Divergent (Divergent, #1) in Reading In Between The Lines YA Book Club

Dec 13, 2012 Katie (Kitkatscanread) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

So I found it hard to decide on a final rating.
Personally I found the beginning to be a little strange, but then it's because I haven't read a story like this before, so it was just something that I had to get used to.
There also was a certain element about the story that kept me reading on.
I wanted to know more about the world and these factions.
It's a different story, but I did like it. It was interesting.
The characters were believable and fantastic.
This isn't a happy chappy novel.
There are ce ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Jun 21, 2013 Jordan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: abc-chalenge-2014, favorites, books-i-own

This book was the bomb diggity and beyond AMAZING!!! It had me hooked from the very first page. I never should have picked this book up, because once I did I couldn't put it down. I was so into the story that I didn't get anything else done, but it was definitely time well spent. I kept on telling myself I would read one more chapter and one more chapter turned into 100 pages.

"Divergent" is set in a Dystopian society in Chicago. Chicago is divided up into five factions that are each focused on This book was the bomb diggity and beyond AMAZING!!! It had me hooked from the very first page. I never should have picked this book up, because once I did I couldn't put it down. I was so into the story that I didn't get anything else done, but it was definitely time well spent. I kept on telling myself I would read one more chapter and one more chapter turned into 100 pages.

"Divergent" is set in a Dystopian society in Chicago. Chicago is divided up into five factions that are each focused on a different virtue. Candor consists of the honest, Abnegation consists of the selfless, Dauntless consists of the brave, Amity consists of the peaceful and Erudite consists of the intelligent. Every year all the sixteen-year-olds in Chicago take an aptitude test to decide which faction they are suited to be in.

Beatrice Prior has just turned sixteen and it is her turn to take the aptitude test. When she takes it she finds out her results are inconclusive and that she is a Divergent- some one who is suited to be in more than one faction. She must be quiet or this could lead to the end of her life. Beatrice must decide whether she will stay in Abnegation or leave her family and her old life completely. When Beatrice decides to become a member of Dauntless she didn't know how brave she really would have to be to get through the intense initiation and to not become factionless. Little did she know that she would find herself and find love along the way.

Veronica Roth writes in a way that pulls you in from the beginning of the story. It is very unique from other writers and makes that story fit together like a puzzle. I fell in love with Tris's character. We all have that moment in our lives where we don't know who we are and have to find ourselves. Tris goes against the norm and chooses to be who she is instead of what a test tells her to be. I felt like I was feeling everything that Tris felt and like I was going through everything she was going through. This book was definitely an emotional roller coaster and I felt like I was on it with Tris. I related to her character so well and felt like I was in the story along with her. I admire Tris for how incredibly brave she is. She goes through so many obstacles through out the book and never gives up no matter what. Tris definitely has some flaws but that makes her who she is as a character.

"Divergent" is the best book I read so far this year! It has everything a wonderful story needs. If you haven't read this book yet go get it NOW!!!! It will not disappoint you. It will hook you from the start and you won't be able to put it down!!!! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 10, 2013 Stephanie (Gorelenore) Cover2CoverBlog rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya

Background: Beatrice Prior lives in a divided society in a dystopian Chicago cityscape. Each division is responsible for and dedicated to a value, bravery, intelligence, selflessness, honesty, and peacefulness; but each has qualities that are upheld by all of the factions. Upon your 16th year, you must choose a faction to live in, many choose their parents鈥� factions, others decide to break away and try new things. However, you must pass the initiations for whatever faction you choose, regardless Background: Beatrice Prior lives in a divided society in a dystopian Chicago cityscape. Each division is responsible for and dedicated to a value, bravery, intelligence, selflessness, honesty, and peacefulness; but each has qualities that are upheld by all of the factions. Upon your 16th year, you must choose a faction to live in, many choose their parents鈥� factions, others decide to break away and try new things. However, you must pass the initiations for whatever faction you choose, regardless of what they ask; otherwise you become factionless and live a life of poverty and loneliness. Beatrice decides to leave her parents鈥� faction when she learns that she is not your typical teen and there may be a secret she has to keep from everyone.

Review: I have been told to read this book by MANY people, and it has taken me way too long to get to it. I was able to grab the e-audiobook from the library and listen to it while at work (this is my new thing, I love listening to books at work, keeps me focused on tasks and makes the day go by so much faster).

So on to the review: I am crazy about this book, I cannot wait to get book 2. I found that the characters and plot (even with plot holes) were amazing. I loved Tris (Beatrice changes her name) and Four and their instances together. I was also so happy that there was not a love triangle, and that the relationships in the book did not take up a majority of the plot, it was really about the faction and Tris and her choice and learning about who she is and wants to be.

The plot, like I mentioned, had a few holes. There was not really an overview of the history of the factions and how they operated, you only get bits and pieces as events happen. I would have also liked more detail on the setting; I understand that the characters only know things relative to their factions and their parents鈥� factions, but for a better understand of where things are happening, I think it would have been helpful. Flaws aside, I loved the action throughout the plot. Tris and her faction initiation kept me on my toes and I was rooting for her the whole time. I was also very surprised by the ending and the significance of the title, Divergent, I am glad that the author pulled everything together so neatly in the end.

I cannot wait for book 2, I have requested it from the library and am waiting, I think I am 4th in line :/ it is going to be a long wait, but it will be worth it from what I hear :)
...more

Like · see review

Sep 09, 2012 Brianna rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: childhood-favourites, young-adult, read-in-2022, completed-series

Review upon second read (2022): 3 stars
It's been 10 years since I first read Divergent , and it's not hard to believe that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the first time around. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it at all, because I did, but I saw a lot more flaws in it, and most of my enjoyment came from nostalgia rather than from actual content.

My main critique is that the pacing seems off. Most of this book I would consider incredibly slow-paced, with only the last 50-75 pages bei Review upon second read (2022): 3 stars
It's been 10 years since I first read Divergent , and it's not hard to believe that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the first time around. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it at all, because I did, but I saw a lot more flaws in it, and most of my enjoyment came from nostalgia rather than from actual content.

My main critique is that the pacing seems off. Most of this book I would consider incredibly slow-paced, with only the last 50-75 pages being packed with action and intrigue. This book's plot, unlike what I remember, focuses primarily on the process of being initiated into a different faction, and everything that entails when it comes to Dauntless, rather than the a crazy war I expected.

I don't mind slower paced novels, but in this case, I wish there was a tad more going on at times because I wasn't a huge fan of the characterization either. Most of the characters fail to feel real to me, but rather, they each perfectly fit the roles they were created to fulfill: best friend, abusive father, guy who has an unreciprocated crush on me, the brave one, the love interest... Tris and Four are the closest characters to "real," yet I still found it hard to become connected to their story. The relationships between the characters were fun (though the romance happened way too quickly for me hahahahah), and some of the dialogue/banter is quite funny and will stick with me, but this book never breached that point where it turned from a book to a story I was completely captivated in.

Despite all that, this was an entertaining, nostalgic, and fun time. While I didn't love all of the plot choices or characterization, this is still a series I will continue to re-read, if only to remember the great time I had consuming it the first time.

Review upon initial read (2012): 5 stars

Best book ever!!!!!!!!!!!! My most favourite book of all time. - September 18th, 2012 (first finished the book)

May 4th, 2014: Let's ignore that part ^

This book was really good. :P ...more

Like · see review

Feb 16, 2013 Michelle (Bookaholic Banter) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, to-buy

I absolutely ADORED this book! The concept of this book was wonderful! It really made me think about some things. What faction would you consider yourself to be? For me, I would have to say Divergent, for sure! I am excited beyond belief to read the next book in this series, and super-duper excited to see the movie! Can't wait!!! ...more

Like · see review