Friday, March 4, 2011

Delirium by Lauren Oliver


As you might be able to tell, I'm quite into the dystopian teen novels these days. This was another great one.


In this world, there are no wars, no fighting, everyone is peaceful. And the way to this was by curing love. Seriously, everyone gets a surgery when they turn 18 to cure them from love. The scientists have determined that love is actually a disease, amor deliria nervosa. Our main character is Lena. She is less than a year from her cure, and she is eager to get it over with. She has seen first-hand how love can destroy a family and a person's life. Her mother committed suicide because she loved. The surgery had never worked on her mother, and before they could try a 4th time, she decided to end it.


Lena's best friend seems to want to push it. And when the two of them are out running one day, they run into a little bit older boy named Alex. He says he is cured, and even has a scar in the right place. Lena is drawn to Alex, and soon, her view begins to change, as she becomes infected with the disease. In the end, she must decide whether to go on with the surgery or run away for love.


This was a good story, many surprises popped up along the way. I was, however, not happy with the ending. Or, should I say, it was a good ending, and probably very fitting, but I still wasn't happy the way it ended. I won't spoil it for you, even with the way it ended, I would still read it again, it really is good, and as I say, the ending was fitting, it worked perfectly.