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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
What did I think?
I thought that the Giver was fine, Gathering Blue was average (but looks A LOT better in hindsight), Messenger was not bad, but utterly forgettable.
Son, however, is absolute horse-excrement. There is a training montage (pages and pages), followed by a parkour montage (pages and pages). The writing is annoying instead of the usual bland.
But the worst thing:
It answers some questions, but exactly 0 (ZERO) of the questions I was actually asking about the whole storyline. Like - what was up with this whole world? What was up with some people being magic? What happened to the three communities that the author spent building for three and a half books? It's a disjointed mess. No stars.
I thought that the Giver was fine, Gathering Blue was average (but looks A LOT better in hindsight), Messenger was not bad, but utterly forgettable.
Son, however, is absolute horse-excrement. There is a training montage (pages and pages), followed by a parkour montage (pages and pages). The writing is annoying instead of the usual bland.
But the worst thing:
It answers some questions, but exactly 0 (ZERO) of the questions I was actually asking about the whole storyline. Like - what was up with this whole world? What was up with some people being magic? What happened to the three communities that the author spent building for three and a half books? It's a disjointed mess. No stars.
Spoiler
Oh, and very odd changes in tone continue. Last time it was super-gore. This time, it was a bit of gore and a super casual mention of father-son incestual rape. Just like, one sentence. Awesome.
A long time ago I would’ve have said this book was amazing. I would’ve gave it five stars. But rereading the book, it is HORRIBLE. I can’t tell you one thing that happened in this book.
It's not that this book wasn't good, it just wasn't what I wanted it to be. I was expecting something about Jonas and Claire's original community. I wanted to find out what happened to them after their Receiver left for a second time, how they fared with all the memories Jonas had been given, etc. I feel like between the first three books, Jonas' storyline had been pretty well wrapped up. And let's be honest, I was way more interested in the community that made The Giver what it is than in the other little villages.
On another note, I wasn't a huge fan of the "love triumphs evil" thing at the end. I mean, it just seemed like that wasn't what The Giver was about, so it was weird for the series to end up there.
On another note, I wasn't a huge fan of the "love triumphs evil" thing at the end. I mean, it just seemed like that wasn't what The Giver was about, so it was weird for the series to end up there.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Trash. Pointless. Evil was defeated by telling it that he hadn't actually caused lasting harm. What a stupid book.
Not as good as TheGiver, but it does tie up loose ends. Three sections of the book and they all have their own feel. I wouldn't recommend this unless you've read the other books (or at least The Giver) in the series.
This book was officially released yesterday, and I was first on the hold list at my local public library. Less than 24 hours later, I have found the time to finish reading it. I have been waiting for something like this since I read The Giver one night back around the time it originally came out. Gathering Blue and Messenger were good, but this one was what I was really waiting for. In fact, I would say that it was not long enough! I loved the first part, re-visiting Jonas' community, but through the eyes of Claire. The second part was good, but it was just building toward the third part, where we get to see what Gabe and Jonas are up to now. My only issue is that I actually want to know what is going on back in their original community. Are things status quo? What happened with The Giver and the memories after Jonas left. (We know that Jonas was sent the books, but what else?) Overall, I loved the story of Claire and then of Gabe.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is a beautiful end to this quartet.
Claire, Gabe from The Giver's birthmother, is only twelve when she is assigned her job as a birthmother. When, at fourteen, she has a difficult delivery of Gabe, Claire is reassigned to work elsewhere. She manages to evade taking the emotion-numbing drugs in the community and find her son, watching over him and visiting him in the nursery. Then one day after Gabe and Jonas escape the community, Claire does too. She ends up in a town that cares for her until she regains her lost memory and sets off to find her son.
This book ties together the two communities of the previous three books and closes the series neatly. The characters have happy endings, and nothing feels rushed. A lovely finale.
Claire, Gabe from The Giver's birthmother, is only twelve when she is assigned her job as a birthmother. When, at fourteen, she has a difficult delivery of Gabe, Claire is reassigned to work elsewhere. She manages to evade taking the emotion-numbing drugs in the community and find her son, watching over him and visiting him in the nursery. Then one day after Gabe and Jonas escape the community, Claire does too. She ends up in a town that cares for her until she regains her lost memory and sets off to find her son.
This book ties together the two communities of the previous three books and closes the series neatly. The characters have happy endings, and nothing feels rushed. A lovely finale.