On Location with Lauren Oliver and Veronica Roth

On May 17th, I had the great pleasure of attending The Dystopian Tour 2011, featuring authors Lauren Oliver and Veronica Roth. The event was held at Chapters Indigo at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto (one of three events in Ontario!), and was made possible thanks to Harper Collins Canada, Chapters Indigo, and Space TV.

Lauren was in town promoting her newest book, Delerium, while Veronica was here with her offering, Divergent, both of which have been getting a lot of buzz in the book community. Both young women were interviewed by Ajay Fry from Space TV, so the audience got to sit in on the interview then the floor was opened up to some fan questions.

Ajay started off with questions about inspiration. Lauren said she had read something from Gabriel Garcia Marquez saying that all writing was either about love or death. This got her thinking that the 'symptoms' of love can be quite similar to the symptoms of disease, so from there her story was born. Veronica

Interview with Lauren Oliver

Yesterday, I posted my review of Lauren Oliver's latest novel, Delirium. Today, I'm happy to have Lauren on the blog for a little Q&A session. Please, give a warm welcome and let's see what Lauren has to say, in her own words!

Jackie: Please tell the readers a bit about what we can expect from Delirium?

Lauren: DELIRIUM is a novel about a world in which love has been declared a contagious disease. Scientists have invented a cure and the government has made it mandatory. The book tells the story of Lena, a seventeen-year-old on the verge of being cured.

J: Delirium is a dystopian novel, which is becoming increasingly popular (again?) in YA literature. Do you think this genre has taken over from the overwhelming amounts of vampire, angels and werewolf novels of recent years?

L:Oh, jeez. That’s so hard to say. I think both genres indicate that the popular imagination has been very dark of late. But I try very hard not to think too hard about trends, and what will stay in or out. It’s too stressful!

J: With Delirium being your sophomore effort, did you find it easier to get your ideas down on paper?

L: Definitely not! One of the things that kind of amazes me about writing is that it never gets any easier. In fact, sometimes I think it’s the reverse!

J: Before I Fall drew heavily on your own experiences in high school. Does Delirium share any parallels with your life or is it a complete departure from similarities?

L: Well, to be honest, there have been times in my life when I have very much wished that there was a cure for love! And Lena is a runner, as I am; I actually ran most of the routes described in DELIRIUM. And I certainly relate to the deep ambivalence Lena feels about love—its terrors and attractions.

J: Both Before I Fall and Delirium have been optioned for films. Are these projects in the infancy stage or are they full steam ahead? Will you have much input in the film versions?

L: Before I Fall is chugging along—Delirium is a little farther behind, as it has just been released. I’m lucky that the producers attached to my projects are very open, communicative people, and really committed to making a film that best represents the book. I therefore feel absolutely no fear about leaving it entirely in their hands!

J: For my Canadian readers, do you have any plans to tour in Canada with Delirium?

L: I would love to! I have no immediate plans to tour there, but I think it would be great, and I’m sure we can make it happen!

J: Have you already started on your next project? If so, can we have a sneak peek?

L: My next book is actually a middle-grade called LIESL & PO and it publishes this fall. And after that comes the sequel to Delirium, PANDEMONIUM. No sneak peeks allowed, but it is action-packed, I promise!

Thanks to Lauren for taking the time out to answer my questions; it was a great honour. Hopefully if you haven't read anything of Lauren's yet, you'll get on it ASAP!

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

After reading Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver's first book, I knew one thing about this author: she can really stir up the emotions! (I'm still reeling from the ending of that book.) So, I found it curious that her latest book is labelled as "dystopian", which are typically devoid of emotion...at least out in the open.

But, with this genre, I think Lauren Oliver is a natural fit. Her main character, Lena, admits that she often feels like two different people, one on the inside and one on the outside. Living in a dystopian society, where the paranoia of always being watched is realized, these feelings are understandable, especially in this world that Oliver has created.

Lena is 17, almost 18, the age at which scientist have found a cure for the disease called love (in the book, it is named amor deliria nervosa). From that age, society chooses who you will be partnered with for, basically, propagation of the species. Random meetings, love at first sight, heartbreak, all these normal factors are replaced with scientific match-making (E-Harmony gone wild, as it were.)

So, here's what gets me: First, it seems science doesn't always get it right. Lena's knowledge of her mother's past is horrifying, at least to me. Second, if love is truly taken away before you have your children, they lose out on so much of the parental relationship; it's just heartbreaking to imagine.

Having said this, the emotions drawn out in the reader, especially the anxiety for these poor children living this way, is what makes me feel that Oliver's writing is spot on. She comes from a place of deep understanding of those delicate teen to adult years and the major decisions that are usually made during this time and twists them with all her might. Not to mention, of course, the nerve-racking first love that comes around that time also, (for most people.) All I can say is that I'm glad I don't have to go through all of that again!

Normally, the main story is what keeps you reading and wanting more, and that is very true here, but for me, the secondary characters in Delirium are no small part of this imaginary world. The best friend, Hana, and what role she will play in the future (I have my suspicions) and Lena's cousin, Grace (she has piqued my interest the most, I admit) will encourage me to keep reading this series (Delirium is book one of a trilogy.)

Having recently read Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, I can see similarities in the way this world has been imagined with the border closures, scientific control, and the fringe element that is necessary for a small measure of hope. The main difference here, I think, is that this story is less of a commentary of society overall (though there is some of that) but more about the fragile inner workings of youth. Delirium is an awesome start to the series!

Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Middle Grade (Mar 2 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006172680X
ISBN-13: 978-0061726804

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

When I first started reading Before I Fall it brought back memories of school, though I don't remember high school being that bad (yes, it's been awhile, so my vision may be slightly skewed.) Sam and her bestfriends, Lindsay, Elody and Ally rule the school. And they do it by fear - of their displeasure, of becoming social outcasts for any that "cross" them, of being uncool in their eyes. Actually, it seems that everyone else IS uncool compared to them - according to them. I wanted to wring their necks! These were the most rude, judgmental, opinionated, cruel girls.

As the story progresses, a little more of each girl is revealed, showing a bit about why they act the way they do. Personally, I don't find these reasons should condone the actions at all, but it's just all part of the story. What we see most is Sam's struggles with her own life, personality, attitudes, etc. Through each repeat of the day, Sam discovers things about people and makes attempts to change certain parts, trying to make things better, with only slightly different versions of the same ending.

For me, these trials and errors are hard to watch. But, then again, how would I have known to do any different? Being the reader gives you more power of observation and the opportunity to say, "Why did you do *that* instead of *this*?" Argh! I felt angry, sad, frustrated, even a little relieved that something good came out of all of Sam's hard work, yet maybe left with more questions than answers.

There are some lovely moments in the book as Sam recounts her childhood, with stunning imagery and feeling. It's a nice reminder of things we may have forgotten from our own childhood. A sunny day, a particular hiding spot we used to have; perhaps places and moments we should try harder to remember and embrace more readily, not take them for granted.

Before I Fall was a total page turner, I couldn't wait to see how everything resolved. And, boy, was I shocked. I envisioned so many different endings that when I finally finished, I wanted more...surely Sam's day could continue until the absolute optimal conclusion was reached, right? Nope. It ended where it ended. I give huge kudos to Lauren Oliver for drawing out conflicting emotions (from me, at least) with her writing and for staying true to her own vision.

So, as I pick up my rose-coloured glasses and put them on, I will make up my own (preferable) ending (where the entire world lives happily ever after - you can't blame a girl for trying) and patiently await Lauren Oliver's next book. She is definitely a writer to keep our eyes on!