The Giver

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Summary: i did not understand it too well
Review: can anyone help me with the ending... did the people thingk that he was dead....? but then he went back ...what happened?

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Summary: Nine years later and still excellent!
Review: Can it really be nine years since I first read The Giver? Even now this book still resounds with me. Some of it has to do with the very open-endedness that has so unnerved some revieweres. The reader begins with fascination at the perfectly-ordered community, which transforms into revulsion. This is a book that rather than simply presenting straightforward answers, is more an invitation to introspection and debate.

Take one single scene, for instance--the one where Jonas' father "releases" the newborn twin. It is clear that he's bothered by that side of his job--he even makes somewhat of an effort to try and spare Gabriel that same fate, yet he does nothing to stop the release of the twin. Even when it is Gabriel's term, he relents to the will of the community. But in his society, would it even have been possible for him to develop a rebellious mindset, after having been controlled to a degree not even the Communists could accomplish? This makes one wonder--is Jonas' father a good man in spite of what his society has indoctrinated him to do? Aristotle suggested that a person who lived in an eternal coma (which the state of Sameness could be considered) could not be virtuous, because his or her virtue has never been tested. So can there even be a such thing as a good or evil person in a society where there is no true freedom of thought or choice?

I must admit, I find one reviewer's dismissal of the book simply because certain scenes such as the release of the newborn twin "did not agree with [their] beliefs" rather narrowminded--if not a demonstration of the very attitude that created the hell of Sameness. Is that scene repugnant? Absolutely, and that is the intention. The whole point of that scene is to show the horrible price society and the individual pay for conformity. I do not think children should be shielded from this reality.

Although it leaves more questions than answers--this is not a bad thing. For instance, it seems that clouding the history of how such a Sameness was accomplished adds to the "timeless" sense of the novel. And many of the philosophical questions are well worth the mind-expanding debate. All in all, this is an excellent book I would even recommend to adults.

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Summary: Amazingly Vivid
Review: Can you imagine a place where the people that live there have no memories of the past, no emotions, no colors, and none of earth's wonders? The Giver by Lois Lowry takes place in this kind of a community. Jonas is an 11-year-old boy that is about to turn twelve. He is soon to receive a job assignment because at that age one is considered an adult. At the birthday ceremony Jonas is chosen to be the only holder of memories in the community. Once Jonas receives a few, he realizes that his community isn't doing anything regularly. What will Jonas do to help his community see the error of its ways?
The Giver is a truly unique book because it tells about a different kind of lifestyle in a strange community. The author has characters who mention and follow rules such as the ones that say only one group of people can chose the job assignments for young adults, and that is quite different from our government, so that makes it interesting. You should read this book because it is very realistic and it has true emotions attached to the characters. When Jonas sees the way his community is living, his emotions of sadness, anger, and regret are extremely vivid. This book might appeal to you because it is an intriguing story that tells about a turning point in a young man's life. In the story Jonas is turning twelve and experiencing "stirrings." Also he becomes an adult in this book, and he has an extra responsibility. Etudier un d'ordinaire livre et experience joie!
(Read a book and experience joy!) This one certainly is a keeper.

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Summary: The Giver by Colin McLean
Review: Characters:Jonas, Lily, Jonas' Mom, Jonas' Dad,The Giver,Gabriel

Setting and Time: The setting is in so-called a perfect world with many different points of view of life. The time is really whenever you want it to be but I think it is in the future.

Review: After reading the book, "The Giver," written by Lois Lowry it changed my perspective towards life.

Jonas, a 12-year-old boy, living in is what to be a Utopia has just been selected to become the next, "Receiver of Memory," a very powerful job in the community. Everything is going well until Jonas finds out the truth about his community's past from The Giver. Jonas has feelings not many other people have and Jonas has a drastic plan to make the community differently. He takes with him his most precious being in his dwelling, Gabriel. Read this amazing book to find out its weird but great ending.

This book, "The Giver," conveys a feeling of confusion but as the story progresses all the knots in the story untie at the end of the book. This story is so abstract in most of the chapters you'll have to re-read the chapter for it to make sense. The book has a sense of belonging towards the end because of the book's actions. This book is well written and has been rewarded with a Newberry Honour Award. The book deserves this award for its continuous page turning action all the way to the end. The Giver is one of the best books I have read in my life. The Giver should have a chance to be read all cross the country by each student in grade 6, 7 and 8. This book should be read all over the world.

I give this book a four and a half stars out of five because it deserves a great deal of respect ans has little flaws that do jump out at the reader. I recommend this book to anyone over the age of 11 but they have to be mature enough to handle certain situations.

Rating:
Summary: The Giver by Colin McLean
Review: Characters:Jonas, Lily, Jonas' Mom, Jonas' Dad,The Giver,Gabriel

Setting and Time: The setting is in so-called a perfect world with many different points of view of life. The time is really whenever you want it to be but I think it is in the future.

Review: After reading the book, "The Giver," written by Lois Lowry it changed my perspective towards life.

Jonas, a 12-year-old boy, living in is what to be a Utopia has just been selected to become the next, "Receiver of Memory," a very powerful job in the community. Everything is going well until Jonas finds out the truth about his community's past from The Giver. Jonas has feelings not many other people have and Jonas has a drastic plan to make the community differently. He takes with him his most precious being in his dwelling, Gabriel. Read this amazing book to find out its weird but great ending.

This book, "The Giver," conveys a feeling of confusion but as the story progresses all the knots in the story untie at the end of the book. This story is so abstract in most of the chapters you'll have to re-read the chapter for it to make sense. The book has a sense of belonging towards the end because of the book's actions. This book is well written and has been rewarded with a Newberry Honour Award. The book deserves this award for its continuous page turning action all the way to the end. The Giver is one of the best books I have read in my life. The Giver should have a chance to be read all cross the country by each student in grade 6, 7 and 8. This book should be read all over the world.

I give this book a four and a half stars out of five because it deserves a great deal of respect ans has little flaws that do jump out at the reader. I recommend this book to anyone over the age of 11 but they have to be mature enough to handle certain situations.

Rating:
Summary: Debated, Reviewed, Loved: THE GIVER.
Review: Choices. Change. Love. Pain. Sensuality, growing up, becoming an individual, being DIFFERENT. Lies, overprotection, and even murder. Now tell me, how could such a book not be completely enjoyed?! The first time I read it, a couple years ago, I didn't comprehend the REAL meaning of this book...(or should I say several meanings?) To put it simply, I just didn't get it--especially the ending. At first I thought it was completely stupid..I mean, THERE IS NO REAL ENDING! How in the world are we supposed to enjoy that, Lois Lowry!?

Hahaha.. what was I thinking? Now I take that all back. Upon reading this book again and actually analyzing it in my Language Arts class, I got a MUCH deeper meaning. The dying elephant memory that Jonas recieved could represent the MEMORIES, which are dying. (what do elephants have? a GOOD MEMORY.) I NEVER would have come to that conclusion until we had a class discussion...

I've discussed this book with several of my friends and we all love this book. It covers all the topics we have/will come across in this world--in the past, present, and most likely the future. Perhaps Jonas may have traveled in a large circle back to his own community where the memories were released and things were back to normal with both love AND pain...Perhaps the music he heard was the Giver finally joining his beloved Rosemary. Who knows? This is a great book which made ME certainly think: would I rather live a life with color, music, love, pain, war,and hatred... or one without? The answer can only be up to you, along with the ending, which is one of the several reasons I have debated, reviewed, and loved THE GIVER.

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Summary: A book my students couldn't put down!!
Review: Choosing a book for a grade 7 novel study that will keep the students interested is harder than it sounds. The Giver, however, was so popular with the students it was hard to get some of them to put the book away when reading time was over. One mother even "complained" that her son wouldn't come to the dinner table because he wanted to finish the book! Children from the ages of 11-15 have an easy time relating to this book and get drawn in to the amazing situations in it. At 13 years of age, Jonas is being given his "assignment", the career he will have for the rest of his life. Students love to talk about how they would feel if faced with the same concept, and if forced to conform to the same strict rules of society. I would highly recommend this book for any youth. Many of my students have been reluctant readers, but now I can't get them to stop!!!

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Summary: Review by 9d of the Pestalozzi - Gymnasium in Herne!
Review: Dear friends,

I know that you like reading books. We (9d) read this book (The Giver written by Lois Lowry) which deals with rules in a community seperated from the whole world. At the beginning it is hard to understand and you will expect that it is a boring book. But after this part there is a turning - point in thrilling. After this point the story gets much more interesting, although it is still confusing. While you are reading the story lots of questions come to your mind. Some are answered later on but other answers you can only assume. All in all it is a very nice and interesting book because the author presents the advantages and problems of this perfect world seen through the community's eyes very well. That's why I can recommend the book.

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Summary: to the author
Review: Dear Louis Lowry:

I had just finished reading your book The Giver. It was a very astonishing book I have read. I like the background community you have built for the kid in. It¡¯s so imaginary and adventurous, where you need to think about it before you imagine it. I think the story was spectacular and makes you think if there is really a world in another dimension like that. I think that the story resembles about a creator and his people, but then in the story it¡¯s all perfect like nothing can go wrong and the weather is perfect at all the time. It is a predictable society, like people know what¡¯s going to happen next in the future. I like the idea you used like where the boy named Jonas has to help fix the society to make it imperfect cause people make mistakes and no one is perfect. It was like Jonas was the chosen one like in the matrix where Morphous had to look for the chosen one which was Neo. Jonas receives memories of both suffering and joy. In doing so, Jonas also learns that his community does not truly experience real joy or real pain. Jonas and the Giver are the only people who are able to see in color, and the only ones who can feel love. When Jonas learns that the community actually murders those who fail to conform to its rules, he resolves to change things. He and the Giver concoct a plan of escape for Jonas. Because there is no one who is old enough to take Jonas's place, the community will then be forced to bear the burden of the world's memories. As I come to the end I find the book very interesting. I recommend this book to everyone, and people who like to imagine a lot and go beyond their imagination. I am very inspired by your literacy. Also I hope to be able to read other book by you. Your talent is very extraordinary, and I am pleased that I was able to read a book such as The Giver.

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Summary: Phenomenal!!!!
Review: Despite the multyiple criticisms of many individuals regarding this publication, I myself found it to be exceptionally well written with an intriguing concept that was a bit difficult to grasp, but with some speulation could be succeeded. The conclusion was truly moving, regarding the great heights Jonas was willing climb in order to escape the deceptive cruelties and lies belied by the utopian exterior. I myself am quite Kafkaesque and thus found this book quite enjoyable, however, not everyone must be in order to do so.