Tuesday, November 5, 2013

It's a Divergent World



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!

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