The Giver
By Lois Lowry
The Giver by Lois Lowry is a phenomenal book about a mundane society, where a boy begins to see in colour. Because of this, he is given an important job in which he receives the community’s memories. He begins to learn that things weren’t always as they were, people used to have biological parents, biological siblings, grandparents, and were able to choose their jobs and spouses. He decides that he likes this world, and so decides to travel to Elsewhere, and release his memories to the community. The book ends when he crosses the ‘border’ letting the community see colour, and hear birdsong.
I loved this book because it made me notice how our society is slowly becoming dull, with culture dying out, and everyone becoming the same. I realised that we could, one day end up in a community like the one envisioned in The Giver. It was also written very well, and was captivating and invigorating. The plot was set out very well, but the book ended with a cliff hanger, which was a bit of a shame.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read, but also for anyone who likes dystopian genres. This book was very difficult to put down, and made me want to keep reading long past my bedtime. I read it in just two days, which is testament to how incredible this book is.
Book review written by Felix Kenton-Smith (Year 11, 2019)
This book is about a society which at first appears to be utopian but is revealed to be dystopian as the story progresses. The novel follows a 12-year-old boy named Jonas. This society has strict rules, and everyone follows the same path. Jonas gets a job where he sees the past, how spontaneous and exiting it used to be. He sets out on a mission to give everyone those memories.
When Jonas gets his assignment everyone in the community starts chanting his name, as he is given one of the most important assignments. “The Chief Elder thanks him for his childhood, and the crowd accepts him as the new Receiver by chanting his name louder and louder. Jonas feels gratitude, pride, and fear at the same time.”
Another aspect of the text which grabbed me was when he receives the memories and the goosebumps it gives you. It makes you feel like you have just received the memories. “He places his hands on Jonas’s back, and Jonas begins to feel the sensation of cold air, then of snowflakes touching his face. He experiences the wonderful sensation of going downhill on a sled, feeling the exhilaration of movement and speed even though he has never felt snow or strong wind or even a hill.”
This book left me with an appreciation for the society that we live in. Their society was colourless, figuratively and literally, it had no life, no future other than the one given to them. We get to make our future something often taken for granted.
I would recommend this book to someone who likes reading about another "universe". This book will transfer you somewhere else. Into their society.
Book review written by Elia Short (Year 10, 2022)
