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Isela's bookshelf: read

To Kill a Mockingbird
Looking for Alaska
The Hobbit
An Abundance of Katherines
Anna and the French Kiss
Twilight: The Complete Illustrated Movie Companion
Horns
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Mockingjay
Catching Fire
The Lightning Thief
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Killer Instinct
Paranoia
The Battle of the Labyrinth
'Salem's Lot
The Last Olympian
Eva Luna
Twilight
The House of the Spirits


Isela's favorite books »

About

I'm not a big fan of social networks. I'm a big believer in keeping things to yourself, privacy is important, it makes things special. However, I'm a huge literature fan. I'm always reading! And lately, I've discovered that I have too many ideas about books I've read that I can't share with anybody in real life. And it is not until I've put those ideas into sentences and paragraphs that I can continue successfully with my life. So, it's OK if no one reads this, and it's OK if someone reads and comments on this. What I'm trying to do is to get rid of some of my ideas :) Book recommendations are well received!
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Friday, January 30, 2015
 I just read all three books... So I'll review them quickly in a single post, because I didn't have my computer these days.


Book Info

Name: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Date of publication: February, 2012
Synopsis: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, 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.

Ok, so this book was a great surprise... I've had it in my Kindle for the longest time, and every time I tried to read it, I scanned the first page and then got bored. Not sure what was different about this time. But once I started I couldn't stop myself... and read all three books at once!



I'm not a big fan of dystopian literature, but this one was really cool. I loved that the character felt like real people. Tris was flawed, you know... weak and scared, but had an amazing will power. Four is mysterious and cute and so afraid of heights!!! LOL :P Also, just for the record, I did not love movie Four. Too weird. And finally, I could not decide if I loved or hated Caleb and Peter.
Of course it was a really sad book, too. When Tris and Caleb's parents died, when Will died, when Al killed himself... That's like a heavy load of tragedy, but then there's the bunch of cool times: Cristina and Tris's friendship and the overcoming of fears and initiation. And obviously, the best romance of the year (so far, I'm only starting the year...): Tris and Tobias :3 Cute!!


Rating:
Favorite character:
Tris
Favorite secondary character: Cristina
Favorite part: I really liked every part where Tris actually felt like a Dauntless. Also, the simulations when she could be aware of it being unreal.  
Favorite quote“I might be in love with you." He smiles a little. "I'm waiting until I'm sure to tell you, though.” 
Least favorite character: Erick  
Least favorite part: When she's trying to shut down the simulation that has all the Dauntless killing the Abnegation, and she loses her  mother and father and finds Tobias and he tries to kill her, but her voice wakes him up... Too many feels!!!
Would I read it again? Yes!

Book Info

Name: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Date of publication: May, 2012
Synopsis: Insurgent is a 2012 science fiction young adult novel by American novelist Veronica Roth, the second book in the Divergent trilogy. As the sequel to the 2011 bestseller Divergent, it continues the story of Tris Prior and the dystopian post-apocalyptic version of Chicago. Following the events of the previous novel, a war now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. While trying to save the people that she loves, Tris faces questions of grief, forgiveness, identity, loyalty, politics, and love.


No trilogy or saga can be 100% perfect, can it?
This sequel was a bit of a pain in the ass. Tris was super cool during the first part, but then she turned into this death-obsessed, annoyed-with-the-world, whinny person. I couldn't stand her. And what's up with the lies?!
The book was not completely terrible because there were other things that helped building the tension... like getting to know some of the factions from the inside, and the serums (creepy... though I'm fascinated by the truth serum. That's a great idea to be used with politicians, I think).
Oh, and Evelyn and Marcus... awkward.
Then, there's the whole taking sides and crazy killing of people and you don't know if you should trust Tris' decision to help Marcus and omg, who can you really trust?!



Rating:
Favorite character:
Tobias
Favorite secondary character: I am not sure...
Favorite part: Cliffhanger. Definitely, I mean, Edith Prior... wft?!  
Favorite quoteI have two: “People, I have discovered, are layers and layers of secrets. You believe you know them, that you understand them, but their motives are always hidden from you, buried in their own hearts. You will never know them, but sometimes you decide to trust them.” 
 "“Got that gun?” Peter says to Tobias. “No,” says Tobias, “I figured I would shoot the bullets out of my nostrils, so I left it upstairs.” "
Least favorite character: Jeannine  
Least favorite part: More people dying!!!! Also, the lies that keep Four and Tris apart!
Would I read it again? I don't think so...


Book Info

Name: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
Date of publication: October, 2013
Synopsis: The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.


Well, surprise surprise! Outside the fence you're going to find... MORE FREAKING MURDERERS! It seems like Tris' world is full of liars, traitors, murderers and psychopaths... Oh, wait. Ours is, as well.
So yeah, my complaint when starting the book was the chapters being told by both Tobias and Tris. At the end, I understood why. And it hurt! It hurt because Tris was herself again and because she and Tobias were OK again (at the end) and there was a chance for them to be free and happy. But NO... Young adult writers are cruel to the bone. There must be a secret YA writers club in which they meet to plan the deaths of beloved fictional characters and feast on our tears and suffering. I want to join it.
But getting back to the book, it was really, really good. I liked the new story, and how they discover it. Can you imagine finding out that your city is an experiment? And that you've been studied and watched and controlled since you were born?
Peter really broke my heart. Poor little thing bastard. And Uriah... ouch.

I think that I liked these books better than The Hunger Games (not the same, I know! But those are like the only YA, dystopian novels I've read, so those are my only reference points) is because it deals with human nature: loss, grief, forgiveness, friendship, family... It's touching.

Rating:  
Favorite character: Tobias and Tris
Favorite secondary character: Matthew and Cristina!
Favorite part: It was pretty sad, I don't think I have a 'favorite' part... maybe that part when you felt everything was going to be OK, like all their plans were actually going to work. Also, when they went on a plane for the first time :P  
Favorite quote"To  me, when someone wrongs you, you both share the burden of that wrongdoing - the pain of it weighs on both of you. Forgiveness, then, means choosing to bear the full weight all by yourself."
Least favorite character: David, though I knew it only at the end. At the beginning, I kinda trusted him. Also, all the rest of the bureau. Oh, and Nita!!!
Least favorite part: Well, when Caleb decides to go on the suicide mission because he feels guilty, and Tris ends up taking his place and defeats the death serum, but...
Would I read it again? Yup


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