Author: Lauren Oliver
Published: 2011
Rating: A
Read Synopsis
“Snapshots, moments, mere seconds: as fragile and beautiful and hopeless as a single butterfly, flapping on against a gathering wind.”
What can I say about this book? Well, first things first: I love Lauren Oliver. I loved Before I Fall and could not wait to crack open Delirium (I even learned how to spell it correctly, too). I wish Pandemonium (the next book) would arrive on my doorstep a month early, but I suppose I can wait to read it.
The Good: Delirium renewed my love for reading. That sounds like a silly statement, I know, but I have many reasons for it (reading textbooks for school is not helping the love of reading thing). I’m glad there’s more proof that the YA isn’t as hopeless as many people say. Dystopian stories are still in and there are good ones. Delirium is well-written; it isn’t afraid of big paragraphs and lengthy details. The writing adheres to the typical first person, present tense style without awkwardness. I wasn’t embarrassed, as a twenty-something-year-old, to read it on the bus. When I finished it, I was overcome with disappointment that I didn’t have book two. As well, I really wanted to have a statement like this as my Facebook status: “I LOVE READING SO MUCH!!!111!” I hope people read this book and feel the same enthusiasm.
The characters are worth thinking about. Lena, Hana, Alex, Grace, Rachel, even Aunt Carol. I can pick any one and sit here and think about his or her actions–who they are and why they did what they did. I love it when careful attention is given to characters. They don’t exist simply to propel the plot forward; they’re there for readers to care about what happens to them.
Like other YA books, I had doubts after reading the synopsis. I thought a world with no love was an interesting idea, but I thought solely of romantic love (and how it’s usually presented in YA books). I realized soon after I started reading that the premise was even more frightening. Love parents have for their children, love for pets, love for a best friend, love for hobbies. What if none of this was legal?
Lastly, I loved the excerpts from The Book of Shhh and Lena’s world’s fictional government documents, books, and pamphlets. I also loved the poetry excerpts.
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
Excerpt from “I Carry Your Heart with Me” by E. E. Cummings
The Bad: The cover (of the edition I read, anyway). The girl is really pretty, but that’s not how I pictured Lena at all. That face doesn’t belong to a girl who is “in the middle” looks-wise. This cover, to me, is much better!
Minor spoiler ahead! I love and appreciate Shakespeare, but I’m wary of Romeo and Juliet references and allusions. However, I’m probably the only person that doesn’t think the play is that romantic. I also think the star-crossed lovers foreshadowing with references to Romeo and Juliet has been overdone.
I’m glad you liked it! The cover of my book was just turquoise (I have the original hardcover). I agree though — I’m not a big fan of books with a real person’s photo on the front, since the photo doesn’t usually add up to what I thought the character looked like. I also prefer to imagine the character, rather than having a photo provided. I’m intrigued to see how the story progresses in the next book though — c’mon Pandemonium!!!
Thanks for the link. Have you seen the original UK cover? (Original US hardback cover was similar as well, I think). It’s my favourite:
http://emmamaree.com/reviews/delirium-book-review/
I’m with you that R&J isn’t that romantic – tragic, yes, but also a little silly in that if everyone had just chilled and thought things out it wouldn’t have gone so badly wrong. (Juliet! Calm down! Put down that dagger and stop and think… oh… oh nevermind, too late.)
Glad the book renewed your passion for reading – the world needs more readers, and there are plenty more brilliant YA books out there waiting for you.