I don’t do this very often, but I just finished the second book in Veronica Roth’s Divergent Trilogy, and it is hitting me in a certain way and I really want to share and talk about it.

I have really enjoyed the story so far. The first book, Divergent, introduces the female protagonist Beatrice (“Tris”) Prior who has reached her 16th birthday, and consequently, the Choosing Ceremony. Beatrice lives in a dystopian Chicago where society is divided into 5 factions based on values, those factions being Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice is Abnegation born, but when children reach their 16th birthday, they are given a simulation test to tell them which faction they have a strong affinity for, and at the Choosing Ceremony they will pick which faction they will spend the rest of their life in. Most stay where they came from, but there are faction transfers. Cue following of Beatrice’s personal discovery/journey/choices, delightful YA romance, and an inevitable battle of good versus evil.

Now I know what you’re probably thinking, because I thought the very same thing when I bought the book off Amazon, and that thought was that the series seemed a lot like the Hunger Games. They share similar traits (i.e. a headstrong female protagonist, faction over faction triumph, tests of will, familial sacrifice, etc.) but the trilogies are not alike in terms of content. I would highly suggest this series to anyone who is interested in different theories of what a dystopian world would be like. It’s definitely a YA novel, which is AWESOME, because it offers all of the things we love about most YA (simplistic and riveting writing, easily digestible, romances that no one can deny are fulfilling to live vicariously though…) while still offering an intelligent and captivating look at the human mind and all that we value.

Highly enjoyed. Highly suggested.

Rare covers of Nabokov’s Lolita from around the world [X]

(Source: theronweasleygeneration, via book-bitch)