Category Archives: Reads

Divergent by Veronica Roth

 In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
- description from bn.com

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This book is amazing. I sat here for awhile after reading it, feeling disappointed that I’d finished it so quickly. Its that good.

Divergent popped up on my recommended reads list on Amazon.com and I’ve been looking forward to reading it for months. Unfortunately every other person with an e-reader in San Diego wanted to read it to – the wait list is massively long. I gave up last week and bought it – indulging in what is becoming a very bad habit of purchasing books on my Nook while in bed in the middle of the night (more on that later, lol).

Beatrice Prior (or Tris as she becomes known) finds herself competing with the other teens in an often brutal initiation process to become a member of the Dauntless faction. She learns early on that she is walking a very fine line and must keep her wits about her at all times to ensure that she is in the running for passing initiation.

This is a book you should absolutely read. Veronica Roth has an excellent way with words. The scenes are descriptive without being too wordy and the characters are fleshed out and very real.

If you are interested in other dystopian/post apocalyptic fiction, check out The Hunger Games and The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Both are excellent series.