Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Goodreads

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 government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway 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.

*Back in September*
It took me awhile to read, but I really liked this book. I loved the idea it had and the basic plot since I heard of it, and I loved it once I finished it. It was such a heart breaker, it had me sobbing. I really liked Delirium, other people have the opposite opinion as mine, but I felt satisfied with it. A great read.

*Update: 7/2/12*
Okay, so I reread it and re-rated it because even though I loved the book, I did feel it to be a bit slow at times. It took me an exaggeratedly long time to finish and it usually takes longer than usual when I'm rereading, but I also said that it took me awhile to read when I first read it. Still really liked it though.


The basic plot has been itself a controversy among readers because the concept of love being a disease is ridiculous to some. I actually found it really interesting because it was dystopian, and judging by the summary, there was going to be romance, which I'm a sucker for. It's kind of weird, how they have a cure and it makes people basically emotionless.


Lena Haloway, our protagonist, is an obedient person, one who takes the whole system of the deliria-free society really seriously. The change of her beliefs are huge and the main part of what makes the book. I think while many didn't like Lena because of this aspect of thinking love was terrible and should be avoided, I believe this is what made her, well at the start. This is what she has learned all her life, and it's not easy when she discovers love for the first time, so it's something I admire her for taking on. So then Alex comes in. He's kind of mysterious when we first meet him because of being Cured, yet participating in some illegal activities. We learn a lot about him and his background throughout the book, and it's really intense, affecting the relationship between him and Lena. He's a likable character, as well as Lena, Hana, Lena's best friend, and Grace,Lena's little cousin, but that's pretty much where likable characters end.


Once more, we have a heartbreaking ending, which just leaves you all choked up, or at least left me like that. This is a good way to get you incredibly anxious to get your hands on the nest book Pandemonium, to know what happens. So overall, I like the book, loved it actually, but the fact that it was kind of slow at times really didn't help with other reading plans I had.


  Favorite Quote(s):
     "Love: a single word, a wispy thing, a word no bigger or longer than an edge. That's what it is: an edge; a razor. It draws up through the center of your life, cutting everything in two. Before and after. The rest of the world falls away on either side."  
                                                          -Lena
     "I love you. Remember. They cannot take it."       
                                                          -Lena
  
*Note: Okay, so I cheated a little and put two fave quotes. I had to, I love how the first one is so true and deep, a great comparison from Lauren Oliver(which may I say, is the queen of metaphors and similes, I found a bunch) and the second one just breaks your heart and puts it back together if you know the story.

 Overall Rating:♥♥♥♥