THE
DIVERGENT SERIES By:
Veronica Roth 5 Stars
I don’t
remember exact how I ran across this series. If it was a recommendation I thank
whoever did so. I just know I have been a fan from the first book. I am over
the whole trilogy idea. I can see the reasoning behind it as a publishing money
maker, but it seems like more like a trend or an idea that everyone else is
doing it so why shouldn’t we? However, I have never felt this way about the Divergent trilogy. It is a series that I
am frequently recommending to almost everyone I talk to.
DIVERGENT
While going
to school I signed up for a program where I can read snippets of books and
provide a review of them. Of course they want favorable reviews so they try and
gear these books to what you would like. As part of my profile I wrote of my
obsession with the Divergent book and my desire that a miracle would occur and
the second book would magically be pushed to an earlier publication date because
it was just killing me to wait. With as many books as I read it was truly a
miracle to be so obsessed with one book to totally ignore all of the other
books I enjoy. Yes, this is that book.
Veronica
Roth’s character development is superb. She makes you a part of Tris and her
adventures. It is almost impossible to separate yourself from her when the book
is finished. The action will keep you up all night in a reading marathon that
is worth the red rimmed eyes and the attitude problems from sleep deprivation.
In this
dystopian novel there are 5 factions. These factions were formed by society to
cover all the reasons that past civilizations have failed. The factions would focus
on that specific character trait in order to ensure that society will function
in the upmost fashion. The factions are:
* Abnegation: Selflessness to overcome
selfishness* Amity: Peace to overcome war
* Candor: Honesty to defeat dishonesty
* Dauntless: Bravery to defeat cowardice
* Erudite: Knowledge to defeat ignorance
You are considered
divergent if you have an aptitude for more than one faction. The divergent are
aware when they are put in a simulation, such as the test administered in order
to determine your aptitude. The simulations are almost like a dream. It is an
alternate reality where actions and decisions help define the person.
We find out
that the protagonist, Tris, is in fact divergent. What Tris soon figures out is
that being divergent is a dangerous thing. There are people who will stop at
nothing to eliminate them. Tris ultimately chooses to switch her faction
allegiance from her parents in Abnegation to her own choice of Dauntless.
Tris has to
go through an orientation of sorts to help her fit in with her new peers. At
the end of this training orientation the dauntless initiates are required to
complete a final test to prove their worth. Tris soon finds out that if you
don’t pass the final test you are left factionless. Being factionless is
considered by many to be a fate worse than death.
As Divergent progresses we fight with Tris
as she tries to survive long enough to participate in the final test. In her
quest to become dauntless, Tris soon finds herself wondering if it is worth
fighting for a faction that has become corrupt. Like all the factions, the
original manifestos have become skewed. Dauntless has begun to view bravery as
recklessness and masochism.
INSURGENT
AND ALLEGIANT
In order to
not give away any national security secrets, I will not talk much about these
two books in order to protect those who would rather not have the surprises
ruined. With that being said, I did give Insurgent
4 stars instead of 5 like the other two books. I only did this because my
favorite characters seem to lose their way and for that reason it was harder
for me to read the book. It was almost like I was a proud parent or a best
friend who even though I wanted to know what was going on in the Divergent world, I still disliked seeing
those characters that way. However, those emotions and actions were necessary to
totally understand the point of the story as it concludes in Allegiant.
Allegiant allowed all sorts of relationships
to flourish. The characters in the book receive a deeper understanding of what
it means to strengthen bonds. In response the reader’s love for the characters
skyrockets to new levels.
As I
understand, Veronica Roth is taking a little heat with certain points in the
story. While yes, there were some difficult things within Allegiant, there were all necessary to show the full scope of the
characters growth and to stay true to the characters we have come to love. She
provides her perspective on such events at https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/5119494-about-the-end-of-allegiant-spoilers?page=3#comment_85978617
BEWARE OF THE
SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T COMPLETED THE SERIES.
FOR THE FUN
STUFF:
First off,
if you love Four as I do, you will love the news about the 5 short stories from
his perspective. All of these shorts are in eBook form. Free Four: Tobias Tells the Story (Divergent #1.5) was published in
2012. This short is the knife scene from Divergent
That was
originally going to be the only one, but this year Miss Roth announced that
there would be 4 more. They all appear to tell more about Four’s life pre-Tris.
The Transfer (Divergent # 0.1) was
released in September. This book was about Four’s simulation test to determine
which faction he had the aptitude for. It closes with his faction decision as
well as how he ends up with his nickname.
I gave both
of these books a 5. In fact, with as busy as life is with reading new books, I
didn’t plan on reading the whole series again before Allegiant was published. The
Transfer changed my mind. It reminded me why I love the books and I couldn’t
resist dropping the rest of my life plans while I indulged once again in the
divergent world.
The
remaining books are set for the following publishing dates:
The Initiate (Divergent # 0.2) Publication on December 17, 2013
The Son (Divergent # 0.3) Publication on January 21, 2014
The Traitor (Divergent # 0.4) Publication on February 11, 2014
On February
11th all of the shorts will be sold in a physical book for those who
don’t have the resources to read or just refuse to read an eBook.
THE FUN
CONTINUES:
I haven’t
met anyone who hasn’t contemplated which faction they would choose. Even before
I found the following book I had already decided which faction I would be born
into and which one I would choose. For you who are curious you can take a test
in the book The World of Divergent: The
Path to Allegiant (Divergent # 2.5). I was able to obtain this eBook for
free from Amazon.
The World of Divergent lists the reasoning behind the
character names and they change to fit their new identities later on, a list of
the factions, their manifestos, and a quiz to determine your faction (thank
goodness it is not a simulation).
You might
question which faction I chose. Let me tell you. My parents are both very unselfish.
They have worked in the medical fields since before I existed. I grew up in a
small town where EMTs and firefighters were considered volunteers and it was not
an occupation. Both of my parents gave selfishly day after day. Based on this I
am sure I would have been Abnegation like Tris. However, like Tris I also
thought I was not selfless enough to stay in that faction.
In the
series the characters have to make their decision at the age of 16. To be
honest I have no idea what I would have picked at that age, but I can guarantee
it would not be the one I would pick today. That faction is Erudite. Yes, even
after reading the book it would still be Erudite.
I have this
love for learning that just did not exist when I was in high school.
Unfortunately, even if I chose Erudite now I am sure I wouldn’t have made it
past orientation. I really am not that smart, I just work hard to make me feel
like I am.
My second
choice would be Amity. Actually, this would probably be what I would have
picked in high school. I might not have liked the idea of gardening back then,
but I wish I was better at it now. I am sure that peace would have been a
valued characteristic for me either way.
I can tell
you for sure that I would never make it in Candor. I have way too many secrets
that need to be kept. Dauntless probably wouldn’t have been an option either. I
have quite a few fears and don’t see myself getting any braver over them.
When I took
the test in the book it did confirm Erudite, however it gave me more options
that I wouldn’t have previously considered. Still not much for Candor, but
there was more Dauntless than I expected. One thing is for sure, even if I have
a slight aptitude for other factions, I could never be Divergent. Divergent are
aware in their simulations. I can’t even tell that I am in a dream until after
I wake up and realize that I wasn’t really killed by a giant troll in the
forest above my parent’s house. Hallelujah!
Another fun
topic is the fear landscape. We discover that Four obtained his name as he only
had 4 fears. I believe I would have a multitude more. I am sure some of the
same fears within the book would appear as well as about 50 others. Some of
these must really be true as a few come in the form of reoccurring nightmares.
Some might even be combined fears, but here is a possible list:
* Not being able to breath* Drowning
* Enclosed Spaces
* Heights
* Spiders / Insects
* Losing my Mind
* Not being Prepared
* Not being Prepared for Important Relationships
* Betrayal
* Debt
* Corruption
* The Untrustworthy
* Did I mention Going Crazy?
* Being Attacked
* Probably many more…
The fun
doesn’t end there, but this post is forever long so, unfortunately, it must. I
hope you enjoy the Divergent series
as much as I did. A special thanks to Veronica Roth for bringing so much fun
and happiness to my life. Happy Reading Everyone!
