Delirium review

Just finished Delirium. I’m a little overcome with emotion I’m not ashamed to admit. That was a pretty intense final scene.

What I Liked: 

The overall idea. I also like the thoroughness of it. The Book of Shh…, the nursery rhymes, the new religious texts, etc. It gave a depth that some YA doesn’t have, which I definitely appreciate.

Moderate symbolism. The Governor statue, and certain little things that symbolically added a depth to Lena’s inner monologues.

Their relationship/Alex. Alex is that passionate character, but not so passionate he’s unrealistic as a male character, that I love to read about because they are generally paired with a more complacent, weaker character. It generally works because this is a relationship where the female generally benefits from witnessing his strength and becomes determined to strengthen themselves emotionally, and in the case of these dystopian novels, physically. In real life it's important to build each other emotionally, psychologically, and maybe if you're that kind of couple sure, physically too. So I’m excited for the next book to see where Lena is emotionally after all of these ordeals. 

The ending. Very charged, very emotional, and the epitome of sacrifice. Love it, wouldn’t change a single thing, and I’m happy they didn’t change that (pretty much the only thing they didn’t change) in the pilot.

What I Didn’t Like:

Lena’s Weakness. Earlier I said that I loved Alex for his passion and his strength. Well, the downfall to that is usually, the passionate and strong character is paired with a weak character, generally pretty annoying. Lena annoyed the piss out of me, not going to downplay it. But I’m already seeing a slight transformation and I am hoping she continues to strengthen herself to further the cause and just to better herself.

The Romeo and Juliet references. Unless the ending symbolically or literally ends in double suicide due to unescapable circumstances, or there is a feud between their families, or they get married three days after meeting... no, not even then. I’d say no novel should make any sort of reference to Romeo and Juliet. ………

EVER!

Overall, I loved Oliver’s writing, I enjoyed her style a LOT better than the bluntness of Before I Fall, and I loved the thoroughness of this society she created without love or anything referring to that emotion. The concept itself got me thinking about the pros and cons of living without love. Of course I chose that it’s much better to live with it than without it, but it was still an interesting inner debate I’m proud to say no one will ever have to witness.

I rate this novel 4/5 PG-13, and will report on Pandemonium soon! Tune in!