Review: DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver

TITLE: Delirium
AUTHOR: Lauren Oliver 

AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.laurenoliverbooks.com
GENRE: Young Adult, SciFi, Dystopian, Romance
PUBLISHED: HarperTeen (February 1, 2011)
MY RATING: 4

FIND ON: Amazon

SYNOPSIS: 

(Via Goodreads) 

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. 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.

REVIEW: 

This book surprised me. As the story begins Lena is sharing how she lives in a world absent of love and how thrilled she is to count down the days until her treatment. My heart ached at the thought of this ever happening in real life. Yikes! She describes the side effects of a detachment from children, even though it is rare that a parent would kill their child and rid themselves of the bother. Scary.

Lena is an interesting character. She makes a complete 180 throughout the story. Usually we see the main character coming to terms with something and making a minor change. This character makes a complete about-face! Her eyes are opened to the cruelty of the cure.

The story is filled with danger, passion, anger and, of course, love. Alex, the boy she is “infected” by, is an enigma. He is honest and giving. Although, I was waiting for at least ONE flaw! But I guess when you’re in love flaws are invisible.

RATING: 

I rate this book at a 4: A Very Good Read. It bothered me deeply, which I believe is the whole point. Lena is interesting and her past makes her even more layered. The story world is interesting and I’m still curious about it even after I’ve finished. 

RECOMMENDATIONS: 

The only warnings I have are the fact that there are several swear words (maybe 2 F-words.) Also there is PG-13 nudity. Blood is minimal. Overall a great read, and the “warnings” don’t worsen the story.