To celebrate this past Tuesday’s release of Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver, #2 in the Delirium Trilogy, here are my thoughts on Delirium #1… I loved it!
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Release Date February 1, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: Delirium is #1 in a Trilogy
Genre: Young Adult Dystopia
ISBN: 978-0061726835
Source: Bought
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 Holoway 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-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.
Before getting to the second chapter, I knew that Delirium by Lauren Oliver was going to become one of my favorite books of all time. Oliver takes us into a fascinating world where love is a disease and everyone over eighteen must get the cure. Sold right away. What a genius idea. But that’s just the beginning. Before getting the cure, everyone is evaluated to later be assigned a husband or wife and job. Talk about repression. What’s so crazy is that the only people who think that all of this is wrong are the “invalids” who have escaped into “the wilds.” As it stands, it is unclear just how many invalids there are, what with… all of the things I cannot tell you since you have to read the book to find out. Oliver goes above and beyond creating this world, with regulators walking the streets, making sure that those uncured are not getting infected or infecting others… and those cured are not showing any signs of ineffective procedures. Oliver brings to reality the unfathomable and strips away all that is taboo about it, making it ordinary life, making the fundamentals of life with love and passion the real problem… and that brilliant. But really, even saying brilliant doesn’t seem to do this justice.
Feelings aren’t forever. Time waits for no man, but progress waits for man to enact it. – Proverb from The Book of Shh
We are introduced to Lena at a time when she’s most excited and nervous about her evaluation with her best friend, Hana at her side, who is much more curious about what the government and society is keeping away from them than Lena. Love travels through music, literature, and so much more and all of that is regulated. Imagine a time and place where such forms of entertainment are filtered and monitored for “your own protection.” The line drawn between right and wrong… there is none for the government. This is no democracy and they’re going to “fix” that part of your brain and your heart whether you want them to or not. That’s where it gets messy. When Lena and Hana meet Alex on one of Hana’s rebellious adventures, Lena’s world is changed forever. She not only falls in love with him but discovers the truth about what she and everyone else is being “protected from.” The nation has been brainwashed from birth to believe all of the things that Lena finds out are no so dangerous. The only real danger it seems is the Crypts (which is a nest for true sickness and disease) and still even the Crypts has given her hope. Again, you have to read to find out what that pertains to.
Food for the body, milk for the bones, ice for the bleeding, a belly of stones. – A folklore blessing
Lauren Oliver’s detail and ability to form such vivid imagery are truly magnificent. Oliver captivates from the first page and continues to with her insanely creative references to The Book of Shhh, lullabies in this repressive world, and more. She dove deeper into this world than anyone would ever really want to face and for that, it just makes this book all the more outstanding. She even mentions what the state of same sex relationships are in this world (a rare state) and has very impressively shaped spirituality and what the stories of the bible mean in this world. This world is very complex but not at all perplexing and this is not something that’s as easy to do as it looks. Lena is challenged to look at everything she was ever taught, take a step back, and see the world for herself. What’s so incredible is that in the beginning, it really does seem like a life without love is a very convenient and satisfying way of living. But knowledge is power and so is love. And a life without love is a life with momentary happiness, not constant fulfillment so when Lena begins to understand the power of love vs. the power of fear of love… well, that’s what the story is all about so please get your copy of this book if you haven’t already.
You can build walls all the way to the sky and I will find a way to fly above them.
It’s funny because there’s plenty of action in Delirium but much of it also comes in the form of tension and paranoia of Lena being caught with Alex, with the disease… and what that means for the people around her… it’s mind boggling how Lena’s choices will affect Hana and her family. What a tragedy it is for Lena to see her family, knowing that all but her little cousin is cured, knowing that they’re already far gone. Going in, you know it’s love Lena will find but there’s so much that is wrapped up within that… hope for one. And all of these themes are brought to life with all of these characters who have been perfectly crafted. I’m not kidding. And in all of this drama, there’s still room for some comedy. The dialogue especially between Lena and Hana as well as Lena and her aunt are two very different kinds of funny and you’ll appreciate both very quickly. What these two women mean to Lena play a big role in what she ultimately decides to do.
Hearts are fragile things. That’s why you have to be so careful.
Every word Lauren Oliver has written here is a love letter to love in my opinion. Delirium shows that love does prevail and why love prevails. It’s so poetic and one of the most moving pieces that I have read in years. No matter what you are a fan of dystopia, romance, etc… there’s something in this book for everyone. If I could, I would buy a copy for everyone that I know and everyone that I don’t. It’s just that good. Delirium will be in my heart forever because it has changed everything about it and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Read Delirium (#1) and Pandemonium (#2) by Lauren Oliver today.