The Giver

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Summary: THE 'GIFT' TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION
Review: The first time I read THE GIVER in 1994, I was absolutely mesmerized. What a compelling idea--a story similar to 1984, only with a darling twelve year old boy (Jonas) who is selected to receive all the memories of his community. What on earth does this mean? Evidently this story takes place in the future where everything is the same. People are all drugged so that they have no emotions. They no longer see a world in color; people who are old or sick are terminated. Only one baby is allowed to survive from a multiple birth. Only certain women are allowed to give birth; the baby is given to a selected man and woman to raise. When the child reaches maturity, the 'parents' are sent to live with other childless couples. There is no love, no pain, not even grandparents. The elders make all decisions. People don't even select their careers.
At the age of twelve, Jonah is chosen to receive all the memories of preceding centuries from the grandfatherly 'giver of memories.'

Anyone reading this book will know immediately why Lois Lowery received the Newbery award, which is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The first review I ever read for this book was in the newspaper. The article stated that THE GIVER would become a classic and suggested that readers immediately buy first editions (for an investment). After reading my copy, I bought books for both of my teenagers for Christmas. I loved the book and I really loved the fairytale ending. But then, not too long ago, I started reading some of the reviews on Amazon. People were complaining about the sad ending! What did I miss? When I read an outstanding book, I have a tendency to read way too fast. I can't help it; the better the book, the faster I read. I just can't wait to see what happens next! Consequently, I miss a lot. But, if the book is really outstanding, I'll eventually re-read it, savoring every word. Subsequently, I slowly read THE GIVER again, and now, I'm really not certain about the ending. Did Jonas live happily ever after or was he 'released?' Readers will have to make their own decisions. As for me, I'm going to retain my original, warm fuzzy, happy conclusion and forget I ever read a review!

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Summary: Wow, this book rocks
Review: The first time I read this book I loved it, now I've read it about 20 more times and everytime I understand a little more. The characters are life like and the setting and plot are cool. I love sci-fi and when I read this I had to have it. It truely is awesome.

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Summary: Individuality and freedom.
Review: The first time I read this book I was in fourth grade, and most of of its meaning was lost on me. I have reread this book and a lot of connections were made that I simply was not mature enough to see before. At the ripe old age of nine, I simply did not understand the ideas of freedom and the ability to make choices. Now at 18, I see many of the ideas that went through Jonas' mind paralleled my own as I matured. The sense of individuality and freedom, which I now take for granted, were completely removed from the society Jonas was raised in, yet he found the ideas buried within him. It shows that the breaking away of a maturing child is archetypal in nature. And that, i believe, is the fundamental basis of this novel.

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Summary: The Giver- Not just for children
Review: The gist of THE GIVER is given in the other reviews, so there's no need to explain it here again. I bought this book at a book fair when I was still in elementary school. I read it then, and found the book to be fascinating, yet somewhat confusing. Now I am in college, and have reread the book. The category listed for the book is "Young Adult" but do not let that keep you from ever reading this book. Lois Lowry delves into subjects that some people would shy away from: How far will people go to perfect themselves? What is life like without stimulus? The contemplation of these things and the realization of how important the experiences we have every day are at the heart of the book. What defines humanity, and what happens if we take that away? This is a fantastic book. One should read it, and then reflect upon it.

Rating:
Summary: The Giver; a literary masterpiece
Review: THE GIVER *****
This literary masterpiece received many awards, including the "1994 Newberry Medal" and "A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year." Author Lois Lowry did a marvelous job interpreting a life without color, happiness, pain and love. The Giver proved to the world that Lois Lowry is an exemplary, inspiring, and prodigious writer. Jonas is a child that resides in a world not affected by pain, but yet lacks the feelings of warmth and happiness. When Jonas turns 12, he and the other children of his "Grade" receive the jobs they will work in the rest of their lives. While most children get chosen to work in jobs such as taking care of the elderly, Jonas gets chosen to fill in the shoes of the Giver. The Giver is the only man in the town that holds memories of intangible objects we see and express. Now the former "Giver" shall pass on his knowledge to Jonas. Will he not be able to take on the intensity and the transition of the life he will be entering, or will he learn the truth, and realize that even expressing pain, is better than expressing nothing. I encourage the reader of this review to fill your mind with the great lessons and passages this book has to offer, or read her other books, such as A Summer to Die or Find a stranger, say goodbye.

Rating:
Summary: The Giver; a literary masterpiece
Review: THE GIVER
*****
This literary masterpiece received many awards, including the "1994 Newberry Medal" and "A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year." Author Lois Lowry did a marvelous job interpreting a life without color, happiness, pain and love. The Giver proved to the world that Lois Lowry is an exemplary, inspiring, and prodigious writer. Jonas is a child that resides in a world not affected by pain, but yet lacks the feelings of warmth and happiness. When Jonas turns 12, he and the other children of his "Grade" receive the jobs they will work in the rest of their lives. While most children get chosen to work in jobs such as taking care of the elderly, Jonas gets chosen to fill in the shoes of the Giver. The Giver is the only man in the town that holds memories of intangible objects we see and express. Now the former "Giver" shall pass on his knowledge to Jonas. Will he not be able to take on the intensity and the transition of the life he will be entering, or will he learn the truth, and realize that even expressing pain, is better than expressing nothing. I encourage the reader of this review to fill your mind with the great lessons and passages this book has to offer, or read her other books, such as A Summer to Die or Find a stranger, say goodbye.

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Summary: The Giver
Review: The Giver
By: Morgan Moulin

I thought that The Giver by Lois Lowry was a good book. I tells what a community would be like if it was basically the opposite of what we live in now. I also like the book because it is interesting, and kind of confusing. I think that is interesting because it tells you what it would be like not having any senses or feelings. I think that it is kind of confusing because at times I didnt understand what was going on.

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Summary: This book was great! I loved it!
Review: The Giver by Lois Lowery was one of the best books I've ever read. It's a little bit different then from some other books you might have read, but the way Lois describes and makes you feel like your actually there is wonderful. If you're ever looking for a book, get The Giver.

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Summary: odd, disturbing, beautiful
Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry combines aspects of fantasy, science fiction, and mystery genres. While clearly a dystopian novel after the pattern of 1984 (and, I would assume, A Brave New World, but I haven't read that yet), this book also incorporates such fantasy/philosophical concepts as collective memory.
Although much of what is happening is clearly explained later on, readers who like a little ambiguity will enjoy trying to interpret what Jonas means when he describes things from a worldview very different from our own.
The ending leaves the reader confused and deflated, belonging more to the fantasy/philosophical parts of the book than the science fiction parts. While Jonas seems happy in the end, one cannot figure out where he is, what will happen to him, or even if he's still alive. Personally, I wanted something more concrete.
However, it is a beautiful, enthralling, and tasteful tale for the fairly mature reader willing to contemplate the nature of love, sexuality (this part is mild), infanticide, suicide, history, paternalistic government, etc., without the "resistance is futile" hopelessness of adult dystopian novels.
I loved it at 12. I love it at 18.
Can anyone tell me if the legend of the sanitation worker told by the children of Jonas' community is an allusion to Anthem by Ayn Rand?

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Summary: why the giver is so important to read.....my review!!!
Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry deals with a community, which seems to be the perfect world, but it's a place without any feelings!!!!

I recommend the book to all people!!The background is very serios and important, because many people in our world want to reach an Utopia!(no wars, no hunger, no diseases..)but have you ever thougt about the situation then?? Someday you'll reach the point where no love is existing any more. The consequences of such an Utopia would be a birthcontrol and perhaps a "deadcontrol", because there would be too many (sounds stupid !) people on earth !! I found the book very interesting and worth reading it!!But I'd never, never, never want to live in such a world...Imagine---they have no feelings. No love, no happiness, no real friendship, no own choice...NO OWN LIFE!!They are just existing, not really living, because everything in their life is "planned for them". What's the sense of their life??Is there really a sense?WHY do they live??Everthing is controlled: Love, climate, landscape, job, children...everything!!!The more I read the book, the more I liked it. I'm german, but at the end it was so easy to read as a german book.I hope that our world will never become such a place to live!!Beware the feelings!!!

"For all the children, to whom we entrust the future!"(Lois Lowry)

Read it!!!!!!!I recommend the book for everyone, yo guys it's really worth reading it!