no outside information about the world. It reminded me of Ender’s Game, which I really liked (the battle room scenes especially, but hated the politics). And these parts is something that motivates me outside of the book and changes my life a bit, which I believe is the task books nave and should do, not only push me to read more and more, but give me additional value – change my life. I loved it despite the fact that test was basically five questions and, if you answer one correct, you get that result.
Let’s take an online quiz about Harry Potter – in which house do you belong in. You get four questions and from the answers can decide, what house you would like to be in and click the answers so you would get exactly the house you wish, right? Then you chuckle, because you got what you wanted and the teenage girl who made the quiz didn’t see that you would get exactly what you wanted (or she as well wanted to get what she wanted hence she made the quiz). Exactly the same happened in here and that is the big test to find out where you belong in. That is definitely not legit and it threw me off, but as I said, despite that I liked the first part.
Where I started to dislike it was the second round of the initiation training. It turned a lot to politics, it gave me information I didn’t care about and another puzzle to solve.
The next paragraph contains a spoiler.
So I develop a serum with micro transmitters that can alter any person’s brain activity as long as they have a main trait and the rest are not as pronounced? So, lets look at it realistic – Jane knows how to deal with math problems, but everyone else has only vague knowledge and basic skills, so the serum will not work on Jane because she knows/is
interested/likes math? I tried to read through the deeper meaning of being Divergent and what exactly that means and how independent thinking would and could be a rarity, but I couldn’t get myself over this. I don’t believe it is biologically possible, because math is not a biological entity, so it is not a valid touchstone in order to validate the serums efficiency. Let me know, what exactly I don’t understand in the comments, please?
The end of spoiler.
The romance also got weird and stupid and pacing was too fast to actually stick with the characters and have feelings and butterflies in stomach for them. I did get the serum twist before it was revealed which was also a bit of a disappointment. I actually got it long before that and secretly hoped that it won’t have any importance to the story.
When finishing the book, I didn’t crave to read the next one, I am not even much interested in why Tris’ family was able to do all the things they did and how they new it. It was hard to decide, if I should give this book two or three stars, I gave three, because I really liked the beginning and the ending just didn’t live up to it.
And I didn’t see similarities with Hunger Games. I’ve seen Katniss’ fans shouting that Tris is no Katniss. Well, yes she isn’t. The only thing they and all the other characters from dystopian novels have in common is the sixteen years old girl part, which (I assume) saves the world in future planet Earth which has been taken over by evil politicians and no one ever before them has questioned anything, except the secret rebel society. And yes, that is exactly how all these books go and shouting that one is not the other seems silly.
Let me know what you thought of the book in the comment section below and tell me, if I should read the second one and if the movie has spoilers for the next parts!
P.S. I hate Four’s real name. It’s weird and doesn’t fit.
And also the fact that I had the copy of this book with the film’s cover and the girl on the cover doesn’t look anything at all like the description of Tris. I checked many times while reading.
February 19, 2016 at 15:55
I did read this one, and like you, felt mixed about it. Well, maybe not as mixed. I would give it two stars – though the movies so far are entertaining (wouldn’t say great, but entertaining). It was hard to finish it, and I have no desire to read the others. Felt the same with Maze Runner.
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February 19, 2016 at 16:09
I haven’t read the Maze Runner, I feel like there are too many dystopian novels out there and they all are so popular that I just cannot get to read them all, because honestly it is the same story all the time. I have started the dystopian Matched series and fairy tale-dystopian Lunar Chronicles and that’s already too much, I hope the craze will end soon.
Yet it’s good to hear that you enjoy the films, I will try to watch it in the nearest months, before I forget the book.
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February 19, 2016 at 16:12
The movies are…all right…good “popcorn” kind of movies, but they fall apart if you look at them closely. There are better movies to take your time and money. 🙂
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February 19, 2016 at 16:15
Thanks! I’m a person who doesn’t like movies… in general. So probably, if it’s just ok, there’s no point to push myself, if I will not feel like watching it.
I’m one of those people who watch like 1-12 films per year. 😀
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February 19, 2016 at 15:58
I couldn’t even finish the book because I was so bored reading it. I think I read up to where they climb the ferris wheel? I don’t know, but they climb something. Not only was it boring, but the insta-attraction was annoying and the book was a bit predictable. I decided to just watch the movie instead and it pretty much turned out how I thought it would. I considered giving it another try, but the ending of the last book was spoiled for me so now I don’t have to make that decision, and that’s ok.
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February 19, 2016 at 16:07
I was ready that this book is not going to be different from all the other dystopian novels out there, but the beginning really did feel right, I even got motivated to work out and managed to push aside the fact that people who beat up each other unconscious jump in and off trains the next day!
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February 19, 2016 at 16:55
This is an excellent review. I didn’t care for Divergent either. I’m pretty much done with the whole young adult dystopian thing at this point. Give me something unique, or just don’t bother.
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February 19, 2016 at 18:27
I agree with you and I wonder, if there’s always been such rush to earn money or is it just modern way of selling – if something is good, lets make hundreds of them for each taste and cash in.
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February 19, 2016 at 17:41
Hmm, that makes me think I probably shouldn’t read it, but then again both Twilight and Hunger Games had their fair share of issues (story and writing) and I ultimately enjoyed them. Ugh too many decisions. So far, I’ve enjoyed the Divergent films, but I didn’t really know anything about the books other than the basics going into them.
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February 19, 2016 at 18:26
I think, if you generally enjoy them, then there’s no harm in reading it. It was more violent than Twilight, I don’t remember the Hunger Games well enough (the killing parts) to compare though. 🙂
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February 19, 2016 at 17:42
I read them all and they were NOT my favorite, but weren’t my least favorite either. I have an innate compulsion to finish a series even when I don’t like it, and if I hadn’t been so compelled would have stopped with book one.
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February 19, 2016 at 18:28
I have a similar way of living and it is so hard, because I scold myself for not continuing Throne of Glass, yet I really hated the book. I will probably continue these series, it was far from hate here! 🙂
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February 19, 2016 at 20:27
Reblogged this on Tracey A Wood 'The Authors Blog'.
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February 19, 2016 at 21:16
Good review. I agree with many of your points. I wasn’t wildly excited about Divergent either, but it is true it’s an easy read. Insurgent is less so and Allegiant… well, let’s not talk about that one. The similarities with the Hunger Games are indeed unfound.
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February 20, 2016 at 02:03
This is the first book that I’ve read about Dystopian and I loved it! It’s always on my heart. 🙂 Without Divergent, I wouldn’t know the other types of genres. ( it’s weird right?)
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February 20, 2016 at 04:00
I actually haven’t read the books yet either, but have seen the first two movies. I personally liked them, but since I haven’t read any of the books yet, I’m interested to see how that goes.
I honestly don’t mind the whole dystopian craze going on right now. But that’s because I’ve enjoyed the ones I have read so far. But each their own. Everyone has their own tastes in books after all.
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February 20, 2016 at 10:47
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your review explains exactly why I don’t usually even come near YA. It’s good to know nothing’s wrong with me. I just don’t feel 99% of those books are worth my time.
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February 20, 2016 at 14:49
I liked Divergent, even if it was messy at times It thought it could evolve into something else, but I understand your perspective.
And yes, I hate when books make the movie poster the cover of books. It’s a horrible mistake.
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February 21, 2016 at 13:39
Right? I mean, if it is really close of the scene they put there is amazingly beautiful, it might be ok, but otherwise, it is just sloppy and looks cheap. But of course they are doing it only to earn more money and show that there’s a book, if you have seen the poster or the film.
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February 21, 2016 at 18:54
I agree, and sometimes the actors looks nothing like the characters and it crushes your imagination.
Just let readers imagine how the characters looks
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February 20, 2016 at 15:01
I really liked this series although I’m not such a fan of the movies. I loved the whole concept of the world in these books (: X
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February 21, 2016 at 13:38
Great to hear that! I honestly sometimes think, if we are living in dystopia, when I read a book like this one and read the news, how media basically controls the ideas the mob has. Really gives interest to dig deeper.
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February 20, 2016 at 22:18
I read the three books because they were popular and I was curious- as it goes for every book that gets picked up to be the next best thing. Well I loved the way you broke down your review of the novel, it was all so accurate to how I felt. It wasn’t the best, but it also wasn’t the worst trilogy out there. It was predictable, sappy, and boring (throughout all the novels). Divergent was the best of the three; the novels kinda went downhill as they kept going. It was like she gave up, and got sloppy. As I’m guessing you didn’t quite care for Divergent, I don’t think you’re going to like the last two. I only suggest reading them if you’re curious about how it all ends. The only good thing about it is that it’ll be a fast read.
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February 21, 2016 at 13:44
Oh, yes, you understood me completely correct! 😀 I feel like often in these modern series the next books just go downhill and I am starting to question, if it is because no one has ever written a brilliant ending for a dystopia, so there’s no one from whom to copy. Although anti-utopia is supposed to be depressing, I feel like modern authors tend to mix depression and sadness with boredom.
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February 22, 2016 at 23:19
That is a good theory! I haven’t come across a dystopian series that has had a good ending, or anything that was memorable. They all seem to be so generic, or a summery of how everything is now prefect, it’s kinda lame, sadly. Yes! I agree, I find it the worst when things take a depressing turn in novels!
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February 21, 2016 at 03:01
I gave up on the first book too as I found the story unrealistic and unappealing but I actually liked the movie.
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February 21, 2016 at 13:47
May I giggle about your name miss Bookish Muggle aka Avada Kedavra? 😀
I sometimes really get into these cheesy novels and I don’t know why (and I am usually ashamed, if I do), but I really had troubles with the questions I mentioned – about the test, where there’s only one question regarding each faction and the way biology worked according to psychology and not normal scientific processes. It bummed me out as well, but I’m glad that I managed to stick with it and have a fast read. 🙂
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February 21, 2016 at 12:20
What is it with dystopian sci fi and giving everyone these really weird names like ‘Four’ or (in other books ) ‘niner’ or ‘Gemini’. Why has traditional naming convention died out? Why will the dystopian world never be saved by Bill or Raj or Sarah?
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February 21, 2016 at 13:50
Haha! 😀 Well, in this case Four was just a nickname and the names partially were common, but I see where you are coming from. Almost as the story cannot be different enough from other dystopias, so they just give unreal names, so reader would remember at least something.
Unfortunately most of the time readers forget those names because they are unusual. 😀
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February 22, 2016 at 21:22
The annoying thing about Divergent is that I dived into the series and thought I’d end up hating it due to the comments about it being just like The Hunger Games (which I hated with a passion) but it was so different. The annoying thing was, reading your post made me realise that I was loving Divergent because I hate The Hunger Games and now I will be stuck forever in the fandom!
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February 23, 2016 at 11:07
Aww, I have read the first book only and I completely agree that it is nothing at all like Hunger Games, yes, the main items might be similar, but the idea and development – completely different.
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February 25, 2016 at 01:55
I had similar problems with Divergent, my big problem was the test (how do you pick between cheese and a knife in an out of context situation? I love cheese, of course I’m going to pick that over a knife). But I found the games and training aspect really boring, I actually liked the politics situation because, to me, it was the bare minimum of plot. I didn’t see the point in the games and training the Dauntless had to endure. What Law and Order problems do they face outside of guarding a Wall no one knows anything about? *Shrugs* However, in saying that I am aiming to finish reading the series by the end of the year
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March 3, 2016 at 10:59
It’s very interested how our view and analysis of this book varied. (I blogged about the Divergent trilogy too: https://acreativegirlnadia.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/2-series-sunday-the-divergent-series-by-veronica-roth/ #ShamelessPlug) . You were very focused on language and descriptions while it was the themes and politics that I focused on more.
Although all dystopian novels, I agree, are very similar in structure I did very much enjoy this series. I like your honesty though.
I get the science in it was not accurate, but at the end of the day it’s just fiction right?
I shall have to check out Enders Game, seems like my kind of book!
Great review!
Nadia x
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March 14, 2016 at 13:25
I didn’t enjoy this at all, but I think that’s mainly because I read Hunger Games first and I had at least a dozen people tell me how much better Divergent is than Hunger Games and how they loved it so much more. For me, Hunger Games was a much more well-crafted, mature story than Divergent, but that makes sense considering the authors’ own ages and experiences with writing. I’m also confused as to why people get so worked up about one not being the other. They’re different books, by different authors so — yeah. I don’t think the two being compared is fair at all.
I agree with you, though, that the beginning is actually quite good. I just don’t think Roth is good enough at writing (yet) to fulfill on the promise that the beginning showed.
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March 14, 2016 at 13:38
That’s very interesting. I in general hate comparisons of books, although I sin as well.
I read Hunger Games first too, but I don’t exactly remember it too well. I was planing to reread (I liked the first book, second was ok and the third was bad in my opinion), but just today I read a major spoiler I had forgotten, so I need to give it more time.
I believe that Hunger Games had a good base and reasoning behind the story and what happened, while in Divergent the science doesn’t add up (like I mentioned in the review) and it bugged me a lot. I am going to start the second book sometime soon. But will have to wait with rereading the Hunger Games.
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April 8, 2016 at 11:15
I have never got round to reading the Divergent series but I’m planning too. I enjoy most dystopian novels like The Hunger Games (I hated the movies!) and the maze runner series, even though the finale was a massive flop. You can read my review here:
https://mybookylife.wordpress.com/death-cure-by-james-dashner
Definitely don’t recommend those. I would definitely recommend the’Uglies’ series. I haven’t read them all but I am going to, hopefully!
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