Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Title: Delirium
Hardcover, 441 pages
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: February 1, 2011
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon
Book Summary:
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love — the deliria — blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.
Review:
Ok. My reviewing process starts with giving the book a star rating on Goodreads immediately after I finish, based on how the book made me feel overall. I rarely ever give one or two stars, because one or two stars (to me) would mean I didn’t finish the book, and I don’t rate those.
Delirium, for me, started off between three and four stars. It moved a little slow for me, and I wasn’t connecting with the characters. When I read Matched by Ally Condie, I got into it all right away – and because these books have a similar characteristic in the plot (being matched up with your life partner), I inadvertently judged Delirium more quickly than I generally would.
I had no intention of quitting, though. I didn’t hit page 50 and think to myself, man I really want to stop reading – it wasn’t THAT slow. It just wasn’t living up to my Matched expectation (which isn’t fair, but is the way it works).
Thankfully, the world started to form and the fate of the narrator started to matter to me. About halfway through the book the action scenes start to pick up, and by the last quarter you get mad when anyone interrupts your reading. In Delirium, individuals are “cured” of love at age eighteen, so the descriptions of emotions are very compelling and deep. Once Lena starts to discover some of the emotions the society is attempting to stifle, you begin to care about her.
The second half of this book was so great that it ended up getting a 5 star Goodreads rating. Chapter after chapter of shocking discoveries, twists, action. The first half did not give me near the same feelings as the second half – and I’m sad about that, but as I said in my opening sentences, my ratings are based on my overall feelings at the end, and the end made me FEEL. I don’t cry much while reading and I teared up at times. Oh Lauren Oliver and her ability to write emotion.
Delirium may not be for everyone – the alternate world can be intimidating if you haven’t read a lot of dystopia – but this is one I really did enjoy as a whole.
Buy: Amazon
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I really loved Delirium too. I was worried because there was so much hype around it, but now I can see why!
Yeah I was worried that Delirium vs Matched would be a problem, but nope! I loved both and can’t wait for their sequels
Fascinating concept in this book! What would the world be without love?? Delirium was a compelling read with a great main character. Total cliffhanger ending that left me dying to read the next book!
I agree! I’m really really looking forward to the next one, it’s going to be a preorder for me for sure!
I want to read this! The topic seems unique. Great review!
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