Rated YA-MA discussion

Really want to read Divergent... I've heard it's as good as the Hunger Games?

It seems like people either really like the book or can't stand it. There hasn't been a lot of middle ground from what I can tell. I have friends who have given it high 4's and 5's, and just as many friends who've given it 1's and 2's. It was going to be a buddy read this month with Wendy F, but we both decided to put it off for now, so maybe in the future I'll get to it.

I guess I'm the odd one in the middle. I appreciated the worldbuilding, but some of the things that heroine rationalized were wrong to me (view spoiler)[She's totally against other people defending themselves if it means killing the other person, but later she has not so much as a second thought when she kills someone who is under mind-control. This totally turned me off and almost ruined it for me. (hide spoiler)] I'm interested to see where the author takes things. The ending was action-packed.

IMO, it's no where near the level of The Hunger Games, but still a worth a read.

Definitely not in the level of The Hunger Games imho. I thought it was just okay, no love, no hate. I was expecting a lot more from it, having heard it compared to THG as well.

I don't think it's as good as The Hunger Games either. It was a bitter sweet read for me and the episode you mentionned about Tris, Samantha, also put me off because it didn't make sense and was unjustified.

I gave it three stars, but I'm neither loving it or hating it. It had some ups but a lot of downs too.

I read this because it was being compared to Hunger Games. Sadly it didn't but I still love it for what it is. I especially love Tris and Four's chemistry. I liked how their romance was subtle at the beginning but really sweet. ;)

I

Sorry about that! I gave it 4 stars, but it took me a while to get into it. For me, it picked up halfway through and hooked me enough to be looking forward to Insurgent. Definitely not Hunger Games level, but it ended up being enjoyable.

I absolutely loved this book. If I could rated higher than 5 stars I would. and surprisingly I didn't like the hunger games. LOL

I think I'm going to be starting this one in the next couple of days. I've been pretty excited for it.

So I'm finally getting around to reading this book with Wendy (months after the fact) and I'm having a hard time understanding why the factions only focus on ONE strong personality trait, to the point of rejecting all others.

It's as if you're dauntless you can't have empathy, for example. Can't you be brave, strong and also still a decent human being?

I am loving Four. He intrigued me right from the start. I like how he has a history of why he came to Dauntless. There's more to the story that's coming, I know.

I'm loving Four too! He's definitely the most interesting part of the book so far.

When he admitted to walking out of the fight because (view spoiler)[he didn't like watching Tris get beat up (hide spoiler)] I liked that his cold facade slipped just a little.

I don't think I got to that part yet. I was curious about that though.

I haven't read this but was just peeking in to see if you were liking it.

Mariya wrote: "I absolutely loved this book. If I could rated higher than 5 stars I would. and surprisingly I didn't like the hunger games. LOL"

LOL Mariya! I can never predict with you! Do you remember what about Hunger Games you didn't like? I was sure you would like it, but dystopia is hit or miss with you, right?

I'm taking an early guess here that Four was (view spoiler)[factionless before he went to Dauntless. Maybe he snuck in, like the guy did in the book Delirium (the Delirium thing isn't a spoiler because you find that out early in the book). (hide spoiler)]

Ugh, I need to get a reading so that I can catch up with those spoilers! Last night was thursday so I didn't get to read much. But I'm going to try to plow through it tonight.

Where are you at?

I'm only 50% in. My husband came home early last night. I doubt I'll get much time to read today, so don't feel rushed. If I do read, I might knock out the last 50 pages of Addicted, just to be done with it.

Stacia ~ platonic wrote: "I'm taking an early guess here that Four was [spoilers removed]"

You'll just have to wait and see.
I'm actually surprised at how quickly I got the twist about him...as soon as he was introduced actually. I love this book!
And bonus: NO LOVE TRIANGLES IN THIS SERIES!

I'm so happy that there are no love triangles! I think that his history has something to do with his name... Four...

I'm about 50% into it now too and I have to say that I'm really liking it too! More then Blood Red Road I think. I was nervous because some people liked and some didn't so I thought maybe it would just be okay for me. I'm glad to say that I was wrong. I really think it's great that we get to watch Tris grow, that she doesn't just start off badass. And I like that we watch her develop friends... and the relationship isn't instalove. I mean, there's obviously an attraction, but it's slow moving which is nice.

The Four thing was really cool.
I'm talking about (view spoiler)[ who he was before Dauntless (hide spoiler)]
I love how the characters evolve and the idea that strength comes in all shapes and sizes, not just physical and brutal strength, despite what Dauntless thinks.
Also, Tris' Mom is awesome!

The scene where we find out what Tris' mom used to be was a surprise. Maybe I should have been expecting that but I wasn't.

Same. I was shocked, but it goes to show, there's so much more to people than meets the eye. Nothing is black and white. Everything has shades of grey.

I'm at 75% in right now, almost done. I have a feeling there may be more about her?

DAMN DAMN DAMN! Why do some people not mark their review's with spoilers!!! I'm so fricking irritated right now!!!

Wendy F wrote: "DAMN DAMN DAMN! Why do some people not mark their review's with spoilers!!! I'm so fricking irritated right now!!!"

You mean on their reviews?

I liked this book a lot. I had a bit of a problem with accepting ONE quality would be so dominant and that there are only four types possible. Not really diverse. I got over it though. I liked it overall.

yeah, on their reviews. I didn't mean to see it, it was an accident.

I see you finished. I'm going to wait to read your review until I finish (hopefully tonight).

Spoiler reviews suck. Especially when it's not random little spoilers but "big reveal" type of info.

Wendy F wrote: "DAMN DAMN DAMN! Why do some people not mark their review's with spoilers!!! I'm so fricking irritated right now!!!"

So sorry. I get so mad about that.

I finsihed this morning and I went to see where you were. I didn't want to say to much until you're done. I'm excited to hear your thoughts.

It was a big reveal too. And it's so easy to hide them. On review's it's just a box you check if you don't want to do spoiler tags. I was pretty darn bummed.

I had Delirium spoiled for me in a BIG way. As in, the one thing you would not want to know ahead of time.

Yes, it was a review.

Sometimes I'll say in review that I did or did not like how a book ended, but never say why.

Yeah, me too. And if I do say it, I put it in spoiler tags. It's just common courtesy. A lot of people read reviews to see if the book is worth their time.

That happened to me with Mockingjay.
I was NOT happy.
I feel our pain. It's just common courtesy to put in spoiler tags.

I finished it, it was good.

I finished and was happier with this book than I had been with the last few dystopia I'd read.

This is an instance where I probably shouldn't have let negative opinion sour me from reading the book because I was pleasantly surprised.

More later, I'm sort of in the middle of something else atm.

That's exactly what I thought, Stacia. Negative opinion soured me which is what made me wait so long to start it.

I found myself wondering which faction I'd choose. I can't say that I'm always nice, but Amity seems to be the most normal.

Erudite could have been okay if they weren't vindictive and power hungry.

Abnegation, Candor, and Dauntless seem to be the hardest to adapt to.

I'd have a hard time with Candor. Not that I'm a big liar or anything, lmao. Just that there are a lot of little white lies.

I think I'd choose Amity also but truely is anyone really just suited for one? We are all shades of gray.

That's exactly what I think too, shades of gray.

And I think all the initiation processes are geared to push that one trait to the front, making you mostly one or the other.

I'm so glad you guys enjoyed the book. I loved Tris's mom as well! And Fours tattoos and what they mean, that probably was more of what you were looking for Stacia. I'm excited to see where it goes in Insurgent, it wasn't really a cliffhanger for me, it felt more like a pause.

My favorite parts were when they were facing their fears. Very interesting to see the different ones and how they were not always literal.

The fear simulations were some of my favorite parts of the book.

Thank GOD none of them were afraid of clowns or I would still e huddled on the floor.

I loved the fear simulations too. It would be tough.

Wendy F wrote: "I loved the fear simulations too. It would be tough."

I loved it, when in her simulations (view spoiler)[naked Four (hide spoiler)] appeared. Her humiliated thoughts, lol. I guess, it's as real a fear as others, but after facing down things such as Death, it was different having it there.

I loved that moment too, but I knew that Eric was watching and that SUCKED, hahaha.

I also loved that (view spoiler)[Four admitted that she scared him too (hide spoiler)].

I have been thinking of real life examples of each faction (or what the faction should be. Here are my thoughts:

Amity -Ghandi or Stephen Biko
Erudite- Stephen Hawking
Abnegation- Mother Theresa
Candor- ???
Dauntless- The firefighters of 9-11 or any of the countless people that put their life on the line for others

Is there a person alive who could be Candor?

Mai, I don't like clowns either. That would be a creepy simulation.

Candor is a tough one, no one trusts that politicians, celebrities, and athletes. And how would one tell if they were actually telling the truth? You'd be able to trust ghandi a mother Theresa but that doesn't mean they never lied?