The Giver
August 15, 2016 |
| Source |
Author: Lois Lowry
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Short Story
Blurb: Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community.
When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now it's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
Opinion: First of all, I disagree with the blurb. Jonas' world is not perfect at all.
Of course, if you were living in the community that Jonas lives in, you would think that it's perfect. Everything is so orderly and provisions are made so carefully that no-one in the community lacks basic necessities.
However, there is a downside to all this orderliness. There are ridiculous rules such as (not being allowed to store food in your home and also only limiting two children - a boy and a girl per family).
When people break serious rules, they get punished by getting 'released' from the Community - a term that is not fully understood by some members of the Community.
As the novel progresses, there are things Jonas experiences - things that other members of the Community cannot understand. These things are things we cannot even imagine living without. Jonas' eventually realises that he is completely different.
Recommendation: For children and adults alike.
Content: Mild references to violence and references to that awkward stage of puberty. Nothing graphic, though.
Rating: ***1/2 - Three and a half stars out of five. That ending was nice.
Blurb: Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community.
When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now it's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
Opinion: First of all, I disagree with the blurb. Jonas' world is not perfect at all.
Of course, if you were living in the community that Jonas lives in, you would think that it's perfect. Everything is so orderly and provisions are made so carefully that no-one in the community lacks basic necessities.
However, there is a downside to all this orderliness. There are ridiculous rules such as (not being allowed to store food in your home and also only limiting two children - a boy and a girl per family).
When people break serious rules, they get punished by getting 'released' from the Community - a term that is not fully understood by some members of the Community.
As the novel progresses, there are things Jonas experiences - things that other members of the Community cannot understand. These things are things we cannot even imagine living without. Jonas' eventually realises that he is completely different.
"But when he looked out across the crowd, the sea of faces, the thing happened again. The thing that had happened with the apple/They changed."
Recommendation: For children and adults alike.
Content: Mild references to violence and references to that awkward stage of puberty. Nothing graphic, though.
Rating: ***1/2 - Three and a half stars out of five. That ending was nice.
2 comments
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH, DUDE. (And the ending was SO amazing, although slightly frustrating.) Have you read the other ones in the series? (It's kinda 4 books loosely set in the same world.) Any thoughts on the movie?
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the others. However, I plan to do so one day.
DeleteI haven't seen the movie either. Is it good?
Keep it all clean, man. Well, if you really wanna curse, use minor swear words. And I mean the minorest of minor ones.
"Or what?" you ask in indignation.
"Or else."