Divergent Series Review

"One choice can transform you."

"Divergent" series has so much hype and rightfully so. I had read the first book right when it was released (I was working at a locally owned bookshop at the time.) and I had forgotten how fabulous it was until a trip to Barnes and Noble. The store had so much paraphernalia about this book that I had to read it again.

Annnnd, I read it in 6 hours. Yeah, it was one of those 3 am novels that I had no sleep but it was totally worth it. Oh, did you guys know that you can order books from Barnes and Noble and pick them up in store? You can and I did with the next two in the series. The next day , at store open, walked up to the counter, picked up my books. #convenience

I won't bore you with a summary -- you are big kids, you can look it up. And NO, you cannot just go see the movie... no matter how good it is! (Theo James = babe. Shailene Woodley = brilliant.)

After reading the first one, I was STOKED for the second one. While still action packed, it did leave a bit to be desired towards the middle. Lots of mourning, guilt, and choices before the big war. It got a bit slow and redundant while Four and Trish fight internal battles while maintaining the relationship they have established with each other, their families and society.  But the novel turns on a end that is hyped up, explosive, and leading to the excitement of the final installment of the series.

Y'all. The third book... c'mon. Whoa.

Unfortunately, it took me a while to get into it. I was expecting the battle to continue but the story takes more of a prequel twist. Readers discover that the factions are not alone and are actually an genetic experiment. So, lots of thought and jargon is used. This should in no way turn you off to reading it. It is very good. As final installments do, it really wraps up and connects the series, which I appreciated. And that ending?! I cried. I did. I will admit it; I 'm not ashamed. I did not see it coming. Not at all.

Soo ultimately, with a background in literature and English, it is a struggle, personally, to read anything without "looking deeper" (blame 10 page papers on critical theory...). But even with all the psychoanalysis, Marxist theory, and feminist theory, I enjoyed this series. You may think it is like the new Hunger Games and while it does have very similar themes and motifs, I would say it brings an edge and a bit of spunk to another overdone  YA girl-saves-world series.

I approve. Please read!!

Let me know what you guys think of the Divergent series?? Any reading recommendations?

Yours xx

Disclaimer: Everything mentioned above was purchased with my own money, pictures were taken with my camera (unless otherwise noted/credited) and all opinions are mine and in no way represent anyone or anything other than me, myself and I. This is NOT a sponsored blog post. You're beautiful.

Blogger Book Club: "The Help"

Can I just say: I am absolutely ecstatic to take part in Blogger Book Club. I can't wait to share my love of books with a bunch of new blogger book nerds, like me!! And if you're new to the Hemline...WELCOME! *bear hug* I'm so glad you've stopped by!

I was a English Literature and Writing major in college but I've loved books for a long time before I got a degree in it. I was given the book "The Guernsey Literary and Potato-Peel Society" by my high school librarian. She wrote on the inside of it: I hope you never lose your love of books" and I can, honestly, say that I never have.

I figured that before you deep-dive into my discussion of The Help it might be useful to have a bit of background on what I think makes a book great. I look for books to have strong characters that seem to have real human characteristics and qualities, plus the ability to develop, and be complex enough, to evolve with the story. I also like a story to be well-rounded...you know, like at the end of the book you get that ah-ha satisfied moment? Yeah, I think that might be one of the best feelings, at least to me.

Okay, okay, enough about me... "The Help"

1. What is the book about?
The Help is about a group of women who's stories collide to create a book, in secret, about what it is really like to be a black maid in Jackson, Mississippi working for a white family...essentially. *Disclaimer: I've never been super great at answering "Oh, what's it about?" questions...

2. What were your initial thoughts on the book? Were you impressed? Disappointed?
The Help has been on my to-be-read pile since the summer of 2011. Mostly for the reason that I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie. I did end up seeing the movie at the beginning of the month to get all pumped up to read it. I was impressed by this book. Each chapter (though quite lengthy) were told from the perspective of a different character. Sometimes when author's do this, the story tends to have gaps but in reading The Help I never felt like that. The strong female characters captured the best and the worst of my emotions...ACK! That Miss Hilly!! I was cheering from my chair and crying with hope and satisfaction!

3. Favorite quotations from the book.
"Writing isn't that easy. And you wouldn't have time for this anyway, Aibleen, not with a full-time job." "Can't be much different than writing my prayers every night." (175).

"Half this stuff don't have nothing to do with colored rights. Ain't but day-to-day business." She eyes me up and down. "Look to me like you just writing life."
I stop my pencil. She's right. I realize that's just what I wanted to do. I tell her, "I hope so."  (195).

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"There is so much you don't know about a person...We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought. But Lou Anne, she understood the point of the book before she ever read it. The one who was missing the point this time was me."  (492)

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"You is kind," she say, "you is smart. You is important." (Oh that last chapter with Miss Mae Mobley! And yes, I did shout of with success when Mae Mobley said: "Miss Taylor.")

4. What did you like most about the book?
I liked the characters, most. The strong women, both the ones I rooted for and the others I wanted to have eat Minny's pie, made this story great. The commonalities and the differences drove the story but by the end, the character's hadn't necessary changed their ways, it was just that more of the allegiances came out.

5. Would you recommend this book to a friend?
Oh, but of course!!! (If you wanted to know...the book is, in fact, better than the movie in a different way but, still pretty good.)

The Help is Hemline Approved! Let me know what you've thought of The Help in the comments! Let's discuss!!

Check out the awesome Blogger Book Club hosts: My Name is Madeline, Taylor from Confessions of a Busy Busy Bee, and Melissa at A Mile in her Boots! Thanks, ladies!!

Disclaimer: Everything mentioned above was purchased with my own money, pictures were taken with my camera (unless otherwise noted/credited) and all opinions are mine and in no way represent anyone or anything other than me, myself and I. This is NOT a sponsored blog post. You're beautiful.