Review of Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium by Lauren Oliver


Series: Delirium (#1)
Pages: 448
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: February 2011
IBSN: 9780340980927

There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it.

Then, at last, they found the cure.

Now, everything is different. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway 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 then, with only ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable...

Lena's content with having life without love – she does, after all, believe it to be a disease. But as she falls in love she realises that it isn't a bad thing at all. Thus begins her development from naive into a stronger and more aware protagonist who thinks for herself in a world where people who do so are few and far between.

I was already familiar with Lauren Oliver's writing style from Before I Fall, but, it still struck me again how lyrical and beautiful it is. The first person narration made Lena feel more like a real person with real thoughts and concerns than a character. It was easy to feel sympathetic for a character whose emotions were so raw.

The romance between Lena and Alex felt natural, and they had a lot of chemistry. It wasn't 'love at first sight' (a concept that I never find endearing), but rather, grew slowly and with apt hesitancy given the setting. Delirium was a very good example of successfully having a romantic relationship as the centermost part of the novel.

The omission of unimportant in-between scenes kept the read intense and suspenseful up until the very end, where we’re left hanging and anxiously anticipating the sequel (Pandemonium, March 2012).

Overall, Delirium was a touching and beautifully-written story of how far people will go for love. 

I give Delirium a 5 out of 5.