Book Review | Requiem by Lauren Oliver

If you aren't familiar with the Delirium trilogy, Requiem is the third and final book. In the Delirium series, love is a disease and the folks in the books have a procedure done to be cured from amor deliria nervosa (love).

As I stated in my review of the first book, Delirium, love isn't just about the romantic love between two people. It's the love of friends, the love of hobbies, the love of the small details as well as the large.

Like most dystopian books, there is a lot of suspense, darkness, and conflict in this series. Good times (for the reader). The second book was kind of lackluster for me, but the ending... oh, the ending. I'm not normally a fan of the cliffhanger, but I did love the ending to Pandemonium. I needed Requiem after that ending!

Thus, I've been waiting and waiting to read Requiem which you know if you follow this blog. I hoped Requiem would pick up just seconds after Pandemonium, but I was very pleased with how Requiem began. In fact I was pleased with most of Requiem. I'd seen the low ratings. I'd read some of the spoiler free reviews. I was happy I was loving it so much because my expectations were no longer high.

Once I reached the end of Requiem, however, I understood all too well why this book was not well received. My poor hubby had to hear so much bitching from me last night. My main beef with this book (and the entire series I have devoted so much time toward) was there was no ending. No ending, no resolutions. I'm all for literature that makes me think. I have no problem when things are left up to my imagination, but when you leave the actual story up to my imagination, I feel robbed.

I feel robbed.

4/10: Not My Thing
2 stars - One star because I thought I was going to love it, and one star for Hana.

Currently Reading | Requiem by Lauren Oliver

My Currently Reading posts are shared as part of Book Journey's It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Teach Mentor Text's It's Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA

I thought my main read this week was going to be The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (which I did get a copy of by the way!), but I got completely sucked into Requiem. Thank you negative reviewers for lowering my expectations to the point where Requiem is now exceeding my expectations. It is quite a lovely read so far.

I will say, though, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland is an awesome read so far. I'm going to do the slow savor on that one. I want to hang on to every word.

I finished the third Jack Reacher book (Tripwire) last week. I enjoyed it a lot so I'm back on a good reading streak! I'm also reading and loving Jillian Michael's Slim for Life if anyone enjoys reading health related books.

Discussion:
What are you reading this week? I'm curious as to whether you guys like to read non-fiction reviews. Do you prefer to only see fiction reviews?

Currently Reading | Ex Heroes by Peter Clines

My Currently Reading posts are shared as part of Book Journey's It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

I had a great reading week last week! After finishing Lauren Oliver's The Spindlers, I read 14 by Peter Clines and Sever by Lauren DeStefano. The Spindlers and 14 were both really great reads. I'll be sure to put reviews up for those. I won't be reviewing Sever, though. The Chemical Garden series was not for me. I'm ready to let that one go.

Did you watch the Oscars last night? I say "last night", but I'm actually writing this post while watching them (Sunday night). If I'm not up too late tonight, I hope to start Ex Heroes. After reading 14 last week, I'm dying to see what Peter Clines does with zombies!

What are you reading this week? Be sure to let me know in the comments (or leave me a link!). Also let me know what you thought of the Oscars if you were watching!

Waiting on Wednesday | Requiem by Lauren Oliver

This post is being shared as part of Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday.

Reading Lauren Oliver's The Spindlers this week reminded me just how close we are to the publication of Requiem! Requiem is the last book in Lauren Oliver's Delirium series.

I loved the first book, and I really loved the ending of the second book. I have no idea what's going to happen next!

Requiem will be released on March 5th. I have some serious plans to find out what happens next!

I hear they are making a Delirium movie. I love the fact that Hollywood is turning to popular books for movies right now. That is way better than more remakes. Update: You guys are so sweet not to correct me. It will be a Delirium TV show - not a movie!

What upcoming releases are you pining for this week? Let me know in the comments (or leave me a link!).

Ugh! Seeing that cover of Delirium makes me so mad all over again that they changed the covers for this series.

Currently Reading | The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

My Currently Reading posts are shared as part of Book Journey's It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It was a very busy week last week especially around Valentine's Day so I'm still working on the tome that is A Game of Thrones. It started out as a pretty fast read, but it has slowed down for me. I wonder if that happened because I got past the part I've seen of the show? I'm still enjoying it, though!

I also picked up Lauren Oliver's The Spindlers. I love it so far. It reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, but I like Liza more than I like Alice.

What are you reading this week? I hope it's a new favorite for you!

Book Review | Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium is the sequel to Lauren Oliver's Delirium.

Book Description

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare, pushing aside thoughts of Alex, pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school, push, push, push, like Raven taught me to do.

The old life is dead. But the old Lena is dead too. I buried her. I left her beyond a fence, behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

I really enjoyed Pandemonium despite not caring about pretty much half of the book. The chapters of Pandemonium are set up in an alternating "Then" and "Now" format. My first reaction was "Wow, Lena has been in the Wilds for a long time." Nope. We are only alternating between a span of less than a year. I found myself rushing through the not-so-exciting "Then" chapters to get to the that's-more-like-it "Now" chapters.

Pandemonium is a very different read from Delirium. Lena has changed, her world has changed, nothing is the same. I was longing a little for what Lauren Oliver created in Delirium, but I loved the intensity of Pandemonium. The rest of the series is wide open to be anything Lauren Oliver wants it to be. I think that is a pretty great thing.

You have probably seen lots of reactions to the ending of Pandemonium. I'll go on record saying I'm a huge fan of the ending. Add that ending to Lauren Oliver's empty canvas, and I'm super excited for book 3. The wait for Requiem will be even harder than the wait we endured for Pandemonium.

If you've read and enjoyed Delirium, it is well worth it to read Pandemonium.

7/10: Recommended Read

Wishlist | Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

I know, right? We have less than a week for Pandemonium to come out. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver

Book Description

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

I gather we are going to get hit with another Lauren Oliver cliffhanger! Yes, I'm still insisting the end of Delirium was a cliffhanger! Don't burst my bubble. :)

Are you excited about Pandemonium?

This post is being shared as part of Breaking the Spine's "Waiting on" Wednesday.

Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I am so in love with love right now.

Book Description

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 governments 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.

This book was strangely captivating. I feel like I just fell in love - backward - somehow.

Love in Delirium isn't just about the romantic love between two people. It's the love of friends, the love of hobbies, the love of the small details as well as the large.

Despite all the love stuff there was a lot of nail biting action in this book. I really enjoyed it. As a mother I had a hard time coming to grips and accepting a few things, but I also really enjoyed this book as a mother. I'm certain I said "I love you" to my kids a few more times than normal last night, and this morning we danced extra long before we left for the day.

It's a beautiful thing.