January Book Clubs Book Review
Divergent by Veronica Roth (Shelf Awareness YA Book Club)
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together, they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I decided to read Divergent, but I can't say I'm disappointed! It was a fascinating storyline, and I finally understand the hype.
Divergent isn't just another dystopian book where the main character knows how to wield a weapon to defend herself or have thoughts on revenge on the corrupt government. Beatrice Prior, who later becomes Tris, starts off just like everyone else at the beginning of the book. She has advantages and disadvantages, but she's also been brainwashed by the government, much like the other factions. Tris was raised in the selfless Abnegation faction and didn't quite understand how to express herself as a normal teenager. She has self-image issues that have been ingrained into her since childhood, and she's shy because she was always taught never to stand out, but by the end of the book, she has shown so much growth. With the help of those around her, Tris Prior becomes a confident, independent woman who doesn't let her disadvantages stop her from getting what she wants.
Most of the characters flowed together well, and it was easy to see the friendships and love stories blossom on the page. Some of the characters seemed more fleshed out than others, but Veronica Roth really knows how to get you to hate a character. But she also knows how to make you fall in love with them too. I loved all the little scenes between Tris and Four, such as helping her learn to fight, hands brushing in passing, and his fierce protectiveness over her. It was adorable. Of course, there were a few scenes throughout the book that gave me secondhand embarrassment, but I got over them pretty quickly.
The book was also very action-packed and quick-paced, but I wouldn't say it felt rushed. I was always on the edge of my seat, wondering what new mental or physical trial Tris had to face. The plot moved along well, and I couldn't help but get sucked into the action!
Divergent isn't like most dystopian books I've read, where the author is trying to predict how the future will turn out. Veronica Roth's spin on dystopian society almost seemed comical. Everyone is divided into five factions based on your personality; you have a set of rules and colors you have to wear. At 16, you can either stay in your faction or choose a new one but leave your family forever. It's a genius idea that one test, one decision, decides the rest of your life. But, with that praise, I would have liked seeing more worldbuilding in Divergent. Based on the book's blurb, we know that the setting is a dystopian Chicago, but nothing points to why the story takes place in Chicago. We also don't get much explanation on the world outside the fence or why the people were separated into factions. I will admit I haven't read the rest of the series yet, so hopefully, more of my questions will be answered in those later books.
All in all, I enjoyed Divergent. Many people compare it to other big dystopian books such as The Hunger Games, but that's not even possible. The two are so vastly different that it's impossible to find any similarities between the books. As an avid dystopian reader, I can't wait to dive into the rest of the series!
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese (Literary Ladies)
Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, The Covenant of Water is set in Kerala, on India's Malabar Coast, and follows three generations of a family that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning—and in Kerala, water is everywhere. At the turn of the century, a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala's Christian community, grieving the death of her father, is sent by boat to her wedding, where she will meet her forty-year-old husband for the first time. From this unforgettable new beginning, the young girl—and future matriarch, Big Ammachi—will witness unthinkable changes over the span of her extraordinary life, full of joy and triumph as well as hardship and loss, her faith and love the only constants.
The Covenant of Water deals with many different themes, such as grief, love, tradition, family, and sacrifice. But it doesn't shy away from heavier topics such as addiction, death, discrimination, and child marriages.
The characters, setting, and details immersed me in the story. I enjoyed all the history and medical facts subtly woven into the chapters, which gave the readers a view of what life was like in India all those decades ago.
I found that I enjoyed the worldbuilding because Abraham Verghese has such amazing attention to detail. He was able to write vivid descriptions that paint an enchanting picture of the scenery in India. The characters were also very relatable and tolerable. It was clear that each character had their own backstory and motivation in life. I was eagerly invested in their journey through life as they went through hardships and adventures.
My only big complaint about this book is that it's 700+ pages, which can be very intimidating for most people and cause them not to read it. I don't usually mind large books, but I feel like this book could have been much shorter, especially since it is historical fiction and not a genre such as fantasy. As much as I loved the details, at times, it felt like there was too much to the point that it was overwhelming. The Covenant of the Water could have easily been a shorter book and still have been a great story.
If you are interested in a fascinating historical fiction that follows several generations with a mix of heavy and heartfelt scenes and a story of self-discovery, The Covenant of the Water would be perfect for you!
*Please note that our YA Shelf Awareness book club now meets on the first Saturday of every month starting February 3rd at 5:00 p.m. Literary Ladies will continue on the last Sunday of the month as usual.
Written by Carlie Renee
