To quote Lily’s Purple, Plastic Purse, “Wow! That’s all I could say. Wow!” I totally loved The Giver and I totally did not think that I would when I picked it up. I mean, the front cover has a picture of a man that looks like Santa Claus (and in a way he is like Santa Claus, but with a twisted way of gifting a young boy) and it is Science Fiction. Ok, so I am a book snob! I admit it. The genre of Science Fiction just doesn’t appeal to me, or so I thought. Still, what I thought I was going to have to plunge through turned out to be my favorite book I have read in a while. I even want to read the second and third in this series, but I understand that the main characters in The Giver will not be in it. Therefore, what happens to Gabe and Jonas is really left up to my imagination.
The way that Lois Lowry worked her writer’s craft was remarkable. I was drawn more and more into the story and was feeling the exact same way that Jonas must have been feeling. I began reading the book with the thoughts that something was amiss in this little community, but nothing like what I found out little by little as I read. Lowry had a way of making my experience of finding out about the characters, the events, and the community, in general, much like Jonas’ “awakening” to his community and everything that they were not seeing or understanding. The entire time I was reading the book I kept getting surprised by little things that happened in the community and would outwardly go “Oh my!” in much the same way that Jonas was doing as he was receiving the memories from the Giver. Eventually Jonas could have taken my place as the reader, because he really was an on-looker in the community, just as I was.
I was reminded of Hitler’s Nazi Regime while I read this, with his trying to create a perfect nation, without flaws and with his people all alike. How horrible it was for them to instantly release a baby who was not “progressing” properly (much like Hitler did with the physically or mentally handicapped). How very interesting too, that everyone thought of “release” as such a joy, when you were older, but nobody really knew what was going to occur. I, as the reader, didn’t even know exactly what release was and was horrified, just as Jonas was, about it. To think that they were going to do this to little Gabe because he could sleep through the night! Preposterous!
The concept of taking medication for “stirrings” when the teenagers started into puberty was slightly humorous (how many of us who work with teenagers wouldn’t love to stop those raging hormones if only for a class period?), but sad. Those pills kept the community members from seeing reality and from feelings. Jonas wanted his parents to love him and feel proud of him, but they never would, or never could. Ironically, the feeling of embarrassment was not “dulled” when Asher was given his job at the Ceremony. My heart broke for him as he stood before the entire community and they reminded everyone of how difficult speaking came to him. They actually smacked him time and again until he stopped talking at all for a little while! Horrible!
It was a very fitting ending to my last experience with the Giver when he told Jonas that Rosemary, the last Receiver who had failed, was his daughter. I’m glad the Giver decided to stay and help the community. This way of life was obviously not a good one!
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4 comments:
Great connection between the story and Hitler.
I think the Santa-ish cover sucks--it's totally unappealing! The version we have at school (from a textbook publishing company) is much nicer--two black and white (gray) hands tossing a bright red apple. Much better.
I would think the publishers of the book would know more about how kids judge a book by its cover and try to make it look a little more interesting!
I too was taken in by Lowery's craft - and had little interest in reading this book initially. I liked it so much, I got the next one. I have just started reading The Messenger and I think you would be pleasantly surprised by the characters. I've only read the first few chapters, but there is a red sled kept in a museum...
Your comment about being able to trade places with Jonas is right on the money. I had the same feeling of disbelief as the story unfolds. I didn't think of the Nazi regime, but there are parallels.
Although the characters are not in other books in this "series", I definitely recommend reading them if you enjoyed this book. Gathering Blue is more of a parallel story to The Giver. And although they have their differences, I think Gathering Blue is just as interesting. I encourage you to read it!
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