From a corner in the library

 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!!


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?!



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.

Would I read it again? Yup

  Book Info

Name: The Boyfriend List: 15 guys, 11 shrink appointments, 4 ceramic frogs and me, ruby oliver
Author: E. Lockhart
Date of publication: March 22nd, 2005
Synopsis: "Ruby Oliver is 15 and has a shrink. She knows it’s unusual, but give her a break—she’s had a rough 10 days. In the past 10 days she:
lost her boyfriend (#13 on the list),
lost her best friend (Kim),
lost all her other friends (Nora, Cricket),
did something suspicious with a boy (#10),
did something advanced with a boy (#15),
had an argument with a boy (#14),
drank her first beer (someone handed it to her),
got caught by her mom (ag!),
had a panic attack (scary),
lost a lacrosse game (she’s the goalie),
failed a math test (she’ll make it up),
hurt Meghan’s feelings (even though they aren’t really friends),
became a social outcast (no one to sit with at lunch)
and had graffiti written about her in the girls’ bathroom (who knows what was in the boys’!?!)" [From Goodreads.com]

My expectations for this book were really high... and I was highly disappointed.
After reading We Were Liars, I thought all Lockhart books were gold. I'm not saying is a terrible book, but it is not my style. For starters, Ruby is not very likable and there's a big collection of boys that confused me, by the end I wasn't sure who did what.
There were some funny moments here and there, but mostly I was bored. Also, the footnotes. I get it, it was meant to give the reader an insight on Ruby's mind and her conversations with Doctor Z... but sometimes they were so long that it took me a while to remember what I was reading when I got back to the book. Some of them were funny, others confusing and others not necessary at all.
In conclusion, if I ever meet Ruby this is what I would do...

The good thing is that I won't be spending more money buying the other three books ;)