Review: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium (Delirium #2)
by Lauren Oliver

Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Format: Advance Reader Copy
Source: Publisher
Genre: YA, Dystopian
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Buy: Amazon | IndieBound

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. (Goodreads)

Delirium was one of my favorite reads of 2011, and I was thrilled to get my hands on Pandemonium! This installment shocked me (in a good way). It’s so different from Delirium in both tone and setting, and nothing like what I was expecting. The story is told from Lena's perspective, but the chapters alternate between "Then" and "Now". It took a few chapters for me to adjust to the flow, but for Lena’s story, I think this format is brilliant.

In Pandemonium, Lena is grieving and angry… she’s no longer the innocent, somewhat naïve girl we came to know in Delirium. She’s defiant and courageous – a fighter. By alternating between her present and past, the reader is able to see, and understand why Lena has so drastically changed.

Pandemonium is much darker, and more intense than Delirium. In comparison, Delirium seems light and romantic! This installment has new characters, and a fantastic plot that grips you and doesn’t let go. Lauren Oliver’s writing is so vivid and beautiful… immersing you in her world, and making you feel each of Lena’s emotions.

This is a must read for fans of Delirium! It will shock you, but you will love it. Pandemonium’s ending left me with my jaw hanging open and dying for Requim (book 3)! I love this series; if you haven’t read Delirium yet, get to it, pronto.

Author Links: website | blog | twitter | facebook | goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday (26)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The week's WoW feature is:

[My review of Delirium]

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
(Delirium #2)

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: March 6, 2012

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. (Goodreads)

I absolutely loved Delirium... it's one of my favorite reads of 2011, and I can't wait to get my hands on Pandemonium! I love Lauren Oliver's writing; you can't help but feel emotionally connected to her characters. The end of Delirium left my mouth gapping open, I NEED to read this!

What book are you anxiously waiting for?

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium by Lauren Oliver, read by Sara Drew

Publisher:  Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date:  February 1, 2011
Format: Audio Book by Listening Library
Source: Library
Age Level:  Young Adult
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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. (Goodreads)

Stunning. Heartbreaking. Captivating. Beautiful.

Can you imagine love being considered a deadly disease, illegal? A disease so life threatening that it's required by the government to be "cured", and all kids are scheduled to be cured once they turn 18 years old? Think about it. Can you fathom it?  Think about all the forms of love... The love between a parent and a child, siblings, best friends, pets, and -- of course -- loving the person that makes your heart race.  I was so skeptical about reading/listening to this book. It sat waiting for me for quite a while before I took the plunge. I loved Lauren Oliver's first book Before I Fall, but this one's story line seemed a little too far fetched for me. I had nothing to fear, this book was amazing.

I'm having such a hard time putting words to what I thought of this book. I literally hung on every word - sometimes I went back and listened to parts of it again. Lauren Oliver has a beautiful way of connecting her readers with her characters. The goody-goody-ness of Lena (the protagonist) in the beginning grated on my nerves. Though as I got to know her, I understood why she felt she had to be on the straight and narrow path. From my own experiences, I could relate to her feeling obligated to be a good kid because of her mother's history and living with her aunt. I loved watching Lena becoming aware of the world around her as her cure date approached -- learning about love, and how it effects humanity. Lena's best friend Hannah, and Alex, help her to see, really see, what is going on around her... Oh, and did I mention that Alex is definitely swoon-worthy?

Delirium wiggled it's way into my heart and pulled at each and every individual heartstring. It reminded me to appreciate all the little things in life - the small things that make me laugh, the things that make me cry (good or bad), and especially the things that make me want to do a happy dance! It made me stop and consider my relationships with the ones I love.

You need to read this.

This audio book was read by Sara Drew, I think she's best known as Dr. April on Grey's Anatomy. I thought she did a really good job of capturing the emotions. Though when I watched Grey's while reading/listening to Delirium I did a double take... I kept seeing her as Lena :).

Trailer Thursday: Delirium

I discovered the Trailer Thursday meme on The Page Turners Blog.

This week's Trailer Thursday is:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I'm currently listening to this audiobook and I'm LOVING it! When I saw it on the library shelf, I couldn't believe my luck and instantly grabbed it :).

"They say that the cure for love will make me happy and safe forever. And I’ve always believed them.    Until now.
    Now everything has changed. Now, I’d rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie." 

Here's the trailer:

You can go here for more information and to download an excerpt!