Delirium (Delirium, #1) in Audiobook Junkies

Feb 11, 2012 ☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Delirium by Lauren Oliver is a young adult dystopian where people live in fear of, and receive the cure to protect them from Amor Deliria Nervosa which roughly translates to mean "love". Oliver delivers a beautifully written tale of love, fear, and the consequences of a world without love.

The United States has closed its borders, no one goes in and no one gets out. The citizens have all been relocated to sanctioned areas. We know that all of this occurred after the blitz. (We aren't sure what or Delirium by Lauren Oliver is a young adult dystopian where people live in fear of, and receive the cure to protect them from Amor Deliria Nervosa which roughly translates to mean "love". Oliver delivers a beautifully written tale of love, fear, and the consequences of a world without love.

The United States has closed its borders, no one goes in and no one gets out. The citizens have all been relocated to sanctioned areas. We know that all of this occurred after the blitz. (We aren't sure what or why it happened) At the age of eighteen, citizens are inoculated against the disease known as Amor Deliria Nervosa. (Love). This disease is believed to be the root of all that went wrong with society. Young man and woman are tested prior to the vaccination. These tests determine their schooling, careers, and give them four perspective mates to choose from. All of this enforces the government's motto of "Safety, Health and Community."

When we are introduced to the protagonist, Magdalena “Lena” Haloway, she is counting down the days till her procedure. She is living in a sanctioned area in Portland, Maine. She lives with her aunt, uncle and nieces. Her mother suffered from the disease and died, nearly ten years ago. She attends an all girl’s school, as children are segregated until after they are given the cure. Side effects prevent anyone from being cured until they are eighteen. Lena lives in fear of becoming like her mother and is afraid of contracting the deadly disease.

The tale that unfolds as Lena counts down the days is absolutely captivating. Some may argue that the plot moves too slowly, until Alex comes into the picture, but I felt the world-building was necessary to make the tale believable. I loved watching the growth of Lena. She starts out as a sheep and ends up fighting against the system. It was delightful to watch. The romance between Lena and Alex progressed slowly and was believable. The second half of the book moves at a delicious pace as Lena begins to question everything she has been taught and uncovers lies, takes chances and falls in love. The ending ripped me apart as it ends in an unbelievable heart-stopping cliffhanger.

I highly recommend Delirium to fans of dystopias and romance. Oliver's writing style is beautiful. The basic concept of love being a disease is so mind-boggling. While those suffering from a broken heart may find credibility in it; one also has to grasp the implications of a world without love. For example the love a mother feels for a child. How can you know true happiness if you've never experienced sadness? I am truly looking forward to book two. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2011 Darcy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-book, ya, 2011

I don't know what it is about this book, but I felt it is missing something. I liked Lena, I liked how through the book she discovered things about herself and her past, how she learned just what was important, and just how much she has been lied to by everyone around her. I also found the changed history to be funny. But I was also a little bored while reading/listened to this one. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 09, 2011 Marcela (BookaholicCat) rated it liked it · review of another edition

3 ½ Stars

The publisher description of the book summarize pretty well what the book it’s about.
Is set in United States in the future, in a society where love is forbidden and seen as an illness call “amor deliria nervosa”. A society in which every bad thing that ever happened in the world is blame on the deadly decease that Love was.

In the book we meet Lena, who grew up in this society and is eagerly awaiting for her procedure, The Cure, that will cured her forever of getting infected by Deliria 3 ½ Stars

The publisher description of the book summarize pretty well what the book it’s about.
Is set in United States in the future, in a society where love is forbidden and seen as an illness call “amor deliria nervosa”. A society in which every bad thing that ever happened in the world is blame on the deadly decease that Love was.

In the book we meet Lena, who grew up in this society and is eagerly awaiting for her procedure, The Cure, that will cured her forever of getting infected by Deliria (Love), taking from her all her emotions, feelings and anything related to love and affection. The procedure is always done at the 18th birthday, she’s 3 months away. After the surgery all past experiences will lose importance, all friendships and relationships will become like blurs of the past, but she will be cured and will live a life of happiness, order and stability.

All teenagers before graduation are also submit to an Evaluation in which a panel of evaluators decide what you are going to study, who are you going to marry and how many kids you can have. During her Evaluation Lena sees Alex for the first time, who would become her romantic counterpart.

In the book we also meet Hana, Lana’s best friend, and also a product of that society, but with a little bit more curiosity than Lena. Hana infiltrates the world of non-cured, invalids and sympathizers, showing us an underworld society, that lives parallel to the general population of Portland.

The novel is a little bit stereotypical and predictable, girl (Lena) meets boy (Alex) and of course Alex is an Invalid or not cured. As expected Lena gets infected of deliria (falls in love) and starts to reevaluate all her believes and defy society.
This is a dystopian Romeo and Juliet novel. Two young characters that fall in love but their love is prohibited, in this case not by their families but by a repressive social system, with a total lack of individual freedom.

The world Lauren Oliver creates is good but not enough, there were more things that should have been explained about the world that were not. The romance between the main characters is not well developed and their relationship lacks deep. I didn’t get a real sense of who Alex really was and what they (Lana and Alex) love about each other.

Oliver’s writing is impeccable; but the first third of the book the pace was very slow, nothing was happening and it was hard for me to get through it. After that point the pace starts to pick up, towards the end pages it becomes a page turner, ending in a cliffhanger, that will leave you wanting to get your hands in the next installment, “Pandemonium” as soon as is published.

The book is good but it could have been amazing, I hope Ms. Oliver continue with the pace of the last past pages in Pandemonium, I’m sure I’ll read it. I want to know what will happen to the characters and how are they going to be develop. I also expect to know more about the world and see more of the support characters.
If you like dystopian novels you would like this one, I also recommended it to YA readers.

Favorite Quotes:
I carry your heart, I carry it on my heart.

I press my hands against my chest, wishing I could somehow be even closer to him. I hate skin. I hate bones and bodies. I want to be curl up inside of him and be carried there forever. (creepy I know, but I like it.) ...more

Like · see review

Nov 28, 2012 J.A. Belfield rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Delirium is certainly a dystopian with a difference. The concept of love as a disease was real intriguing to me, and I enjoyed how the author portrayed the population as ‘brainwashed’ into believing as such, and did so in a believable way.
To begin, the story seemed a little slow. I think it took me an entire week to read start to finish. I don’t think it was that the opening was slow, because the book as a whole didn’t seem like a ‘fly-through-it’ kind of book and the length of time it took to c Delirium is certainly a dystopian with a difference. The concept of love as a disease was real intriguing to me, and I enjoyed how the author portrayed the population as ‘brainwashed’ into believing as such, and did so in a believable way.
To begin, the story seemed a little slow. I think it took me an entire week to read start to finish. I don’t think it was that the opening was slow, because the book as a whole didn’t seem like a ‘fly-through-it’ kind of book and the length of time it took to complete didn’t really mar my enjoyment.
Lena was a likeable, relatable MC, whose innocence in the beginning totally endeared me to her, so I loved following along on her journey as her ‘self-awareness’ developed, and as she grew as a person the more the ‘veil’ shifted from her deluded mine.
Alex? *sigh* He was pretty much adorable right from the beginning. Though I did wish more of his confidence we see on first ‘meeting’ him—a confidence that bordered almost on cocky—had remained a little stronger throughout the rest of the read. I was also relieved to find there was a little depth to why he had an interest in Lena, and it wasn’t just a case of boy sees girl and his heart decides she’s the one. Not to mention the author has the reader guessing over his true intentions thanks to her portrayal of Lena’s uncertainties.
And then we have the supporting cast. Requisite best friend? Check! A great character addition to the story. Loved the bond. Loved their time spent together. And felt every bit of the heartbreak when things weren’t going so well. Somewhat crazed family member? Check! Actually, there were more than one of those, but we’ll blame the government for that. ;) Ally? Check! Again, more than one of those. Although the requisite best friends is a definite ally for sure, I loved the little surprise ally we get right when Lena needs it the most.
But what about the plot? Well, like I said, the concept was very intriguing, and I felt it was handled well. My biggest complaint was that there is a ‘reveal’ moment a little later in the book, which then goes on to other turns of events. Once that initial reveal was given, the rest of it became kind of predictable.
Oh, and that ending? :( :( :( :( :( I’m very sad. Say it isn’t so. Say we’ll find out it didn’t end as we’re led to believe. How can the author giveth with one hand and then snatcheth away with the other? Of course, that is also exactly the reason I will be reading on for sure.
So, closing comments: a decent read with likeable and relatable characters, despite their world being incomprehensible (and too sad for words) to the race of today, and a well-built world I’m intrigued to find out more about. Give it a go. And be patient if it ends up taking you a while.
...more

Like · see review

May 18, 2018 kaotickitten rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio

First I must state that I loved this book but I did have problems with it.

The story itself was a new take on dystopian fiction. The characters were well rounded. It is a ya novel so you know going in it will have some flaws.
The part that bothers me is to some minor, some won’t even notice it. It references the Bible at times. Which for a Christian should be cool. But for those of us who believe in God and believe the Bible to be true, there will be a problem. What it does is take some of the Bi ...more

Like · see review

Jan 04, 2011 Kathy Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Lena is counting down the days until she is eligible for the cure. Love is a disease. She has seen the ill effects in her family. Her mother committed suicide because she had the disease and the cures didn't work. Her older sister fell in love but, since the cure, she has been fine -- changed but fine. Lena has a great fear of falling in love. Then she meets Alex. Alex should be safe but he faked the scars from the cure. He is part of the Resistance. Gradually, Lena has her eyes opened to the re ...more

Like · see review