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.
Ms. Oliver got the "love" thing correct. Love makes you make terrible choices, do things you never would, act in foolish ways. Then we meet Lena, who absolutely agrees that love is a disease and the way Oliver describes it, why wouldn't someone believe that?
Lena is at a point in her life that she is waiting for the procedure that makes it (mostly) impossible to fall in love. She is being interviewed and tested so she finds her match that is suitable and it is all Lena wants. Except during her interview, Lena doesn't answer the way she is supposed. She doesn't give them "sunshine-y" answers.
And while she is in her interview she meets Alex, an "invalid", a wild boy, and someone Lena cannot stay away from, though she really does try, but her best friend gets in trouble, and she is slightly curious.
Ms. Oliver also got the "love" thing correct half way through. Love makes the world rose colored and perfect. I still remember the first boy I had a crush on, my first love, I mean, who doesn't? It was great to see Lean fall in love.
My one gripe with the book was the action in the book. Clearly, I knew Lena was going to rally against the government. I like that. I just didn't think the book showed anything. Though Alex was extremely heroic and brave, I needed like 50 more pages of Lena rallying or making a plan. At this point, I don't know for sure if Lena is going to do something.
I think that with this one, Oliver kind of changed things. Usually the second book in a trilogy is slower, but from what I've heard, it's the opposite here - more happens in the sequel and Delirium was obviously all about the world building and such. I liked it, too (loved it actually) but like you, I was a bit let down because I was expecting more to happen!
ReplyDelete