Here's the blurb: Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.
So basically Oliver has stolen the show with this amazing idea. Love can be surgically removed from your brain. And if you fall in love? Well, you're obviously infected with delirium.
Score one for her. I sort of hate her for this amazing concept (that was totally written in my sarcastic font. I don't hate Lauren Oliver at all. In fact, all the "hate" in this post is really "love"). See, my book is also a dystopian with a completely changed society. Sure, there's no overt signs of brainwashing here (like there is in my book), but it's clear that it's been done over time, through lessons and school and whatnot.
So yeah. Gorgeous dystopian setting = a small iota of hate.
And I wish that was all I hated her for. But no! She has to go and top this fabulous idea with superb writing. It's got that kind of literary bent to it that I l-o-v-e and strive for in my own writing, but it's also a very commercial style.
Which is just brilliant. Dangitall.
As if a mind-blowing concept and fexcellent writing weren't enough, she actually wrote an ending in the way that I deeply admire. I won't spill it all for you, because that would just be rude, but when (when, not if) you read Delirium, you'll know what kind of endings I like.
Oliver: 3.
Me: 0.
In addition to all that, there is also a fence. Now this isn't significant by itself, but I love fences. I love what they symbolize. A barrier. Something bad out there. I like thinking about the fences in my own life. Physical ones, and then social things also. The whole concept of a fence is fascinating to me, in many ways. (I've never been this deep on a Bookanista post before. I know I'm shocked too.)
One last thing that I really liked about this book is the abandoned house the characters sneak off to. I don't know why, but I just really like abandoned houses and the possibilities that can come from them. Or maybe it was the sneaking I liked... Or the boy the sneaking happened with...
Who knows? All I know is that Delirium was a fabulous read. I do sort of hate Lauren Oliver because she is just so brilliant.
So, there you go. What books have you read lately that you've started adding up the "hate points" because they're just so good?
Go check out what the other Bookanistas are talking about today:
LiLa Roecker falls for Between Shades of Grey
Christine Fonseca soars Across the Universe
Shannon Messenger is hosting an epic Invasion giveaway
Shelli Johannes Wells is giving some Liar Society lovin'
Myra McEntire is spreading some cover love for Siren and Undercurrent
Beth Revis is thanking her fellow Bookanistas
Carolina Valdez Miller swoons for Scrawl
Megan Miranda falls for Dark Goddess
Bethany Wiggins is Entice(d)
Jen Hayley and Shana Silver ignite for Angelfire
Matt Blackstone convinces us That Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
Carrie Harris marvels over The Mockingbirds