Divergent

Before I chose Dauntless...I felt assured of my long lifespan, if nothing else. Now there are no reassurances except that where I go, I go because I choose to.

This was actually a reread for me, in anticipation of Allegiant. I enjoyed it a lot more than the first time. I can't wait to read the entire trilogy. Which is kind of funny because, initially, I didn't want to continue with this series, but some spoiler about Allegiant convinced me to pick this up again.

It could have been the fact that I read it at a late hour and it followed two pretty bad books, but I just didn't pay attention to the plot holes regarding the world building that bothered me in the past. The first time I read this, the factions didn't sit well with me and I also disliked Tris very much. This time, I actually liked the concept of the factions. I just took that world as it was and stopped trying to nit pick about inconsistencies. I was also less harsh on Tris, because I saw a side of her I didn't see the first time.

In 2012, I thought that Tris was mostly a judgmental, impulsive, annoying little girl, but now I understand why she seemed like that. First of all, she's an isolated teenager, and secondly she was raised in a community where she didn't fit in. Which make her pretty confused. But I saw that she acknowledged that fact and she felt guilty about it, which made her look more humane. I liked that even though she needed to free herself from Abnegation she took its positive teachings with her. She couldn't let go of the things she learned from her parents and her community, which was a good thing. She was pretty impulsive, but also fearless. She didn't mope around or constantly complain like most YA heroines do, which I also appreciated.

I enjoyed mostly all of the other characters, as well. Each of one of them added something to the story.I was quite saddened by some of their deaths. Also, the dose of action was in just the right amount.

But there was one thing that didn't convince me the first time and didn't convince me now: the romance and the love interest. I was really displeased with it. I know it's a very unpopular opinion, but I didn't like Four. I get why they ended up together. They both had secrets and this made them feel they could relate to each other. But I still didn't like it. To me, Four never really dealt with this past and this made him very angsty and weak, in comparison to Tris. I would have preferred to see Tris with Uriah, maybe. Or even better, in no relationship at all.

Overall, I had fun with this book. I'm really curious to know how the factions were born and what's next on the Erudite agenda. Though I'm pretty upset the author chose them as the villains in the book. It could be sending the wrong message to all the young readers. Let's hope it's not the case.