The Giver (21st Century Reference)
7 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by clar from Las Piñas City, not specified not specified on Friday, September 17, 2004
I like this book so much. It is different.
will be sent to spacedog as part of the newbery rings
got today as part of a bookring. should get to it in a couple of weeks. thanks also for the postcard!
7/5/05: finished this today. i'd read this a long time ago but forgotten most of it. this was a quick and enjoyable read. the society lowry imagines is creative and generally believable (with the exception of some intentionally fantasy elements), and the themes of safety vs richness in life and conformity vs diversity are very cleverly explored. lowry successfully illustrates that there are no easy answers, and this is one of the best newbery winners i've read recently. the ending in particular is quite great. spoiler: i like how at the ending, lowry uses the image of the warm, loving homes to contrast with the cold and harsh snow that surrounds each of them. it's a great image that chrystallizes what the whole book is about.
7/5/05: finished this today. i'd read this a long time ago but forgotten most of it. this was a quick and enjoyable read. the society lowry imagines is creative and generally believable (with the exception of some intentionally fantasy elements), and the themes of safety vs richness in life and conformity vs diversity are very cleverly explored. lowry successfully illustrates that there are no easy answers, and this is one of the best newbery winners i've read recently. the ending in particular is quite great. spoiler: i like how at the ending, lowry uses the image of the warm, loving homes to contrast with the cold and harsh snow that surrounds each of them. it's a great image that chrystallizes what the whole book is about.
Looks very good!
Very good book. I had to read it twice! I loved the depiction of the fantasy world and also found it very believable. I agree with spacedog: "The themes of safety vs richness in life and conformity vs diversity are very cleverly explored." At this particular time of my life, I think I would be happy for someone to study me for a while and assign me my proper calling. I don't think I'm doing too great of a job being left to my own devices! I figured out what being released meant, so I did not have a great AHA! moment there, but I found it very satisfying. The description of the journey out of the community was wonderfully suspenseful--I felt that I took every step along with them! I loved the descriptions of Gabe's reactions to receiving memories of warmth and food and exhaustion.
will be sending on to dancing-dog tomorrow. thanks for sharing this wonderful book!
will be sending on to dancing-dog tomorrow. thanks for sharing this wonderful book!
Just rec'd with Strawberry Girl - I had to start this one right away - I'm already on chapter 10 and am entranced by this story ...
I loved this book and could not put it down! But, I was disappointed with the ending - I wanted the story to go on and I wanted to know more about the characters. I did love how throughout the book you realize (like Jonas) that you didn't know as much about the community as you thought you did - each chapter we learned more. A powerful tale - thanks for sharing!
Mailed to yokaye Oct 28th.
Mailed to yokaye Oct 28th.
Received today with Strawberry Girl, will start this one as soon as possible.
I picked this one up this morning, planning to read for a few minutes while daughter was napping...and didn't put it down until I was done.
It's an easy read, but says so much. At first, some of the society's functions seem an improvement. Especially the Assessment. The clothing and hair treatments disturbed me for some reason; having to learn dependency on one another by not being able to button yourself up seemed creepy to me. Every page deeper into the story, this society of sameness gets a little less desirable.
((SPOILER))
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I'm sure most of us figured out what 'releasing' really was, but I'm sure my 8 yr old would've had a bad moment or two - the scene with the newchild twin was hard for even me to visualize. I love the use of color- and later of music. We KNOW they're all the same, but we don't notice until he sees the color that there have been no colors mentioned at all until that point. THAT was the AHA moment for me. :-)
I thought the ending was well done, but it's one of those books that I'd like to read a follow-up on, even if I know there *shouldn't* be a sequel. I'm curious about the town and how they handled the newfound memories and I want to see Gabe grow up. ^_^
Will pass on after I'm finished with Strawberry Girl
It's an easy read, but says so much. At first, some of the society's functions seem an improvement. Especially the Assessment. The clothing and hair treatments disturbed me for some reason; having to learn dependency on one another by not being able to button yourself up seemed creepy to me. Every page deeper into the story, this society of sameness gets a little less desirable.
((SPOILER))
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I'm sure most of us figured out what 'releasing' really was, but I'm sure my 8 yr old would've had a bad moment or two - the scene with the newchild twin was hard for even me to visualize. I love the use of color- and later of music. We KNOW they're all the same, but we don't notice until he sees the color that there have been no colors mentioned at all until that point. THAT was the AHA moment for me. :-)
I thought the ending was well done, but it's one of those books that I'd like to read a follow-up on, even if I know there *shouldn't* be a sequel. I'm curious about the town and how they handled the newfound memories and I want to see Gabe grow up. ^_^
Will pass on after I'm finished with Strawberry Girl
actually, there -is- a sequel, called -messenger-. if anyone gets a copy and wants to bookring it, let us know! :)
Journal Entry 12 by clar from Las Piñas City, not specified not specified on Saturday, November 19, 2005
I have a companion of the book, its titled Gathering Blue, (and after this is the Messenger) it is not actually a sequel, but if anyone wants it, I am willing to include it in the bookring =)
Got this in the mail today, along with Strawberry Girl. I have one book to finish, then hope to start reading this in about a week or so.
Like most everyone else, once I started on this, I couldn't put it down. I just love these types of stories. The coming of age in a sci-fi/fantasy setting, and the new knowledge leads to drastic changes. It's sad that the Givers were always so lonely, and that the society wanted it that way. I also thought it was sad that the birthmothers were not cherished more. The setting was believable for the most part, and well thought out. I would have read it sooner, but my husband got a hold of it first!
The ending reminded me of another story, Z for Zachariah. But I am glad to know that there are other books that come after this one, and will put them on my wishlist right away.
The ending reminded me of another story, Z for Zachariah. But I am glad to know that there are other books that come after this one, and will put them on my wishlist right away.
Received this Friday, starting ASAP.
A very nice book. Why didn't I know about this one when I was a kid!? I'll have to keep track of these if I ever have kids. The subject of a controlled world - bad terminology - freaks me out, but I like the idea of the Giver and the Receiver. This was very well written with nice continuity. Thanks for sharing! Holding until I finish Strawberry Girl.
Again, sorry for the delay, heading to clar today.
received this book last March 6 with strawberry girl =)
I'm glad that you enjoyed it =)
I'm glad that you enjoyed it =)