Panic by Lauren Oliver

Panic by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Concept: The graduating seniors of a small town play a high stakes risk game, called Panic, to win a large jackpot.

This book has some issues and plot holes. You will have to suspend your concept of reality a bit further than normal for contemporary fiction. However, despite all that, I always make sure I attempt to come to fiction with a willingness to believe all lies and concepts, and I did find I was fascinated with the story overall. It pressed forward with a fast-pace which probably helped me shrug off or overlook some of the minor plot holes and inconsistency with characters and character behavior.

The biggest bummer, by far, was the almost complete lack of character growth, right up to the very end. I guess it makes a point about how some people can’t or don’t change, and others need to be saved from themselves. I don’t think it intended to make that point, but that was my personal takeaway, based on the failure of some of my favorite characters to wake up and stop making idiotic and/or selfish decisions.

Pages: 432

Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Requiem is the third and final installment in the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver. I read this book in about 3 days, and I was left wholly unsatisfied. It's a disturbing trend for books and stories that are stretched into a trilogy when the author doesn't really have that trilogy mapped out well enough. 

Lauren Oliver's excellent writing is the only thing that holds this novel together, but the character development and overall story is somewhat forced/contrived. The chapters are split between Lena and Hana's points of view. While it's nice to get a glimpse of what's been happening in Portland while Lena's been away, I truly hate the trend of switching points of view in novels. It's jarring and confusing. Also, love triangles are the worst plot-lines of all time.

The end of the novel is disappointing, as it leaves everything open and unresolved. While it's perfectly okay to not have a revolutionary novel wrapped up in a nice, pretty bow, I certainly needed more of a conclusion and closure than what Requiem provides. To become invested in Lena's character for 3 novels, only to have no idea what happens to her afterward...it's a complete and total letdown.

391 pages

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium is the sequel to Delirium, and it divides the chapters between "Then" and "Now." The "Then" chapters are flashbacks to Lena's dire situation at the end of Delirium and the "Now" is Lena's present day. The time difference is a little confusing at first, but eventually it makes for tense drama in both the past and present.

Even though Pandemonium doesn't quite live up to the beauty of Delirium, I still thoroughly enjoyed Lauren Oliver's writing as well as Lena's journey of change and self-discovery. I won't write too much more, because that would spoil many things, but I liked the new characters introduced in this book!

Lauren Oliver's writing continues to blow me away; it's so good that you wish you could go back in time and read her books again for the first time.

375 pages

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Summary: "Lena looks forward to receiving the government-mandated cure that prevents the delirium of love and leads to a safe, predictable, and happy life, until ninety-five days before her eighteenth birthday and her treatment, she falls in love."

Lauren Oliver's first book, Before I Fall, was an absolute gem, and I could not wait to dive into her next book, Delirium. Delirium is the first book in a trilogy. If you weren't familiar with Oliver's writing, you might be tempted to think this is just another run-of-the-mill dystopic YA novel. However, Oliver's writing is incredibly beautiful, haunting and poignant (without being over-the-top). The world that Oliver creates isn't too different from our own, and Lena is just as spirited and flawed as Sam was in Before I Fall. I loved every second of it, and while it was a bit predictable, I can't wait to see what happens next. 

441 pages

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Summary: "After she dies in a car crash, teenager Samantha relives the day of her death over and over again until, on the seventh day, she finally discovers a way to save herself."

Before I Fall is the first book of Lauren Oliver's that I've read, and I loved it! Even though it was quite depressing at times, it was beautifully written. Sam's character grows so much throughout the book, and the ending is so bittersweet for her and for the reader. Her struggles make you want to hug your loved ones extra tight, and live each day as best you can, because you never know when it may be your last. 

Sam's death is violent, but still peaceful, and gives hope that there's a chance at redemption for all of us. 

470 pages