Quote Originally Posted by Mittopotahis View Post
Few weeks back I read Divergent, by Veronica Roth. It was voted Favourite Book of 2011 by goodreads readers. Last time I take a recommendation from them. It's in the vein of The Hunger Games, YA novel set in post-apocalyptic dystopian Chicago in which the city's population is divided into 'factions' of people who value different morals - so Erudite value knowledge, Dauntless value bravery, etc. Decent enough idea but in execution failed in almost every way. She didn't even bother setting up a world outside of what I've told you, the writing is average at best and you aren't given any reason to care about the characters. I could go on, but I'll spare you. I'm interested in hearing opinions from people who have read it - everyone seems to love it and I can't see why.
Read it and was intrigued with the premise at first and then got super annoyed with the book and how it didn't develop the story AT ALL. None of it makes any sense! How does their society even function, based on the crazy segregation? How in the world did that system not collapse within a month of being formed? Why the hell are the dauntless always training for trout, when it seems like they don't do much beyond patrolling the borders? From what? That question is never even answered.

I totally agree with you that it was such a total failure in execution. And I could hardly get through the "romantic" bits. Such a bore.

The writer needs to read The Giver and learn how to do a real YA dystopian novel. I have my share of criticisms of Hunger Games, but that series is in a whole different league compared to this pile of poo.