Panic by Lauren Oliver

Source: Netgalley
Pages: 408
Publisher: HarperCollins

Synopsis: In the small town of Carp, a game is played every year by the graduated seniors because it's summer and there is nothing else better to do. Heather has watched the dangerous game, Panic, most years but never thought she'd enter until she finds something to play for. Dodge, however, always wanted to play Panic, a quest he wishes to fulfil by making his way entirely through the game - whatever the cost. The game will form new alliances, new rivalries and create and destroy secrets. Everyone is playing the game for a reason, they just cannot afford to panic.

Review: 
When I finished PANIC and sat down to write down a few thoughts on the book so I could create some kind of post that looked like a review, I came to a realisation.
I started by writing about its comparison to other Lauren Oliver books I have read. For me, this book didn't seem to slog on and on like I found some of Oliver's books doing. Neither did I feel like there was way too much poetic prose that sometimes felt showed more her brilliant writing ability rather than adding to the narrative. I felt I got more into this book than her other ones and perhaps hooked quicker on the narrative in comparison to her other books.

Then, I started to think about my reaction after reading and my reaction to finding out the premise of the novel. I went to a Lauren Oliver signing early last year when she was in the middle of writing PANIC. She described it as 'teenagers taking part in a deadly game'. As Hunger Games was at the height of its popularity at this point, the whole idea reminded me of the dangerous Hunger Games, especially as Lauren Oliver's previous books I've read have steered more towards dystopian than contemporary.

This is when the realisation dawned on me that apart from those sentiments, I did not really have much else to say about this book. I liked this book, but I didn't love it and I didn't dislike it. In a word, it was 'okay'. The more I thought about it, the less I had to add to my thoughts on this book. It stood out for me because it was something different, an edgy contemporary not like other books seen out there, however, not a book that I would remember time and time again. The characters are well-developed and unique mostly due to the length of the book allowing that to happen, however, it did make the main narrative - the game, Panic - draw out, sometimes a little bit too much. I liked the writing and I liked how Oliver approached it following two very different teenagers, Dodge and Heather, who also have far more similarities than meets the eye.

I did enjoy this book, I did like the edginess and the uniqueness of the narrative. However, it was predictable and not the more memorable or be a book I will keep coming back to. PANIC is a great novel and in the game itself to deal with some of the social issues teenagers deal with on a daily basis and it was engaging and slightly addictive to read as I wanted to see how the game panned out. But, although it was nice to see Oliver write a more contemporary novel, it did have some flaws.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5

Requiem - Lauren Oliver (#3)

**As this is the third book in the series, this review may have some SPOILERS for those that have not read Delirium (my review) or Pandemonium (my review)- the first two books in the series. I would recommend reading them before reading this book. Actually if you read this review there would be SOME MAJOR SPOILERS for those books**

After going to the UK release event in London for REQUIEM (see about that here), I realised how much I wanted to find out Lena, Alex and Julian's ending after the HORRIBLE ending in Pandemonium. I was a little apprehensive to say the least in starting this as I knew it was the final book but also I was so like 'WHAT THE HELL IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS BOOK?!' too.
So I was nervous and excited and scared and happy and nervous when I opened this book on the train ride home from the event. And in all honesty, I did not expect any of the events that happen at all.

Synopsis: After rescuing Julian from being killed and the surprising arrival of Alex - someone Lena thought was dead, Lena and her friends have escaped back into the Wilds. But the Wilds are not as safe as they used to be as the government have admitted to the presence of Invalids, something they denied for so long. The Wilds are full to the brim of regulators and patrols around every corner, ordered to kill as many rebels as possible. Lena's ground are part of a large resistance moving closer and closer to a wider rebellion. Meanwhile, Lena's best friend from her old life, Hana is being forced into marriage with Portland's new mayor, Fred. She's safe and without love after receiving the cure but there are darker, dangerous things happened even within a life that is considered safe.

Review: Well. I just...there are too many thoughts and feelings that I have for this book that there is no way I can decide on one significant definite thought.
I mean I really liked it and I think it was a good end to this series, I liked how it ended full circle especially. But there is something about it I wasn't expecting, that I feel disappointed by, and I can't quite put my finger on what that is.

The novel starts a few days after Pandemonium finishes with this lovely reunion that had me smiling to myself on the train. But there's this conflict, this underlying feeling I had that something would go terribly wrong quite soon. There's also the whole Julian versus Alex thing because they're both THERE, RIGHT THERE with Lena. I mean Alex, I liked him in Delirium but there were times when I just wanted to punch him in the face after his reaction in Pandemonium. I mean seriously, you're gone for months and you're annoyed Lena left you because she thought you were dead? Please.
Alex is a certainly a changed character, he's harsh, quiet with this fierce intensity that I found a little disturbing at times. It's clear something major has happened while he's been away from Lena (especially as last time we saw him he was thought to be dead). Then there's Julian, who I have to admit is my favourite of the guys. Lovely, lovely Julian, ever the gentleman. However, there's something changed about him also since we last saw the naive, quietly rebelling young man in Pandemonium - he's turned into someone whose grown up, taken chances, trying to fit in with those around him while being kind of ignored by the girl he fled to the Wilds for. In a sentence, at the beginning, things aren't perfect.

Unlike the other books in the series, REQUIEM is split between two narrators: Lena in the Wilds and Hana, who is living still in Portland preparing to get married to the newly appointed mayor, Fred Hargrove. I think I liked Pandemonium more than Delirium because of the way it explores the more political, underground mysteries and operations that lead to some major discoveries. Similarly, we get that from Hana's narrative. She's in this supposedly safe atmosphere yet there is something deeply sinister happening in Portland and especially, something sinister about Fred (another character who I wanted to punch). I guess what I'm saying is that I preferred the domestic setting in Portland more than the one in the Wilds. Hana was a character that I loved and wanted more page-time with in Delirium so I like that Oliver chose her as a narrator for REQUIEM. I felt sympathy for her situation and for her, even if she does behave a little spoilt at times. It kind of puts it all into perspective in a way that while Lena is fighting to be free to love, Hana is forced into a marriage arranged by the government, wanting to be free of Fred.

Unlike Pandemonium, REQUIEM has quite a slow pace with the main actions only happening the last 100 pages or so. There isn't really a definite plot until that moment. I think it's that which makes my reaction to this book not as like 'WOW'. It's really Hana's narrative that made me want to read on and on, with a faster pace particularly compared to Lena's. In a perfect world, I think the book would have been better with a faster pace but I always had this feeling throughout Lena's narrative that Oliver was building up to this huge climatic event throwing some hints, clues and a bunch of surprises throughout. I've become used to Oliver's eloquent, lyrical language that is webbed into the main narrative and it is lovely and everything...but I have trouble reading that kind of lingo. I'm like 'Ah, that's so vivid' and everything but I don't really know, I just don't remember it (?) or totally overlook it and within the next page I'm like 'Whoa, what just happened?'. It's confusing and this may just be good old me, but yeah. I had trouble reading and concentrating on the text. GAH.

I can't sign off without mentioning the ending. Yes in some ways it is disappointing, not what many expect but SERIOUSLY, I LOVED THE ENDING. When I went to the Lauren Oliver event, she talked about how she started writing fan fiction when she was younger because she never wanted the stories to end, she wanted the characters to be alive even after finishing the book. And knowing that, it's why I like the ending. Yes, it is ambiguous and open-ended. Yes, you have no idea what the final conclusion to Lena's story is. But you have some idea what it is in those last fleeting few pages. I'm sure my take on the ending is unique to me and that is the beauty of REQUIEM's ending - everyone has their own interpretation, everyone can imagine what happens after the book finishes, everyone still remembers Lena, Alex, Julian and the others. That is a real (and quite daring) skill and something that worked perfectly in my opinion.

This was a book I was thoroughly looking forward to and mostly it did not disappoint especially the ending. I quite liked the suddenness of it all, the secrets that are slowly but surely drawn out from the characters and the cinematic feel of the last few chapters. There are some emotional, heart-wrenching scenes as Hana and Lena's narratives converge into one another and some beautifully crafted moments that lead to a powerful and uplifting ending. Lauren Oliver, I have to raise a glass to you. I may have no idea of what I truly thought about this book in particular, but overall, this series has been superb. Well done.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/
Pages: 391
Publisher: Hodder
Challenges: None

Related Posts:
Review: Delirium (#1)
Review: Pandemonium (#2)
Review: Before I Fall
Lauren Oliver Event

Event: Lauren Oliver

On Tuesday 19th March, I trekked up to London after college to attend the Lauren Oliver talk/signing at Waterstones Piccadilly. It has been something I've been looking forward to for a long time since I heard about it. Despite finishing at 4.10 from college, having to change trains and then negotiate London Waterloo in the rush-hour (which is...it's frightening) while eating and containing my excitement, I was determined to get there.

I got a seat in the middle and got talking to some lovely people around me, all agreeing with me about Lauren Oliver's books and the upcoming TV series of her books. Again, it struck me when I was leaving how lovely some people are and how books can really bring strangers together. Soon, I was talking to people I'd known 5 minutes as if I'd known them much much longer.

I've been to a few book signings since starting blogging - John Green, Patrick Ness, Malorie Blackman - but I have to say Lauren Oliver's talk was one of the best. I love her ease with talking about her book, how passionate she sounds about reading and writing and when reading her books now, I remember and see what she described so vividly about herself as a writer.

We believe the girl in the blue cardigan is
Cicely from Cicely Loves Books

She read aloud from Hana's POV in the final installment because as she said, reading anything from Lena's POV would just ruin EVERYTHING for those that hadn't read Pandemonium. The passage was an altered version of the story of Solomon which I think just highlighted how controlling and censored the government in Lauren Oliver's books are. Then, she moved on to answering some questions from the audience. As usual you have the initial hesitation when there is like NO-ONE wanting to ask questions and then suddenly, after the first couple of brave people, there are 10 hands up at a time. Some of the questions were about the series of books, Oliver's writing, her opinions on the TV series and even her views between the UK and US covers (she liked the UK ones more).

I think one of the most interesting things to hear about was her view on the TV series. As someone pointed out, Hana described with blonde hair, blue eyes and someone who when standing next to her, she would always stand out is being played by a brown haired, brown eyed female in the TV series. In Oliver's view, and I agree with her, the fact that the actress looks different to the Hana we've envisioned from the books doesn't matter. What matters is the essence of her character coming across on screen. As long as she is still pretty in a way that you can never compare to her, that is the whole point and Lena's view on Hana therefore, that is what matters. I both agree and disagree in a way but by her saying that aloud, it did change some of the opinions I had formed about the many adaptations around at the moment. While some people dislike Theo James as Four from Divergent, for instance, we have to remember that although the appearance helps to adapt Four's character to the screen, it's his personality, character and actions that will truly remind us of the Four we all know and love. Lauren Oliver is right in saying that.

She also talked a little bit about her new book (which I have to say I thought HUNGER GAMES) when she described it. It's called Panic and should be coming out some time next year. It's about this village in New York where every summer the kids in the neighbourhood play a very serious game with drastic consequences. Sounds interesting, I have to say and a little different from Delirium.
My question was asking about whether she intended in starting the series to have both Julian AND Alex. For me, Julian kind of came out of the blew from no-where - no hints, no warnings that Lena could have feelings for another. Her reply was yes, it was intended. She said she had always wanted to have these two different guys - complete opposites - and the tension from these characters have against one another is portrayed the most in Requiem.

After the questions were over, she started signing books. I was quite near the back so I had to wait a while before I met her and spend the time talking to Rebecca (another one!) who was sitting next to me, and someone I found out goes to a university near me (it really is a small world sometimes). When I finally got to the front, I don't really remember what I said. I think I rambled for a bit about what I'd read in the series, not particularly making sense. I also mentioned I'd looked at the end of Pandemonium before I started it. For those that have read it, you will know that that IS THE WORST THING TO DO and totally ruined the ending. Lauren replied in mock anger and wrote in big letters in my signed book about it which was a lovely personal gesture. I had my photo taken with her and then scurried off.
I don't think I've ever met someone so nice! Literally, she is one of the nicest, friendliest people I have come across in a while and I felt so at ease talking to her considering a) she was kind of a stranger and b) she writes some of the best books.

It was a lovely evening and one I have turning over in my mind happily for days thinking about how great it was. The ease in talking to Lauren Oliver, the delight in hearing the secrets behind some of her writing and most of all, enjoying some of the best YA books around with people who completely agree with me. I had a bit of an awful day the next day (for more than one reason) but that evening made me realise how much I want to become part of the book industry but also how much I love being a blogger. It has its moments but blogging really is great.

I would seriously recommend Lauren Oliver's books. I was a bit unsure about my opinion of Delirium but Pandemonium is AMAZING. I'm currently reading Requiem which is brilliant so far!

Review: Delirium
Review: Pandemonium
Review: Before I Fall (stand-alone)

On My Bookshelf (37)

This meme for originally inspired by 'In My Mailbox' created by The Story Siren
Other versions are:
Letterbox Love created by Narratively Speaking
Stacking the Shelves created by Tynga's reviews
Showcase Sunday created by Books, Biscuits and Tea

I went to the Lauren Oliver event at Waterstones Piccadilly this week so I picked up some books for the event as well as some extras as I was in the BIGGEST book store in England. I love walking around there because, although it is a BIG shop, it always seems quite peaceful for some reason. There are times when having a staff discount really is a perk.

Bought:

- Delirium by Lauren Oliver - I've read this one already but borrowed a library book when I did. At the signing I was already getting Requiem and I had Pandemonium at home so I had to finish the collection. Although I realised in the queue that I have different versions of all three books so they don't match...

Review for Delirium

- Requiem by Lauren Oliver - This is her newly released book and I've just started it - wow so far. I wasn't going to read it straight away but after being on a high from the evening talking and loving this series, I needed to know what happened in the end. I'm desperately trying not to look at the end - it's really hard!

- Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins - I was standing in the Teen section for about 15 minutes debating whether to get this or not. I'd read the first chapter at the back of my copy of Anna and the French Kiss (which I loved) and thought it sounded really good. However, when I went back to the section after the event at like 9.30pm, it was still there and in my tired state, I bought it (with my discount of course). Quite glad I did too.

- Insurgent by Veronica Roth - This was one of those grab-and-go purchases where I saw it on my way to the till and got it. I have a copy of Divergent and I'll probably be rushing to the shops when the third book comes out so I thought I might as well go for the whole series. I have read this book, it's so so good - go read Divergent!

Review of Insurgent

Library:

- All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin - I've read two contemporary-ish reads by Zevin, Elsewhere and Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, both of which are good. I've seen this in bookshops but never been sure whether I would like it as it seems very different to what I know Zevin has written before. Looking forward to seeing what this is like, it sounds incredible. 

What did you receive this week? Have you read any of these books? 

Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver (#2)

*There may be some spoilers for the first book in the series, Delirium (here's my review for that)*

I started this a little apprehensiveness to say the least. While I liked Delirium and definitely wanted to find out what would happen next for Lena after THAT ending, it wasn't the best or memorable book I had ever read. So I thought PANDEMONIUM would be the same, honestly.
I found out a couple of months ago about the Lauren Oliver signing (more about that next week!) and having not read this, yet been given a copy by a friend, I thought it would be time to read this as the signing was for the third and final book in the series.
BOY THIS MADE UP FOR WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE IN DELIRIUM. (Get used to the CAPS by the way...)

Synopsis: After escaping Portland with Alex, Lena, alone, finds her way through the Wilds to a group of people, just like her. Fighting against the society she is forced to live within, escaping the cure that will prevent her from love. While she joins the resistance against the enforced regime, without Alex, she finds herself drifting towards a new love - someone that represents everything she is against.

Review: PANDEMONIUM is quite something. Since I started the Delirium series, I have read Lauren Oliver's other novel, Before I Fall (review) and it is now being made into a TV show with Emma Roberts playing Lena. So starting PANDEMONIUM with that already hinted to me there must be something spectacular about this book that has sparked so much interest.

PANDEMONIUM is narrated through Lena's eyes again but this time, in two different time zones, Now and Then. Then begins immediately after the ending of Delirum and shows an interesting side to Lena in coping with the loss of Alex while fitting in with her tough surroundings. It's fair to say she sticks out a bit at first. Now, which were my favourite parts of the book, details Lena's life as she goes to live in New York City undercover for the resistance along with new characters, Raven and Tack. I loved seeing a new and stronger Lena which let me know that despite the narration in Then, I knew she would be okay in the end. It was interesting having the contrast in characters actually that I think made it much more interesting than if it had been a linear structure.

In the Now parts, we are introduced to Julian. Julian is probably the epiphany of what Lena is against. Being a symbol of the younger generation, he is a part of the DFA (deliria-free America) who fight to cure the whole country of love. He isn't exactly your typical hero, I felt like he was a character I shouldn't like at the beginning but as the narrative progresses, you realise that he is merely following orders from a threatening father, it's something to hide his true beliefs. I actually preferred Julian to Alex. He seemed much more natural and I liked the slow progression of feeling between Lena and Julian who are kind of thrown together unwillingly. Their relationship is unique in that sense and the way everything just kind of happens felt much more realistic in my eyes.


Although normally I'm not a huge fan of poetry or lyrical language, I actually liked the way Oliver does this in PANDEMONIUM. I came to love the mixture of prose, speech and lyrical language that made this a lovely and enjoyable read. It makes it much more imaginative in my head, I feel like I am there, with Lena, among protesters or free in the Wilds. It was done so much better than in Delirium for me.
The concept was really the thing that got me to read this series. And while that is still there and developed further slightly, it isn't as 'Wow this is such a good idea!' than previously. However, I think that kind of suits where Lauren Oliver wanted PANDEMONIUM to go. While she doesn't explore the basics in this society with the whole love cure thing, she replaces it by exploring the intricate network of organisations making up the society that both oppose and support the cure for love. I loved this political aspect of the novel and made it much more tense and surprising, I thought.
The aspect I think that made me not like Delirium as much is that for me, it was unrealistic. In most dystopians, like Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (review), there is always the deep feeling that the situation could happen in modern society. And in Delirium I didn't get that. I could not see love being thought as a sickness. Or the governable able to force a cure upon us. However, with a look at the different worlds within and outside the city walls, I'm not sure why but for me it made the narrative that much more believable.

On a last note, OH MY FRICKING GOD THE ENDING. I have to admit I'm one of these readers who looks at the last page as they're reading (Sorry Lauren Oliver...), normally not really understanding the context of it. But OH MY. Advice? DON'T READ THE LAST PAGE because that just ruins everything! Seriously, the biggest surprise (for me anyway). I'm not sure whether I would have seen it coming had I not known but even though I did know I was still left like 'AHHH. WHAT? LIKE...WHAT?!' To say the least, I have no idea what's going to kick off in Requiem, hopefully I approve.

Overall, PANDEMONIUM is a far cry from my opinion on Delirium, making this series really stand up and be noticed in my eyes. I loved the way Oliver chose to narrate it, the settings, the new characters and what it focuses on which makes this book as good as my favourite dystopian novels. I loved PANDEMONIUM, bring on Requiem!

I give it a 5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/
Pages: 375
Publisher: Hodder
Challenges: None

Related Posts:
Review: Before I Fall
Review: Delirium #1

Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver

I read the first chapter of this book when it was featured at the back of Lauren Oliver's other YA book, Delirium (review) and liked the sound of it. I had actually seen it in my local library the week before and glanced at it...and not liking the sound of it too much.

But this chapter made this book seem like a typical contemporary book with a twist. Set in a high-school with the main character being one of the popular kids, falling in love, repeating the same day over and over again, the accident - perfect, I was hooked.
When I mentioned it on a On My Bookshelf (here), so many of my blogging friends told me this was a great book - as good as Delirium which I loved. So let's just say I had incredibly high expectations for this book. I wanted to love this.

Synopsis: Sam Kingston is one of those girls. She has it all - looks, popularity, the clothes, great friends, a perfect boyfriend. When she wakes up the first time on Friday 12th February - Cupid Day - she expects it to be as easy and good as normal with lots of roses being sent her way and a great party at the end of it where she will finally do it with her jock boyfriend, Rob. However, the ending isn't quite as she thought it would be. After a major car accident with her three best friends, Sam finds herself waking up at 6.30am, her sister coming in, Lindsay waiting to pick her up - and the day is Friday 12th February. Across seven days, Sam has to work out how work out what was happening in her life, how this happened and also, just live life.

Review: I really did want to love this book, like I did with Delirium and from reading the first chapter I felt I would be sucked in straight away. Nah-ah. That did not happen. I hate doing negative reviews in the fear I will sound too harsh or brash. But I just did not like this book - I'm entitled to an opinion.

The plot is simple. Sam gets (what we assume) killed in a freak car accident that included her three best friends when coming home in the early hours from a typical teenage house party. We all dream and wonder what would happen on the other side but for Sam, she experiences an unconventional idea of life on the other side. When Sam wakes up, there's no gates, God, angels or paradise. Nope, it's the morning of the day she gets killed and she has to re-live it over again. However, when a similar outcome happens at the end of this day, she is woken again. And again. And again on that morning of the day she died. It seems like she needs to work out what to do to prevent herself or another being killed because everyday someone is, even if it's not Sam.

Describing my reading experience with this book would look quite interesting on a graph as I had moments of enjoyment of this book as well as moments where I was thinking even Frankenstein was more thrilling than this (which is saying something). Like I said, the first chapter I thought was brilliant, drew me in and gave me a flavour of a contemporary style - this was a book centred around teenagers for teenagers and I was good with that.
However, it was on the second day that it all went down hill. The pace just slowed down so much and I felt I was struggling to get through the pages of this book. And the pace only really kicked back up for the last two days - Day 6 and Day 7 I found the most interesting and readable.
The other thing that annoyed me for the majority of the book, largely the middle was Sam. I felt no connection with her, like many other reviewers too. She was selfish, ignorant and I just wanted to slap her for pretending so much - even when she was dead! It is true that this is a book about her transformation into a person who does what they want, whatever the consequences and that message I did get from this book, although I don't think Sam changed all that much really - only on the surface.
For the plot, although I loved the clever idea that Oliver has originally invented, there was no clear structure to Sam's journey. I still have no idea whether she wanted to be in this limbo, neither dead or alive. I have no idea what the intention of this repeating of the day before her death was for - did this end when she did what she truly wanted? When she saved someone? When she helped a certain amount of people rather than herself? When she do a certain something? Did this happen only for Sam or does this idea happen to anyone? I have no clue and it could be an infinite amount of reasons at the end.

The ending, despite this ambiguity throughout the whole book that I felt should have been answered, was great and ends with a right and final feeling. The epilogue, although only a page long, really made me smile and think about what life could be after death - this is only one interpretation which could be valid. The ending is clever and I appreciated seeing the ending of Sam's journey to be firmly dead. To end it in a certain and special way getting and doing everything she wanted to do. It's fair to say that Sam is totally unrelatable throughout the whole book until the end, but even then for me, I still didn't understand or get her and still wanted to throw a shoe at her.

On a positive note, the idea is extremely clever, like I found Delirium. And this is the part I enjoyed the most about this book. I finished this book because I was intrigued to see what would happen, however infuriating Sam was or that I had no idea what the aim of this limbo period was really. If you did when reading this, let me know - maybe I just missed that part. I would interesting the mix of genres here. This book isn't quite dystopian because of the contemporary setting but then it isn't really contemporary because of the whole waking the day of your death thing.

Despite my negativeness, this book has scored some great reviews, although all of them agree with their hatefulness towards Sam at SOME point throughout the novel. I know that's the point blah-blah, but when you hate the main protagonist who is talking in first-person, it definitely decreases your enjoyment.
This is Oliver's debut to the world of YA and for me, it shows. Her other novel, Delirium is much better and sucked me in quicker and easier and this is the book I would recommend people interested in Lauren Oliver.
This book was a let down to say the least but I did enjoy parts such as the beginning and ending as well as the all the unique and stereotypical teenage secondary characters such as Kent and Ally, Lindsay and Elody (love that name!).
Perhaps I just expected too much.

I give a 3 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/
Pages: 470
Publisher: HarperCollins
Challenges: None

Related Posts:
Review: Delirium

Delirium - Lauren Oliver (#1)

I saw Delirium many times before I picked it up. I think the reason may have been that the idea of love being a disease seemed very...far-fetched? Basic? I'm not quite sure but that is what turned me off. I think I also had a nagging idea that this would be a little like Twilight and with some of the negative reviews I have seen for this book, this wasn't exactly on my to-read list.
I found this in the library, drawn by the different cover I found to the other versions I had seen. When I realised what the book was, in fact, the ONE I had seen, I had already read the blurb and pulled in. I was already intrigued for positive and negative reasons - it was time to give it a go.

Synopsis: Set in the future, Lena Holloway lives in a world where love is a official disease that everyone suffers from. Scientists have found a cure that take this (and other) feelings away. Lena is 17, close to receiving her cure. When all teenagers turn 18, they receive the cure with their partners selected for them as well as their job and the number of offspring they will have. It is how Lena's world works and she has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. With 95 days to go, Lena does something amazing. She falls in love.

Review: The book is set in the future as one can possible tell. It is not too far into it as there are references that any reader nowadays would understand. It is at least 100 years as Lena states in the first few lines of the book 'It has been sixty-four years since the president and the Consortium identified love as a disease, and forty-three since the scientists perfected the cure'. So as you can tell, the cure is still relatively brand new.
Despite this being set in the future however, there is this underlying feeling, for me anyway, that technology has reversed or at least is less accessible than now or we think technology will be. For starters, Lena's daily chore is washing the dishes by hand. She mentions only the rich can afford computers. And that they pass the time by reading or testing each other for exams or dreaming of their future partners. Needless to say, when you start to read, subtly Oliver has created a world that although largely recognisable, is very different to our own.

The idea of love being a cure is interesting. This was part of the reason for me being turned off before but throughout reading, it was interesting to see how this came about and how they enforced it. Without a doubt, this world is a harsh state where there are curfews for the uncured and patrols to avoid. Lena lives in a safe haven, waiting to be finally cured and then continue with her life. Each city is barriered so no-one can get in. But no-one can get out either without permission. The curfews for the uncured prevent any wrongdoings, which only the uncured would cause. Also, if 'amour deliria nervosa' is shown in young people, they are whisked off to be cured straight away. Easy. The only people who can fight this scheme won't because they have no emotions and the uncured just want to be 18 to be cleansed of this disease. Again, easy for the government to control.
It is clear that Oliver has seriously thought about the world and it comes through. I liked the stereotypical things for teenagers to do being deemed scandalous to do for Lena and her best friend, Hana such as a house party, listening to music. It really put into context the do's and don't's of the world especially for a YA audience.
So the idea was clever and can see it happening in the future if I'm honest. However, at times it did feel a little far-fetched like 'Would people REALLY allow that?'. And that President that declared love a disease and the subsequent presidents must have been really manipulative to have the people ALLOW it. It felt to me that there was a major disaster to spur this thought however this is never said. Just seemed a little weird that they would suddenly one day declare this.

The novel was overall very addictive with the mystery and plot twists that keep you reading. Numerous times the chapter would end on a cliff-hanger and then the next chapter would start with an anecdote until you found out what happened eventually. I did find myself flicking through the next few pages to see what would happen as I was on the edge of my seat. The anecdotes were effective as a lot of Lena's past was revealed through there which helps to fill the reader in.

The romance. As you can tell from the synopsis, there is romance throughout with Lena and...I don't want to say who because I was NOT expecting it when it happened. Yes, it is partly obvious at the beginning but...oh you'll find out! Anyway, on reflection, to me the romance felt very fast and sudden where hate to love goes very quickly. It just seemed quite unrealistic to me. However, the romance is nice - not over the top or understated but the perfect amount and to this heavy and depressing topic, gives a nice positive feeling as well.

The novel has been praised for Lauren Oliver's use of poetic prose. Meh, I'm not always a fan of it while others rave so I'm probably not the most reliable on this term. I thought it started off very well and creative. However, as the book wore on, I found it a bit boring and tedious especially if it was in the middle of a tense scene. I'm just not a fan of it but in this case, I felt it broke this book up well and made it a bit different.

I read this book straight after Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (review) and for me, they are both so alike in the writing, setting and plot. Both Tally and Lena defy authority both knowingly and unknowingly, they find romance and almost conform to that authority. AND THEY BOTH HAVE CLIFFHANGER ENDINGS. I think Uglies plays more on the world and the problems within it when Delirium puts emphasis on the romance and her own personal struggle. So if you have read either of these books, you should like the other.

Overall, despite my critisms, I did certainly enjoy this book and it has hooked me for the rest of the series. Lauren Oliver has created this original novel that for me played homage to the best bits of other dystopian novels such as Matched by Ally Condie (review) and The Declaration by Gemma Malley (review) - it certainly is a dystopian fan's delight.
I can totally see why Lauren Oliver is such an acclaimed writer in the blogosphere and after reading the first chapter of her debut, Before I Fall, she is definitely now on my radar. With so many questions left open at this ending, I am definitely looking for the newly released sequel Pandemonium.
This is one time when the quote 'It's better to have loved and lost rather than to never have loved at all' rings quite true.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/
Pages: 393
Publisher: Hodder
Challenges: None

The sequel, Pandemonium is out now in all good bookshops. The third in the trilogy is out next year.


So, while I was reading this on holiday, I listened to the below song and thought the lyrics went really well with this book, especially the chorus. The song is 'The Way You Make Me Feel' by Steps. If you don't know who they are, they were a British 90's band and also one of my favourite childhood bands - and my first concert! They had lots of hits like 'Stomp' and 'Tragedy'. They recently got back together so I'm having a bit of a Steps-fest and re-visiting all the old songs. 
Those who have read Delirium, have a listen and let me know if you agree or disagree. Enjoy! (I love the dresses...)