Review: Divergent [Divergent, book 01]

Title:       Divergent [Divergent, book 01]
Author:   Veronica Roth
Rating:   ★★★★1/2

Availability:   National Bookstore | Fully Booked | iTunes | B&N

It has been ages since I blogged! Sorry, last half of the year was just hectic. I had to put up a company for my boss (which is still ongoing), and train several people throughout several months. Aside from that, from one client, we suddenly had four clients and I had to learn and train the new staff. And the boss also became the publisher of WineNZ Magazine, and I had had to be hands on with everything. Talk about a crazy year! Hopefully, I'll have more time for myself, for blogging, and for breathing this 2015.

Anyway, I feel like I'm a little late to the party since Divergent was released way back in 2011, and I only read it now. I didn't even plan on reading it, until my sister asked if I had a copy of the trilogy, and I gave her one, and I became curious. It's very rare that she'd ask for books because she's a busy mommy, but here she was asking for a trilogy.

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Sorry for the comparison, but Divergent largely reminded me of The Hunger Games, because that's the only other Dystopian book I've read. But I think Divergent brings something new to the table anyway, and Roth's writing style differed from Collins, so the comparison didn't hover in my mind while I was reading.

Now I understand what all the hullabaloo about Four was. He does sound fantastic and hot and just...ideal. I half-related to Tris, but not so much. I was able to relate to that wanting to be proper and good all the time but just couldn't. I could not relate, however, to her strength and ability to kill. I don't think I'm strong or brave enough for that.

After reading, I couldn't help but think which faction I'd choose if I lived in that world. I liked Erudite because I do like to learn, and I also liked Candor because I value honesty. But of the five factions, I will go for Dauntless, because I think they're the faction that teaches you to be most self-reliant and how to carry on.

All in all, Divergent was a nice surprise, and I think actually added value to my reading experience. I do love to venture into other categories/genres but I like to take it slowly. My experience with The Hunger Games and Divergent has so far been good so I think I'm going to read more of the same books.

Have you read Divergent? Which faction do you think you belong to or will choose to be part of?

Ciao,