Allegiant (Divergent #3)

Title: Allegiant

Author: Veronica Roth

Year: 2013

Synopsis: The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered - fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend to complexities of human nature - and of herself - while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. (via goodreads)

STEPH SAID

Rating:

Review:

After the disaster that was Insurgent, my expectations were really low for this book. And maybe because of that it managed to surprise me. The pacing was really good, enough to be entertaining. It was also really nice to have Tris back. The smart, quick girl from the first book is back.

However, the plot was basically the same as the previous books. There's an evil government and a group of rebels revolts against it. The specifics of this story, the reasons behind the factions and everything, actually makes sense. So, I have to give the author that. Yet, it was riddled with plot devices in order to move the story forward. Instead of letting the story come alive, the author already had an idea in her mind and manipulated some characters and situations to get her way. For example, the fact that Four is not divergent, but genetically damaged, is bologna. Caleb and Peter are the perfect example of genetically damaged people. They can't help themselves. Even after Peter was reset, his traits came back, because that's the way he is. That’s how a genetically damaged person should be, according to the reality of the book. But, Four was not damaged by his genes, he was damaged by his upbringing. There's a difference between them. And even with his damaged past, Tobias was able to be smart and selfless and brave. Of course, we could start the old nature/nurture battle to defend one point or the other, but I believe that is not the point of this story.

But what ruined the whole story for me was Tris' ending. It was stupid and unnecessary. The author only did it for the shock value. And, every writer should know that that is the worst reason to write something into a story. It lacked a purpose, a motive, an ideal, a sentiment, a message, anything.

If she had died due to the death virus -- if it had taken her slowly, and after releasing the memory serum she collapsed and died -- it would have been a glorious death, the death of a hero. That death would’ve had purpose: to save everyone. Nevertheless, she survived the death serum and is shot by a guy in a wheelchair. She could've thrown something at him and wrestle him for the gun. But instead she just stayed there while he shot her.

Everything afterwards was unimportant.

To be honest, I like that peter reset himself. I think that Tobias should’ve reset himself as well. That excuse that Tris wouldn’t have like it was rubbish because, first, she wasn’t there anymore, so who cares. Also, it is OK for Peter to reset himself because we don’t agree with him or like his way of doing things or his personality, but it is not ok to let Four do the same because we like him. That’s not equality and it’s not fair. If it’s wrong for Tobias to reset himself, then it is wrong for Peter to do so.

The author gave us an epilogue to try to tell us that everything worked out in the end; Chicago is finally free. As I finished the book I asked myself, how many years is that happiness going to last? 

The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2015)

Title: The Divergent Series: Insurgent

Year: 2015

Director: Robert Schwentke

Rating: PG-13 for intense violence and action throughout, some sensuality, thematic elements and brief language

Synopsis: The Divergent Series: Insurgent raises the stakes for Tris as she searches for allies and answers in the ruins of a futuristic Chicago. Tris (Woodley) and Four (James) are now fugitives on the run, hunted by Jeanine (Winslet), the leader of the power-hungry Erudite elite. Racing against time, they must find out what Tris’s family sacrificed their lives to protect, and why the Erudite leaders will do anything to stop them. Haunted by her past choices but desperate to protect the ones she loves, Tris, with Four at her side, faces one impossible challenge after another as they unlock the truth about the past and ultimately the future of their world.

Official Page

Official Trailer

STEPH SAID

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Review:

This movie was way better than I expected. Having read, beforehand, the terrible book this movie is based on, I was expecting to snooze off five minutes into the movie. Yet, the plot was changed, and I was kept wide awake and interested for most of it.

Unlike in the book, the movie's story has a purpose. Jeanine needs a special Divergent – one that has aptitude for all five factions– to open a mysterious box. Unknown by everyone, even Jeanine, is that this box contains the ultimate truth, the answers to all the questions raised by the type of society they live in. Also, information about what is going on outside the fence. And, so begins the hunt for that one Divergent. Following the unspoken rule of YA stories, the protagonist, Tris, is the only person special enough for that task. Even though we know she only has aptitude for three factions. 

Jeanine's divergence continues to shine as she deceives the general public and does everything in her power to turn people against Divergents. During that time, Tris hides. She hides in Amity, Candor, and Dauntless. She even meets the Factionless, who are so in sync, they work as any other faction.

After many people die, Tris turned herlself in, because she had to, obviously. Once Tris gets to Erudite, we get to see the eye-popping simulations the box had to offer. They had too much dubsptep and Inception's-building-destruction for my taste, but the thought behind them, their ultimate goal, casts a fresh view of factions and human values.

I find it hard to belive, in a good way, that I was able to see and understand Tris' inner struggle better by watching an actress, than by reading Tris' thoughts in the book. Kudos to Shailene Woodley for her enactment.  Her performance during the truth serum scene, while she was in Candor, was so good it was difficult to watch. 

There are many things I didn't like about the movie. First, there is a sex scene that is completely out of place. Second, there is no explanation as to why half of Dauntless would betray their faction and follow Jeanine. Third, Tris and Four were conviently saved from tight spots. Thirty trained Dauntless soldiers are firing at Tris, Four, and Caleb but they all miss. Still, Four gets to knock down many Dauntless traitors. Then, Tris, Four, and even Caleb jump on a train, but the Dauntless trained don't even try it. This “luck” continues throughout the movie. It is all too convenient.

Last, but definitely not least, the message inside the box –the one that is supposed to explain everything, to give us the ultimate truth, the message that is supposed to convey meanning and purpose – makes no sense. It is a contradiction in itself. However, people didn't analized it too much because there were only five minutes left to present some visuals of the world and of people rejoicing in this newfound knowledge. The movie then ends on a high note, with every problem “resolved”. It gives a hopeful open ending to the series. Unfortunately, there is another book. I don't know what new problems the author created to extend the story for yet another book.

Of course, we have to rate and review this movie for what it is: a YA story. We can't expect from it what it will never give. Many people have rate this movie poorly because it doesn't have an intricate plot or layers upon layers of character development. This is not a drama, is a YA story. That is like expecting sex on a children's movie or a psycho killer in a romantic comedy. It could happen, but it probably won't.

Insurgent (Divergent #2)

Title: Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth

Year of Publication: 2012

Official Synopsis: As the sequel to the 2011 bestseller Divergent, it continues the story of Tris Prior and the dystopian post-apocalyptic version of Chicago. Following the events of the previous novel, a war now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. While trying to save the people that she loves, Tris faces questions of grief, forgiveness, identity, loyalty, politics, and love.

STEPH SAID

Rating:

Review:

I cannot believe this book has been published. It means the writer wrote it, the editor must have edited it, and the proofreader must have proofread it. And still, with more than 500 pages, this mess of a book has nothing to say. There is no reason for this book to exist; no story within it. Instead of Insurgent, it should have been called Superfluous.

This book is only a combinations of plot devices to move Tris from one place to another in an attempt to waste pages and the reader's time. During the aftermath of Divergent's events, Tris goes to Amity to hide. After an attack, she goes to Candor to hide. After another attack, she goes to Dauntless to hide. After yet another attack, she decides to surrender to Erudite because that will mean "no one else is going to die". Right... like Jeanine will stop hunting and killing Divergents just because Tris surrenders.

That brings me to the next gigantic problem this novel has: the characters. One of the things I liked and praised the most about Divergent was its round main characters. Insurgent is the total opposite, especially when it comes to Tris. She went from a smart, layered woman, to a whiney, nonsensical girl. She argues with Four over stupid things, lies to everyone, tortures herself over something easily resolved, complains about almost everything, and stalks people, quite a lot. She does nothing to save her life, yet goes out of her way to save Peter's. On top of all that, she physically hurts herself and disregards her own life.

But, if that wasn't enough, the book is so poorly written, that you get lost every few pages. Commas are not where they should be, words are missing, and most of all, sentences are incomplete. Again, this is a book that went through the whole writing process, via a very big publishing house. It it unacceptable.

All that is wrong with this book – the painfully flat characters, the no-plot, the terrible writing – can be found on the book's most maddening scene: when Tris decides to trust Marcus over Tobias. Tris' logic and thought process become highly impaired as she decides to trust the man who used to abuse her boyfriend and mistreats her. According to the entirely reliable and believable Marcus, a file exists that, when made public, will change everything. Tris knows nothing about this file. But Marcus told her it is important, so, Tris decides to risk everything – her life, her relationship with Tobias, and her place in Dauntless – to find this file. What made it even worse is her rationalization and justification of her decision. Looking at it from a reader's perspective I knew Marcus was right. However, from Tris' vantage point the story was completely different, especially since Marcus doesn't give her enough reasons to trust him. She wasn't even sure about what to do, she just took a gamble. That made it all feel like another plot device.

It is such a pity, really, that this series has sinked so low. Divergent was a really good book. Insurgent is the total opposite. I am, definitely, not looking forward to Allegiant.

Divergent Movie (2014)

Title: Divergent

Year: 2014

Director: Neil Burger

Rating (by the MPAA): PG-13 for intense violence and action, thematic elements and some sensuality

Official Synopsis: DIVERGENT is a thrilling action-adventure film set in a world where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy by a faction leader (Kate Winslet) to destroy all Divergents, Tris must learn to trust in the mysterious Four (Theo James) and together they must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it's too late.

Official Page and IMDb Page

STEPH SAID

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Review:

I watched this movie before reading the book. I hadn't even watched the trailer before I watched it, so, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I just knew it was a movie based on a big YA novel. The movie was also big enough to spawn the sequels. I knew I needed to watch it. At first, I was really confused about all the different names: Abnegation, Erudite, Amity etc. I couldn't remember what each of them stood for; which name was which group. Not even the colors helped. However, when Tris joined Dauntless the names became less important.

This movie is such a close adaptation of the book, that I might as well copy and paste the book review. My feelings and thoughts about the story are the same, whether it is in book form or movie form. That's why I decided to focus on the differences between the movie and the book. The movie improved some  things (like using “neuro-stim darts” in capture the flag), but damaged others that were perfect.

Mashing up the fear landscapes was one of the best time-saver changes the movie made. In the book the mental/emotional training is divided into two parts. For the first part initiates go into the fear landscape and try to control their emotions. During the second part, they need to confront their fears. The movie mixed these two training sessions into one, saving time, and pushing the initiates to the limit.

The main plot of the movie –

the Abnegation attack, led by Erudite

– saw a better ending in the movie than in the book. In the movie, the simulation was stopped, and

Jeanine's Divergence was implied. (Which would make complete sense considering her natural tendency to not conform to society and, thus, accept Abnegation's leadership.)

Whereas in the book the Dauntless soldiers are left haywire and shooting at each other, and nothing is mentioned about

whether Jeanine is Divergent, or not.

One thing I didn't like about the movie is the loss of Tris' abnegation side. She is Divergent; she has aptitude for Dauntless, Erudite and Abnegation. Even more so, she was raised as an Abnegation. Yet, she easily starts wearing tight clothes and getting tattoos, just as a an excuse to talk to someone. After reading the book I realized it is a fault of the movie. The book somewhat delves into Tris psyche and helps the reader understand the complexity of her transition from Abnegation to Dauntless.

If I had to choose between the movie and book, I will definitely choose the book. The movie is really good, its story is more compacted and action packed, yet the book's story is richer and more psychological, which makes it better in my eyes.

Divergent

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Year: 2011

Official Synopsis: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. 

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Official Tumblr and Goodreads Page

STEPH SAID

Rating:

Review:

*This review contains spoilers.*

What intrigued me the most about this story was the practical utopia at the beginning of the novel. The interesting organization of the society made sense. Especially the fact that the Abnegation were the political leaders. A society like that could have worked. Divergents could have adapted to life in a society as such, as they had done for a long time. At first, I didn't even notice the dystopian nature of the story. Some people's divergence felt forced; something had to happen to disrupt such a beautiful society, I thought. It wasn't until Tris mentioned that kids could choose from five predetermined options, that I started understanding the actual problem with the established order.

I also liked Tris' internal struggle to adapt to her new life. She may be Divergent enough to adapt to Dauntless life, yet, she was raised as an Abnegation. And, I was glad to see that traces of Tris' past life still lingered inside of her. Just because she made a choice doesn't mean that she's going to change her whole persona on a whim.

Tris' confusing relationship with Four had a weird appeal to me. Understanding it from the outside was easy enough. It was practically obvious what was going on in, say, the knives scene. However, I'm guessing that it must have been actually confusing for Tris. Still, if she would've given it some thought, maybe she would've understand Four a bit better, especially after he started letting her inside. The morning after their first kiss she was expecting him to be all love and marshmallows. She was expecting him to sit next to her and stop acting like the initiates leader. Tris' actions during that time left a bit to be desired.

Four was just wonderful. He's super smart, wise, talented and daring. He is not just a pretty face with a dark secret or past. He, alone, could be able to stand up to, or lead, the whole Dauntless compound. Yet he chose humility; he chose not to lead. Which makes him all the more interesting.  

I didn't enjoy the final moments, and more importantly, the ending. I didn't like that both of Tris' parents sacrificed themselves to save her daughter. It still doesn't make sense to me that both of them died. Also, when I reached the end, I realized that this story doesn't have a purpose or problem. The story revolves around Tris' initiation, which was resolved. However, the problem of the story was the leaders' silent threats against Divergents, and Erudite's plot to overthrow Abnegation, with the unwilling help of Dauntless. There was no closure to the latter. Dauntless dummies were left haywire, firing on each other. That is probably going to continue on to Insurgent, but it would've been better if the Dauntless' soldiers were able to go back to normal before the end of the book. That way the book would've had an ending, and the Erudite problem could be left for Insurgent.

This is the first Young Adults novel that I've read that has an actual reason behind all the elements of a YA novel. Most YA novels have (1) a beautiful girl with low self esteem that (2) is chosen to destroy the dystopian society in which she lives (3) with the help of a rugged and gorgeous guy that (4) inexplicably falls in love with her. In this case, all the elements are present, but, for the first time, they make sense. It is annoying to constantly read about beautiful girls that believe they are unworthy, or so below a guy's praise. In Divergent, Tris has some reason to feel this way. She is not pretty; moreover, she was raised believing she should not think about herself. Her confusing relationship with Four could be due to her lack of interaction with boys, or because of their student/ teacher relationship. Four's attraction toward Tris is also easily explained. And, she wasn't “chosen” to destroy her society; she was born different, like many more. Overall, the author did a great job taking all the elements of YA novels and making them her own.