Delirium (Delirium Trilogy, 1)

didn't feel like I liked it that much while reading, but it sure has given me plenty to think about

Another one that makes me think of a modern Anthem. The message is less political than some of these dystopian tomes. It's basic message is pro-love. Religion plays a strange role in the novel though. It's both used to oppress the population, and explored by the narrator, Lena, as intimately tied to love. Lena connects romantic love, platonic love, familial love to religious love. She connects the crucification of Jesus directly to the general importance love.

But it's pretty sad. This isn't exactly a feel-good/beach-read young adult book.

I just realized that I didn't rate Delirium despite reading it over a month ago. Shame on me.

I've really been getting into these YA dystopian books that keep me flipping the pages in girlish delight. This book had all the elements I wanted. Lead gal/heroine who is a little bit of of a pansy but eventually makes us quite proud of her, a kick-ass best friend who says all the honest things no one else will say, and a swoon worthy young lad who knows how to treat a woman right. Mix in a bunch of secrets and a little thing called L-O-V-E, and you have...WAIT. Did I say love? It just so happens that love is frowned upon (and by frowned upon, I mean punishable by prison or death) in Lena's society. I found this to be a interesting premise and although it could be an exaggeration that people should be treated for love because they could die or kill over it, it wasn't really that far of a stretch. Love makes us do some crazy crap.

The perk of this book (besides a cool story line and characters I actually started to really care about) was the writing itself. Lauren Oliver knows how to use her words and creates some really beautiful passages. She also has the ability to describe the society/environment/surroundings in a way that doesn't make me go, "Wha???"

3.5 Rounded to 4 Stars

Would not recommend. Very hard for me to finish. I will not read the trilogy.