Lauren Oliver was born in 1982 in Queens and grew up in New York County Westchester - in a small place that is very similar to the place described in the writer’s debut novel. Both her parents were professors of literature, and a creative atmosphere always reigned in the house. Parents from a very young age encouraged Lauren and her sister to write various stories, draw, arrange costumed dances, developing daughters' creative imagination and ingenuity. And, of course, Lauren Oliver from childhood instilled a love of books and reading. The parental home was filled with objects of art and a huge number of books. The writer admits that since then to this day it is precisely such a creative atmosphere that she most likes.
Facts from the biography
As mentioned above, the love of reading was instilled in Lauren Oliver from childhood, and this love gradually grew into a craving for writing. She loved not only reading, but also adding endings to books she liked, and even writing sequels to them. The writer often jokes that she began to write so-called fan fiction even before the term was invented. Later, Oliver Loren herself began to write her own stories, creating and reviving many characters in them.
In addition to writing stories, during her studies, Loren studied ballet, painting and drawing, cooking (which grew into another hobby for her whole life), and in general she tried to make her school life as diverse as possible.
Entering college in Chicago, Lauren Oliver studied philosophy and literature there. After college, she returned to her hometown and entered New York University, where she successfully completed her master's degree in art. After leaving the university, she got a job in the department of the Penguin Books publishing house, where she managed to work first as an assistant editor and then as a junior editor. Working here, the future writer began to create her first novel. In 2009, she quit her job to devote herself entirely to writing, releasing her first book in 2010. Since then, Lauren Oliver, whose reviews on books positively is left by venerable literary critics and agencies, as well as ordinary readers, has entered the cohort of successful authors, and her new works are eagerly awaited around the world.
Now the author lives in Brooklyn, and, as she herself says, “is happy to be able to work at home daily in her favorite pajamas.” Her interests are not limited to writing alone. In addition to working on books, Lauren travels a lot, likes to read, cook, dance, run and compose funny songs.
Literary debut
Lauren Oliver, whose books have already gained recognition and find a place on the bookshelves and in the hearts of readers, began her writing career by releasing the novel Before I Fall in 2010 (“Before I Fall” in the Russian translation). The book is written in the genre of horror and is intended for adolescents under 17 years of age. The plot of the novel tells the story of a young girl Sam (Samantha), who on the eve of Valentine's Day on February 12 gets into a car accident with a group of friends. The car flies into darkness, and those sitting in it die. But the next morning Samantha wakes up as if nothing had happened, sighing with relief. However, after some time he realizes that the events of the previous day are repeated. The girl understands that she has fallen into a temporary loop, and now she has to unravel the reasons for this and find answers to important questions of life ... and death.
Lizle and Poe
In 2011, Lauren released her first children's book, entitled Lysle and Po. Amazing adventures of a girl and her ghost friend. " The book tells the story of the girl Lizle, whom the cruel stepmother locks in the attic. Once Poe comes to her - a ghost who is also alone, but together they brighten up each other's loneliness. At the same time, Will, a student of the alchemist, made a mistake and confused boxes with magic ingredients ... This leads to unexpected consequences, and all three go on an amazing journey.
The book was very warmly received by both children and adult readers.
Spinners
2012 in the creative career of Lauren Oliver was marked by the release of the book “Spinners. The magical adventures of the girl Lisa and her brother Patrick. " This is another fairy tale that will appeal to both children and adults, telling about such eternal things as love, loyalty and hope. The plot tells the story of a girl Lisa, the soul of her brother, Patrick, was taken by magical spinners. To save her brother, she will have to go down to the very lair of the spiders, underground, find their queen, fight her and defeat her.
Panic (2014)
The book "Panic" Lauren Oliver after its appearance became a bestseller. The book takes place in a small, sleepy and remote town. Panic - this is the name of the game in which graduates participate. The reward for the victory is great, but the stakes here are also high. The heroes participating in the game will face their fears and understand themselves, their friends, get answers to important life questions.
Novel Room
Also written in 2014, the book narrates on behalf of two ghosts living in an old house. "Rooms" became the first novel of the writer, intended for an adult audience. The pages of the book reveal an exciting story about the interweaving of the paths of the dead and the living, family riddles and secrets. The action takes place in the rooms and corridors of the old house, left after the death of a wealthy owner. His family comes to dispose of the inheritance, but they do not know that the house has guardians - two ghosts who have long died, but have not left its walls. Gradually, the world of the living and the world of spirits collide - and this leads to completely unforeseen consequences.
Disappearing Girls (2015)
This is a story about sisters who were victims of a terrible accident that completely changed their whole lives. If before the accident they were not spilled water, then the fateful day divided them, making them completely alien. On the day of her birth, one of the sisters disappears, and this at first does not cause any suspicion. But then the little girl disappears, and the second sister begins to suspect that the disappearances are somehow connected. Now she has to find the missing sister ... And they both have to find themselves.
Series "Delirium"
In addition to the books listed above, Lauren Oliver began in 2011 the creation of a trilogy under the general title Delirium. The trilogy can be called books, revealing the theme of "the apocalypse of our time." The series consists of three books, which will be discussed in more detail below.
Book One - Delirium
The action takes place in the near future. The world familiar to us has changed significantly. People have long sought the cause of all troubles and disagreements, and finally found. She turned out to be love. Feeling was recognized as a dangerous disease, amor deliria, and outlawed. Anyone who is “sick” with feelings can cruelly pay for the manifestation of their emotions. To avoid the disease, upon reaching the age of 18, all citizens undergo the so-called Procedure, purifying the human mind from the memory of the past, which stores the virus of the disease of love.
The main character was left just before the Procedure. As a loyal citizen of the new world, she is looking forward to her, remembering the fate of her “sick” amor deliria. But circumstances bring her to the man who forces her to change her point of view. And now, in order to preserve the fragile sprouts of nascent feelings and not fall under punishment, it remains only to run. But just like that, from a world where love is recognized as an illness, they will not let her escape ...
Pandemonium - Second Book
Lauren Oliver's book Pandemonium continues the first part of the trilogy, Delirium. The heroine managed to escape from the world of post-apocalypse, where a strict ban was imposed on love. Having managed to gain and lose her love, she finds herself in the Wild, where there is no prohibition on feelings, but one has to wage a daily struggle for survival, surrounded by both "clean" and infected people.
Requiem - the third book
The book is the third in a series and continues the story told in Delirium and Pandemonium. The heroine regains her seemingly lost love. The government decides to start a campaign in the Wildlands in order to eliminate the infected, and now it is necessary to stand up to fight for the future. Meanwhile, the heroine’s best friend continues to live in a world free of amor deliria, and is preparing to get married with the young mayor ... The denouement is near, and soon all victories will be won, secrets revealed, and feelings open.
Annabelle and Hana
These stories also belong to the Delirium trilogy. The story of Lauren Oliver “Hana” (or “Hannah” in some translations) refers to the first part of the trilogy, sometimes it is also called “Delirium” # 1.1. The narrative here is on behalf of Hana Tate, the best friend of the main character of the trilogy of Lina, and allows you to look at what is happening through her eyes.
The story of Lauren Oliver "Annabelle" complements the second book of the series. The plot here is presented on behalf of Lina's mother, who allegedly committed suicide - in any case, Lina was told so. But in fact, she, as a "sick" amor deliria, was imprisoned in a prison cell. Being a fighter by nature, Annabelle does not give up and fights to the end. This is a story about love, children, unbending willpower and a daring escape from custody.
In addition to these two stories, the Delirium story series also includes the novels "Raven" and "Alex," where the plot is illuminated from the perspective of other characters in action.
Author's books in Russia
The translation and publication of books by the writer in Russia is carried out by Eksmo Publishing House. Books are distributed in thousands of copies, which is another confirmation of the undisputed talent of the writer. Horror, science fiction, fantasy, children's works - all this variety of genres also testifies to the creative abilities of the young American writer. Well, the author’s fans believe that she will have a very long and productive creative path.