Spotlight: Why I am DIVERGENT

You may be aware that this week UK Book Bloggers have been divided into Factions and have gone head to head to get their reviews for Insurgent ( you can see my review HERE ) As you can see from my review the book really got me thinking about human nature, the way we fit into society and how characteristics alter due to the challenges life throws at us. So I thought I would apply these questions to myself and examine the factions that make up the society in Divergent/Insurgent to my own place in society. Although we may be born into a certain sector of society this is not necessarily what defines us.

All information and pictures regarding the factions is taken from The Divergent Trilogy Fansite

ABNEGATION:

1. to refuse or deny oneself (some rights, conveniences, etc.); reject; renounce.

2. to relinquish; give up

How does this fit me:

The biggest reason for being ABNEGATION is that I am a Mother. As a parent you go without things yourself in order to provide the best you can for your children. Even the smallest act of selflessness goes a long way. All parents, especially Mothers are Abnegation. Why especially Mothers I hear you ask, because we give our bodies over to what is basically a parasite [ ; D ] for 9 months. 

CANDOR: 

1. the state or quality of being frank, open, and sincere in speech or expression; candidness.

2. freedom from bias; fairness; impartiality.

How does this fit me:

I value honesty, to be perfectly truthful [ ; D ] I value honesty a lot more than I used to. Having been through a form of personal hell at the hands of another person, with the lies told in order to protect themselves, believe me I truly understand and appreciate the need for honesty. A relationship built on lies is like a house built on sand, it will crumble to the ground quickly.

This does not mean at the expense at someone else's feelings, I do think that tact and diplomacy are necessary skills in life and they are a learned skill dictated by society's acceptance of certain things, situations and people. 

I try to tell my girls that honesty is always the best policy, lies will be found out in the end, just accept the punishment if you have done something wrong as the punishment will be worse if you lie. 

Lies have a habit of biting you in the bum when you least expect it, you need to have a very good memory if you are going to lie. Be warned [ : D ] 

ERUDITE: 

Characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly

The word “erudite” focuses on knowledge rather than intelligence– intelligence being something you’re born with, and can’t necessarily control, and knowledge being something that you acquire.

How does this fit me:

The biggest thing is probably that I am a Librarian and a Mother, I encourage the pursuit of knowledge all day, every day. In school and at home.

I covered WWII in YA Fiction during a library lesson last year ( you can find details HERE) during which we discussed Hitler's Book Burning, this is what I told my classes:

Books give you knowledge, knowledge gives you power.

The power I mean is the ability to question things, not accept what you are told blindly. Knowledge allows you to overcome any preconceptions about your place in society. Rich, poor, young or old  being able to access knowledge on any subject gives you the ability to achieve anything you want to.

I think that proves my point [ ; D ] 

AMITY: 

1. friendship; peaceful harmony.

2. mutual understanding and a peaceful relationship, especially between nations; peace; accord.

3. cordiality

It’s not just about banjos and apple-picking. It’s about cultivating strong relationships and trying to understand each other.

How does this fit me:

The key word for me with Amity is FRIENDSHIP. I am probably a really rubbish friend in the 'real' world, I forget birthdays, I never ring but if my 'real' friends need me I would be there like a shot. 

I value my on-line friends tremendously, without their support I probably wouldn't have coped with the past few years. I know that no matter what time of day or night, there is always someone there to talk to. FRIENDSHIP is an important thing in life, you never know when you're going to need your friends.

DAUNTLESS:

Fearless, undaunted.

Undaunted: courageously resolute, especially in the face of danger or difficulty; not discouraged.

How does this fit me:

Whereas I am certainly not fearless, I would say or rather other people tell me I am Undaunted. Why? My life got shattered into pieces last year, you all probably know the reason, it had been going on a lot longer than just last year but last year tipped the scales in my knowledge and understanding of the situation. Everything I believed in and worked towards from the age of 20 was turned to dust within a very short space of time. 

I have had to rebuild my life and re-evaluate a lot of things. Although at times it is very difficult there is no way I could let myself be discouraged.

This also involves AMITY as I wouldn't have coped with my friends and ABNEGATION as you can't give up when you have children.

DIVERGENT: 

1. diverging; differing; deviating.

2. pertaining to or causing divergence.

3. (of a mathematical expression) having no finite limits

Diverge: 1. to move, lie, or extend in different directions from a common point; branch off.

2. to differ in opinion, character, form, etc.; deviate.

3. Mathematics . (of a sequence, series, etc.) to have no unique limit; to have infinity as a limit.

4. to turn aside or deviate, as from a path, practice, or plan.

I have certainly deviated from the path I was on - BIG STYLE.

Proving I am
DIVERGENT.

Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent

Series: Divergent #2

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Publication Date: 1 May 2012

Source: Review Copy 

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

War looms in sixteen-year-old Tris’s dark dystopian world as disputes between the factions grow. Tris must now fight against all odds to discover the truth that can save her and the people she loves. Sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge – and the choices she makes will have devastating and unexpected consequences.

REVIEW

Bear with me as I am going to take a slightly different approach to this review. You will have seen a LOT of reviews for this book this week with all the UK factions going head to head to get their reviews up. Therefore, the something different as I don't have to recap the story. If you need an update Veronica Roth has put a fabulous recap post up HERE be warned it contains spoilers. 

If you remember my review of Divergent (HERE) I state that Veronica Roth's perception of human nature and the insight into the nature versus nurture debate is profound. Insurgent takes these underlying themes and blows them out of the water. I find myself days after finishing the book remembering little pieces that slot into the puzzle that is human nature, the role people play in shaping society. Mankind's insistence on dominating the things around him even other people. Are we just pre-programmed to annihilate everything in our paths even if it means our own destruction.

One person is not naturally just one thing, they are a complex mix of all the attributes of the factions, some will obviously be more dominant than others but it will still be a mix. When I joined Facebook I had to put in a caption for want of a better word. This is what I put, I believe it is my own words, if it isn't please let me know and I will credit the person who said it:

Like the ebb and flow of the tide change is inevitable. It is how we cope with the change that defines us.

This caption just fits so perfectly with Tris journey in this book. People may start out as one thing but during the course of our lives and the challenges we have to face alter our perception of not only the world around us but of ourselves. The saying 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger' is very apt. It is Tris's understanding and compassion gained from the challenges she has had to face that stands out within the narrative. Adversity can have the benefit of empathy and appreciation when viewed in retrospect. Obviously a little difficult to have that clarity of thought when you are in the process of experiencing the adversity.

The inclusion of fascinating insight into the workings of the brain within the narrative added to the nature versus nurture debate. The fact that certain chemical compounds alter personalities was engrossing. ( I am Erudite after all [ ; D ] ) the theory that society can be enriched by the use of chemical stimuli to alter brain chemistry brings its own argument.  Would it aid in making everyone equal, could utopia be achieved if we actually did this or would it just be another form of control?

Character interactions and development added to the underlying plot. I absolutely adore Tris and Tobias they evoke powerful emotions with their relationship. Their relationship isn't plain sailing but it is realistic in its portrayal, outside influences are bound to affect any relationship. Peripheral characters gained a lot more depth in this book, giving understanding to their actions and reactions as well as rounding out the plot.

Insurgent is a book that makes you question society as a whole as well as your place in it. Alongside high octane action, jaw dropping plot twists and one of the best fictional couples today. A fabulous and fascinating read.

Book Angel Book Love List - April 2012

To go alongside my Debut Drool List these are the books I would love to be able to read this month.

Title: Unrest

Series: POSSIBLY!!!!!!!

Author: Michelle Harrison

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books

Publication Date: 26 April 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Elliott hasn't slept properly for months. Not since the accident that nearly killed him. Sometimes he half-wakes, paralysed, while shadowy figures move around him. Other times he is the one moving around while his body lies asleep on the bed. His doctors say sleep paralysis and out-of-body experiences are harmless - but to Elliott they're terrifying.

Convinced that his brush with death has attracted the spirit world, Elliott secures a job at a reputedly haunted museum, determined to discover the truth. There, he meets the enigmatic Ophelia. But, as she and Elliott grow closer, Elliott draws new attention from the dead. One night, during an out-of-body experience, Elliott returns to bed to find his body gone. Something is occupying it, something that wants to live again - and it wants Ophelia, too . . .

How good does this look!!!!

Title: Goddess Interrupted

Series: The Goddess Chronicles

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Mira Ink

Publication Date: 6 April 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person whom she would really rather not meet. Henry's first wife, Persephone.

Lucky enough to have read this one. Review HERE

Title: Insurgent

Series: Divergent #2

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Publication Date: 1 May 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

War looms in sixteen-year-old Tris’s dark dystopian world as disputes between the factions grow. Tris must now fight against all odds to discover the truth that can save her and the people she loves. Sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge – and the choices she makes will have devastating and unexpected consequences.

Reading this one tonight [ : D ] I am thinking that I may not get much sleep. Review going up next Tuesday for my Faction #EruditeUK

Title: Ghost Flower

Author: Michelle Jaffe

Publisher: Atom

Publicity Date: 12 April 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Eve, a runaway, finds a new job at a coffee shop on the outskirts of Tuscon. When she’s approached by two wealthy teens who claim she bears an uncanny resemblance to their missing cousin Aurora, her life takes a turn for the dark and mysterious. Drawn into a scheme to win Aurora’s inheritance, Eve finds herself impersonating the girl, who disappeared three years ago on the night her best friend Elizabeth died. But when Liza’s ghost begins to haunt Eve, doing harm to the people close to her under the guise of “protecting” her, Eve finds herself in a nightmare maze of lies and deception that leads her to question even her own identity. She realizes her only chance is to uncover the truth about what happened the night Liza died, and to find Liza’s kille—before she’s next.

Musical Moments: Book Theme Songs: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent

Series: Divergent #1

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Publication  Date: 3 May 2011

Synopsis: From Goodreads

Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

Review here

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Series: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books
Publication Date: 3 May 2011

Synopsis: From Goodreads

Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger.

REVIEW:

I have had this book on my tbr shelf for ages and was put off reading it by all the hype. Yes, it does have the opposite effect for me, instead of pushing it up the pile the more people raved about it I buried it until the fuss died down. I am now kicking myself for waiting for so long. Honestly, in this instance the hype is perfectly justified. This book is utterly awesome and I will probably gush like a geyser in my review so you have been warned.

I have specifically used the Goodreads synopsis in order to show the different factions that exist within this society and the virtue it represents. I couldn't help but picture each faction as a different religion, and if the conflicts depicted in the news daily are anything to go by, different religions tend to think that theirs is the only true religion even though they all have the same fundamentals. I am getting very deep and philosophical but this is exactly what was running through my mind at the time. And where does this lead us, to conflict. What really stood out for me within each faction there is no room for freewill, the depiction of the group/gang behaviour there is absolutely no individuality. Making a very volatile repressed society on the whole. The creation of the factions was supposed to being peace to the society yet the way in which each faction tries to undermine each other is vividly portrayed within the narrative.Bringing to mind the question - is it mankind's nature to continually try to assert its authority over all things via conflict.

Written in first person narrative form Beatrice's (Tris) perspective, at 16 she starts off as seeming so much younger due to her petite appearance and inconspicuous demeanour, always trying to blend into the background, this is probably due to her sheltered upbringing. Tris has a superb narrative voice and her inner monologues make her very relateable, we all question who we are and what it is we want from life at points. She is very conflicted (which does make her a typical teenager). Tris seems to be one of the only people so far within the story to realise that people aren't just one virtue or another but a mixture of all of them, making her very astute and perceptive.

I am not going to go into details about the plot as I think it will spoil your reading experience as just take my word for it YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK. I will say that there are some thrill ride-esque twists within the plot. Revelations unfold dramatically I can only describe it like a cold bucket of water being poured over your head; shocking and bringing instant alertness.

The description of the tattoos was completely awesome. I read this book shortly after getting my own tattoo and can identify with the idea that the tattoo you choose is a visual symbol of who you are on the inside. Plus yes it is completely addictive, it is like having artwork on your skin. The adrenaline rushes were palpable via the narrative. The notion that being pierced and tattooed instantly makes you a Dauntless which in the eyes of the other factions is the equivalent of being a rebel made me giggle so hard, there is obviously no hope for me [ : D ]

I have always been a girl that goes for the bad boy, OMG, this bad boy is also a geek on the inside. So completely adorable. I am utterly in love with Tobias. *swoonarrific* More than that the relationship that blossoms is equal, they save each other in different and completely amazing ways. The scene from Pretty Woman comes to mind where at the end Richard Gere climbs the fire escape to rescue the damsel and she recues him right back. (Again I am showing my age in my reviews *sigh*)

Instead of telling you about the plot I will say this book is about finding where you belong. Although it might not necessarily be where you envisioned. It's about building friendships/relationships. It's about learning to trust other people; this can be one of the hardest things to do if you haven't had particularly good role models. It's about learning to work together and how important it is.

This isn't just one of those books that gets under your skin - it goes way beyond that. It made me question who I am and where I belong. For me, I think, I really am a mix of all the factions, obviously some are more dominant than others. Where would you belong??????