Pandemonium

By: Lauren Oliver

Narrated by: Sarah Drew

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare, pushing aside thoughts of Alex, pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school, push, push, push, like Raven taught me to do. The old life is dead. But the old Lena is dead too. I buried her. I left her beyond a fence, behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times best seller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

©2012 Laura Schechter (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Another amazing story from Lauren Oliver!

Would you consider the audio edition of Pandemonium to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but I enjoy Sarah Drew's fascinating narration.

What other book might you compare Pandemonium to and why?

This is a one of a kind story!

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

Yes! She is excellent as always.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The beginning and the end....shocking!

Any additional comments?

Left me wanting to hear more! I will listen again before the final book is released.

Even better than the first!

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

It is in my top 3 series. I would put the Hunger Games series as first, Divergent as second (book two has yet to be released), and the Delirium trilogy as third (book 3 has yet to be released).

What does Sarah Drew bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think this series, and Lauren Oliver's book "Before I Fall" are all books that I reccomend in audiobook versions, instead of print. I have not read the print versions, but Sarah Drew delivers such a great performance that you are able to really feel the emotions of the characters the way the author intended. I think you really get the full experience of the character's personalities and emotional processes through Sarah Drew's performance.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I really enjoyed the development of Lena in this book. Seeing her struggle and her strength is a refreshing change from her persona in the first book. her story is very emotionally moving.

Any additional comments?

I loved this book so much! I was actually wishing my daily commute was even longer so I could keep listening.

What a painfully predictable ending.

Wow, shocker. Never would have guessed. Save yourself the time on this series and just reread whatever dystopian young adult novel you finished last.

Loved it!

This is the second book. Read the first and immediately downloaded the second. Now the long long wait for the third.

Totally awesome!!!!!

Pandemonium has you on the edge of you seat. Once you start there is no stopping.

The politics in our country is being run by a handful of powerful people who are also following the believes of the minority of US citizens. They don’t believe in Science, women’s rights, health care, public education, global warming etc. As the rest of the world is moving forward, we are moving backwards. This book really hit home because most citizens went along blindly, believing their leaders. The feeling of helplessness and the unfairness of it all, there leaders prohibit Love or any extreme emotions. By 18 everyone must under go an operation removing the part of your brain that control your feelings. If you fight it , the government, run by religion , will kill you.

The main character is either fighting, running, starving or falling in Love which is prohibited by this future US government.

Narrator Improves - Story Interesting

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Again, the narrator takes away from good writing

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Most: the story line becomes more complicated and the ending is great. Least: can't think of a least... This book progressed nicely from the first book and left you wanting to know the conclusion.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Sarah Drew?

Still not entirely pleased.

Was Pandemonium worth the listening time?

Absolutely - this author has a good feel for building a story - I look forward to her writing of the climax and conclusion.

Any additional comments?

It seems the narrator lost some of her earlier emoting as she did in Delerium. However, she has a long ways to go before she has the ability to effectively describe suspense or emotions without seeming to be emotional herself... In my humble view, a good writer ad especially a good narrator unobtrusively leads the reader to discover emotions within themselves.

Better than the first...

Just what I needed in the second book - a bit more action with a faster pace... and I got it. I liked how the story was told backwards and forwards - a bit of now, a bit of then, a bit of now... and in the end it all came together. Speaking of the ending (no spoilers)... I love a book that ENDS but still leaves me excited for the next book and that's what this one accomplished. It had a definite, resolution oriented, ending but I've already downloaded Book 3, Requiem and will start it tonight. I care about these characters... and can't wait to see what Lauren Oliver has in store for them. As for narration, Sarah Drew could not have done a better job. Superior narration!

Great!

The sequel to Delerium was so good. I enjoy a good love triangle and this one was great. I also loved the characters that Lena makes a life with in the wilds. I loved trying to imagine what it would be like to be in their situation, and have to survive in a world like that.

love requires a "cure" | hmmm...

This is a general review for the whole Delirium series. Maybe 4 STARS isn't fair. After all, I really liked this series. The story and the characters were extremely well-written. If I were a fan of dystopia -- not that this is a dystopian novel, exactly -- I think I would have rated it 5 STARS. It's just that so many bad things happened and, in my opinion, not enough good things were there to even it out. Obviously, that's a personal preference. That being said, it was still really good and I definitely recommend it.

Really keeps you glued to the story

one again an amazing book in the trilogy. I was at the edge of my seat on every page. well written like all of her books i have read so far. but I really wanted more from Alex but that's what truly made me more exited about book 3 couldn't wait for more