Pandemonium Review

Author: Lauren Oliver
Release date: February 28, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 375
How I got it: For review from publisher
Other titles in series: Delirium 

I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare
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. 

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

Even though I had mixed feelings about Delirium, I devoured Pandemonium in just a few days.

The biggest change between Delirium and Pandemonium would for sure be Lena. If you remember, I found her to be bland and kinda whiny in book one, but she's grown up so much between the two novels it's insane. Now she's one of those people I wouldn't want to cross, which makes her AWESOME to read about. Unfortunately, I never connected with Julian the way I did with New Lena.

I also found the plot in Pandemonium to be much more exciting than I did Delirium. While the first book dragged, I found myself completely absorbed in Pandemonium the entire time. Probably because it felt like there was ALWAYS something going on.

Basically, Pandemonium was suspenseful, action-packed, and a book you can easily become involved in. While the world-building still lacks a little something to make this world terrifyingly real, I was able to look past that and enjoy the novel for what it was. I was pleasently surprised.

Plot: Fast paced and full of suspense.

Characters: Lena kicked some major booteh...which made up for Julian's blandness.

Writing: Gorgeous, as always.

Ending: WHAT.

Kid friendly? There's some language.

Overall:

I had a hard time tearing my eyes away from the page.

Though it's what I'd call "dystopian fluff," I still found myself wrapped up in this story. If you didn't love Delirium, maybe try this one because it was completely different.

Delirium Review

Author: Lauren Oliver
Release date: February 1, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 441
How I got it: From publisher for review 

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.

So to be honest I didn't think I'd enjoy this book, but fortunately I did. I didn't think it was perfect and AMAAAZING but I found myself involved in the story anyways.

What was pretty amazing was Lauren Oliver's writing. It's been like 3 years since I've read Oliver's debut, Before I Fall, and I seem to have completely forgotten the otherworldly magic she has over words. The writing is what kept me reading even when I found the plot to be slow (which sadly I did. Several times).

As for the world-building...well, it had its moments where I bought into the fear and the cure and everything, but it also had its major "yeah suuuure" moments that so obviously were thrown in for the author's convenience it made me roll my eyes.

I also had issues investing in the characters until at least halfway through, and then my favorites were still not Lena. Actually I found Lena to be rather bland. The romance between Lena and Alex, however, I found to be more believable and less instant than I was expecting, though it still seemed a little more like lust than love.

Despite my qualms with the pacing, world-building, and characters, I still remained fascinated by the concept and writing. I can see how this book is so widely loved, even though I only liked it.

Plot: Awesome concept, but the pacing was a little off.

Characters: I would've liked some more development from each of them.

Writing: Brilliant.

Ending: I feel kind of cheated about the ending, because I'd accidentally read a spoiler online--yes, THE spoiler, the one that spoils the BIG SHOCKER--but I liked it in a bittersweet way and I'm interested to see what it means for Lena in Pandemonium. 

Kid friendly: There was some swearing, making out, and partying.

Overall:

I would wave my hand in an irritated fashion if someone tried to talk to me, but I wasn't adamant about it.

While this book had its low points for me, I enjoyed Delirium despite myself, and I'm definitely interested in book 2. If you're a less-picky reader looking for some dystopian and romance, I'd recommend giving this one a try.

Interview with Lauren Oliver, Author of Before I Fall

Before I Fall has been gotten rave reviews from so many bloggers (including me!), so today I'm pleased to interview the mastermind behind Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver!

Where did the idea of Before I Fall come from?

The idea for Before I Fall came from a lot of different places. I was thinking a lot both about the mean-girl phenomena and ideas of change and redemption; plus, I wanted to explore the idea of a single day repeating through time. So those elements eventually kind of merged in my brain and gave me the basis for the plot.

Are you anything like you main character, Sam?

Yes, I am (but don’t hate me). I think you have to relate to your characters on some fundamental in order to make them believable and sympathetic. Sam is someone who is kind of lost and confused without really knowing it; she doesn’t really understand herself, or understand the things that will make her happy. I was very much like that at her age.

What are a few of your favorite books and authors?

So many! I’m a huge fan of classic children’s books, like Matilda and The Witches, by Roald Dahl, and the Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis; recently, I’ve loved the His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman, and like everybody else I was a huge Harry Potter fan. In terms of YA, I love Carrie Ryan and Neil Gaiman, among many, many others. And for adult stuff…I love Henry James, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Marilynne Robinson.

Before I Fall is your debut novel, congratulations! Was Before I Fall your first finished novel?

No, definitely not! I finished my first “novel” when I was nine…although granted, it was only 30 handwritten pages. But I’d actually completed two full adult novels—neither of which was ever, or will ever be, published—before selling Before I Fall.

What are you working on now?

I’m just finishing up my second book, DELIRIUM. It’s a Romeo-and-Juliet story set in a kind of alternate vision of the United States, in which love has been diagnosed as a contagious and very virulent disease. I’m excited about it! It’s very different from Before I Fall, but that was intentional. And it still definitely bears my voice and sensibility, so hopefully people will like it!

Thanks again for the interview Lauren! I know that I, for one, cannot wait for your next book, it sounds fantastic!!