Lisa's Review of Delirium

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Lisa's Discussion Questions

What would lead someone to classify love as a disease?

Someone who was hurt or jealous of love.

Do you agree that, in some ways, love could be though of as a disease? Why or why not?

I don't because I view a disease as more of a sickness or disorder and I don't view love as a feeling.

Lena says that some  years ago, the government broadcast film of a girl jumping off a roof to avoid being cured. What kind of government would broadcast such a warning to its citizens? 

North Korea.

What does Lena's government want for its people?

It wants total control.

What would motivate people to be evaluators, guards, or regulators in such a government?

Power.

The Book of Shhh says "marriage is Order and Stability, the mark of a Healthy society". What role do you think marriage plays in Lena's society?

Marriage is completely down played since love takes no part in it.
What role do you think marriage plays in today's society?

Marriage is a huge role in today's society. 
Is love an important part of marriage?

Very. A marriage will fall apart without it.
Should people be able to marry whomever they want? Why or why not?

I believe marriage to be ordained of God and as long as it is within his limits you are able to marry whomever.

Before the evaluations, an unhappy Hana says that if her government really wanted people, to be happy, "they'd let us pick". What do you think of the idea of having a pre-determined, worry-free life planned out for you?

It seems a bit unfair. You should be able to make choices in your own life that lead to happiness if desired.

Do you need to make your own choices in order to be happy? Why, or why not?

Yes, because I don't think if you don't make your own choices to be happy then you wouldn't really experience real happiness. 

Lena longs for "the promise of the cure," which she describes as "the chance to be reborn; newer, fresher, better. Healed and whole and perfect again". If given the chance, would you want to be cured?

No, I wouldn't mind having the refreshing feeling of starting over before I got married, but I would still want to be able to feel love.

What are some reasons why a person might wish to undergo the treatment?

They have been so hurt by love they'd rather live without it.

Describe Hana and Lena's relationship and the role that jealousy plays in their friendship. Are you ever jealous of your friends?

Yes, until I realize that their lives are not perfect either.

What effect does that have on your behavior or your feelings for them?

None.

Near the beginning of the story, Lena says that the word I love you are "strange and terrible". Why?

Probably because she has never said them. I didn't say I love you much growing up, so when I got married it was sort of an awkward thing to say.

How did Lena's feelings about those words change during the course of the story?

I think it was something she came to love.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

For the month of July I picked Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl is set in fictional Gatlin, South Carolina. The novel is told by protagonist Ethan Wate who lives with his writer father and housekeeper Amma who is “more like [Ethan’s] grandmother.”^[2] The story begins on the first day of Ethan’s sophomore year when he wakes up from a recurring dream he’s been having about a girl he doesn’t know. That morning he finds a “creepy- almost hypnotic,” ^[3] song called Sixteen Moons on his iPod and also notices the smell of rosemary and lemon. At school Ethan find out there is a new girl this year which is surprisingly because Gatlin “hadn’t had a new girl in school since the 3rd grade,”^[4] the new girl is “old man Ravenwood’s niece.” ^[5] Macon Melchizedek Ravenwood is the town shut in and is often compared to the character Boo Radley from To Kill A Mocking Bird in the novel. Ethan later hears Lena playing Sixteen Moons in band.

When Ethan drives home he almost runs over Lena who is standing on the road in the middle of the storm looking for someone to help with her broken down car. When Ethan notices she smells like lemon and rosemary he realized that Lena is the girl from his dreams. He soon learns that Lena is a Caster, a person who can use magic, and that on her sixteenth birthday she will be claimed for either Light or Dark. Ethan tries to find a way to save Lena from going Dark and solve the mystery of how he is connected to Lena. At the same time Lena is trying to handle the whole town turning against her “we don’t take kind to strangers [in Gatlin].”(Garcia 123) Lena and Ethan discover that they are connected through years of Gatlin and Caster history.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I figured I would list and answer the discussion questions first and then give my personal opinion on the book. Let's get started!

What would lead someone to classify love as a disease?

Someone who was hurt by LOVE.

Do you agree that, in some ways, love could be though of as a disease? Why or why not?

Absolutely. LOVE makes people do some crazy shiz. Good and Bad.

Lena says that some  years ago, the government broadcast film of a girl jumping off a roof to avoid being cured. What kind of government would broadcast such a warning to its citizens?




A government that is wanting to prove a point and instill fear on its citizens.

What does Lena's government want for its people?
CONTROL and COOPERATION

What would motivate people to be evaluators, guards, or regulators in such a government?
FEAR

The Book of Shhh says "marriage is Order and Stability, the mark of a Healthy society". What role do you think marriage plays in Lena's society?



In Lena's society marriage is as "good as it gets". And it's not even that good in this society. It's just something you do...because that's what everyone does.

What role do you think marriage plays in today's society?

Marriage plays a huge role in today's society...for those who choose it. That's the key phrase right there. We have a choice to marry or not. We have a choice to marry who/what we want when we want.

Is love an important part of marriage?
To me, yes.

Should people be able to marry whomever they want? Why or why not?
Yes.

Before the evaluations, an unhappy Hana says that if her government really wanted people, to be happy, "they'd let us pick". What do you think of the idea of having a pre-determined, worry-free life planned out for you?

I think, Lucer. LOL I also think, what's the fun in that?

Do you need to make your own choices in o rder to be happy? Why , or why not?
Definitely yes. Because you grow and become a stronger person BECAUSE OF the mistakes you've made.

Lena longs for "the promise of the cure," which she describes as "the chance to be reborn; newer, fresher, better. Healed and whole and perfect again". If given the chance, would you want to be cured?

Ha! Probably!

What are some reasons why a person might wish to undergo the treatment?
Someone who is afraid of hurt, afraid of the unknown, afraid of feeling.

Describe Hana and Lena's relationship and the role that jealousy plays in their friendship. Are you ever jealous of your friends?
I don't like this question.

What effect does that have on  your behavior or your feelings for them?
This one is even worse.

Near the beginning of the story, Lena says that the word I love you are "strange and terrible". Why?
I honestly can't remember.

How did Lena's feelings about those words change during the course of the story?
She fell in love...

June Book: Delirium

Aloha friends and family (or maybe just Lisa!),

For our first book I chose, "Delirium" by Lauren Oliver, see here. I chose this book because I'm a sucker for Fantasy books and the synopsis (which follows) intrigued me:

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.

Have your book ready to read by June 1st! I highly recommend checking it out from yoru local library (which hopefully isn't Orem, because I've already reserved one and Lisa, the other lol). Pl,an on reading the book by June 20th so that the remainder of the month we can submit our survey's that the host (ME!) will put together.

xoxo,
rina.