Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 480

Source: Personal Ebook

Amor Deliria Nervosa, a disease so strong and powerful society has restructured its regulations around the disease. It has been sixty-four years since politicians have identified love as illegal. Scientists have perfected a cure, a cure that is administered at the age of eighteen rendering its patience incapable of feeling love or strong emotion. The life of a minor includes gender segregation, censorship, and media influence. The life of an adult is fear of the constant raids within the city. Lena is seventeen, weeks away from the cure and enjoying her last few weeks of the summer. Her mother was a victim of Amor Deliria Nervosa committing suicide to escape when the cure failed three times. The suicide is a family embarrassment that Lena has had to endure for many years.  She’s been living with her aunt for many years, and Lena is relieved that she will have the cure administer by the end of summer. When her best friend Hana shows signs of rebellion, Lena cannot understand why she is fighting the system. The cure is inevitable, and meant to harm no one. Lena is a product of her environment and trusts the rules implemented. When Lena meets Alex, she is pleased to find out that he is a cured college student living the life that was assigned to him. When Lena begins to recognize the signs of Amor Deliria Nervosa she is afraid, and confused. Her confusion is heightened when she learns that Alex has many secrets, dire secrets that could be deadly should the government uncover them. Lena must decide if she trusts Alex enough to fulfill his dream of them being together or a government that has been in power for sixty-four years. The Book of SHHH states that victims of the disease will lose their mind and make hasty decisions. Lena must make her decision; for once it has been made she may never go back.

Delirium is an amazing dystopian that will have you on your toes afraid for the characters within the pages.  When closing the pages readers will be blown-away, shocked and distressed. The main characters are sympathetic, real and multi-dimensional. The progression of Lena was well written. We begin the novel with her wholeheartedly believing in her environment and her beliefs do not change overnight.  Lauren Oliver created a haunting story where emotion is lacking on every level. The cure has relinquished society to have the ability to have strong emotions. Parents lack the bonding with their children, their roles as parents solely include duty to the government. Every character in the story was well developed and intriguing. My Special Edition had me running to read the first few pages of Pandemonium.  I’m not really sure how I can wait for the next one to come out; this book was that amazing. This is young adult dystopian at its finest.  The hype for this novel is not unfounded in my opinion.  I’m a reader desperately waiting for the sequel. I bought the Ebook buy a hard-copy is a must.