Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent (Divergent #1)
written by Veronica Roth
published by Katherine Tegen Books, HarperCollins

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Book Depository, Goodreads

Why did I pick this book: My book group chose this book for April.

Did I enjoy this book: Yes.

Divergent is flawless. Considering the attention the book has received coupled with the imminent blockbuster movie to be released, you probably already knew that.

This story covers all the inevitable scary issues involved in growing up; separating from our parents, discovering where we belong, deciding who to trust, and learning to thrive in a dangerous and frightening world. Roth has it all. It’s perfect . . . for a younger crowd.

I fear there is a huge age gap between those who will undoubtedly be enthralled by this story and those who will say: It’s good. It’s entertaining. It’s a work of art. And I couldn’t relate to any of it.

Reading this book made me feel like the stereotypical old fart. It’s ok. I like being an old fart. This story reminded me how hard growing up is. I managed to survive all that. Well, I didn’t have to go to war against my own neighborhood, but metaphorically at least, I survived the challenges represented in the book. Shew! Don’t want to do it again; not even in fiction.

Would I recommend it: Absolutely.

Will I read it again: No.

About the book – from Goodreads: 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.