Hana by Lauren Oliver

Goodreads Summary: The summer before they're supposed to be cured of the ability to love, best friends Lena and Hana begin to drift apart. While Lena shies away from underground music and parties with boys, Hana jumps at her last chance to experience the forbidden. For her, the summer is full of wild music, dancing—and even her first kiss. 

But on the surface, Hana must be a model of perfect behavior. She meets her approved match, Fred Hargrove, and glimpses the safe, comfortable life she’ll have with him once they marry. As the date for her cure draws ever closer, Hana desperately misses Lena, wonders how it feels to truly be in love, and is simultaneously terrified of rebelling and of falling into line. 

In this digital story that will appeal to fans of Delirium and welcome new admirers to its world, readers will come to understand scenes from Delirium through Hana's perspective. Hana is a touching and revealing look at a life-changing and tumultuous summer.

Why I Read This Book: I wasn't going to read this originally, but after I finished Pandemonium I kind of just felt "why the hell not?" about it.


Review: This was a pretty short story and I read it in 2 sittings. I orginially wasn't planning to get it, because I didn't have a huge Hana attachment. However, while reading Pandemonium I realized I had sort of forgot some of Delirium's events, so instead of doing a re-read (I have way too many unread books to re-read things) I though this book would help to remind me of some of Delirium's event which I had maybe forgotten. It definitely worked, which was nice. The book's language was a little too flowery and descriptive for my tastes. I did really enjoy reading Hana's perspective of one of the more exciting events, although it was too much imagery and not enough of wtf actually happened. Anyway, I think it's worth a read for fans of this series, and it made me appreciate some of Hana's actions which made her look like kind of a jerk before.

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Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Goodreads Summary: I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare, 
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Why I Read This Book: Did you read Delirium? If not, go get it now! If so, you know perfectly well why I read this book.


Review: Loved! This book was a little confusing for the first two chapters until I got the hang of the "then" and "now" bit. The book was super informative why being totally aloof at the same time. I was absorbed in it, if I hadn't been in the middle of exams it would have been a one sitting read, and even still studying all the time it only took me 3 days (BF does not understand how stopping reading a text book to read a book can be considered a 'break', BF is so silly). The twist and turns in this book were pretty surprising, and at first I was confused as Lena seemed so different, but it all came together as the book went on. I had pre-ordered this book, and then when it came I put off reading it because I was looking for a copy of 'Hana' and couldn't get one. I decided to read this anyway, does anyone who read Hana think I should have waited??

Anyway, I can't say much else without spoiling, but get your butt in gear an go get this book!

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Delirium - Lauren Oliver

Goodreads Summary: 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 government 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

Why I Read This Book: This was another popular one around the blog-block, so I had it on my TBR list. I almost picked it up at the bookstore, but then I got something cheaper (I'm cheap, haha). However, in one of those rare moments when BF was actually paying attention to me, he managed to remember the cover, and it was under the Christmas tree for me :)


Review: I really enjoyed this book, but it was a bit slow to get into. Most dystopian novels have the same problem, because the world is now so different, there is a lot of background information you need to catch up on before the story can actually get started. But, once it did, boy was it a good one! I enjoyed reading about Portland, and the rules, and Hana and Lena's friendship reminded me of the way I felt after high school when we all went our separate ways to university, but the piece de resistance - the love story! It was described very, very well. Oliver nailed the descriptions of what it feels like physically to fall in love to a tee. Most authors can write about the thoughts and feelings in your mind, but I was really into the way she approached it. I would recommend this book to not only dystopian and YA readers, but it is a good love story as well.

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