Heather K (dentist in my spare time)'s Reviews > Divergent
Divergent (Divergent, #1)
by
I'm going to do something that I have never done before. I'm going to rate this book lower than every single one of my Goodreads friends. Do you know why?
Because I hated the CRAP out of this book.
Now what follows might offend some lovers of this book. To "Divergent" fans: I'm sorry I'm going to rip on one of your favorite books. But honestly I almost wish I had this in paperback form so I could get the satisfaction of throwing it in the garbage. With gusto. Or maybe the fireplace...
Let me start with the "world building", which I put in quotation marks because the world building here is some of the laziest that I have ever seen. Basically, the author explains that the society was split up into five factions, Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent), because of... reasons. Something vaguely alluded to a war and the factions splitting up bringing peace. Then all the world building is dropped. It just is. The splitting up into factions made absolutely no sense and it wasn't further explained at all.
On to the absolutely ridiculous way the factions were described. It was like a pre-teen girl was describing what was "cool" or "dangerous" or "boring" when the factions were given their unofficial dress codes. The Dauntless wore tattoos and black, because, you know, black is sooooo fearless. Also they had lots of piercings, which obviously translates to the recklessness of the Dauntless faction because God forbid the smarties get a piercing! And the Abnegation wore gray because gray clearly means you care for others. It was like a joke it was all so stupid.
Speaking of the Dauntless, what the F is with them and their trains? Is there any purpose of these trains? I know there are cars in this world so why don't the Dauntless drive cars? Do they want to be hobo-chic? They are always jumping on and off their trains. Is there is schedule? It seems mighty inconvenient. And these trains never seem to stop? Who designed this horrible system. And why do the Dauntless live underground? Because they just felt like it??? Another case of the horrible world building... *gah*
And the totally pointless initiation process of the Dauntless? TOTALLY pointless! It wasn't like "The Hunger Games" when the games actually served a purpose, these initiation fights and trials seemed so trivial that I couldn't care less one way or another what happened in them. It was dumb, dumb, dumb. *bangs head on wall*
I have to get to my mother of all pet peeves about this book: the idea of people being Divergent, or basically more than one faction. This has to be one of the most poorly executed concepts in the history of dystopian fiction. I have to ask, why is Tris so freaking special?? Multiple times it is mentioned that you can be shown to have an aptitude for one faction yet get initiated in a different one of your choosing. So wouldn't those people be Divergent????? If you can hack it in more than one faction, don't you possess the traits of both of those factions? Also, the transfers from other factions still possess traits of their home factions. Candors still tell the truth, Erudites still spout knowledge, and so on and so forth to infinity. So what made Tris such a special snowflake?? Why is she Divergent when the rest are just brushed aside???
I can't, I can't even...
And the romance... just NO. It felt so forced that it made me uncomfortable. We get almost no character development from Four and he had about as much chemistry with Tris as oil and water have together. It was painful, just painful.
Tris herself was also a terrible character. I didn't care for her at all. She was judgmental and irritating and NOTHING that I want in a heroine.
I was so annoyed with this book that the killings (which made no sense, by the way, because they seemed to serve no purpose, unlike in Red Rising or The Hunger Games) failed to move me at all. I didn't care one iota. Does that make me a horrible person?
I'm mad I wasted precious reading time with this book. I'm mad it is almost 500 pages of garbage. I'm mad that I'm the only one of my friends that hated it so I have no one else on my side.
I give up.
by
Heather K (dentist in my spare time)'s review
bookshelves: group-reading-challenge, romance, m-f, little-to-no-sex-content, hype-hype-hype, hated-it, everyone-else-loves-it, dystopia, young-adult, ranty-review
May 26, 2014
bookshelves: group-reading-challenge, romance, m-f, little-to-no-sex-content, hype-hype-hype, hated-it, everyone-else-loves-it, dystopia, young-adult, ranty-review
I'm going to do something that I have never done before. I'm going to rate this book lower than every single one of my Goodreads friends. Do you know why?
Because I hated the CRAP out of this book.
Now what follows might offend some lovers of this book. To "Divergent" fans: I'm sorry I'm going to rip on one of your favorite books. But honestly I almost wish I had this in paperback form so I could get the satisfaction of throwing it in the garbage. With gusto. Or maybe the fireplace...
Let me start with the "world building", which I put in quotation marks because the world building here is some of the laziest that I have ever seen. Basically, the author explains that the society was split up into five factions, Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent), because of... reasons. Something vaguely alluded to a war and the factions splitting up bringing peace. Then all the world building is dropped. It just is. The splitting up into factions made absolutely no sense and it wasn't further explained at all.
On to the absolutely ridiculous way the factions were described. It was like a pre-teen girl was describing what was "cool" or "dangerous" or "boring" when the factions were given their unofficial dress codes. The Dauntless wore tattoos and black, because, you know, black is sooooo fearless. Also they had lots of piercings, which obviously translates to the recklessness of the Dauntless faction because God forbid the smarties get a piercing! And the Abnegation wore gray because gray clearly means you care for others. It was like a joke it was all so stupid.
Speaking of the Dauntless, what the F is with them and their trains? Is there any purpose of these trains? I know there are cars in this world so why don't the Dauntless drive cars? Do they want to be hobo-chic? They are always jumping on and off their trains. Is there is schedule? It seems mighty inconvenient. And these trains never seem to stop? Who designed this horrible system. And why do the Dauntless live underground? Because they just felt like it??? Another case of the horrible world building... *gah*
And the totally pointless initiation process of the Dauntless? TOTALLY pointless! It wasn't like "The Hunger Games" when the games actually served a purpose, these initiation fights and trials seemed so trivial that I couldn't care less one way or another what happened in them. It was dumb, dumb, dumb. *bangs head on wall*
I have to get to my mother of all pet peeves about this book: the idea of people being Divergent, or basically more than one faction. This has to be one of the most poorly executed concepts in the history of dystopian fiction. I have to ask, why is Tris so freaking special?? Multiple times it is mentioned that you can be shown to have an aptitude for one faction yet get initiated in a different one of your choosing. So wouldn't those people be Divergent????? If you can hack it in more than one faction, don't you possess the traits of both of those factions? Also, the transfers from other factions still possess traits of their home factions. Candors still tell the truth, Erudites still spout knowledge, and so on and so forth to infinity. So what made Tris such a special snowflake?? Why is she Divergent when the rest are just brushed aside???
I can't, I can't even...
And the romance... just NO. It felt so forced that it made me uncomfortable. We get almost no character development from Four and he had about as much chemistry with Tris as oil and water have together. It was painful, just painful.
Tris herself was also a terrible character. I didn't care for her at all. She was judgmental and irritating and NOTHING that I want in a heroine.
I was so annoyed with this book that the killings (which made no sense, by the way, because they seemed to serve no purpose, unlike in Red Rising or The Hunger Games) failed to move me at all. I didn't care one iota. Does that make me a horrible person?
I'm mad I wasted precious reading time with this book. I'm mad it is almost 500 pages of garbage. I'm mad that I'm the only one of my friends that hated it so I have no one else on my side.
I give up.
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Reading Progress
May 26, 2014
–
Started Reading
May 26, 2014
– Shelved
May 26, 2014
– Shelved as:
group-reading-challenge
May 27, 2014
– Shelved as:
romance
May 27, 2014
– Shelved as:
m-f
May 27, 2014
– Shelved as:
little-to-no-sex-content
May 27, 2014
– Shelved as:
hype-hype-hype
May 27, 2014
– Shelved as:
hated-it
May 27, 2014
– Shelved as:
everyone-else-loves-it
May 27, 2014
– Shelved as:
dystopia
May 27, 2014
– Shelved as:
young-adult
May 27, 2014
– Shelved as:
ranty-review
May 28, 2014
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 142 (142 new)
message 1:
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[deleted user]
(new)
May 26, 2014 05:28PM
Owwn, sorry you're not liking it. :P Do you usually like dystopia?
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Lola wrote: "Owwn, sorry you're not liking it. :P Do you usually like dystopia?"
Yes I do but don't worry, I'm all prepared to hate this book by myself because all of my other friends liked it. :(
Yes I do but don't worry, I'm all prepared to hate this book by myself because all of my other friends liked it. :(
Great review, Heather! :) You're not the first person I know to have hated this book, but I'm sorry you're the only one on your friends list. Hopefully the next book you read will be much better than this one. xD
Trisha wrote: "Great review, Heather! :) You're not the first person I know to have hated this book, but I'm sorry you're the only one on your friends list. Hopefully the next book you read will be much better th..."
Thanks! I read some reviews of people that hated it and i completely agreed with them! I'm just baffled that so many of my friends with really excellent taste loved this! It might be a "it's not you, it's me thing"???
Thanks! I read some reviews of people that hated it and i completely agreed with them! I'm just baffled that so many of my friends with really excellent taste loved this! It might be a "it's not you, it's me thing"???
Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Great review, Heather! :) You're not the first person I know to have hated this book, but I'm sorry you're the only one on your friends list. Hopefully the next book you read will be..."
It could be, I guess. I know one of my close friends said she despised the MC and that was one of many issues she had with the book.
It could be, I guess. I know one of my close friends said she despised the MC and that was one of many issues she had with the book.
Great review, Heather! Sorry it did not work out for you, hon! :( I can definitely understand what annoyed you about the book. Maybe this is your sign to come back over to the dark side (a.k.a. M/M)... :P Or if you're not ready yet, that's cool too...I guess. Buahaha! I'm just kidding. Here's to hoping that your next read is actually enjoyable, whatever genre it may be! *crosses fingers*
Vivian, I agree. I'm also not a huge fan of YA and will only read it if a book is just really special and magnificent and M/M of course. I've read many YA books during my teenage years, and the only ones I still really like and will wax poetic about are Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Libba Bray's books. Everything else just seems bleh... *shrugs*
Vivian, I agree. I'm also not a huge fan of YA and will only read it if a book is just really special and magnificent and M/M of course. I've read many YA books during my teenage years, and the only ones I still really like and will wax poetic about are Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Libba Bray's books. Everything else just seems bleh... *shrugs*
My friend lent this to me and I'm afraid to start it because I'm pretty sure I'm going to hate it. You're not alone, darling. ♥ And I love your review! :D
I just saw what you were currently reading: Heart Knot Mine
Just couldn't stay away from the dark side long, could ya?
I'm just yanking your chain.
Welcome back, girlie, to Natasha's mountain of men!
Just couldn't stay away from the dark side long, could ya?
I'm just yanking your chain.
Welcome back, girlie, to Natasha's mountain of men!
I think you're the first person I've seen that didn't have awesome feels about this book. I personally haven't read it but your review makes me glad that I haven't
Love the review Heather. This is one I want to try - when I can drag myself away from mm. I know what it's like to be a lone disliker...I think I'm the only person in the entire world who didn't like The Hunger Games. I rad it before I had a gr acc though so, while I rated it, I wouldn't be able to review it properly without re-reading it. And that is NOT going to happen!
I'm on your side xD! Totally.
Wise your words xD!
I laughed a lot (love de gif "posers") and your review make me feel hope, Really.
Wise your words xD!
I laughed a lot (love de gif "posers") and your review make me feel hope, Really.
Loved the review, Heather. :)
I have this on my to-read list, but still haven't got around to start because I usually avoid the books that are too hyped (or leave them for later). Of course, there are some exceptions, but most hyped ones end up on 'for later' pile.
I have this on my to-read list, but still haven't got around to start because I usually avoid the books that are too hyped (or leave them for later). Of course, there are some exceptions, but most hyped ones end up on 'for later' pile.
oh im so sorry you didn't like it! :-( I felt that way about the hunger games though, and all my friends raved about it.
BUAHA! Great rant. The worldbuilding didn't make sense indeed. I remember being annoyed by the simplicity of it all. Though I'm glad that I read this book back in the day, when I was still easily impressed.:p
OK. Now I don't feel so bad. For some reason, I have no desire to read this book. I don't know why, but I just can't. Great review!
Great review, Heather! I agree with every single point you made - headdesks and eyerolls galore almost the entire time I was reading this book. Except, halfway through, I decided to suspend my disbelief - nay, bludgeon it to death - and the book improved dramatically. Still with the eyerolls and headdesks, but got riveted to the action. :D
Giulio wrote: "I love when you get bitchy :)"
LOL! I still can't bring myself to curse! I'm the prissiest grumpy reviewer ever! ;)
LOL! I still can't bring myself to curse! I'm the prissiest grumpy reviewer ever! ;)
Vivian wrote: "Unless there is compelling evidence to the contrary, I avoid YA."
YA is certainly hit or miss!
YA is certainly hit or miss!
Ana_P wrote: "I just saw what you were currently reading: Heart Knot Mine
Just couldn't stay away from the dark side long, could ya?
I'm just yanking your chain.
Welcome back, girlie, to Natasha..."
Yup! I needed a good old M/M after that one!
Just couldn't stay away from the dark side long, could ya?
I'm just yanking your chain.
Welcome back, girlie, to Natasha..."
Yup! I needed a good old M/M after that one!
Nenia wrote: "My friend lent this to me and I'm afraid to start it because I'm pretty sure I'm going to hate it. You're not alone, darling. ♥ And I love your review! :D"
Thank you! Maybe try it so I'm not all alone :)
Thank you! Maybe try it so I'm not all alone :)
Bethany wrote: "I think you're the first person I've seen that didn't have awesome feels about this book. I personally haven't read it but your review makes me glad that I haven't"
I'm so lonely in my hatred of this book. It was my local book club's book of the month and the meeting is on Thursday. I'm going to see if anyone else hates it!
I'm so lonely in my hatred of this book. It was my local book club's book of the month and the meeting is on Thursday. I'm going to see if anyone else hates it!
Lori wrote: "Love the review Heather. This is one I want to try - when I can drag myself away from mm. I know what it's like to be a lone disliker...I think I'm the only person in the entire world who didn't li..."
You never know, you might love it! But I kind of want you to hate it so someone else rates it one star!
You never know, you might love it! But I kind of want you to hate it so someone else rates it one star!
Elizabetha wrote: "I'm on your side xD! Totally.
Wise your words xD!
I laughed a lot (love de gif "posers") and your review make me feel hope, Really."
Thanks honey! :D
Wise your words xD!
I laughed a lot (love de gif "posers") and your review make me feel hope, Really."
Thanks honey! :D
Irena wrote: "Loved the review, Heather. :)
I have this on my to-read list, but still haven't got around to start because I usually avoid the books that are too hyped (or leave them for later). Of course, there..."
I also avoided this for so long because of the hype. It was a crushing let down, as hyped books often are.
I have this on my to-read list, but still haven't got around to start because I usually avoid the books that are too hyped (or leave them for later). Of course, there..."
I also avoided this for so long because of the hype. It was a crushing let down, as hyped books often are.
Karla wrote: "oh im so sorry you didn't like it! :-( I felt that way about the hunger games though, and all my friends raved about it."
To each their own! So many of my friends 5 starred it. And I really liked HG so you never know!
To each their own! So many of my friends 5 starred it. And I really liked HG so you never know!
Loederkoningin wrote: "BUAHA! Great rant. The worldbuilding didn't make sense indeed. I remember being annoyed by the simplicity of it all. Though I'm glad that I read this book back in the day, when I was still easily i..."
I might have liked this more 3 or 4 years ago. Now, not so much. ;)
I might have liked this more 3 or 4 years ago. Now, not so much. ;)
Angela wrote: "Oh maaan, sorry for your pain Heather, but this review was 12 kinds of AWESOME!!! XD"
Thank you!! :D
Thank you!! :D
AH wrote: "OK. Now I don't feel so bad. For some reason, I have no desire to read this book. I don't know why, but I just can't. Great review!"
Thank you! I would tell you to stay away but what do I know!
Thank you! I would tell you to stay away but what do I know!
Tiya wrote: "Great review, Heather! I agree with every single point you made - headdesks and eyerolls galore almost the entire time I was reading this book. Except, halfway through, I decided to suspend my disb..."
Thank you! I'm glad you were able to like it in the end :)
Thank you! I'm glad you were able to like it in the end :)
Great review Heather! I know how it feels to be the odd man out among friends. I recently read Dangerously Happy and hated it with the passion of a thousand suns.
Want to know the main reason I liked Divergent?
That's the actor that portrayed Four.
I saw the movie first and that was in my head the whole time.
I can forgive nearly anything for that level of pretty.
Want to know the main reason I liked Divergent?
That's the actor that portrayed Four.
I saw the movie first and that was in my head the whole time.
I can forgive nearly anything for that level of pretty.
Tina wrote: "Great review Heather! I know how it feels to be the odd man out among friends. I recently read Dangerously Happy and hated it with the passion of a thousand suns.
Want to know the..."
Ohhh he is hot!! I might have sided with you if I saw this picture first ;)
Want to know the..."
Ohhh he is hot!! I might have sided with you if I saw this picture first ;)
Nick wrote: "I've been mildly curious about these books. Thanks for curing me of that."
Glad to be of service :)
Glad to be of service :)
Sheziss wrote: "Definitely, I'm not touching this book even with a stick xD ."
Lots of people loved it but.... ugh, the thought of reading it again is making me frown and I NEVER frown! :)
Lots of people loved it but.... ugh, the thought of reading it again is making me frown and I NEVER frown! :)
Although I really enjoyed this book (it was literally one of the first things I read after finishing my undergrad degree, so anything fluffy and fictional was awesome). Looking back I completely agree with you! You pretty much covered all of the issues I had with the book. Hopefully the next two will cover some of these plot holes.
Sara wrote: "Although I really enjoyed this book (it was literally one of the first things I read after finishing my undergrad degree, so anything fluffy and fictional was awesome). Looking back I completely ag..."
:) I think I'll stop at this one. I don't want to be all ragey at this series any more then I have to!
:) I think I'll stop at this one. I don't want to be all ragey at this series any more then I have to!
This is funny, because your reaction to Divergent is basically my reaction to Allegiant... but I actually LOVED Divergent. I think I wanted to believe that all the reasons and explanations would come later in the series (they don't), but I also liked Tris and Four in this book but didn't like them as much in the latter books. I don't know if it's because I've grown as a reader or if I just perceived this book in a very different way. It's so much fun to see people's reactions to it though :) I'm sure you're not alone :P
Bee wrote: "This is funny, because your reaction to Divergent is basically my reaction to Allegiant... but I actually LOVED Divergent. I think I wanted to believe that all the reasons and explanations would co..."
Another reason for me not to continue with the series!!
I just saw how young this author is. It totally makes sense now. But doesn't excuse anything for me.
Another reason for me not to continue with the series!!
I just saw how young this author is. It totally makes sense now. But doesn't excuse anything for me.
This review was boss. End of story. Almost makes me want to change my rating. Almost.