Divergent

By: Veronica Roth

Narrated by: Emma Galvin

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are - and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves.... or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series - dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

©2011 Veronica Roth (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Though Galvin’s narration is concentrated on giving Tris the perfect voice, she never neglects the secondary characters. Poignant moments with Tris’s mother and Four, her leader and love, are subtly nuanced to let listeners hear the terror Tris often hides.... listeners will hold their breath waiting to see if she can survive the day." ( AudioFile)

SO good & I'm a 'bit older' adult!

Where does Divergent rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

This book kept me very engaged.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Divergent?

I loved the section near the end when Tris sees her mother through different eyes. No longer mild and accomodating but strong, smart and self reliant - an example. And proving the depth of love & commitment between a parent & a child can be as strong as steel.

Have you listened to any of Emma Galvin???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't but she was fantastic!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were several but probably the most moving was the self sacrifce of her parents to save Tris and her brother so that Tris could do what she needed to do. Their concern for not only their children but for the innocent as well as the unknowing dauntless being used and the guilt that would follow their actions was a shining example of humanity at it's best.

Any additional comments?

Why does it need to be compared to anything? Different book, same genre as Hunger Games. enough said.

Completely obsessed with this book!

Any additional comments?

As a 30 something female, I read a variety of genres. I usually shy away from YA, but I have enjoyed Twilight and Hunger Games. This was a very good book. I read it several times and then decided to buy the audio version so I could listen and get stuff done around the house. I enjoyed the world the author created. It seems fairly plausible and I love the entire story. Following Tris through her journey was fascinating. The narrator did a very nice job. I felt like she really represented the characters and spoke the way I'd imaged Tris speaking when I first read the book. If you are looking for something similar to The Hunger Games but with it's own flair and no love triangles, this book is for you!

Captivating and Incredibly Unpredictable

Being an avid reader you get the feeling many story lines follow the same sort of equation...but this story took me by surprise. In fact nothing happened the way I was expecting and I quickly found myself cheering on the characters and biting my nails in anxious excitement. Although it skated over some moments I felt could have been more emotionally dramatic the characters and story could not have been better. I am very impressed and will certainly recommend this book to others.

As good as The Hunger Games and a little divergent

What made the experience of listening to Divergent the most enjoyable?

I thought that the narrator was perfect, for me she was Beatrice, she really bought the story alive.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Divergent?

The control room scene with Tobias near the end.

Which scene was your favorite?

Probably the above.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The deaths of the brave.

Any additional comments?

This is a great story, gripping and thrilling, enough like The Hunger Games to say that those who enjoyed that trilogy will enjoy this, but different enough to maintain interest.

wish i had realized it was young adult fiction bef

I enjoyed the listen, overall. much of what I didn't care for was accounted for when I heard "thank you for listeniing... Harper Childrens Books" after listening. Once i realized it was intended for the young adult audience it made sense. There is quite a bit of the angsty introspection that goes on when yo are a teen or young adult, but it is not too overwhelming. An enjoyable listen, especially once you get a third of the way in. There were several parts where I was completely engrossed, and others that my mind wandered. The author is young, and has a ton of potential. I will be very interested to see what she is putting out in 10 years, when she has a bit more life experience under her belt.
My biggest issue is the narrator. Really didn't care for her. I feel her interpretation of how the words should be delivered was off in many instances. Dialogue that was teasing was delivered in a serious tone, commas were delivered as full-stop periods, and it was very difficult to differentiate between spoken dialogue and thoughts when the text goes back and forth. The majority of Tris's mental dialogue is delivered in a strange monotone half-lisp. I would be extremely reluctant to listen to another book narrated by this person. on the plus side, she did a good job with different voices for the different characters.
I will listen to the following book, because I am curious about what happens next. I hope there will be more exploration of the other Factions, and some sort of explanation of how society arrived at this solution. And and answer as to what Dauntless is in fact supposed to be protecting everyone else from.

Action packed adventure

Where does Divergent rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've listened to more than 120 audiobooks in the last couple years, this one is somewhere in the top 30.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Divergent?

When Beatrice leaps into the pit and becomes Trice.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Four and Trice are together before the Induction ceremony

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Selflessness isn't that different from bravery

Any additional comments?

The transformation of Beatrice unfolds in an enjoyable way. I love these strong females, like Katniss in The Hunger Games. All the action is exciting. I can't stand books that naval gaze too much, this does not! If you like Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian Fiction this is a good one. I sort of wish there was more explanation of the history, perhaps in the later books.

Great fantasy

If you could sum up Divergent in three words, what would they be?

Enjoyable, different and interesting

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tobias, cause I'm not quite sure what he is about or where he is coming from and that made home really interesting.

Have you listened to any of Emma Galvin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

N/a

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

This fiction is fantasy but it's not the same as the other fantasy novels, it's a new idea and written well. I enjoyed the story and character development. Also this novel doesn't necessarily take you where you think it will.

Great read

Enjoyed the characters and the story line. She does a good job of developing this world that is segmented according to virtues, and once again shows how the desire for power corrupts.

Kept me on the edge of my seat!

Any additional comments?

This story was very interesting and I find Roth's use of factions to be quite brilliant! My teenaged daughter and I now categorize everyone we know! This kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't wait to listen each day. The narrator did a great job as well.

Don't know why I waited so long to listen

I purchased this book in 2011. Tried to listen to it a couple of times, but never got into it. Read some reviews of it recently, so I decided to try it again. I was hooked!

Loved it! I immediately purchased Insurgent and will get the third installment as soon as it's available.