book review

Rios, per 3

The Giver

The Giver, by Lois Lowry writes about a time and place in the future where there is no war, no pain, no suffering. A time where uniformity is law, a time where society has already been set up to certain specifications. Things get a bit strange for Jonas an 11th year old, who is about to embark in his newly appointed life in this strange world. When he is suddenly left out of a very important ceremony, soon discomfort and worry set in because in a community where nothing goes wrong, this raises many questions. Yet what seems to be a mistake, turns out to be the opposite, he is appointed the most important position of the receiver. This is where he begins to learn about the past and all the hidden secrets and terrible things within their community.
Two of the main characters in the story are The Giver and Jonas. The giver is an old man that has received and holds all of the memories of their community, and it is his duty to pass them all to Jonas. He was once too just an apprentice before he was finally given the position as the giver. And it is his new duty to pass on all the knowledge that has been passed down through generations to Jonas. Jonas soon learns that what once seemed great and fun is suddenly turning in to a nightmare. “Owww,” he said, wincing at the shift, and even moving his mouth to speak made his face hurt…but the pain kept him from grasping it, then it ended”(pg.86). This something very new to Jonas, because he has never experienced this kind of pain. This shows how controlled the whole community is, when something as simple as pain can be denied in their everyday lives.
As for everyone else they are all pretty much drones, they all live their lives with out questioning their way of life. Only certain families are chosen to be able to apply for children, of course only son and one daughter. From the age they were born, their society decides where some of them live or not and have even they have gotten rid of all color in the town. In this strange community that Lowry has conjured up, everything from the way they sleep, eat, the words they say, and their emotions they feel are all in one way or another some how controlled. To them their society is the ideal place to live. But since they do not know or understand things of the past, they continue to live life without a goal. With out any incentive to move forth in their lives. Its pretty much group of people with in the small society playing god, trying to decide what’s best for the community, and having everything safe and organized.
The Giver is an excellent book to read. If you like fiction and enjoy adventure stories this in one novel you do not want to miss out on. It questions freedom and security and puts it in to a strange fictional world. Its great for all ages and the plot its self just makes the mind question all aspects of life and gets everyone hyped up and trying to understand and discuss how it is that these people can live this way. It’s the type of book that keeps you from putting it down. Over all this book is worth reading, it one that I would highly recommend.