Divergent - by Veronica Roth

A really enjoyable read. I was sucked in to the story and found the chapter lengths were just right to have satisfying bursts of reading. The pace of the story is well tuned and the surge of drama towards the end moved me from “maybe read books 2 and 3” to downloading them ready to read. I liked the fact that the story was set in the near future - I guess - but there was very little reference to new technology. I enjoyed recognising the city as being Chicago, even though that isn’t mentioned. I finished wishing that I knew the back story - how had society reached this point?

What I'm reading ...

I have started Divergent by Veronica Roth. I wanted to read some fiction that was a bit different and this book, which has been recommended to me by several people, seemed to fit the bill. Here’s the blurb:

In the world of Divergent, society is divided into five factions – Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity and Erudite. Every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice Prior, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is. Her choice shocks everyone, including herself.

During the initiation that follows, Tris and her fellow initiates undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them, Tris must determine who her friends really are – and whether she can trust the man who both threatens and protects her.

Because Tris has a deadly secret. And as growing conflict threatens to unravel their seemingly perfect society, this secret might save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need To Know About Global Politics - by Tim Marshall

This book was a remarkably straightforward read, considering it is potentially a very dry subject. The author has a very easy style and the text is jammed with interesting facts and details, with the odd bit of humour for good measure. I learned a great deal and felt that the book delivered exactly what it said it would.