Title: Delirium (Delirium #1)
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd (UK) | Harper Teen (US)
Publication Date: February 2011
ARC: 441 Pages
Genre: Science Fiction
Young Adult
Source: Review Copy
Reviewed by: Laura
RATING: 7/10 – Very good, would definitely recommend
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that one 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 governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holway 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.
REVIEW:
I was really intrigued by the premise of this novel. A world where love, also known as amor deliria nervosa, is classed as a disease. Every citizen must undergo an operation as soon as they turn eighteen to ‘cure’ them. I found the concept both unique and fascinating.
Our lead character is Lena. A young, seventeen year old girl with a mere ninety-five days remaining until she can be cured, and she cannot wait. Dreading the very thought of catching the disease and looking forward to a life of simplicity and conformity.
Of course, we know that this life cannot be for Lena. And just a few months to go until her operation, she meets Alex.
The book is slow at first and takes a little while to get going. This is because the author takes time to set the scene and draw this vacuous society. The world is fully realised, a dystopian future complete with a utilitarian dictatorship, propaganda and mass brain-washing.
At first, it’s hard to grasp exactly what a world without love equates to. A lot of the hideousness of it is in the subtleties as much as the vicious punishments for those who do not conform. It simply feels hollow and it took a while for me to fully comprehend the barbarity of it.
The cured are like neutered zombies as though part of their souls, their very life essence has been carved away. People raising children out of duty, only picking them up to clean their cuts when they remember this is something they’re supposed to do as a parent. Not something they feel compelled to do because they care. All passions be it for one another, a favourite hobby, even dreaming have been wiped from the world.
It did have one thing missing though. An understanding of how the world ended up here. We’re treated to lots of snippets of educational literature at the beginning of each chapter, which adds to the overall rich tapestry of the story:
“Symptoms of amor deliria nervosaPHASE ONE:preoccupation; difficulty focusingdry mouthperspiration, sweaty palmsfits of dizziness and disorientationreduced mental awareness; racing thoughts; impaired reasoning skills”
But, there is not one reference to what caused society to declare love an enemy. And this revelation was missed.
Lena really struggles to come to terms with her feelings for Alex, so convinced at first that she is diseased. But, what also makes this book work is the complex relationship she has with her best friend Hana. Hana, the beautiful, wannabe rebel, meets the girl who just wants a safe and predictable life. This adds a interesting dynamic to the story, when the unlikely half of the pair ends up rebelling. Lena’s journey is believable, intense and engaging.
As the end drew closer, I was almost frightened to read any further. My stomach weighed down with lead. Could anything good come out of this barren world? I actually thought about putting it down for a while, so afraid was I of what those final pages would say. I should have known there would be a cliffhanger!
VERDICT:
I’m going to contradict myself here, but bear with me. This book is imaginative, clever and very well written. The problem is, I’m not quite sure I liked it. But, if that’s the case why am I already looking forward to the sequel, knowing I won’t be able to resist reading it?
I think at the heart of it, my problem with this book is it was painful to read. A gut-wrenching swill of emotion that can’t help but burn inside you as you follow Lena’s journey from brain-washed to diseased. Angst with a capital A. It’s certainly a book you need time to draw breath after it has concluded. Never the less, it is one I would recommend and Lauren Oliver is definitely a writing talent to look out for.
This book counts towards the following BCC reading challenges:
5 Comments
Great review, and I completely agree with the lack of backstory regarding why love was outlawed. This was the major flaw in this book for me, and I found that the rest of it was quite shaky as a result.
It's a great concept, but without that world building, it feels very much as though the author went "hmm, what's a really big obstacle I can put between my main characters?"
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Hi Stephanie! Overall I thought this book was good & enjoyed it. As you said great concept. It would have been nice to see how the world got there definitely, it did miss this. Maybe it will be picked up later on as I believe this is a trilogy?
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I really LOVED this book! And I think maybe I should be embarassed that I hadn't really thought too much about HOW the world got to be this way…but I think it was because I was so fully consumed with the characters and their situations. This book was an intense read for me – the realization of how much they DON'T experience once they had the 'cure' – it was SO SAD, but somehow I still just loved it! This book made me FEEL SOMETHING and I LOVE that, even when that feeling is sadness and despair….I cried the last few pages! I can't wait for the next book!
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I'm not sure if this one's for me but great review Laura, I'm glad you enjoyed it overall
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Great review! This was definitely an emotional read and the concept was amazing. However, I found myself to be quite bored once I got about 100 pages in.. just not enough plot during that portion!
- Alyssa of Redhead Heroines
Book Review of "Delirium" by Lauren Oliver
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