Book Review: Delirium

 

Oh, YA novels, I love you so. I've been thinking about how much I enjoy reading dystopian literature while spending some time organizing our bookshelves this week, and realizing just what a long love-affair it's been. It started off at an early age with A Wrinkle in Time (although I suppose that book is much more sci-fi, really), and continued with The Handmaid's Tale, and then exploded as more and more awesome books appeared while I taught high school English. It was a treat discovering all of them right along with my students, and I think that's one of the main facets of teaching I miss; all of the reading and discussion.

This book I'm reviewing though, I tried to avoid for quite some time. I'm not really sure why, but I would see Delirium in my recommended Amazon titles every time I would log into the site. I had read the short summary a few times, but after reading so many other trilogies that sounded so similar, it just didn't hook me, and yet there it was, the same cover, always annoyingly begging to be read.

Then a couple of nights ago I couldn't sleep so I decided to just give it a go (at least it would finally get off my recs list!) and downloaded the sample to my Kindle. Of course, because this is just how things work with me, I was hooked. First off, the writing is really great, but even more so, the story is truly captivating.

You know I don't like to give much (if anything!) away, but here's a super short little hook for you. It's all about a regular old girl, living in a regular old place (a futuristic Portland, Maine), who is just trying to live her life in the confines and insanely rigid structure the government has set in place. In this world "love" is seen as a disease, and around your 18th birthday you get the cure, although many people become "infected" before this, which is dangerous and deadly, as far as society is concerned. I'm sure you can guess what maybe happens next, but trust me, it's worth the read.

Delirium had me on the edge of my seat, and crossing my fingers that it would all work out. It's a wonderful read- a fast book that keeps on moving- and it's book that makes you think about what we deem important in our own society, and what we see as important in our own lives. With a protagonist you want to root for, and a society you'll end up hating, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about love, adventure or a world gone bad that might have a little good left in it, somewhere (this is the part where I always feel like I'm on Reading Rainbow).

Let me know if you decide to check it out!

image above via Books Complete Me
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Book Review: The Silver Linings Playbook

Earlier this week I tweeted, "Ever finish a book and want to cry because it’s over and you’ll never get to read it for the first time ever again? Yeah, that." I was talking about The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. Honestly, it's hands down one of the best books I've read in a long time, kind of on the same level as The Fault in Our Stars. It's hard to explain all of the emotions it brought out of me; at times I was crying, then laughing, then shaking my head at the sheer happiness it brought out of me. It's funny and touching, heartbreaking and heartwarming, all at once.

I first heard about this book because of the movie. In fact, I had no idea the book even existed. But while watching the Golden Globes it was impossible to miss- the movie was mentioned a million times, garnering many nominations and a win too, for Jennifer Lawrence. I didn't really know anything about the film though, from the 5-second clips I saw over and over, and I wasn't exactly interested outside of just wanting to know what the hype was all about.

So last week while on Amazon picking out samples for my Kindle (one of my favorite things to do), this book was in the middle of my recommendations. I actually thought it was the DVD at first, so I skimmed over it, but when I had a hard time finding books I was excited about, I went back through my recommendations and clicked through. And I'm SO happy I did.

I started the book that night, and immediately got lost in its unique perspective and story. It's beautiful. The story centers upon its protagonist, Pat Peoples, who is released from a mental hospital at the start of the book. I hate summarizing books for fear of giving anything away (I prefer to know nothing about a novel going into it), but just know the book deals with Pat's life; his "recovery," with love, with hope, with family...and with Kenny G.  There were so many times I found myself just smiling ear to ear as I read- and unable to put the book down. I read it in two days and was thoroughly depressed when it was over. To me it was part Catcher in the Rye (odd comparison, maybe), part The Fault in Our Stars, and part any wonderful, sweet novel I've ever read that inspires hope. And yes, even though it's a novel that deals with dark topics, in its own quirky way I was left feeling inspired, hopeful, and smiling.

Read it, and when you do, let me know how much you loved it! Hank's reading it now, and when he's done I can't wait to see the movie together, which I heard is wonderful too.


image above via Amazon
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