Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Title: Delirium

Author: Lauren Oliver

# Of Pages: 448

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: February 1, 2011
Level: Young Adult

Rating: 5 Hearts

Synopsis

(From Goodreads.com)

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 Haloway 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-give days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: she falls in love.

My Verdict

BEAUTIFUL!!! If I could choose only one word to describe this book that is the word I would use. Lauren Oliver does an amazing job of creating a totally believable futuristic world where everyone has been taught that love, (otherwise known as Amor Deliria Nervosa) is a disease that ends with nothing but pain or death and therefore must be cured. Everyone is required to get this so called “cure” on their eighteenth birthday.

     
The main concept of love being viewed as a disease was a very interesting plotline, that resulted in a very interesting, unique, and wonderful book! Lena is an incredibly strong, brave, and lovable main character. One of MANY things that I loved about this book was the fact that Lena’s best friend, Hana, is just as complex and likable as Lena. I feel like I never really like the so called “best friend” in most YA books that I read. Most of the time I feel like they are all just cookie cutter replicas of each other that could be swapped out between books and no one would even notice. Not with this book. So thank you, Lauren, for creating a strong, independent, and unique best friend for Lena!

    
Now on to other matters, Alex. Ahhh... what can I say about Alex. More like what can’t I say! Alex is an unbelievable character who I fell in love with immediatley.  I don’t want to say too much so you’re just going to have to go read it yourselves to find out exactly how amazing Alex is.  Mwahahaha  =)

     
The next two books could not come fast enough! I am sitting on the edge of my seat with anticipation for the next installment. I recently bought the special edition of Delirium just so I could read those few pages of Pandemonium (the next book) that were in the back. That’s how bad I have it.