PODCAST:

http://traffic.libsyn.com/nodeodorantinouterspace/S2E3_-_Divergent_edited.mp3

Listen to the podcast here (click to play/right click and select “save target as” to download):

S2E3 – Divergent (book/movie)*

WRITTEN BOOK REVIEWS:

Ryan: 3 Stars “…A young woman’s action-filled quest for identity in a society of rigid virtues gone sour…”

Wilk: 1 Stars “…This book is reductive and dull. People that enjoy it are not for me. A terrible waste of time…”

Rick: 2 Stars “…The story is too convoluted and concerned with what is cool or aesthetic to teens in the context of the market to have any fidelity or at least a genuine investment with attempts on logic and pure creativity...”

Guest: Amanda Budnik: 4 Stars “…I thought it was an overall just arching story about a teenager trying to find out who she is, and where she fits in in society, but in a much different society than where we live...”

(Click the links to read full written reviews on Goodreads.com)

SUBJECT MATTER:

Book: “Divergent” by Veronica Roth



“One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior’s society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she’s determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.” (from Amazon.com)

*** * ***

Movie: “Divergent” by Neil Burger (Ashley Judd)



“Divergent” is a thrilling action-adventure film set in a world where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. ” (from Amazon.com)

RICK’S SHOW NOTES:

I’ll be honest here, this show was an attempt to lasso in part of the legion of readers who are into teenage dystopian fiction. We thought it would be a nice marketing gimmick, little did we know it would change the show’s paradigm forever…

I wrote my review a while ago so I will spare you my opinions. Wilk shared many of my opinions, which is why I was compelled to bring in Amanda Budnick as the contemporary voice of reason—especially to offset Ryan’s caviler, over-the-top style. Amanda provided some camouflage, but as we all know a moving chameleon is a dead one.

Amanda is from my office and was gushing about Amy Poehler and Tina Fey during a conversation we had about SNL. The combination of her photographic memory and drunken revelry with everything girl power, lead me to ask if she was into the Divergent series. As I anticipated, I had unleashed an outpouring of anecdotal blather about factions and Four and Jesus—all the things I avoid talking about at work. When I calmed her down, I asked her if she would be a guest on the show. After the weirdness passed, she said she would think about it. Then after a week’s worth of training with Ryan, she was all set to make her appearance. Amanda—you saved the show, so glad you did it!

As an ode to Four, the show was quite balanced or “divergent” I should say. Ryan made his rounds for thirty minutes extracting meaningless insight, while also avoiding the 800 pound political gorilla in the room. We got to the politics eventually, but not after Wilk brought up the other 800 pound gorilla in the room which was the total lack of sex in the book. The combination of the hoorah dauntless mindset, and the sheer number of teenagers and young adults seemed to have the makings of an Abu Grabe bacchanal. But alas, all this pent-up sexual frustration was diffused with a long kiss and some snuggling between the main characters, aww!

-Rick

FUN FACTOIDS: In the show we mentioned that author, Veronica Roth, had a blog post about how she would jump in a pool of marshmallows if she got a book deal. Well, she did the next best thing, check out her blog post and corresponding video on her website here: http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/2010/04/great-marshmallow-caper.html. Just before recording this podcast, Wilk sustained a flat tire (see photo below). Ever the dedicated podcastor, Wilk took care of his problem and rushed home just in time for broadcast.

Also, our episode for next month has changed. Originally next episode (S2E4) was slated with the “The Moon and the Sun” a book by Vonda N. McIntyre, and a film directed by Sean McNamara (Pierce Brosnan). A substitution has been made due to the postponement of the film’s release. As of this writing, we are no longer reviewing this book and movie. Instead we will review “Carrie” by Stephen King (along with the two movie releases).

* DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the views and opinions of the hosts and guests of NDIOS are completely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the other hosts and guests or that of NDIOS.