Delirium

December 20, 2010
In her sophomore novel, Oliver (Before I Fall) presents an intriguing but disappointing thought experiment, set in a dystopian future in which American borders are sealed and civil order is enforced by regulation, vigilantism, and "the procedure," a coming-of-age lobotomy that excises amor deliria nervosa, or love. Nearly 18, Lena Haloway welcomes the prospect; her mother underwent three unsuccessful procedures and eventually committed suicide, so Lena deeply believes that love equals suffering. Still, there's a subversiveness to her thoughts and actions, from nurturing the motherless child Gracie to reading Romeo and Juliet because it is "beautiful," not the cautionary tale it's presented as. When a strange, handsome boy begins to intrude on her life, strictly against the regulations, the "beauty" of that tragic trope begins to play out swiftly and relentlessly. The prose is accomplished, and the Portland, Maine, setting wonderfully evoked. However, Oliver's nightmare future lacks a visceral punch, primarily because of the weakness of the world-building. Her America has undergone a seismic shift, but the economic, religious, and cultural ramifications are all but ignored. Ages 14–up.

Lena will receive her cure in 95 days. So in just over three months, she'll be safe from the deliria. Then she'll have a government-approved marriage match and will never feel pain, hate, or the most forbidden emotion: love. Sarah Drew perfectly exudes Lena's confused emotions, especially her passion, as she learns to feel. As Lena slowly becomes more aware of the world around her and learns its secrets and horrors, Drew masterfully infuses the story with tension and fraught emotions. Tender moments between Lena and her secret boyfriend, Alex, allow Drew to create warm vignettes amid the depictions of Lena's life in a rigidly controlled society. Ultimately, Lena's transformation from a timid teen to a brave young woman who faces innumerable dangers will leave listeners eager for the next volume in this dystopian trilogy. J.M. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine