In an effort to be a more well-rounded book seller and to figure out what the teens were talking about, I was persuaded to read Divergent. I understand why it is so popular, and it’s surprisingly dark, the way old Disney movies used to be. The female lead just coming to understand her emotions and desires in an easy to understand 5 point system was a clever way to simplify everything. Not to mention- scratching a personal itch of mine- I finally got to see some protagonists with tattoos and piercings. I wasn’t a fan of the way everything developed in the story and the cheesy romances, but the book wasn’t aimed at me.
I don’t know about you but there is always a moment of panic after I finish reading a book: what do I read next? What if I pick something only realize 200 pages in that I’ve come to hate all the main characters and hope they all somehow blow each other up? Unfortunately, if I don’t have a next-book already lined up I tend to read the first book my hand physically touches. In such a manner I came to read Catcher in the Rye right after I finished Divergent.
I’ll skip the summary of a book everyone knows (what a big phony, can’t even review the book he’s writing about). Except to say, I truly loved Holden Caulfield. I was more proud of the way he handled himself than any other protagonist in recent memory, despite his self-desctruction and confusion; let’s just say I could see where he was coming from. Yes, he ruined everything he touched, but I don’t think he can be directly blamed (or at least, should be forgiven) for the stupid things he did. It was so nice to see a classic live up the reputation… Now that I’m thinking YA thoughts, Perks of Being a Wallflower is sounding pretty good again. If you need me, I’ll be the one in the group of crying teenage girls that has the beard.
Written by Daniel
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