Sunday, October 30, 2011

Book Review: Delirium



Delirium

by Lauren Oliver
Series: Delirium #1
Release date: 2nd August, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 480 (Delirium Special Edition, a gift from Niva :D)
Next book: Pandemonium (2012)

Summary from Goodreads:

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 government 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 By Alaiel Kreuz:

Delirium is the first dystopian book I've read and honestly, I couldn't ask for a better host into this genre. It was everything, everything I was expecting and much, much more.

I'm sure most of you know what this book is about but allow me to share it with more people, or at least with myself so I will remember how much I loved this book.

We begin with Lena explaining, in a few sentences, what is going to happen in ninety-five days: she will be cured, released from the most terrifying thing in the world... love. And she can barely wait for it to happen. She knows how awful is to fall in love, her best example was her mother, a suicidal... a woman who got sick and suffered the consequences.

But that's not going to happen to Lena, she is perfectly happy with her future. Love? Whatever, she doesn't need love, she knows what is best for her.
You see, The United States of America is now a fortress: no one goes in and no one gets out. And when you reach 18 you will have the "procedure" that will change your life forever: no more feelings, no more pain, everything will be perfect and you will be pair with a person that suits your needs. You will have kids and your life will be predictable but safe.

The day of her evaluation (a way to study who could be her pair and to know if she is "secure") she is with her best friend Hana. Completely different from her, Hana is strong and independent. And she knows that Love is not as bad as they say...
In the middle of her evaluation (that is going terribly...) Lena is interrupted by a stampede of cows and during the confusion she saw him... a gorgeous boy that winks at her before disappearing.

Alex is the one. The one that will make Lena's heart skip a beat, the one that will fill her stomach with butterflies, the one that will make her heart smile and feel... the one who will make her fall in love and get sick.
So what? Now she is sick and she doesn't care, she is happy. But if someone gets to know they are in love their perfect society would kill him and make the procedure on her before time risking her sanity.

In a personal note let me tell you something: I usually never pay attention to the quotes at the beginning of a chapter, they are, most likely not attractive for me but the quotes in Delirium? Pure perfection! Lauren Oliver creates each quote based on the world she built for Delirium and they are the best way to understand how this society works. I honestly never thought a quote could offer so much information, so much insight for a book.

And the ending came so fast, so suddenly that I had to go back a few pages to make sure I wasn't missing anything. I can't believe I'm gonna have to wait until March of 2012 to read the sequel but I'm sure it's going to be worthy. A book that makes me smile, laugh and cry is so worth the waiting.

Alaiel's Rating:
If you really like it, you can find it here:

7 comments:

  1. This sounds really good! I'm adding this one to my TBR list!
    Great Review :-)

    Amber
    @ReadingAddict17

    ReplyDelete
  2. this sounds interesting Who would ever think that love is a bad thing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've had this on my TBR for a few months now. I've heard it's brilliant but for some reason I just haven't got round to reading it yet. Is it bad one of the major reasons I want to read it is that there's a character with a similar name to mine? :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Delirium is a book I would highly recommend. It's a beautifully written book with great, lovable, role-model potential characters. I demand you to pick up a copy of this book and read it NOW! :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. Delirium sounds amazing! I've been wanting to read it for a long time! Awesome review! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank for the review. Delirium sounds amazing! Cant wait to read it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Aaah..I've only just finished reading this but oh wow it was amazing! Thanks for the great review..I think I might go and read it again now! ;)

    ReplyDelete

Something to share? (cheese would be awesome!) I love to read your comments :]