I'm Divergent

Scott and I are currently reading Divergent at bedtime. This dystopian YA novel (duh) by Veronica Roth is actually pretty good! It started out bland, even slow, but the momentum is definitely picking up.

In Divergent, citizens live in a world that is ruled by, and divided into, 5 factions. The Dauntless revere courage over all else. The Erudite, knowledge. The Amity, pacifism. The Candor, truth and the Abdication, selflessness. At the age of 16 all citizens partake in the Choosing ceremony. Before the ceremony, they attend an aptitude test wherein they can learn more their own leanings. This is interesting to me in several ways. Firstly, it is clear from the start that the aptitude tests are only for each citizen's need to know. They aren't supposed to tell anyone else, and they can still choose the faction they want to belong to, regardless of the faction for which they have a natural aptitude.

Citizens are born and raised in their factions. The main character and her brother are brought up as Abdication and while I won't give away what factions the two characters choose, it must be noted that once a faction has been chosen, the choice can never be rescinded. If a young citizen transfers factions, that is it. They can never go back, they are more than likely never to see their family again (there is such a thing as visiting days throughout the year, but the sense is that culturally, once you transfer, you are dead to your home team).

There is a scene in which a young Amity chooses Dauntless. On the way to the Dauntless headquarters, the new transfer becomes scared and can not go through with the first initiate task. So, he was cut out of the faction. Just like that. His is now factionless, irredeemable, and left to live a life of solitude and transience.

At this I made Scott stop reading. I had an opinion that needed voicing.

I feel that this (fictional) society should give be more accommodating to transfers. This teenager has chosen Dauntless, yes (presumably because of the results of his aptitude testing), but he working against 16 years of Amity lifestyle. Is there no handicapping for youths who must fight against their nurture to embody their nature? I strongly feel that this is unfair. I guess that's why I'm a disability services coordinator. I believe in accommodation and equal access.

So then, because I was trying to put off actually going to sleep, I asked Scott which faction he would choose. He said either Erudite or Dauntless. I said, "I knew you were going to say that!"

I would choose either Erudite of Abdication. I feel strongly connected to both philosophies. I guess that's why I'm Divergent.

Terri: A Review

Because I basically do everything Roger Ebert recommends I do, I saw the new mumblecore flick Terri this weekend. Terri is a quiet commentary on the loneliness of adolescence and the inseparable duality of good hearts and bad hearts.

Terri is an overweight, introspective high schooler. He wears pajamas every day because "they fit". He has a hard time with his male classmates but the wannabe/not-so-pretty girl classmates seem to like him. They especially like him when he fingers (pun intended - see the movie!) a pretty/popular girl for bad behavior during classtime.

But Terri is so much more; he is his ailing uncle's caretaker. He is trusting and loving and sees the goodness in everyone - never not giving anyone a second chance. Terri is the kind of kid who will be just fine. I fell in love with Terri a little bit, and I'm glad I spent the money to see the film.