Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Divergent

        Divergent, by Veronica Roth is one of my most favorite books of all time. Yes, if you have read the first book, you should definitely read the rest of the trilogy. Usually, however, from my experience, the first book is always the best. I know you are probably surprised that I have this book on my “Must Read” list because it was actually written and published within my life-time. It actually came out a couple years ago in 2012. That’s recent compared to the other books on my list anyways, but Divergent is just so lovable that I have to tell you guys all about it!
        “Two paths diverged in a yellow wood…” (Frost). That line right there pretty much sums it all up. The book is all about a sixteen-year-old girl choosing the path she wants to take for the rest of her life. Beatrice Prior grew up in a home where she was taught to always put the needs and the happiness of others above herself. She was taught to always be selfless, and when she turned 16, she was expected to choose how she would live for the rest of her life. Her parents expected her to choose the path that they had taught her, of course, but she chose a different path entirely. At the age 16, can you believe it?! I mean, it’s not that much worse than people in our world being expected to know what they want to do at the age of 18, but still. Divergent is a story about a young adult’s fight to find herself and to stay alive in the process.
But, of course, what reason have you to read the book? Well, it’s a really good book, for starters. The story line is captivating, and once you start reading it, you won’t want to put the book down. Susan Dominus describes it as “brisk pac[ed], [with] lavish flights of the imagination and writing that occasionally startles with fine detail” (Dominus). Roth has quite the imagination if she could come up with this whole new world all on her own. Other than that, the story is about a young girl finding her way. It’s life put down on paper. Plus, Roth added in the whole “different” concept to her story. Tris (Beatrice) is different, and she has to hide it to fit in. The thing is, being different is what saves her life multiple times. We all know that every person is different, and we are taught that being different is okay, good even. The book goes right along with that. It is full of action and adventure, but it also has romance, making it interesting to both men and women. It is the kind of book you could read one-hundred times and not get tired of it. Every time I read it, It’s just as good as the first time, possibly even better.
        Now, Divergent the movie is not out yet. It actually comes out this year, in March. I am so excited for it, but at the same time, I am dreading it. Whenever a book is made into a movie, the movie is always disappointing compared to the book. I mean, I already don’t like the some of the actors they cast for it. I just don’t want to see how much they botched the story, but because I read the book, I absolutely have to see the movie...It’s like a compulsion. So, if you read the book and love it, I will see you there, at the midnight premier, to see how different the movie is from the book. I’m looking forward to it.
       
“I want people to come away from my book with questions. Questions about virtue and goodness. Not answers”

                                    --Veronica Roth

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