Published: February 1st 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: Hardback, 441
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Find the Author: Website, Good Reads, Twitter, Blog
Buy This Book: Amazon
, Book DepositoryBefore scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.A part of me is attracted to dystopians, but the other part of me is horribly afraid of them. Paranormals frighten me sometimes, but I'm 99.9% sure that vampires, werewolves and other supernatural baddies are not lurking in the shadows of the night waiting for a chance to jump out and do evil things to me, so it doesn't hit me too close. But controlling and strict governments? That's a possibility and it freaks me the hell out. And the version of the United States that the main character Lena lives in is seriously effed up.
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love. - Good Reads
I started writing this review earlier today, got busy and took off for a while and now here I am again writing and I'm still thinking fondly of it. Lena started out as a very frustrating character. I totally understand her reasoning, especially in retrospect, but there were times where I wanted to reach in and strangle some sense to her. Her agreeable stance was mind boggling. Of course, when you grow up a certain way it is hard to come to grips with a different reality or accept change. Especially change that big.
I think what I found especially interesting about Delirium was the religious aspects, the way Lauren Oliver depicted Christianity being twisted into something that helps control or influence the population. It's something that has happened in the past and I found it interesting how that tied in. It wasn't a huge part of the story, just a little thing I noticed - so the book is by no means religious, but it made total sense.
I really loved the development and romance between Lena and Alex. It wasn't love at first sight and I felt it developed at a good rate - I even thought at one point, "dude, are they gonna hook up or whaaaat?" And I loved Lena's best friend Hana. In the beginning she's really the only breath of fresh air because Lena is such a stick in the mud and so focused on getting rid of the disease of love.
Overall I really, really liked this book. It had a really good and imaginative story, the characters were done very well, and it made me think and consider a lot. Well done, Lauren Oliver!
P.S. THERE IS AN EPIC CLIFFHANGER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK. If those bother you, which it did me a little (not exactly in a horrible way, but I'm just very eager to read the next book) you might want to wait a little to read it closer to the next books release date!
5 out of 5 Hello Kitties!
I totally agree with your review - Delirium is one of my all time favorite books! Can you believe the end? ohmygosh, what a cliffhanger!
ReplyDeleteI keep reading great reviews of this book everywhere but I just can't seem to get over the whole love being classified as a disease thing. I do love a good dystopian though so will prob end up reading it!
ReplyDeleteI'm having a giveaway of the book Telesa by Lani Wendt Young on my blog. Check it out at The Write Obsession
I've been curious about this book for a while. There have been so many dystopians published this year, I want to make sure I read the best ones (I don't want to get sick of this genre). But I love it when books make me think.
ReplyDeleteI've been putting this one off for months. I love dystopians but I've heard mixed reviews of this one. Nice that it's not love at first sight though, that's refreshing! Great review.
ReplyDeleteGiselle
Xpresso Reads
I really really enjoyed this one too Liza! I had the same thoughts as you, a little frustrated with Lena in the beginning and then wondering when or if she and Alex were going to make something happen but by the end I was an emotional mess and couldn't read fast enough. Complete win:)
ReplyDeleteWhat are your thoughts on the ending, Liza? I'm on the fence about reading this; I'm reasonably sure I'll enjoy the story but rumor has it there is a horrible cliffhanger...so I might just wait and read it when the series is complete...
ReplyDelete@Bethany YES, I actually forgot to mention that in my review! I need to update it! THAT ENDING WAS SUCH BS! :O It totally just left me hanging!
ReplyDelete@Lan It was a little weird, but explained very well and actually made total sense despite how frustrating it was. You should definitely try it out! :) Thanks for telling me about the giveaway!
@TG This is definitely one to check out! I really loved it! It's not exactly a twisty-turny book full of surprises exactly, well, except the ending which was a total cliffhanger, but it was mindboggling!
@Giselle I put it off for a long time too! I picked it up before, never read it, picked it back up, skipped over it for a while and finally decided to get into it and I'm so glad I did! Thank you!
@Jenny Yeah! It was crazy how compliant she was - I'm totally the opposite though. I couldn't put up with that crap for one second! But I guess it's easy to say if it wasn't shoved down your throat from birth and fed to you as normal. :) I guess that is what makes this genre so interesting! Seeing such off-the-wall ideas and how people conquer them!
@BJ THE ENDING WAS A TOTAL CLIFFHANGER! I was saying, "whaaaat the haaaayyyyylllll??" I kind of forgot that part of my review, I need to add it in! Yes, the cliffhanger is major - so if you're not interested I'd definitely wait until the second book comes out or the third - depending on if the second has another huge cliffhanger.
Thank you all so much for commenting! Hope you're having a lovely Monday (if that's possible bwuahaha)
I REALLY want to start this one... SOMETIME in THIS freaking lifetime!!! I'm glad Lena grew as a character! I hate when I continue to dislike characters all the way through a book!
ReplyDelete@Bookish Brunette You should, you should! I was the same way - kept putting it off! I wish I wouldn't have though! :D Oh, me too! And she is terribly frustrating at first, but her eyes eventually open! :) Thanks for commenting!
ReplyDeleteI read one very similar to this called the declaration. Not about eradicating love, but it was the future and two people in love were trying to escape, from government and be able to stay together. I guess it must have been dystopian too. I think if it happened I would not be able to conform at all, they just seem so ridiculous until you think of some of the things that happen already. It sounds very good.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warning I probably will not be able to wait until before the next book xD
Oh my gosh, HECK YES this book was pure awesomeness! I absolutely adored it! ♥ And that cliffhanger really WAS evil! I wanted to cry when I reached the end because everything just got insanely intense with the last few pages and I really wished I'd waited to read it LOL! x)
ReplyDeleteAwesome review, Liza! I'm really glad you liked this one. Counting down the days until Pandemonium comes out! :)
mmmmmmm! I love me a good dystopian! This books sounds so good, I love the idea behind it!
ReplyDeletethanks for the review!
I wasn't crazy about this one. But lots of other ppl seem to love it, so maybe I missed something. I do like Lauren's writing style very much. I just don't like her endings.
ReplyDeleteSarah @ Confessions of the UnPublished!
This books sounds so good
ReplyDelete@evermore1girl I'll have to check Declaration out! I kind of like these futuristic reads with crazy situations even thought they're so scary! Yeah, definitely hold back if you don't olike cliffhangers! :)
ReplyDelete@Mimi It IS! I know it! I'm counting too! :) Thank you!
@Alana Me too! I'm really getting into the dystopian books! I defintiely see what the fuss is about! :)
@Sarah Darlington Yeah, the ending was really abrupt and totally left me hanging! Well, each person is different! :)
@roro It is! :)
Thank you all for commenting! <3