Divergent

Came into this with high expectations. Came away very disappointed. The writing was average, with a tendency to say things in the action, then immediately follow it up with the character thinking “I just did X!”, like the reader is too dumb to notice. Ladled on top of it all is a heavy anti-intellectual/pro-christian sentiment. The intellectual faction are the villains, for laughably stupid reasons, and the main character is nearly drowned at one point – and contemplates HER ACTUAL BAPTISM – as if the getting dunked in water and coming away with a different self concept was too subtle.
Also, despite some lip service being paid to the idea of everyday bravery, guns are substituted for that quality at every available opportunity.
The entire plot of the story can be summed up as “selflessness is the real bravery, particularly if you’re shooting intellectuals”.
Can’t recommend.

“Faction before blood”

Truth be told, I saw the movie firstsomething I almost never do. Now that Ive read the book, I was pleasantly surprised by how close the studio stuck to the storyline. In DIVERGENT , society has been divided into five factionsCandor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent).

Beatrice Prior has come of age and must choose between staying with her family in Abnegation and transferring to another faction. Her aptitude test should have shown her which of the five factions she belonged in. But her test was inconclusive. She displayed equal aptitude for Abnegation, Dauntless and Erudite, revealing that she wasdivergenta secret that shes determined to keep hidden, because in her world, what makes you different, makes you dangerous. And on the day of her Choosing Ceremony, her choice shocks her community and herself.

Welcome to the Choosing Ceremony. Welcome to the day we honor the democratic philosophy of our ancestors, which tells us that every man has the right to choose his own way in this world. Our dependents are now sixteen. They stand on the precipice of adulthood, and it is now up to them to decide what kind of people they will be. Decades ago our ancestors realized that it is not political ideology, religious belief, race, or nationalism that is to blame for a warring world. Rather, they determined that it was the fault of human personalityof humankinds inclination toward evil, in whatever form that is. They divided into factions that sought to eradicate those qualities they believed responsible for the worlds disarray. Those who blamed aggression formed Amity. Those who blamed ignorance became the Erudite. Those who blamed duplicity created Candor. Those who blamed selfishness made Abnegation. And those who blamed cowardice were the Dauntless. Working together, these five factions have lived in peace for many years, each contributing to a different sector of society. Abnegation has fulfilled our need for selfless leaders in government; Candor has provided us with trustworthy and sound leaders in law; Erudite has supplied us with intelligent teachers and researchers; Amity has given us understanding counselors and caretakers; and Dauntless provides us with protection from threats both within and without. But the reach of each faction is not limited to these areas. We give one another far more than can be adequately summarized. In our factions, we find meaning, we find purpose, we find life. Apart from them, we would not survive. Therefore this day marks a happy occasionthe day on which we receive our new initiates, who will work with us toward a better society and a better world.

Beatricenow Trissoon learns that everything is not what it seems. But more importantly, she learns just what it means to be divergent.

Packed full of action, danger and underlying conflict, the first book in Roths DIVERGENT TRILOGY was a pleasant surprise. Even though I knew what was going to happen, the amount of detail and world building found in the bookas opposed to the moviemade for a highly entertaining, addictive read.

I already had the series for several years now, but loved it so much that I wanted to get the collector’s edition ones as well. It’s a gorgeous book from cover to cover. Lots of awesome extras. This is one of the best beginnings to a series and set the tone for an awesome action packed thrill ride across Chicago. Creating something so rare and brave and original gave me so much admiration for Veronica’s Roth works. She can make me feel every emotion, whether I want to or not, and come out on the other end with a deeper understanding and appreciation. This series will always be close to my heart and always on my bookshelf, unless I am reading it yet again.

I have to start by saying that watching the Divergent movie made me want to read the book. I really enjoyed the movie and I thought for sure there was more in the book. Movie goers didnt miss as much as I had hoped.

Beatrice is about to take the test that will determine which of the five factions she will go into for the rest of her life. The five factions are: Candor (the honest), Amity (the peaceful), Erudite (the intelligent), Dauntless (the brave) and Abnegation (the selfless). Each of the factions carries out certain job throughout the city. Those without factions do all the dirty work and have no rights in society. Born into Abnegation, everyone thinks she will stay in. On the day of the test, Beatrice learns she is Divergent. Fitting into not just one, but many factions. She chooses Dauntless and is told to keep her Divergent identity secret. In dauntless Beatrice renames herself Tris, and she is tested to determine who she really is. Her failure could leave her factionless. Her testing will reveal that she is divergent if she isnt careful. Being divergent might just get her killed.

I cant believe how spot on the movie was. I could completely picture the scenes while I read this book. There were only a few details left out of the movie Divergent. This book was really addictive. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I couldnt stop reading the story. There were a few interactions left out and we get a more in depth look at Tris struggle to leave Abnegation and her whole family behind. The development of her relationship to Four made much more sense in the book and he was instrumental in the end. We also get more of an explanation of Tris fears and why Four was so different from his peers when he graduated.

I really enjoyed the character building, getting to know her friends and her fears. The author is able to draw in the reader right from the start. The location of this story is a dytopian Chicago. I liked the gradual world building in this story. The whole society is cut off from the outside. The idea that people are either of 5 personalities was really problematic for divergents because they have characteristics from more than one. The struggle to pick just one thing for the rest of your life is something a lot of young adults can probably relate to as they make career choices, so this story may feel close to home.

Like Brave New World this novel deals with different groups (Abegnation, Dauntless, Erudite, Candor & Amity), which contribute to societies functions. Every group has its distinctive motifs, dress and colour. They represent the different sides of human nature taken to the extreme. Abegnatin are the selfless faction where Beatrice is born and the fact that she is divergent, not fitting neatly into any one faction, just highlights how complex human beings are.

The induction creates the values and behaviours necessary to reinforce group mentality. Those who do not succeed, or conform, are factionless. This is portrayed as a fate worse than death, as they live outside the bounds of a civilised society. Again a little like Brave New World, a place outside of the compound filled with savages.

It is interesting that the author has chosen 16 years of age as the time of choice. An age in the UK where students finish compulsory education. A stage which they are also still pliable and open to new ideas and influences.

Like most YA novels it is written in the first person from Beatrices point of view and it is though her interactions that we learn about the rest of the characters. We learn a lot about Peter through his shocking behaviour and the way he treats Beatrice. Equally we love and respect Four for his ability as a leader and his care and respect for Beatrice. Fours role is also contrasted with Eric and we discover that Four is the more able despite Erics seniority and obvious resentment.

This book is a great example of groups, motifs and team dynamics and how these are woven together. The first person narrative, like the Hunger Games, is relational and exposes the other characters through their words and actions. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.

<b>Insurgent</b>

Divergent ends with Tris thinking of life beyond a faction, yet insurgent is so much more than this. She still clings to Dauntless as her faction of choice, but she also has to recognise that she is divergent with all the risks associated with this.

We discover much more about the other factions in this book, starting with Amity, where they flee to first. Erudite by their nature hold the knowledge of all the faction as well as a secret they would prefer to see destroyed than fall into the wrong hands. It is this secret that drives the story forward as individuals set aside their factions to work together. The reader also sees the strain this puts on Tris and Tobiass relationship as he works with this father and is reconciled to his mother.

The divergent are much more important in this book than the previous one and we learn that there are more members of this group than Tris may have imagined. They are certainly a target for the Erudite and their Dauntless allies. From a political perspective they are the people who think across party lines. This can also be seen in the way Dauntless splits with some siding with Erudite, most notably Eric and those who dont. Even peace loving, neutral Amity suffers a crisis amongst its members with some needing to fight rather than stay neutral.

As the title suggests there is more fighting, violence and torture in this book, but I love the ending. The idea that the divergent are the future and that factions were only a temporary solution to restore order from chaos. I look forward to reading the next book.

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