Delirium Review

Book - Delirium.
Author - Lauren Oliver.


Synopsis - 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.


I've been a huge fan of Lauren Oliver for awhile now and "Before I Fall," her debut novel remains one of my absolute favorite books. When I heard about "Delirium," I was instantly curious about how Ms. Oliver would follow up such a fantastic piece like "Before I Fall." I soon found that Ms. Oliver's writing goes above and beyond any expectations or limitations I may have subconcsiously set for her. "Delirium" is set in an dystopic reality where love is thought of as the center of all evil. It's thought of as a disease that everyone must be cured of to lead a "normal" life. It tells the story of the cynics and the nonbelievers, but not without letting those who love, those who are passionate speak their piece. The main character, Lena grew up anxiously awaiting her cure. Lena's mother was a deep part of Lena wanting to get cured. Although, the cure hadn't worked for her mother. Lena's mother was one who believed in things like loving, laughing, singing and dancing. Her mother was one who believed in the wild thought of free will and she was condemned for it. Lena also had other family who had done wrong and refused to walk the straight and narrow, most died because of it. Lena grew up in her Aunt Carol's household with her cousins. Life for them was simple and ordinary. They followed the rules and stayed under the radar. Their family believed in the rules and borders that the government presented them with. They avoided the Regulators and never looked them in the eye. Through reading all of this, you can tell that these people were afraid to feel. These people were too narrow minded to take chances and live life without reservations. The government thought that if they erased the chance of falling in love, they erased the chance of hurt, of pain and of other emotions like regret along with it.

"The Devil stole into The Garden of Eden.
He carried with him the disease --
Amor Deliria Nervosa,
In the form of a seed.
It grew and flowered into a magnificent apple tree,

which bore apples as bright as blood."

-- chapter four.

Lena first began rebelling once her best friend Hana opened up about liking different music that was against the rules. Hana was the overly gorgeous, witty and sarcastic one. Hana experimented with going out and going to parties that were forbidden, in abandon houses in old rundown streets. At one of those parties, Lena met the boy who she saw at her first attempt at an evaluation. Lena was transfixed on Alex, the beautiful rebellious boy. Alex was technically an Invalid, someone the government deemed unfit. Alex had a scar showing he had been cured, but the scar was fake. He had lived in the Wilds his entire life and came into Portland with another name. Alex did his best to blend in with society, all the while knowing the truth about the government. Falling in love was definitely something Lena had not expected. Lena did everything she could to avoid her feelings for Alex, but everything changed the night he saved her from the Regulators. Her entire world was turned inside out and upside down because of Alex. Lena's life was forever changed because of Alex, much like how most of our first loves change us. This story is full of emotion and curiosity.


I don't want to give anything away but the ending was absolutely brilliant and heartbreaking all at the same time. Lena's character progressed so much within such a little amount of time. This is the type of book that will leave you glued to your seat, gripping it with both hands and flipping pages one after the other, it is the definition of captivating!


I give so much praise to "Delirium" for being such a thought provoking book. YOU need to read this and YOU need to think about ALL of it, every little bit.


The only thing that I slightly dislike is the fact that the ending, as brilliant as it is still leaves me insanely curious. Although, I imagine it's supposed to.

Five stars to Delirium!