Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Hana by Lauren Oliver

Overview from Barnes and Noble:

Lauren Oliver's riveting, original digital story set in the world of her New York Times bestseller Delirium.

The summer before they're supposed to be cured of the ability to love, best friends Lena and Hana begin to drift apart. While Lena shies away from underground music and parties with boys, Hana jumps at her last chance to experience the forbidden. For her, the summer is full of wild music, dancing—and even her first kiss.

But on the surface, Hana must be a model of perfect behavior. She meets her approved match, Fred Hargrove, and glimpses the safe, comfortable life she’ll have with him once they marry. As the date for her cure draws ever closer, Hana desperately misses Lena, wonders how it feels to truly be in love, and is simultaneously terrified of rebelling and of falling into line.

In this digital story that will appeal to fans of Delirium and welcome new admirers to its world, readers will come to understand scenes from Delirium through Hana's perspective. Hana is a touching and revealing look at a life-changing and tumultuous summer.
My thoughts:
I read Delirium a year or so ago and really enjoyed it.  Unfortunately I passed my copy along so I no longer have it to refer to.  It is hard to know which books to hold onto and which ones are safe to pass along.  Since I tend to not reread most I am making a real effort to pass then along in some way so that I don't get over run by books!  A little over a month ago I read the second book, Pandemonium.  I was so sad to see that one end that I bought Hana to try to tide me over until the next book in the series comes out, probably next year.  Hana is taking place concurrently with Delirium.  It is what is happening for Lena's best friend while Lena is falling in love with Alex. 

Lena and Hana have been best friends for years, and both of them are due to get their "cure" soon. Lena on the surface to Hana, seems content with going ahead as planned, but Hana is mixed up inside and not sure if she is ready to give up the possibility to fall in love.  Seeing the parties from her point of view was different, especially when she sees how her date sees her.

I was surprised by some of the events that conspired at the end of the story which explain some of the things that happen in Delirium.  I found myself wondering what would have happened instead if only that one thing had not been set into motion, but we will never know what would have happened, like so many things in life.  I can't wait to see where this series goes!

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780062124364
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Publication date: 2/28/2012
  • Sold by: HARPERCOLLINS
  • Format: eBook
  • Pages: 64
  • Age range: 14 - 17 Years
  • Series:Delirium Series

1 comment:

  1. You're right, things could have turned out much differently. I did enjoy seeing things from Hana's point of view, and hope we see her again down the road.

    It is hard to know which books to keep and which are safe to give away, but I don't really reread any books any more. Like you, I'm trying to pass them on for others to enjoy. Well, that and the fact that I'm running out of room on my bookcases! :)

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