I stayed up later than I had wanted to last night because I was finishing Divergent, a futuristic/dystopian novel that takes place in the future "ruins" (for lack of a better word) of Chicago. (The author describes Navy Pier, the l, streets, etc. - it's pretty cool if you are remotely familiar with the city.)
You can say I'm a sucker for giving in to the popular young adult books that are on the verge of being made into movies. (In the case of this book, it's coming to a theater near you in March.) I mean, let's be real, it's important to read the book first - Hunger Games...Harry Potter...amiright?
I was pleasantly surprised by this book, though, at times, it was pretty predictable. I think my favorite aspect of the plot was the 5 factions/groups: Abnegation (the main character's family's group), Amity, Candor, Erudite, and Dauntless. Each group has a special quality/skill that they hold in highest esteem and stand for - if you know the meaning of these words (or look them up), I bet you can guess what each one is.
The novel opens right before "Choosing Day" - the day when 16 year-olds take a test to guide them to pick their allegiance. Beatrice, the main character, gets "inconclusive" test results...She's "divergent" - but, shhh, don't say it too loud. It could get you into trouble...
So the choice is up to her. Will she choose her family? or will she pick a new group? And what will the repercussions be?
Guess you'll have to read and find out. (It was a fairly fast read - all 487 pages of it.) I do encourage you to pick it up and give it a try.
And if you do, let me know what you think.
"I have no idea where I am going; I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself...But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always..." -Thomas Merton
I have come to fall in love with teaching in Catholic schools. What are YOU in love with?...
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If you've ever seen the movie "Equilibrium" with Christian Bale, it's kind of like that...
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