Divergent - when not fitting in can make a difference

Divergent by Veronica Roth

I loved this book!

I sped through it during a couple of late nights - or should I say mornings? - and then practically ran to the bookstore to get the second book in the trilogy! I am sure I will devour that one as well as I cannot wait to find out what happens next.

The trilogy is set in a future where the citizens are divided into five factions, where each faction strives to uphold a specific virtue - a virtue that makes the foundation for the way of life in it. On Choosing Day every sixteen-year-old must choose one of the factions - Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Erudite (the intelligent) and Dauntless (the brave) - something that will determine the rest of their lives. Everything is divided into these factions - the place they live, what jobs they have, what they wear, even how they are supposed to conduct themselves or greet others.

On a given day, all the sixteen-year-olds are sent through an aptitude test that tells them which faction that will suit them best, and this is where things start to go wrong for Beatrice Prior, a girl born into the Abnegation factor. Because...what exactly happens when someone does not fit neatly into just one of the factions, but in three of them? What then?

"I look at the hole again. Goose bumps rise on my pale arms, and my stomach lurches. If I don't do it now, I won't be able to do it at all. I swallow hard. I don't think. I just bend my knees and jump."

Divergent by Veronica Roth, p. 58.

The dystopian genre is not one I normally read a lot of as I tend to think of it as a bit dark and depressing. I thought I would give this particular book a try, though, and oh my am I glad I did! It was really exciting! I am starting to think that the genre may have something to it - like a thought-provoking and perhaps message-bearing idea of futures that may come true one day. Who knows, right? One scary thought, that is! It makes me wonder what would happen if everyone read a dystopian book or two. Would people get inspired to do better?

More teasers, everyone?
Flukten fra virkeligheten
Should Be Reading

When losing your twin sister...

After reading about the book "I miss you, I miss you!" by Peter Pohl and Kinna Gieth at Mari from the blog Flukten fra virkeligheten's Facebook page and in this article here on ubok.no, I got very curious. Not only is there a book, but a movie with a soundtrack as well! The article says that "this book makes me cry every time I read it, no matter how many times I have read it in the past". Sounds like a book worth trying, right?

The book tells the story of losing a twin sister. How the teenage girl Tina manages to survive without her twin sister Cilla when Cilla dies in a car accident. How she gets on with life without a vital part of herself, and with the daily reminder of what she has lost whenever she looks into the mirror. How their friends and family reacts to her. How it is to be the one left behind of a twosome...

It is a sad book, but also a book with little glimpses of joy and humour. I cannot wait to read it.

The movie trailer:

The soundtrack:

My bestie made me some pictures!

She knows me well, I would say ❤

My bestie and me

Indeed a good idea!

The ripe breath of autumn

When I Heard at the Close of the Day

When I heard at the close of the day how my name had been receiv’d with plaudits in the capitol, still it was not a happy night for me that follow’d; And else, when I carous’d, or when my plans were accomplish’d, still I was not happy; But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect health, refresh’d, singing, inhaling the ripe breath of autumn, When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and disappear in the morning light, When I wander’d alone over the beach, and undressing, bathed, laughing with the cool waters, and saw the sun rise, And when I thought how my dear friend, my lover, was on his way coming, O then I was happy; O then each breath tasted sweeter—and all that day my food nourish’d me more—and the beautiful day pass’d well, And the next came with equal joy—and with the next, at evening, came my friend; And that night, while all was still, I heard the waters roll slowly continually up the shores, I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands, as directed to me, whispering, to congratulate me, For the one I love most lay sleeping by me under the same cover in the cool night, In the stillness, in the autumn moonbeams, his face was inclined toward me, And his arm lay lightly around my breast—and that night I was happy.  Walt Whitman (from Leaves of Grass, first published in 1867 edition)

A flight of migrating geese and beautiful colours are certain autumn signs

Something that caught my eye today

Saturday chill

This is how a good day easily becomes a great day ❤

A new book!

Guessing can sometimes be a work of art...

What do you think? A giveaway, yes?

What could this possibly be?

...aaaand hey, we guessed it!

Now, let us try this...

That was neat!