“Momomygoshthisissuchagoodbookandyoumustreaditrightnow.” Twin A pressed a paperback novel into my hand as I was preparing dinner a few months ago.
I mentally clicked pause, rewind, and then replay on 33 rpm. I reviewed the audio footage in my mind’s eye and determined that she wanted me to read the book that she had just finished. I didn’t bother chiding her about her rapid rate of 12 and a half year-old speech as I knew that it was hereditary gift from me.
I glanced at the title.
Ah, yes…I had seen it on her nightstand. ”Good stuff, huh?” I inquired with a grin.
“Yesoyesitslikehungergamesbutnotandwellyoujustneedtotrustmeandreaditjustreaditokayplease?”
“Okay, hon…I’ll read it.” I put it down on the counter and dumped a can of garbanzo beans (Chick peas? Garbanzo beans? Why the duplicity?) into the Crock Pot.
“Imgoingtoputitonyournightstandsoyouwontforgetokay?”
“Yes…yes…that sounds like a great idea. On my nightstand. Thanks.”
And there it sat for four months. Until my girlfriend selected Divergent as my book club’s read for January. At which point I decided that I’d still skip it and join the group at her house for some dinner, conversation, and wine. Not necessarily in that order.
And then? A change of time and venue for our group’s discussion was requested. Guess who found herself named host for this month, with Divergent on the dockett?
Sometimes fate is an arse-kicker, no?
So I read it.
And, friends? I liked it.
For those of you who have read The Hunger Games trilogy, it is most definitely reminiscent of that series. In a post-apocolyptic society, factions of survivors band together. Each faction has a distinct unifying trait. Tweens and teens are separated from their families to train with their peers. Violence and psychological thrills run rampant.
But in Divergent? Said tweens and teens, after taking an aptitude test of sorts, have the option to leave their original faction and join with another more suited to their own innate characteristics.
And so begins the story. Beatrice, the heroine, leaves Abegnation, the faction into which she was born, to join the Dauntless, a group known for its unshakable abandon and strength. She renames herself Tris (huh?), and along with the other newly renamed transfers, undergoes rigorous training in hopes of being initiated as a Dauntless. Fail initiation? And they face life as one of the destitute Factionless, without a home or identity.
It’s an interesting read for sure. Whereas The Hunger Games delivers its literary punch primarily through violence, Divergent is more of a psychological thriller. Through a series of drug and technologically induced simulations, and then real-life experiences, Tris is forced to face and overcome her own most harrowing fears.
Can she? Will she?
As Twin A would say, “youlljusthavetoreadittofindoutwontcha?”
But I will tell you this: In preparation for my book club, which is this evening, I have planned a handful of group activities that will enable us to have a Very Divergent Evening.
Checkitout:
-Kick things off by giving ourselves new names. I will be Ue.
-Raid my closet and exchange our evening wear for body-hugging, skin-bearing lycra and spandex.
-Take turns plummeting off the roof of my house into the six-foot Chiberian snowbanks beneath.
-Venture over to the train tracks a couple of miles away and jump the train while it is in motion.
-Tuck and roll off the train when it passes by the unsavory side of town and hit Tito’s Tattoos.
-Those of us who survive, including the train ride back home, will enjoy an initiation celebration and consume my homemade Martha Stewart-Inspired Ice Cream Lego Cake with our bare hands.
Have any of you read Divergent? Do you have any additional ideas for activities? Do you want to come over tonight? Everyone from my book club has cancelled for some reason.
Inspired by a prompt from Mama Kat: Write a Book Review!
No one wanted to jump off the roof? LOL
I liked this book, too. Though I’m bitter over the third and final one so my view is now tainted.
Yeah…Twin A said not to bother with the other two…
I loved this book! I actually enjoyed the other two as well. The kiddos are just bitter that it wasn’t a neat and tidy ending. Those of us with more, ahem, miles on the road know that things don’t always end up like we thought they would. No one liked the ending of the Hunger Games trilogy either!
So…do I bother with the other two or not, Susan?
I’ve read the series and I didn’t like it as well as some others. But I liked reading your post about it! Stopping by from mama kats kelley at the road goes ever ever on
Yeah, Kelley…my book club gave it a 2 out of three possible stars at our meeting. Still more of a Hunger Games gal myself.
I haven’t read it, but I keep seeing this book everywhere! So glad I finally know what it’s about because you know, I couldn’t bother to pick it up and actually read the summary.
So glad I could be of service, Kat!
Reading your list of activities I was thinking, “Wow, they really take their book club seriously!” and it took me way too long to realize you were joking, at which point I may have laughed really loudly. I really liked this book also – I’ve actually read the whole trilogy but I’ll say no more so as not to give anything away, so you’ll just have to OMGQUICKREADTHENEXTBOOKSRIGHTAWAYOKAY?
Sometimes it takes a paragraph or two to “get” me. Glad you do now, Jen…thanks for stopping by!
I *loved* this book. (I’ve read all three in the series and love the first two…and hated the 3rd). My son told me I’d love it, but I didn’t read it until it was our book club pick, too!!
Your lego cake looks *just* like the inspiration cake!! I’m taking notes on the tutorial right now so I can get the right texture when I coat the cake with the icing. –Lisa
Heh. Thanks for the kind words about the cake, Lisa. I still have it on my “to do” list to submit it to Cake Wrecks.
I’ve actually never heard of it and I have a teenage daughter in the house. Huh. But it does sound intriguing. My kid tried for years to get me to read the Twilight series but it just never interested me. Who knows? Maybe I’m missing out. But I got a gander of a couple of the movies. Not impressed. Love your Lego cakes! Too cute!
I’m with you, Mo. Never jumping on the Twilight band wagon. EVER.
I loved it! Actually I really like reading a lot of the young adult books…there’s a lot of good stuff out there. I just finished A Lady in France by Jennie Goutet, and that one was great too. I’ve got a lot of books on my nightstand right now and a couple more on my Kindle. I don’t know when I am going to catch up with it all.
Oooh…I’ve heard that Jennie’s book was great…thanks for the reminder, Michelle!
You are an awesome writer. Very nicely done.
great post! I found this at Mama Kat’s. I love your blog title and illustration. Will read more.
Well. Thank you very much, Margaret! Nice to “meet” you!
funny funny– love it.. love the truthness of how you wrote for your child…
I may just have to read this! I loved the Hunger Games!
I can’t wait for my daughter to come to me and say’Mommy! You just have to read this!’ I mean she will come to me raving about a book but I don’t think I want to read the book about how a boy turns into a muppet.. So glad she enjoyed it but… not sure I can handle a book like that.
Ha! Don’t discount those Muppet books!
I liked Divergent. However, I am stuck on Insurgent and just can’t get through it.
Try the Partials series by Dan Wells. You will love it!
Thanks for the recommendation! I’m looking for a new series as I don’t want to bother with Insurgent either.
This is the Dauntless book club, right? I think I’d prefer a different evening… maybe on Amity night we can all just hug each other and eat cake?
Agreed. Or maybe an evening of Truth or Dare (mostly truth) with Candor…