Book Review(s): Divergent Series - Veronica Roth

Hello Readers,

I decided to wait until I had completed both books before writing a review, it's important to compare and contrast I think.

Divergent Good Reads Blurb:

"In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all."

I thoroughly enjoyed Divergent, the characters were strong, believable and real to life.
Roth successfully built the setting and story with great depth and it really sucked you into the life that Tris has to live in.

There was a certain air of The Hunger Games throughout the book, with a large "montage" of training and evil Dauntless competitors. It was very enjoyable to read, and great for all you Dystopian novel lovers out there.

Insurgent on the other hand, was a bit of a disappointment. Though it has been said that the 2nd book in a trilogy is seen more as a filler than anything else, it seemed as if this was the case.

Characters came and went, and the change in scenery nearly every chapter became quite confusing at times.
At some points new character were introduced, and then killed the next page. There was not enough development and you weren't given a chance to form an opinion on some characters or learn about their past.

Perhaps I like more descriptive literature rather than plot driven books, but if you want your reader to engage and have some sort of emotional reaction to the characters there needs to be more than one sentence on them.

I am hopeful the next book, unnamed and said to be released in 2013, will focus on character development and answer the questions and un-explained plot lines when the series concludes.

Star Rating

Divergent: ****
Insurgent: **

What did you think of the series so far? Are you looking forward to the next instalment?

Happy Reading!

Emma

Awesome Authors: #1 John Green

Hello Readers,

Everyone has their favourite authors, and of course I am no exception to the rule.

I thought I would start a regular (hopefully) feature that looks at who I am rating at the moment, and why that author is capturing my imagination.

My first Awesome Author is someone a lot of people are aware of.

Mr John Green.

He is most commonly known for his awesomely funny YouTube Channel he has run with his brother Hank for many years, but to others he is fast becoming one of the most prolific writers in YA literature.

His popularity may have stemmed from his loyal following of Nerdfighters, but even without them it is safe to say his talent, charisma, and wit shines through the pages of his books. John is able to create worlds that are not only excruciatingly relatable, but can also incite discussions, passion and genuine emotion in his readers.

Why do I love him?
Although I am years older than most of the characters he writes, most of which are teenage boys I may add,  I have never had such a personal and emotional connection to them. They have made me think about my own behaviour and relate to different aspects of their personalities and feelings.
Whilst reading The Fault in Our Stars, Green's most recent book, I had such an emotional reaction, that I finally understood the impact that the written word can have on a person and fuel my passion for learning about "all the things"* to do with writing.

My Favourite Book?
The Fault in Our Stars. By far his best work. I recommend it anyone and everyone who mentions books at all, ever.

My Least Favourite Book?
Although I have enjoyed reading all of his work so far, I would have to say that An Abundance of Katherines was not the most enjoyable read.
That may be due to the fact that there was a large amount of mathematical formulas and jargon in it that went completely over my head. I am crap at maths.

Suitable for Fans of?
Young Adult, contemporary love stories and relatable characters that will make you laugh a lot.

What do you guys think of John Green? What's your favourite book of his?

I would love to know who your favourite authors are. I am always in the search for new reads and love to read/hear/see about people's passion for books.

Happy Reading!!!

Emma


*"all the things" is a quote directly from John/Hank they use on their channel. Just in case anyone was wondering why I had put it in quotations. ha.