leah_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Arrghhhh you CANNOT end like that! Review to come!
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I honestly can't remember the last time I have given so many books so many 5* in such a short space of time! There's been Cinder, Partials, Foreseen, The Holders , The Resistance, The Legacy and now Delirium to add to the ever growing pile of my favorite books. I am absolutely loving finding all these incredibly talented authors and just losing myself in all of these different, original worlds.
I didn't expect to love this book, honestly I didn't. I though the whole concept of curing love and what if you couldn't love anymore quite dull and a bit too sop-based for me. The reason this book came into my possession was through winning two copies of it in a competition hosted on Facebook, but I am so glad to have read this book now! It goes to show that you definitely should not judge a book by its cover. I am most definitely eating my words and thank you Lauren Oliver for making what could have been a drab subject into something AMAZING!
Lena Haloway is your normal, everyday girl. I think that's why I loved her as a character so much. There was nothing special about her, she was ordinary, plain. The lived by the rules imposed upon them by the state and was quite content in avoiding the terrifying disease, love, and is counting down the days until she receives her 'cure'. Despite her calm exterior, her previous years have surrounded by turmoil as we discover that her Mum has committed suicide, her father has passed away and she is now living with her Aunt and sisters, surrounded by rumors of the instability of her Mum and the potentially disease riddled children.
The novel continuously refers back to the last words her Mum said to her; 'I love you'. These final words were definitely worth a death sentence if heard outside of the walls. Lena is constantly aiming to escape love, but also can't seem to get past the final words of her mother. She was told that the Health Center had attempted to cure her mother more than once with the one attempt horrifically taking place when her mother was conscious. She exclaims about how they 'cut into her brain' whilst she was awake. These events succeed in horrifying the reader to the extent that these self-professed do-gooders go to in order to attempt to cure the land of love.
Not far into the novel, we are confronted with two other key figures. Alex, a guard and Hana, Lena's best friend. Alex was amazing. We are first confronted with him during Lena's evaluation in which he is laughing at the happenings around him. Following this, they meet regularly in which Lena discovers that Alex is an 'Invalid', that is, someone who has yet to be cured and that he is originally from The Wilds, a rebel camp in which they refuse to have The Cure. Initially she is horrified, especially as he admits his feelings for her following his revelation. In her horror, she runs away and successfully avoids him for days. As any love story goes, they eventually end up spending a LOT more time together and things progress. We discover more about The Wilds, his fake Cure scar, the vast membership of the rebellion and so much more.
Hana on the other hand, I wasn't so keen on. I found her to be quite self-righteous, selfish and pedantic. She has slowly been going to rebel-hosted parties, hiding these facts from Lena. When Lena refuses to tag along to the first rebel gathering that she was informed of, Hana seemed distant, she becomes a different person. This I found irritating. Despite Hana resisting The Cure, she doesn't support Lena despite the dangers involved in the act of disobeying, but she also refuses to give up her actual opportunity of being cured. She is still going to go along with The Cure (as far as we know) and this I found incredibly frustrating. If she was so anti-regime then why not run off to The Wilds? I know I have just mentioned the dangers but she is already breaking the rules so why not go the whole hog and leave? With Alex's inside information, they know where they can escape.
I loved finding out about the past of these characters. I was kept on the edge of my seat for the entire novel. There are some amazing twists and turns and the ending is absolutely heart breaking. I ordered the second book last night, immediately after I finished reading it. Absolutely cannot wait to find out what happens! I'm hoping for a miracle haha. Definitely pick this book up guys, I promise you will not be disappointed :)
-------------------------
I honestly can't remember the last time I have given so many books so many 5* in such a short space of time! There's been Cinder, Partials, Foreseen, The Holders , The Resistance, The Legacy and now Delirium to add to the ever growing pile of my favorite books. I am absolutely loving finding all these incredibly talented authors and just losing myself in all of these different, original worlds.
I didn't expect to love this book, honestly I didn't. I though the whole concept of curing love and what if you couldn't love anymore quite dull and a bit too sop-based for me. The reason this book came into my possession was through winning two copies of it in a competition hosted on Facebook, but I am so glad to have read this book now! It goes to show that you definitely should not judge a book by its cover. I am most definitely eating my words and thank you Lauren Oliver for making what could have been a drab subject into something AMAZING!
Lena Haloway is your normal, everyday girl. I think that's why I loved her as a character so much. There was nothing special about her, she was ordinary, plain. The lived by the rules imposed upon them by the state and was quite content in avoiding the terrifying disease, love, and is counting down the days until she receives her 'cure'. Despite her calm exterior, her previous years have surrounded by turmoil as we discover that her Mum has committed suicide, her father has passed away and she is now living with her Aunt and sisters, surrounded by rumors of the instability of her Mum and the potentially disease riddled children.
The novel continuously refers back to the last words her Mum said to her; 'I love you'. These final words were definitely worth a death sentence if heard outside of the walls. Lena is constantly aiming to escape love, but also can't seem to get past the final words of her mother. She was told that the Health Center had attempted to cure her mother more than once with the one attempt horrifically taking place when her mother was conscious. She exclaims about how they 'cut into her brain' whilst she was awake. These events succeed in horrifying the reader to the extent that these self-professed do-gooders go to in order to attempt to cure the land of love.
Not far into the novel, we are confronted with two other key figures. Alex, a guard and Hana, Lena's best friend. Alex was amazing. We are first confronted with him during Lena's evaluation in which he is laughing at the happenings around him. Following this, they meet regularly in which Lena discovers that Alex is an 'Invalid', that is, someone who has yet to be cured and that he is originally from The Wilds, a rebel camp in which they refuse to have The Cure. Initially she is horrified, especially as he admits his feelings for her following his revelation. In her horror, she runs away and successfully avoids him for days. As any love story goes, they eventually end up spending a LOT more time together and things progress. We discover more about The Wilds, his fake Cure scar, the vast membership of the rebellion and so much more.
Hana on the other hand, I wasn't so keen on. I found her to be quite self-righteous, selfish and pedantic. She has slowly been going to rebel-hosted parties, hiding these facts from Lena. When Lena refuses to tag along to the first rebel gathering that she was informed of, Hana seemed distant, she becomes a different person. This I found irritating. Despite Hana resisting The Cure, she doesn't support Lena despite the dangers involved in the act of disobeying, but she also refuses to give up her actual opportunity of being cured. She is still going to go along with The Cure (as far as we know) and this I found incredibly frustrating. If she was so anti-regime then why not run off to The Wilds? I know I have just mentioned the dangers but she is already breaking the rules so why not go the whole hog and leave? With Alex's inside information, they know where they can escape.
I loved finding out about the past of these characters. I was kept on the edge of my seat for the entire novel. There are some amazing twists and turns and the ending is absolutely heart breaking. I ordered the second book last night, immediately after I finished reading it. Absolutely cannot wait to find out what happens! I'm hoping for a miracle haha. Definitely pick this book up guys, I promise you will not be disappointed :)
skwirler's review against another edition
4.0
Hated the ending, but not so much that it lost any stars. The what-if (that love is a curable disease) and the exploration are wonderful.
stylemecourt's review against another edition
4.0
Reading the last few pages was so intense. I believe my nostrils were flaring with anger and than tears. If Alex is dead...I don't know what I'll do. I want him to be alive and for Lena's mom to be alive. The book will not be the same without love!
exhaleartist's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, I will admit it…I passed it up repeatedly. The summary just never really clicked with me. The cover is pretty cool, but it did not convince me either. However, after reading rave review after rave review I knew this must be something good. What really convinced me to read it, however, was a blog post for Alex during YA Bachelor month.
As I began reading, I was immediately sucked into the story. The premise is fast-paced and excited. I was constantly wondering how the story was going to play out. I just loved this storyline. It was original and engaging. Lena was not a character I could really relate to at first. I was desperate for her to realize that things were not as they seemed. I was terrified for her, and what she was risking by just accepting the cure. I found myself completely anxious for her, and I was desperate to see how it all would end. The relationship between Alex & Lena completely swept me away. I loved how he began to open up her world so she could see what it all for what it really was.
I am so glad that I broke down and decided to read this. It was definitely worth the read. Delirium was just addicting. I had such a hard time putting it down because the momentum of the story just never stopped. Then there was the ending. WOW! I am still just reeling from the cliffhanger that the book leaves off on. The sequel cannot come soon enough in my opinion. I am completely unsure of what to really expect with the next book, and that is something really cool.
This is a book that I would highly recommend, especially to fans of dystopian books. It is a fantastic read that will constantly shock you and woo you. This is a series to keep up on!
As I began reading, I was immediately sucked into the story. The premise is fast-paced and excited. I was constantly wondering how the story was going to play out. I just loved this storyline. It was original and engaging. Lena was not a character I could really relate to at first. I was desperate for her to realize that things were not as they seemed. I was terrified for her, and what she was risking by just accepting the cure. I found myself completely anxious for her, and I was desperate to see how it all would end. The relationship between Alex & Lena completely swept me away. I loved how he began to open up her world so she could see what it all for what it really was.
I am so glad that I broke down and decided to read this. It was definitely worth the read. Delirium was just addicting. I had such a hard time putting it down because the momentum of the story just never stopped. Then there was the ending. WOW! I am still just reeling from the cliffhanger that the book leaves off on. The sequel cannot come soon enough in my opinion. I am completely unsure of what to really expect with the next book, and that is something really cool.
This is a book that I would highly recommend, especially to fans of dystopian books. It is a fantastic read that will constantly shock you and woo you. This is a series to keep up on!
pollyroth's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved this! Such an interesting addition to the dystopia genre.
Lena lives in a world where love is considered a disease. Once you turn 18 you are cured from ever experiencing it. Lena is excited to finally be safe, but then with 3 months until her procedure she does the unthinkable; she falls in love!
You will fall in love with every single character in this book! Lena is extremely well developed. We experience her childhood through how she starts every chapter with an event from the past. And we experience her personality through her thoughts. (It is first person!)She starts out as the girl who follows her society blindly until Alex wakes her up. Then she becomes defiant, fierce, and a skilled liar! We learn about Alex through Lena's eyes. Alex is the guy who wants a change so badly he can hardly see straight. But he also knows how to be the sensitive, patient guy for Lena. And then there's Hana...who if you want to hate, definitely read [b:Hana|12663646|Hana (Delirium, #1.5)|Lauren Oliver|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1324106918s/12663646.jpg|17778132]
This world is also really well written. We are given tons of background information from what Lena has learned over the years. Also, at the beginning of every chapter is a quote from one of the books that describe why the deliria is so dangerous.
In my opinion, Delirium sits just as high up on the list as [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447303603s/2767052.jpg|2792775] in terms of dystopias. It is so freaking good I can't see straight! 10/10 read.
Lena lives in a world where love is considered a disease. Once you turn 18 you are cured from ever experiencing it. Lena is excited to finally be safe, but then with 3 months until her procedure she does the unthinkable; she falls in love!
You will fall in love with every single character in this book! Lena is extremely well developed. We experience her childhood through how she starts every chapter with an event from the past. And we experience her personality through her thoughts. (It is first person!)She starts out as the girl who follows her society blindly until Alex wakes her up. Then she becomes defiant, fierce, and a skilled liar! We learn about Alex through Lena's eyes. Alex is the guy who wants a change so badly he can hardly see straight. But he also knows how to be the sensitive, patient guy for Lena. And then there's Hana...who if you want to hate, definitely read [b:Hana|12663646|Hana (Delirium, #1.5)|Lauren Oliver|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1324106918s/12663646.jpg|17778132]
This world is also really well written. We are given tons of background information from what Lena has learned over the years. Also, at the beginning of every chapter is a quote from one of the books that describe why the deliria is so dangerous.
In my opinion, Delirium sits just as high up on the list as [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447303603s/2767052.jpg|2792775] in terms of dystopias. It is so freaking good I can't see straight! 10/10 read.
momof2precious1s's review against another edition
4.0
This book really made me think about what life would be like without love. It reminded me about the book "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld in the sense that when teenagers turned 18 years old they had to have mandatory surgery (for other reasons). I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
sathyadgs95's review against another edition
4.0
The book was another excellent choice for readers who enjoy a good dystopian fiction novel. The character buildup was pretty strong and enthralling. The overall plot and the emotional journey the reader experiences throughout the story is certainly one to be remembered. Kudos to Lauren Oliver for that.
However in my opinion, I personally felt as if the story-line was pretty much repetitive but I suppose that is what dystopian fiction is based on after all but for those readers who have read a good many other dystopian fiction stories like; The Maze Runner, The Matched, Hunger Games, etc, most of the story is definitely predictable but Oliver did outdo it all by bringing in some unexpected plot twists.
However in my opinion, I personally felt as if the story-line was pretty much repetitive but I suppose that is what dystopian fiction is based on after all but for those readers who have read a good many other dystopian fiction stories like; The Maze Runner, The Matched, Hunger Games, etc, most of the story is definitely predictable but Oliver did outdo it all by bringing in some unexpected plot twists.
kdtoverbooked's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up for as part of a Reading Challenge for my book club. I enjoyed it, but it didn't quite have the same intensity for me that Hunger Games did. I will most definitely read the next book in the series, but I will just wait until it becomes available at my local library, rather than going everywhere to try and find the next copy as I did after completing Hunger Games.
chrissireads's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved Delirium. I have read Before I Fall from the same author but I thought this book was leaps and bounds better. Inventive, interesting and it makes you think. Love it!
diankamakes's review against another edition
5.0
AHHHH GOD FRICK THIS BOOK AHHH
why why why why did it have to end like that
why did I get so emotionally invested god damnit
I sort of don't even want to read the rest just because I'm so upset
why why why why did it have to end like that
why did I get so emotionally invested god damnit
I sort of don't even want to read the rest just because I'm so upset