Divergent (Divergent, #1) in Apocalypse Whenever

Sep 06, 2011 Deena Thomson rated it really liked it

had a hard time rating it because I liked it more than just like but less than really liked. I was hooked. I liked the characters, I enjoyed the story, but there was something lacking for me but can't put my finger on it. I will read the second book when it is out. I guess my expectations were too high and that might be the problem. ...more

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Jul 15, 2011 Cole rated it it was ok

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. My Divergent Review

AKA Thank you JKR for despite the many cliches you may have used you did not make Ravenclaw the evil wizarding house.

I read this after seeing all the hype of its similarity to Hunger Games and because I do love dystopian fiction on the whole.

It pains me to say that I just really can’t join the fandom. Possibly the problem is that I’m just too much of an adult? The kinds of stories that have really captured me are complex, character driven, and emotionally taxing. It seems tha My Divergent Review

AKA Thank you JKR for despite the many cliches you may have used you did not make Ravenclaw the evil wizarding house.

I read this after seeing all the hype of its similarity to Hunger Games and because I do love dystopian fiction on the whole.

It pains me to say that I just really can’t join the fandom. Possibly the problem is that I’m just too much of an adult? The kinds of stories that have really captured me are complex, character driven, and emotionally taxing. It seems that the young adult genre tends to lean more toward simplicity in story, character, and themes- which always feels to me like a gross underestimation of the intellectual and emotional capacity of teenagers. Or perhaps, I just grossly over-estimate them.

The premise of Divergence was interesting - a society split into 5 factions each representing a core value and thinking/personality style. I wondered how Veronica Roth was going to pull this off without it sounding somewhat ridiculous, and she managed it reasonably well. It did at some points push the limits of my suspension of disbelief, but it was intriguing enough for me to continue the book just to find out what happens next.

I’ve seen some people compare the first person writing style in Divergent and The Hunger Game series, and for me the latter was better. While first person can excuse the lack of character development in secondary characters to a degree (because we only see them through the eyes of a single person), I felt like I knew more about Finnik and Johanna then I did about Christina and Will. Out of the secondary characters, only Al seemed somewhat compelling. As a result, I didn’t really have a lot of feelings about the things that happened.

The writing was clunky, and the description was lack-luster and choppy. This may have been intentional, a style choice in trying to fit to Tris’ character. As a person who was reading this aloud to my partner, however, it was awkward and difficult to maintain a rhythm and flow. Also, I found the dialogue (especially humor) to be forced/unnatural.

Characterization was mediocre. The fact that Tris has a difficult time adjusting her thought patterns to her new environment (culture), and that you can see mirrors of this difficulty in the other transfers was a redeeming quality. Otherwise, there was the same problem that a lot of other authors have when some-what over-stating the abilities of their characters just a little bit. Tris was a tactical genius for coming up with a plan to… split up? try to visually spot her opponent?

Divergence is really another problem to me, because it feels like Veronica Roth is painting this picture of ordinary people as wholly one dimensional. Smart people are more evil than not smart people (oh geez, like this isn't an overly used trope). I mean, doesn't the US education system suck enough, isn't intelligence already a secondary quality to charisma, beauty, and athletic aptitude? Aren't kids in glasses ridiculed at school already just by virtue of glasses being associated with intelligence? I just don’t understand this concept that if intelligence is a quality that heavily defines you, then you must be an asshole who’s going to devise a Hitler-esque world domination scheme. That people with dauntless defining qualities will devolve naturally into thrill seeking jocks, there to be tricked into these plans and then used like dumb animals by the wicked smart people. And only good little brave selfless "Christian" archetypes remain uncorrupted, and the Divergent (read 3-dimensional person with more than one personality trait and dominant core value) can save the day?

This sort of theme always concerns me, and always will. I only just hope that everyone else is only reading to see Four and Tris make babies, and the basic function of just seeing what’s going to happen next. ...more

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Nov 21, 2013 Alice rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi-apocalyptic-fantasy, ya, 2013

This book desperately wants to be The Hunger Games, but fails to be that at all... Still kept my interest and I do want to read the next one eventually, so giving it 3 stars.

Also, the first line of the author acknowledgment thanks "God and his Son." If you know me you know how I feel about that. Does this series turn into some sort of abstinence-only evangelical propaganda at some point? ...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Julie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: speculative-fiction

Another entry in the genre of dystopian young adult fiction. It was good but not great. I might read the next one but I'm not dying to. ...more

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Dec 08, 2013 Amy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It's an interesting read if you're a queermo like me, because the main character doesn't "fit" into her society's molds. However, I'm super sick of YA novels feeling like they have to include a love story. Oy. Enough with the love stories. ...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Joanna rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, post-apocalyptic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 15, 2011 Robert rated it did not like it

A poor effort. The final third is one of the least believable episodes I have read. As ebert says: why doesn't the henchman simply kill our hero instead of explaining the plot? I suppose using a teenaged girl for first person allows the author to get away with such shallow stilted dialogue,Simpering inner monologue and meager imagery: the pit, the glass ceiling, the chasm, the train.

Don't believe the hype. ...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Jess rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2012

There's something frustrating about an ending so obviously crafted to lead on to a sequel - and even more so when the author doesn't just go for a ridiculous cliffhanger. Considering the themes, this book was exceedingly slow-paced - it could have been a lot more exciting. That said, it's a fun, quick read, and Roth writes a good kissing scene: but there are just better action/dystopian YA novels out there. ...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Joanie Calder rated it really liked it · review of another edition

FAST read.....similar to Hunger Games.....but not as good. Worth the read however. Loved that it's set in Chicago..... ...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Cindywho rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy-sf, ya

Fairly ridiculous premise, but a fun read. In a city of factions that each emphasize one virtue, Beatrice is one of the initiates that makes the leap from her home faction of Abnegation to the Dauntless faction of danger, death and beating the crap out of each other. Of course she's got a special secret and a love interest and a conspiracy to conquer - Why wouldn't she? ...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Susie rated it liked it

Shelves: ya, dystopia

what's with the trilogies, sequels etc? Just write the story - beginning, middle, end - get a ruthless editor if it's running over 400 pages. Great premise but. . . ...more

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