Book Review: Requiem by Lauren Oliver

  

Title: Requiem

Series: Delirium #3

Author: Lauren Oliver

Publisher: Harper Teen

Published on: March 5, 2013

Source: own copy

They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.
But we are still here.
And there are more of us every day.
Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.
After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.
Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.
Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.
But we have chosen a different road.
And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.
We are even free to choose the wrong thing.
Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

My Thoughts:

FIRST: What the h?

NEXT: (after many many minutes)

I know I have these tendencies of loving unfinished stories, well okay, I really hate them! BUT! Sometimes it works. And though I'm a bit of on a roll right now, I can totally say I freakingly dig the ending! It was a double or nothing kind of bet Lauren Oliver did there, a big big risk, but somehow It does work for me. Don't ask, it just does.

For those who haven't read the series yet or Requiem and are trying to read reviews about the book: this is me encouraging you to go and read the series and the book. especially before the TV series adaptation goes live on TV. While I will surely watch that series, but I heard lots of things will be changed, and there's nothing like the book.

Back to the book. Okay, I have to be honest, it was unfinished. There, I said it. It ended when things were just starting, but I think that's what we should expect with dystopian novels. Everything started off with an already dooming world, and it's just right to end it with the flaming and burning hope with the series beginning with just that tiny spark of hope. I also think it's crucial unfinished ending is beneficial to the upcoming TV series. Nevertheless how many people found the ending of Requiem as unfair and hated it, and the me liking the ending says there are some books which are meant to end like that, and I say it was perfect for the series. Admittedly though, I would have preferred if there was an actual bulletproofed ending, but I guess I'm just so overwhelmed when Lauren Oliver did not kill off my fave character Julian, because believe me I was bracing myself for those kinds of awful (things) to happen.

I can understand why things had to end the way they did. (I know! I'm obsessing over the ending but that's where my mind is wrapped around now. I just have to talk about it,lol) And I'm glad the self I have on right now is the reasonable one (yes, I have multipersonalities,lol, just kidding) but now I'm ready to talk about the plot, pacings, plots and whatnots. At first, I didn't like the notion of having split POVs narration, I was not sure what to make of with Hana narrating, I thought her side will be boring, but of course I still read Requiem, and found out Hana's side of the story was necessary and she was okay. The character development each of them carried and exuded was just perfect. I love how weak-willed simple human beings turn into strong vicious survivors. The changes are astounding. And every now and then, it helps that the author keeps on mentioning them, in a subtle but sure way. It's like a constant whisper in the background until you'll find yourself immersed in them. Kind of like how a song keeps on playing on your mind, until it won't be gone. Last song syndrome, yes. The plot was also good. The constant heightening plot and tension-building is so thrilling. It has the whole "everything building up, everything dying out, the end is near we are all dying we will have our revenge" theme going on. I think the title suits the story.

Though Lena still irritated me at times, but the overall quality of the story made up for it. I know the ending will not work for everyone but eventually your passionate feelings will decrease and all you'll remember is the what and not the feels,hehe. But, right now, I think I deserve to sleep and maybe dream of a definite ending. :)