Delirium by Lauren Oliver Review

Title: Delirium (Delirium #1)

Author: Lauren Oliver

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Page Count: 480 pages

Publish Date: January 1, 2011

Book Type: Kindle Special Edition

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN: 9780061726828

ASIN: B00526ZKYS

From 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 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 Review: I think I can pretty much say that I adore Lauren Oliver’s writing. First, Before I Fall and now Delirium. I need to read the sequel like yesterday. To me, Oliver has a very poetic style of writing. I don’t know if that’s the right word, but it flows so well and it is somewhat elegant. Plus, both of her books that I have read were emotionally heavy. They sat with me for a very long time.

I also enjoy that Oliver really tries to have all of her characters have flaws. It can get kind of tiring reading about perfect characters, but you won’t really find that in Delirium... and it’s awesome. I am really anxious to see what some of my favorite characters are up to in Pandemonium. I should say anxious/scared. You’ll understand what I’m saying once you finish it. 


I feel like this review is super short, but I'm finding it really hard to say much without giving everything away. I'll leave it at awesome character development, fabulous world building, and beautiful writing.

I probably don’t need to tell you this, but you should read this book now. Warning: The ending is KILLER.

Top 10 Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2012

In no particular order...

1. The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

2. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

3. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

4. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

5. Black Dawn by Rachel Caine

6. Fear by Michael Grant

7. Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

8. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

9. The Selection by Kiera Cass

10. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

There you go! All of the links lead to Goodreads. :) What books are you most looking forward to in 2012? I'm sure I could have listed... ohhh 1,000 more.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver Review

Title: Before I Fall
Author: Lauren Oliver
Genre: YA
Page Count: 470
Book Type: Library Hardcover
Publisher: HARPER: An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
ISBN: 978-0-06-172680-4

Picture from www.amazon.com

From Goodreads: What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? 

Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

My Review: First off, this cover is so hauntingly beautiful. It's almost as if I don't want to look at it too long. The girl's face is life size and the look in her eyes is so heartbreaking. I knew just from looking at the cover that this would be a heavy book, and I wasn't wrong.

This book made my heart feel so heavy that I can hardly describe it. It made me feel so many different things, which made for a great read. It isn't often when you can feel pity, sadness, rage and a plethora of other emotions while reading one story. This book is cruel, hopeful and real all at the same time. My heart hurts for anyone who actually had a high school experience like this one. I've never disliked and liked a main character as much as I did with Sam. Reading this I was up and down and left and right. It was such an emotional roller coaster. 

*Minor spoiler to follow*

 I wish we could have seen all of the repercussions of Sam's death after she finally accepts it and does everything she can to make the world right. I wanted to know what Juliet, Lindsey, Elody, Ally and Kent were feeling and how they dealt with everything.

*End spoiler*

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. Know that it is emotionally draining and you will need a fluffy book after it--which I'm plotting right now.

Have you read Before I Fall yet? What were your thoughts? If you haven't, why not? ;)

Batch of Library Books 7/22/10

This should probably be called the Holy $#!+ edition, because I got 10 books at the library today. All 10 decided to come to me from my waiting list at the same time. This should be interesting considering I still have 7 floating around my house.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. I've been looking forward to this one for awhile--so excited! It is sort of a 'Groundhog Day' tale where she lives the day of her death over and over again.

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy. I read a review of this one on another book blog and added it to my list immediately. Seems like a classic outsider joins popular group and all is not as it seems story.

 

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. I am so, so happy this one came in because I just finished City of Bones and I wasn't really sure how I was going to last the wait until getting the next one.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith. I'll probably read this one before the copy of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter that I got last week.

Wake by Lisa McMann. I've heard nothing but good things about this one and it seems like a short read, so I'm excited.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins. I love how this is based on her daughter. I'm sure this will be a heavy, but thought provoking read.

Num8ers by Rachel Ward. I'm pretty sure this is one where she predicts deaths somehow. I don't really remember, but I do know that it was on my Goodreads list and it was on hold for awhile at the library!

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. I'm pretty sure I'll be the last person on the planet to read this one. I'm on the lookout for Patch.

Mugglenet.com's Harry Potter Should Have Died: Controversial Views from the #1 Fan Site by Emerson Spartz and Ben Schoen. I know I'm way behind on this one as well, but eh, what can I say. I'm hoping this one is funny.

Harry, A History by Melissa Anelli. I've heard very good things about this one (mainly from Sandy, Hi Sandy!). I always saw it in the store and almost picked it up, but I'll give it a shot from the library!

Phew, that was intense. Have you read any of these? Any suggestions on which ones I should tackle first? Thanks.