DELIRIUM's Spanish Reviews
12:15 AM Posted by Ella Preuss
Luna Lunera (Diario de una Lunática) gave it 5 Moons:
The good, that narrating style, intimate and confessional, loaded with brilliant phrases; the best, the story. The genius idea of creating a story from the ridiculous notion of love being a disease. The bad, that it's a trilogy, and that it also has an ending that leaves us aching for the sequel.Noche de Palabras gave it 4 Owls:
My least favourite thing: THE ENDING. Dear Lauren: how could you finish it there? If there's something I get furious about is finishing a novel that leaves a tons of loose ends, and worse, if the book ends in a very important moment.Book Eater gave it 4 Books:
I've already commented on the ending, but I can't help but to talk more about it. It's been a long time since I read an ending like this one. I was unable to tear myself from those last pages, and I had to reread them to make sure I hadn't missed out on anything important. It will make you have mixed feelings, it'll make you want to scream, laugh, cry, kill the author (with kisses), anyway... just AMAZING.Literatura Youth Fantasy gave it 5 Shields:
I fell in love with chapter 14, and to me, that's when things begin to actually happen.Are you a Spanish speaker? Then visit those blogs, because they're really cool!
I mean, during that chapter, I hugged a pillow (which I nearly destroyed), I almost threw my milk on myself, I threw a breadstick (don't ask me why or where) that landed somewhere behind my computer table and I still know nothing of it, etc...
I think I was just as upset as -maybe even more upset than- Lena, with the whole raids thing.
xo,
Ella
Emily's Reading Room reviewed Delirium
6:22 PM Posted by Ella Preuss
She gave it four stars.
As a lover of all things dystopian, I was very eagerly anticipating a chance to read this book. In many ways, the book met my expectations, but in others I was left feeling a little bewildered.Read the whole review here.
My Review of Delirium + A Commentary by Me!
12:01 PM Posted by ReggieWrites
Title: Delirium (Book 1)Author: Lauren Oliver
Pages: 448
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: February 1, 2011
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love - the deliria - blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.
My commentary (in which I will try to be funny) will be in red =)
The thought of the eradication of love is almost unthinkable to most people today. Including me! I'm a closet romance, *shh* and a world without love? That's just crazy! I don't think I'd be able to function properly! I mean, what about my parents, my sisters, and my grammies and grandpas? Will I just be totally impartial to them? They may as well have been unrelated to me if this was the case! But what happens when it becomes a necessary concept? Lena's mom was too late for the cure and she ended up taking her own life. Now, THAT is just scary. I wouldn't know how it feels to have somebody close to you, kill themselves. And most importantly, a world without love (here in Delirium) was the one that pushed Lena's mom to kill herself. I thought that the society was trying to make things better...not get people to kill themselves! Learning from her mother's mistake, Lena can't wait for the cure and live a happy, predestined life. But on the day of her procedure, a few outsiders disrupt it, one of them being Alex. Can I tell you guys how awesome this dude is? If I was Lena, I'd be throw away my ambition to get the cure and just run away with him before anyone catches us...oh well, I can dream can't I? Always being careful about the idea of love, Lena thinks that she is exempt from it but she falls in love with Alex, and the secrets he carries with him. Ohhh! I have tons of secrets...but I ain't sharing *wink wink*
Intricately woven with rules, regulations, and restrictions, Delirium is a convincing read that delves into a dystopian society wherein love is looked down upon. Dudes, when I was reading this book, I felt the confines of the society's rules. Seriously. I felt caged and constricted. It was so believable! The novel not only focuses on creating an established dystopian atmosphere, but it also aims to involve the inner workings of the concepts and ideas present in current societies. Oliver molds the the characters to fit the setting of the novel and also gives them opportunities to grow. Did I mention how much I love the characters? Of course, Alex and Lena will always come first, but I love Lena's family and friends and how well they completely owned their parts! Delirium forces readers the reader to completely immerse themselves Lena's world and question the rules and ways in which the society works. Totally true!
Lena is such a strong character. Her tenacity and her instincts simply fly naturally off each page. I admire Lena's courage in Delirium. At first, she was so unsure and so close-minded and then she became open to new things, which I LOVED...I guess that what happens when a hot guy intervenes...joke! But seriously, her character and personality oozed from the pages! She resonates with the reader extremely well because of her flaws and her mistakes, making her only more human and believable. I've never encountered such a down-to-earth character as Lena. She takes things in stride, but on the inside, she's hurting and she isn't perfect. I love that. Steadily, she grows from her naive, ignorant self into an aware, curious character. Her opinion of love changes slowly through her actions. As she gets more rebellious, she develops and is exposed to the realities of love and the other outsiders like Alex.
Lauren Oliver's writing, simply put, is poetically inspiring. Lauren Oliver can do no wrong in my eyes...unless of course, Lena ends up with another guy (joke!). Although Delirium is written in prose, the poetic, lyrical feel dominates and enhances the different elements in the story. Oliver writes intimately, and compels the reader to fully realize and empathize with the characters in the novel. I'm in love with the plot line of Delirium! All of the events and the secrets unravel so naturally! The storyline develops consistently as readers are steadily merged into the world of Delirium and discover the secrets that lie in the society. Lauren Oliver really made me hate the what the society was doing to Lena and Alex. I hate the cure. But I love the story!
Delirium is a beautiful novel of discovery and really probes deeper into societal questions. I'm in love with Delirium! Everything about it is amazing; the concept, the ideas, the characters....everything. It touches on the realities in the real world today and introduces readers to a whole new world. The many different insights and meaningful subtleties all make for an original, inspiring read.
The Bottom Line: I'm COMPLETELY delirious for Delirium! Damn right I am!
---Field Report---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 100/100 (A+)
AWESOME Delirium Reviews!!!
5:04 PM Posted by ReggieWrites
Hey guys!
Here are some TOTALLY AWESOME Delirium reviews!!! They're really cool and you should go check 'em out!
From Squeaky Books:
From Katie's Suspiciously Apt Reviews:
From Anna Reads:
From Lale on Lit:
From I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read (Goodreads):
From Princess Bookie (Goodreads):
From Presenting Lenore:
From Jess Hearts Books:
From Reading Teen:
From A Reader's Ramblings:
Here are some TOTALLY AWESOME Delirium reviews!!! They're really cool and you should go check 'em out!
From Squeaky Books:
"I LOVED all the little things in this book...I sat down to read it I couldn't move!"
From Katie's Suspiciously Apt Reviews:
"Other books are so powerful that you can't say a word. It's very pages have sunk deep into your heart and mind and will continue to sit there until it is etched into your soul. It whispers to you. There aren't any words good enough to describe what you have just experienced...DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver happens to be one of the most powerful books I have ever read."
From Anna Reads:
"BUT HOLY COW YOU HAVE GOT TO GO PREORDER THIS BOOK STAT. REALLY, NOW...By the end of this book, I was left feeling emotionally raw. I cannot stop thinking about these characters!"
From Lale on Lit:
"In short: a beautiful meshing of dystopian and romance with an edge of
science fiction thrown in for good measure-- and one of the best YA novels I’ve
read this year."
From I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read (Goodreads):
"...This book is a must-read for dystopian YA fans. It was gritty,
thoughtful, and engaging. And it begs the question is it better to feel love and
lose it than to never have loved at all?"
From Princess Bookie (Goodreads):
"Be prepared to cry and have the tissues handy...Delirium is a epic love
story full of emotion and how one choice (to be in love or not to be) could
effect the rest of your life."
From Presenting Lenore:
"And DAMN, if I may say so, Lena’s scenes with Alex sizzle, making the novel
soar to dizzying heights of emotion."
From Jess Hearts Books:
"Delirium has one of the most intense, heart wrenching endings I have ever
read. I wouldn’t have put it down if you paid me."
From Reading Teen:
"The romance is heavy, the action scenes are intense, the storyline is
in-depth, the concept, which is so unbelievable, is made believable by her
amazing writing."
From A Reader's Ramblings:
"I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Oliver's writing style. She is a
phenomanal writer, and doesn't dumb it down for the audience. Her books
challenge her readers to really think about what they are reading and what it
means, and that is refreshing."
Delirium (Delirium, #1), by Lauren Oliver!
11:22 PM Posted by Ella Preuss
This is going to be a long review!
First of all, let me say WOW. Second of all, I'm in love with this book! I keep tearing up every time I think about it, so this review is going to be very emotional.
Lauren Oliver is a fantastic author, and I loved the world she created.
Delirium is set in a dystopic USA, where love (everything about it, even saying the word) is banned. Cursed. Forbidden. The amor deliria nervosa is a disease that can seep under your skin, into your bones, and rot your brain. Or at least, that's what people are told. That's what Lena believes.
Lena, our protagonist, can't wait for the day when she'll finally get the treatment that will cure her and make everything OK. Because everyone knows that her family's tainted by the disease. Lena's mother was infected. And she died because of it. Lena wants to show everyone that she is nothing like her mother. She really believes that the cure is the only way to be happy.
The cure works in your brain. It makes you calmer, rationalises your thoughts, takes the pain away. There hasn't been much criminal activity in the world since the discovery of the cure. Everyone lives in harmony.
Because, what is love, but a feeling so strong that can make you go insane, get angry for no reason, and bring nothing but pain?
That's why Lena counts down the days until her procedure. Her, and her best friend, Hana.
Hana is a lovable character, funny, energetic, corageous. She's from a rich family, so her friendship with Lena has always been questioned. Why would a girl like her want to be friends with someone like Lena? But, despite everything, they love each other, or rather, care deeply for the other.
The girls run together almost every day, the run giving them a thrill and bringing them closer together. They talk about everything, but most importantly, about the cure.
Before you can get your treatment, you have to be evaluated. You'll be asked about your hobbies, your family, your favourite colour... And be sure you answer correctly! If you don't there can be serious concecuences. Because your life depends of that single evaluation. It will determine what career you'll be able to follow, to whom you'll be married, even how many kids you'll have.
Lena can't wait to pass the evaluation, and know what her life will be like as an adult.
"After the procedure, [Rachel] said, it would all be coasting, all glide, every day as easy as one, two, three." Lena, page 46.
But of course, not everyone is for the treatment. And some people even get infected before they're cured.
Scientists say you have to wait until you're eighteen to have your procedure done. Before that it's too risky, and many things could go wrong. But there have been cases where it was imperative that infected people had the treatment early.
And then there are those who refused to have their treatment and have escaped to live on the outside of the city, outside the safety of its walls. Those who've gone to live in the Wilds. The Invalids. The infected. You don't want to get caught talking about them. It's as bad as if you're caught talking about the deliria.
Mama, Mama, help me get homeI'm out in the woods, I am out on my own.I found me a werewolf, a nasty old muttIt showed me its teeth and went straight for my gut.
Mama, Mama, help me get homeI'm out in the woods, I am out on my own.I was stopped by a vampire, a rotting old wreckIt showed me its teeth and went straight for my neck.
Mama, Mama, put me to bedI won't make it home, I'm already half-deadI met an Invalid, and fell for his artHe showed me his smile and went straight for my heart.
-From "A Child's Walk Home," Nursery Rhymes and Folk Tales, edited by Cory Levinson.Page 56.
It is on the day of her evaluation that Lena meets the boy that will change her life forever. Up on the Observation Deck, she sees a boy looking down at her, and thinks she can see him smiling. A few days later, she sees him again.
Alex is a guard at the Labs where the evaluations and procedures take place. Lena and Hana run into him when they make a detour in their running track. From that point on, Lena's life takes a 360 degree turn.
But she can see his marks, the ones the procedure gives you. So that means he's cured, that means he's safe. Isn't he?
Lena is thrown off balance by all the things Alex tells her, all the things he makes her feel.
Could it be possible that everything she knew was a lie? That everything she thought was great is actually the most terrible thing humanity has ever created? She thought getting infected with the deliria was the worse thing that could happen to you, but what if it's not? What if it's the best thing that could ever happen to someone?
"As I head home, I keep feeling paranoid, like someone [...] will be able to tell just from seeing my face that I've crossed over. [...] But no one ever glances in my direction. It's a little before nine o'clock, and most people are just rushing to get to work on time. An endless blur of normal people doing normal things, eyes straight ahead of them, paying no attention to the short, nondescript girl with a lumpy backpack pushing past them.The short, nondescript girl with a secret burning inside of her like a fire." Lena, page 213.
Lena finally learns the truth about things, and she also knows that the scientists weren't that wrong.
The deliria can change your appetite, your mood, your sleeping habits. It can make you feel happy, but it can make you very, very miserable. It might even kill you.
But maybe, death isn't so bad. Because, after you've been infected, life cannot get worse. And you'd rather die on your own terms that live on theirs.
Delirium's ending had me crying like crazy (much like Before I Fall's ending) and left a hollow feeling in my chest. But now that I know there are two more books to come, I'm filled with hope! You'll need a box of tissues to read this. Mark my words.
"I love you. Remember. They cannot take it." Page 31.
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That phrase right there makes me teary eyed. I love Delirium even more than BIF.
*You read the whole thing? YAY! You're awesome!
***I love that Lena's name is Magdalena Ella Haloway. We have the same name!
***I'm already thinking of what we can do to celebrate Delirium's release in February!
I love that I was able to read it early on, but now I have to wait even longer for the release of Pandemonium, book #2 in the series, which comes out in 2012. 2012! An eternity from now!
Have you read Delirium? Did you know you can? Go to NetGalley, register and read!
***I'm already thinking of what we can do to celebrate Delirium's release in February!
I love that I was able to read it early on, but now I have to wait even longer for the release of Pandemonium, book #2 in the series, which comes out in 2012. 2012! An eternity from now!
Have you read Delirium? Did you know you can? Go to NetGalley, register and read!
