• Divergent

  • By: Veronica Roth
  • Narrated by: Emma Galvin
  • Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (37,811 ratings)

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Divergent  By  cover art

Divergent

By: Veronica Roth
Narrated by: Emma Galvin
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Editorial reviews

It is a very rare thing to witness the beginning of a writer’s career and know without a doubt that the first little book is going to launch a worldwide craze, a la J.K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer. Such is the terrifying yet enviable position of Veronica Roth, who sold this debut novel to a HarperCollins imprint before she even finished college. She also sold the film rights to Summit Entertainment, owner of the Twilight film saga, on the strength of pre-publication buzz alone. The first in a planned series, Divergent is beyond question the best thing to happen to young adult literature in a very long time. More realistic than Harry Potter and less moony-eyed than Twilight, Roth has crafted a world and a protagonist that are easily engrossing and definitely worthy of our long-term attention.

Part of the credit for such charm belongs to narrator Emma Galvin, herself somewhat a newcomer. The young upstart has already garnered praise for her interpretations of Winter’s Bone, the first book spin-off from the Glee television series, and Stephenie Meyer’s recent novella. Galvin is genuinely edgy and emotive, not a trace of sugar to be found in the dialogue or her rendering of it. She captures the bold but conflicted spirit of the main character, Tris, with convincing personality and a real sensibility for the fast-pacing learning curve into which Tris launches the year she turns 16. After being raised in a clan whose primary characteristic is its devotion to selflessness, Tris defects, choosing a life of bravery from among the five factions that comprise her dystopic Chicago. She must pledge the faction, and go through several rounds of training eliminations before becoming a true Dauntless.

Tris is a complex, down-to-earth character with a lot of soul searching to do in a clan where hobbies include jumping from moving trains and tossing knives at small objects resting on the heads of friends, and there are no second chances. Veronica Roth has built a remarkable situation with strong potential for a longevity that will remain fresher than the sum of its parts, and Emma Galvin has this bull of a new series firmly by the horns. This book is confidently going places far beyond the fanatical mindlessness of young adult marketing, and in a hot minute, grownups will not have to feel one iota of shame for having fallen in love with it alongside their less discerning teenagers. Megan Volpert

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)

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What listeners say about Divergent

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    21,913
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THI WAS GREAT!!

i loved it!! I liked the way Emma Galvin had different voices for each character!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

This is one of the best readers I've heard on an audiobook. She does a great job and my students don't dread hearing her voice. Ha. They end up loving the book, as well. Such a good read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Could NOT stop listening!

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

Great story combined with great narration = could not stop listening!

Any additional comments?

This book was so good I had a hard time putting it down; I was losing sleep because I would take it to bed and listen until I just couldn't keep my eyes open.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Dystopian? Yes... But the Hunger Games? it is NOT

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Not to everyone... This is evil child of Twilight and the hunger games, by which I mean, it's a dystopian universe, and it's packed with great characters and lots of action, but the main character, Tris, is as vapid and shallow as Bella... In the midst of revolution she swoons over a guy?? Really??? I was waiting for people to start sparkling... So, if you liked Twilight (which I did, just with some reservations) get this, you'll love it... But don't expect a Katniss like hero, nor an intricate universe like Panem..

Would you be willing to try another book from Veronica Roth? Why or why not?

Sure, I'm a sucker for series, but probably when I have nothing else to read/listen to

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

Yes... She narrates the Twilight Novella, and like then, she's great... not a 5 star performance because she can't really differentiate characters (not in pitch, enounciation, accents... nothing), but overall she's good

Any additional comments?

Stop comparing this to the Hunger Games, it's the reason why I got it, and it's so not the case... On its own it's a good story, but don't get people's expectations up. Like I said, if you liked Twilight this is dead on for you... If you liked the Hunger Games, go read His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, that's the kind of book that'll leaving thinking for weeks reconsidering everything...

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Captivating

Would you listen to Divergent again? Why?

I would absolutely listen to it again! And I plan to listen to it and the 2nd in the trilogy immediately before the 3rd book comes out to return me to the world and power found in the words written by Roth!

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Wow! This is a great series!!!

Any additional comments?

Wow! I love this book series. I can’t wait to see what Veronica Roth does in the future. Very creative, fun and exciting. I am now a faithful and addicted fan of both the books and audio books. Buy now, you won't be sorry!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

definitely keep you listening!

it took awhile to get into it but once you are it's very exciting. it seems to reveal all the aspects needed in society but there is always someone that has to have total control.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Perfect YA

Would you listen to Divergent again? Why?

I wouldn't listen to Divergent again because I'd rather enjoy a new book. The book was good but not worth another listen however, I would listen to book 2 or 3.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the detail about the factions. I also like how the story got started right away. There is no giving this book an hour to get interesting. There were also some twists and surprises I didn't see coming which I am sure laid the ground work for the furture books. What is it about trilogy's these days anyway? Aside from insuring the author stays employed why do we need 3 tales of everything? Sometimes one book will do and let readers demand for a follow-up, it needn't be shoved down our throats...coming off my soap box...the budding love story is perfect YA as well. The unknowing and insecure girl, the loner and devastatingly handsome to everyone but himself type of boy. The innocent love story in the midst of brutality.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where each initiate had to go into a virtual world and face every single fear they had. To imagine that actually happening is scary...I'd be in that virtual world for a mighty long time facing all of my fears.

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

Hunger Games except different....

Any additional comments?

I was entertained and the book was worth the credit.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Why Do It In An Angry Whisper?

I've read the book. I really enjoyed the book. But it's been a few years so I thought why not. Well, I will tell you why. The narrator reads the entire book in an angry whisper. It gets even worse when she's voicing the male characters. It gets old starting in the first chapter and ruined the book for me.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Amazing Dramatization

This is amazing reading, although I wish there was smoother transitions throughout it. Overall, I want the next book in the series.

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