Want a good book? Of course you do...: Prologue

Want a good book? Of course you do...: Prologue: The boy I hate The girl I hate Prologue James Opening evenings are all about showing off what your college has to offer...

Prologue

The boy I hate
                 The girl I hate

Prologue

James

Opening evenings are all about showing off what your college has to offer. My college had just acquired a new set of science labs and so wanted as many science workshops to show it off. I was leading a workshop at the back of biology room that Friday and it was quite for a Friday evening, it started to pick up an hour  later about eight. Parents and kids filed in to look around, most only passing by after a quick glances. It annoyed me to see the departments improvements go unnoticed, most who stayed had conversations with the teachers and this made me pleased. I could tell after a while that some departments were trying to get attention with sweets, I overheard a few teen with lollies say it was the art and drama departments. I just shook my head, it shouldn't be about sweets.

Around nine I heard this boisterous laugh come through the doorway, three girls followed pushing and shoving, bumping and nudging; I just shook my head. I hated loud people like this and unfortunately for me my workshop was the only one free so they were heading in my direction. "So what' going on here?" asked a small curly haired girl.

"Can you name the organ parts of the animal?" I signalled at the diagrams and name cards.

"Anna you did this for open evening, didn't you?" the curly haired girl asked a brunette in a vest top.

"That was a human one not animal," she replied.

"Right" The curly haired girl turned back to me, "which animal is this?"

"A mouse," I answered, the curly haired girl looked over the pictures, then placed all the cards in the right place and was off to the next free station. I watched her group till they left, she was loud and smart an annoying combination.

Minnie

The boy at the first workshop I visited in biology gave me a dirty look so it only gave me more pleasure to prove that I wasn't a brain dead loud mouth. The biology resources for the college were brand new and really nice, the teachers were enthusiastic and apart from that boy I liked the place. "Minnie, come on I want to see music," Tina tugged me from the science lab lined corridor; I laughed at her hurry to leave the academic area.

"Fine no need to remove my arm," we were a little crazy with out supervision and due to Tina's dad and my dad working as maths teachers in the college we were allowed to be with out supervision. 

When I got to my Dad's room at the end of the evening my sister Rachel was sitting on one of the desks looking like the A* student she is. "Hey dad, hi Rach," Dad gave me a smile, while Rachel didn't even look my way, "Minnie where did Anna go?" Tina asked me as she answered the maths puzzle on the board. "She went to get a drink," Tina nodded and carried on with the puzzle; I went to read over Rachel's shoulder till she told me where to go and I was left waiting for Anna to come back to keep me company.

Should I, umm really should I...?

You know when you hear 'This was a great book' or 'Read this book and be amazed' and then you have a long hard think about whether you should really read the book, that was how I felt when picking up Divergent.

So I picked Divergent up because it was on offer, after being bombarded with praise of how amazing the book was. I found the that I was eased into the world and mind set of Beatrice, which made me apprehensive of  what would be in store for me. Now after reading the book I'm happy that Roth spends so much time easing you into the story and explaining her world, in a way that is easy to understand as well as fits in with the plot line. Some authors go off on random tangents that explain the world but take you away from the actual plot line. Yes, a new world needs a good explanation that allows you to understand it. The reader doesn't want to read a fact file on it though.

Divergent is set in the future were world splits people into five factions, people may choose a faction at 16 based on a test that tells them which faction suits them best and on the faction they feel most fits their personality. In this futuristic society's they have a saying 'faction before family', they are brought up to believe that the factions will stop the more extreme negative aspects of human nature.

We follow the story of Beatrice  in the first person as she chooses her faction and what it is like for her to train to pass the initiation test to join the faction she chooses.Beatrice is to me a well written character thinking about both herself and what it means to be true to herself and were that will take her in life. Like all teenagers she's trying to get by in life and find her place in society. This is emphasised by her choosing a faction and her transition to become not just an initiate but a member. I enjoy and respect Roth's writing because she has balance; Beatrice does not spend ten pages whining, or dreaming about Four's eyes, or even bigging herself up. Instead we get someone who is getting to grips with the adult world the way all teens have to, which helps you relate to the character.

Of course I need my action and whether that's learning to fire a gun or jumping on and off of trains, Divergent has it. I think that's why this is a very diverse book even though it is told from a girls perspective it is more about the dare devil stunts. Which leads me into the descriptions that leave your heart racing and your brain begging for more.

But for all you romantics out there Roth writes a good love story, not to much mush (that you're reaching for a bucket) and not so awkward (that you are wondering why it's even there); just the right amount. I love Four he an actual guy, not the dream boy with no imperfections, a believable, complex, annoying, loveable human being. Beatrice and Four have a complex and evolving relationship that helps give substance to their character it goes some where but it forms gradually and naturally.

This leads to other characters, without giving to much away I'll add this; Roth writes strong well balanced and understandable characters. They act true to there nature making you both think and realise that everyone has more than one side to there personality. All the character show multiple sides of their give personality through out the book allowing them to become more tan 1 dimensional bores.

I would say that they're all pros; cons? Cons, cons, cons (thinks very hard). Really there are non other than having to wait for the next book.

So you're looking for that good easy read, you're scrolling through Amazon or wandering through Waterstones you should be looking for this book...
 
It truly is a good read for those who want a nice easy read. I found Hunting Lila at the beginning of my summer holidays and it was a great summer read. I enjoyed the different sci-fi meets YA that doesn't really happen in a book aimed at girls. So for all the CSI fans or those who just love a good car chase then get out to your local book store. Sarah Alderson really understands that girls like a bit more than just the fairy tale experience or the dark obsessive love. In Hunting Lila we meet ordinary girl Lila who has a not so ordinary ability, telekinesis. Lila also has the home problems that leave her running into the arms of the big brother and his best friend. The question were asking through the book is; can Lila really feel safe with the two people she trust the most?

To me I need good bad guys though so psychopathic psychics I think pretty much fit the bill. I have read books, comics and watched  films about evil psychics before but this is certainly a unique set up. Why, well you'll have to go and buy the book for that.

Now to that question; what is the romance situation? Of course my dears, Sarah wouldn't leave you hanging like that. Again Lila is given one of my personal favourite love scenarios, she's been in love with her brothers best friend since she was very little, ahh puppy love. Of course there is more to it but finding out about their oh so cute and yet believable romance is down to you reading the book.

Finally to sum up Hunting Lila is funny, easy going and unique read.
                                     SO COME ON ADD IT TO YOUR READING LIST!