Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Title: Delirium (Book 1)
Author: Lauren Oliver
Pages: 448
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: February 1, 2011

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 governments 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.

The thought of the eradication of love is almost unthinkable to most people today. But what happens when it becomes a necessary concept? Lena's mom was too late for the cure and she ended up taking her own life. Learning from her mother's mistake, Lena can't wait for the cure and live a happy, predestined life. But on the day of her procedure, a few outsiders disrupt it, one of them being Alex. Always being careful about the idea of love, Lena thinks that she is exempt from it but she falls in love with Alex, and the secrets he carries with him.

Intricately woven with rules, regulations, and restrictions, Delirium is a convincing read that delves into a dystopian society wherein love is looked down upon. The novel not only focuses on creating an established dystopian atmosphere, but it also aims to involve the inner workings of the concepts and ideas present in current societies. Oliver molds the the characters to fit the setting of the novel and also gives them opportunities to grow. Delirium forces readers the reader to completely immerse themselves Lena's world and question the rules and ways in which the society works.

Lena is such a strong character. Her tenacity and her instincts simply fly naturally off each page. She resonates with the reader extremely well because of her flaws and her mistakes, making her only more human and believable. Steadily, she grows from her naive, ignorant self into an aware, curious character. Her opinion of love changes slowly through her actions. As she gets more rebellious, she develops and is exposed to the realities of love and the other outsiders like Alex.

Lauren Oliver's writing, simply put, is poetically inspiring. Although Delirium is written in prose, the poetic, lyrical feel dominates and enhances the different elements in the story. Oliver writes intimately, and compels the reader to fully realize and empathize with the characters in the novel. The storyline develops consistently as readers are steadily merged into the world of Delirium and discover the secrets that lie in the society.

Delirium is a beautiful novel of discovery and really probes deeper into societal questions. It touches on the realities in the real world today and introduces readers to a whole new world. The many different insights and meaningful subtleties all make for an original, inspiring read.

The Bottom Line: I'm COMPLETELY delirious for Delirium!

---Field Report---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 100/100 (A+) !!!This is one of the THIRTEEN books that hold the title: The Holy Grail - Beholder of the Perfect 100!!!