The Influence

I honestly don’t have time to pleasure read. Or let me rephrase that. I don’t make time to pleasure read. Many other activities consume my free time. But I couldn’t resist Divergent when it was placed on the dinner table.

Now, truth be told, I’ve owned the book quite a while, actually. But it hasn’t been in my room. My sister had it on her bookshelf. How it got downstairs, I will never know. I can say though, it was much appreciated.

I zoomed through the book, in three days total. Well it helped that one was a snow day. I could never just read one chapter. It was always one more. One more before I begin my homework again. One more before I eat dinner. One more before I go to bed.

Veronica Roth’s writing style is simplistic but engaging. Toss in emotional characters and events that hit you in the heart. The utopian or dystopian society, whatever you want to call the setting—it has characteristics of both cultures (as well as Roth explaining her views between utopia and dystopia but she never comes to a conclusion of what society she has created)—forms itself in your head. I’m not sure how this couldn’t be realistic in your head. Maybe, though, my imagination is vivid enough to establish a convincing character. I don’t know.

But what I am positive of; Roth is influenced by her music choices. Roth has an exclusive edition in the back of Divergent, one portion being on the “Divergent Playlist”.

After listening through her song list, it is evident that Flyleaf had the biggest impact not only on Beatrice, rather known as Tris, but imprinted on the book as a whole.

Each small synopsis shines light on a unique aspect either of Tris or a significant occurring event.

The playlist is as follows:

"Starts with One” by Shiny Toy Guns

“Chasm” by Flyleaf

“Come Alive” by Foo Fighters

“Again” by Flyleaf

“Help I’m Alive” by Metric

“We Die Young” by The Showdown

“Canvas” by Imogen Heap

“Running up that Hill” by Placebo

“Sweet Sacrifice” by Evanescence

“Arise” by Flyleaf

 

As a fan of Flyleaf, it is noticeable that more than just these songs influenced Roth’s writing. There are so many others I could name, but for now, listen to those she has acknowledged. It will give insight and characterization either if you’ve read, or are planning to read Divergent.