Delirium

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"I love you. Remember. They cannot take it."

"Delirium" can be taken either as a cautionary tale or a romantic inspiration like Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". That view would (literally) depend on which side of the fence you are in. I think the you-and-me-against-the-world theme will never get old especially when the subject of love is what makes it work. I may sometimes skip or maybe even cringe at the lovey-dovey moments, but they also take me back to the teenage series I used to pore myself into. This dystopian novel reminded me of some Sweet Valley characters, but this time, their story is set in a world similar to Panem (The Hunger Games).

The plot has its plateaus and crescendos. If I were watching a movie instead of reading, the last ten pages of the book would really keep me on the edge of my seat. It works as the first book in the series because it makes the reader crave for more. There are questions left unanswered and characters still covered in mystery.

If you think love is overrated, this may not be the book or series for you. The book may seem to target a specific age bracket, but if you're the type of person who, deep inside, just wants to be rescued from indifference, then amor deliria nervosa is something that is worth knowing and taking a risk for.

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The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I love a book, I would usually breeze through it and skip on some sentences just to know what happens next. I usually don't llke wordy and overly-descriptive narratives. Well, this book is an exception.

Reading "The Night Circus" made me crave for caramel and apple cider. I can smell the circus just by reading the lines. Sometimes, I wish I wake up and find black and white tents just billowing outside my window. It made me imagine the intricacies of the clocks, the mysterious contents of the tents, the elaborate costumes and the geniuses behind the masterpieces.

The pacing may be a bit slow and the ending abrupt, but the story itself is unexpectedly captivating and heartbreaking. The main characters are well thought of. Most are victims of circumstances. Le Cirque du Rêves is a world in its own. It's a dream-like prison I do not want to get out of and in it hides a love story that is not unlike "Romeo and Juliet". The entertainment and magic mask the sadness and frustration. A lesson or two can be learned. Read this and rev up your imagination. It will be a pleasant experience.

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