Divergent (Book Review)

Divergent dives into a post-apocalyptic world where people are sorted into Factions. Tris begins her journey into adulthood and finds herself in the middle of a war.

Why The Love Story in Divergent is Unique Today

Nowadays movies/books/tv shows/ect. are full of love triangles. What makes this annoying to me, as someone who writes love triangles from time to time, is that a lot of these love triangles are put in places that they don't belong. At all.

Even though I don't like Twilight, the books are fun but not good, the fact is that the love triangle belongs in that story. That genre and plot sort of demand it. While the quality isn't good, fact is that it doesn't look out of place (except that everyone always knew she'd choose Edward so there wasn't any tension).

While in The Hobbit movie trilogy, the love triangle seems very forced. There's a female character created just for the trilogy and now she has to choose between two men. I wouldn't mind it if there was a romance between her and another character, but having a love triangle in that trilogy just doesn't make sense at all.

This makes the love story in the Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth so unique in today's age of putting a love triangle everywhere.

Beatrice "Tris" Prior and Tobias "Four" Eaton manage to tell a compelling love story without the need of a third person.

Tris' culture shock and being open to a new world with new possibilities makes her relationship with Four stand on its own. Four is able to give Tris room when she needs it and doesn't push. A very good quality in a boyfriend. If your bf/gf is making you uneasy and pushing you to do things you don't want to...might want to look for a new one.

Another part of their relationship that provides drama is Four's trust issues with Tris. A few times in the trilogy chaos is caused by Four not trusting Tris. I remember a part in Allegiant (the final book in the trilogy) where Tris calls him out on that.

So look, writers, Hollywood directors, and all the others putting content out: look at the Tris/Four love story. See that love triangles aren't always needed and a compelling love story can be told without one.

Not saying that all love triangles are bad, but there are some in places that don't need one.

Divergent (2014)

Title: Divergent

Director: Neil Burger

Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Kate Winslet

Rated: PG-13

Released: 2014

Personal Rating: 4.5/6

Oscars: N/A

Plot: In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late.
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From Book to Screen
I have read Divergent and so when I saw this movie I couldn't help but compare it to the book. One thing that bothered me was the fact that Peter is actually sort of likable in this movie. In the books there is no doubt that he isn't a good guy (and his arc in Allegiant will mean jack shit if they don't build him up to be a total asshole). I thought that the Tris/Four love story was done well. They at least got it out there though I think it was a little bigger in the book. Only problem with Four/Tobias was that I believe he was revealed to be Divergent earlier. I think double checking these facts is a good reason to re-read the trilogy!

Caleb
Okay, I won't say where his storyline goes for those who haven't read the book but...it's so heartbreaking seeing him on screen. I like how he is portrayed by being the brother who Tris admires. It's great seeing him be an outstanding member of the Abnegation faction and then seeing he wanted to be Erudite all along. The makers of the movie did a good job with this character.

Special Effects
They were good. There are different points in the movie where Tris goes into either her's or Four's fearscape. The fearscape is somewhere you enter by way of a serum and its purpose is for you to face your fears. It's used by Dauntless for their initiation. Besides the fearscape, the testing that Tris goes through in the beginning of the movie another serum is used. I especially liked the testing, though it didn't go down as in the book, since the effects used really contributed to the atmosphere the scene needed.

Final Thoughts
This movie was very enjoyable. The movie does a decent job at explaining the book's material to a theater audience. So if you know nothing about Divergent, when you leave the theater you should understand the world people like me have fallen in love with. If you see the movie and want to read the books I would say that's not a bad call as it will expand your understanding of the world of Divergent. I am probably one of the few hoping that a certain event in Allegiant isn't changed for the movie version. Here's hoping!

Divergent (Veronica Roth)

Title: Divergent

Series: The Divergent Trilogy

Author: Veronica Roth

Released: 2011

Rating: 5/5

Basic Plot: Beatrice "Tris" Prior leaves her family (and faction) to join another. While going through Initiation she must also deal with her being a Divergent and keeping it a secret.
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A Real Page Turner
I could hardly put this book down. If all I could do all day was read I would've. I admit this review is out later than it should be since once I finished this book I had to start reading Insurgent (the sequel) right away.

Where One Belongs
A theme that this novel covers is where one belongs. Tris is a Divergent (aka someone who can fit into more than one faction) and so she can't tell anyone what she really is. This would be hard enough on its own but she's also a sixteen year old girl who is still growing up. She is trying to make friends as well as defend against enemies (who aren't above killing her). A lot is talked about the different Factions and how they interact with each other. In the Divergent Universe you belong to one of five factions (that dictate how you live your life) or live Factionless (who are basically the Untouchables). This makes fitting in very important.

Treats Young Adults Like Adults
This book is for young adults but it's not gentle at all. There is romance but there are also scenes that are hard to get through. At the end of the book it feels like Veronica Roth has personally beat you up to the brink of death. With that said, I would only recommend the strong willed to read this. It's a great read but you will be disturbed through many parts of this book.

Final Thoughts
I cannot say enough how great this book is. I decided I wanted to read this after I saw its good reception. I admit that I am biased for this book due to liking the dystopian future genre. I got this book as a Christmas gift. There is going to be a movie version released in 2014.