Chapter ∞ - The One Where I Tell It How It Is

Well... we made it! Allow me a moment to congratulate myself. GO ME! WOO!

Okay. Not that I've gotten that out of the way, let's be serious. We should all feel accomplished. If you are reading this, I assume that you are one of my fellow classmates and you too have finished your own blog. If not, GO AWAY! FINISH YOUR OWN! I think we can all agree that during the blogging process, we all got overwhelmed by this thing. It was harder to write about some chapters than others, but we all made it! Mazel tov!

If you read my blog, you most likely noticed that I was pretty critical of this book and that I more often pointed out flaws in the plot and writing style than complementing the novel on the things that it got right. So I'll do both right now!

First off, I have to give credit where credit is due. The author of Divergent, Veronica Roth, completed this entire novel as a college student. That is nuts! I can't imagine producing something so successful during my time in college, so I commend her for that. While the writing style was nothing too outstanding, it was executed well and paired with an intriguing plot. And plus, (that one was for you, Ms. Redmond!) I was impressed by her ability to create an entire new universe in only 487 pages. A wide array of characters, dystopian factions, and an altered version of present-day Chicago combined to form a plausible universe.

Now, it's time for a little bit of criticism. I won't get too carried away, I promise. I will keep name calling to a minimum. First off, I understand that the plot was well written, but at times I believe the romance took too much of a spotlight. I get that a love interest is becoming almost a necessity in today's literature, but the wreck of a relationship that Tris and Four had seemed to detract from the main plot. Not only did the two only know each other for about a month, the way the two interacted screamed "trainwreck". I love Four! I hate Four! I love Tobias! I hate Tobias! I'm just saying. It never works like that. But, call me biased. I wasn't too thrilled about the scenes where Ms. Roth was trying to make me imagine playing tonsil hockey with Four.

Overall, I can see why someone would enjoy this novel. The plot was outside of the norm and the author certainly did a good job of making the action jump right off of the pages. However, the plot holes and excessive romance storyline kind of hindered my opinion of this book. I'd consider reading the second book of the series and then see where it goes from there in regards to reading the third, but I won't necessarily make a point of it. However, I am interested in watching the film in order to compare and contrast the novel with the feature film. I might need someone to cover my eyes during the "Tris and Four" scenes. TAG outing, anyone?

The feels are strong with this one

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On a personal note, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone for an amazing year in TAG. The time I spent with you guys this year was some of the best that I had. The positive atmosphere that is present every day I walk into class is irreplaceable. While I may not be returning to TAG next year, I want to make sure that you know it has nothing to do with the people I see in that classroom. I'll still see you guys in the halls and in other classes. And I'll make sure to comment on all of the groceries you buy, Ms. Redmond!

So, I guess that's all I have. Thank you all for making this year one to remember.

- Rhedt

Chapter Thirty Nine - The One Where It Ends

"The shot doesn't come."

Tobias somehow breaks out of the simulation. Never underestimate the power of the divergent, folks! The two lovebirds share an embrace and Tobias starts sobbing because he feels bad about everything that has happened. He claims that he was able to shake the simulation because he could hear Tris' voice. How dreamy? They kiss and stuff for a minute.

They notice a monitor and see that Peter, Caleb, and Marcus are surrounded by soldiers. Tris begs Tobias to end the simulation. He does so just in time and the three are saved.

The Dauntless all snap out of the simulation and realize the destruction that they have caused. Everyone is placing blame on each other. This is getting out of control.

Tobias and Tris grab the hard drive with the simulation on it. They meet up with Peter, Caleb, and Marcus. When Marcus and Tobias end up in the same space, it gets awkward fast. Tris threatens Tobias with the gun, but no shots are fired. I guess you'll have to read book 2 to see what happens between father and son.

The group rides the train and are headed to the Amity HQ. I feel like Amity has been the forgotten faction in all of this. Amity was covered very little in this book. Possibly book 2 will be focused more on this faction.

One thing is for sure: life as Tris knows it is completely different now.

"I have no home, no path, and no certainty. I am no longer Tris, the selfless, or Tris, the brave. I suppose that now, I must become more than either."

Chapter Thirty Eight - The One Where Tobias Is Going To Kill Tris

So... Tobias is now brainwashed by the simulation serum. Now he has Tris as his target. Tris tries to fight back, but Tobias is far stronger than she is and the serum makes him a merciless hitman. She breaks down into tears. She tries to snap him out of the simulation, but cannot. She hopes that she can find a way to not be killed by Tobias. I bet the "horizontal tango" doesn't sound so bad right now.

She realizes what she must do. He isn't leaving the simulation anytime soon. She has the gun in her hands. If it was anyone else, the bullet would have gone through their skull a long time ago, but this is different. It's Tobias. She can't kill him. She's running out of loved ones. She decides that she can't kill him because she knows that he wouldn't kill her if he were in her position.

"I can't kill him. I am not sure if I love him; not sure if that's why. But I am sure of what he would do if our positions were reversed. I am sure that nothing is worth killing him for."

She hands over the gun to Tobias. Thinking back to the fear landscape, she has conquered her fear of choosing to shoot a loved one or be shot. This should bring good results, but it doesn't look good right now. She feels his heartbeat for the last time. This is it. Tobias slides the bullet into the barrel...

Chapter Thirty Seven - The One Where An Enemy Becomes An Ally

The Priors and Marcus head to the Dauntless HQ. The group relives the first day of Dauntless initiation as they have to jump on and off of the train and then jump off of the roof into the net. When they reach the HQ, they see Peter. He is guarding the Pit. The leaders didn't have him become a "sleepwalker". Or is he divergent? Not likely.

The destination: The control room

Tris shots Peter in the arm as payback for all of the torture he has put her through during initiation. After being shot, Peter agrees to help them as long as they don't leave him behind. He admits that he is afraid of what the Erudite are doing, too. Peter takes the lead and guides them in the right direction. Tris fights through some of the control room guards. One of the guards happens to be divergent and helps Tris. Everybody engages in the combat, even Tris' father. He leads some of the guards away from Tris, but accidentally ends up in a dead end, where he meets his untimely death. With this, both of Tris' parents are now dead.

There is no time to waste, Tris keeps moving on.

"For every second that I waste, another Abnegation member dies."

She finally makes it into the control room. Sitting at the computers she finds... Tobias.

Chapter Thirty Six - The One With The Family Reunion

Get over it, Tris. There are more important things right now

There are two soldiers who follow Tris after she leaves her mom. She kills the first one, but the second isn't so easy. She knows the second one. It's Will. Well... kind of. It is "sleepwalker Will". He is about to shoot at Tris, but Tris places a bullet right into his skull. Tris immediately loses her cool. Real brave of you, Tris! You know what would be even braver? GETTING OUT OF THERE ALIVE! THEY ARE AFTER YOU! STOP WASTING TIME!

After she gets over killing Will, she makes it to the building where her family is and does the knock pattern. I was expecting her father to answer, but it is Caleb who opens the door. He is back in his Abnegation gray. After researching the simulation serum and finding out about the war on Abnegation, he left Erudite and became factionless. Now that takes bravery. He could have easily lived his life, but he threw it all away because he knew what side he needed to help. Good on you, Caleb!

The two men help remove the bullet from Tris' arm. Tris tells them about her mother's death. Her father takes it pretty hard, but doesn't let it be known. Tris also explains how Erudite is now in control of all of the Dauntless and how they need to get them to regain consciousness to the real world.

"Eric called Al's death brave, and he was wrong. My mother's death was brave."

Marcus, Tobias' father, is also in the building. He comes up with a plan to destroy the computers that are controlling the simulations on the sleepwalkers. If the computers can be destroyed, the war will be over.

Chapter Thirty Five - The One Where Tris Might Die

Tris is in a container with water rising around her. Really? This again? This time there is a video camera present. She starts to freak out, but then realizes the inevitable truth: there is no way out. At this point, Tris accepts death and will not struggle. As she starts to die, she relies on her religion. She remembers her mother at her baptism.

Plot twist in 3..2..1..

Abnegation: the safest of them all... Well, not anymore

Apparently in Divergent-world, if you think about something, it has to come true. I say this because none other than Tris' mother shows up right in the nick of time. She breaks the container and rescues Tris. She has guns, a tattoo that Tris has never noticed, and has been shooting guards. Tris' mom is one Bad Mother.... nevermind. Apparently, Tris' mother had seen the sleepwalking soldiers earlier and knew she needed to find and save Tris.

Another plot twist: Tris' mom is divergent! She chose to leave Dauntless and join Abnegation because she needed to find a safer life and was afraid that she wouldn't last in Dauntless as a divergent. She reveals that the divergents are dangerous because they can't be easily controlled like the others.  

"You're my daughter... I don't care about the factions... Human beings as a whole cannot be good for long before the bad creeps back in and poisons us again."

Tris' mother tells her to run and find the rest of her family and that she will be a decoy to buy her some extra time. Tris doesn't want to leave, but once her mother runs into a group of Dauntless soldiers, she knows that she needs to find the rest of her family.

"Be brave, Beatrice. I love you."

Chapter Thirty Four - The One Where Jeanine Tells Them Everything

After being caught, Tris and Tobias are taken to Jeanine, the woman behind this whole revolution. She was expecting Tris to be divergent, but didn't seem to expect Tobias.

I'll kill you, but first let me tell you my diabolical plan

Jeanine goes through her entire diabolical plot so Tris and Tobias can hear it before they die. They already are well aware of the first step: get rid of Abnegation. Once they are out of the way, Jeanine plans to take control of the entire city and form a government up to her standards. With herself in power, she believes everyone will be very rich. I don't see it like that. I see a long line of people fanning her with big leaves just so they can have a drink of water. I think she is looking for some sort of totalitarian government.

Jeanine doesn't understand why a lot of Abnegation turn out to be divergent. This has been a big deal throughout the book. I believe it is because I believe selflessness encompasses a lot of different traits. I believe that to be selfless, you also have to be peaceful, at least somewhat intelligent, honest, and last but not least, you need to show bravery at times.

Jeanine makes the decision that Tris is useless to her now and decides to kill her. She will, however, keep Tobias alive in order to try to eventually understand how to control the divergent as well.  Tobias, being the bold Prince Charming he is, kisses Tris and attacks Jeanine.

Jeanine is able to fend off Tobias and injects him with a serum that makes him turn his attack toward Tris. This serum isn't quite as developed as the "sleepwalking soldier" serum, but it seems to be working so far. After being injected, Tobias seems like an entirely new person. Tris is taken away. Bye Tris! Don't worry about it. I bet you'll get out of this.

"Take her to room B13."