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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
I liked the closure this book gave. After The Messenger, I felt like a lot of loose ends were tied, but the ending left me feeling let down. Sure, it was a primarily happy ending, but it also ended with a huge loss and gave a few new possibilities (though nothing lives up to the questions left by The Giver for years until The Messenger was written, of course). I never really considered what happened with birthmothers and essentially forgot Jonas's home community. After all, The Messenger implied that they had turned a corner and were no longer operating as they had while Jonas lived there. Still, Claire's story is fantastic, beautifully written, and brings a more complete closure, along with a more satisfying end than the death of a character who I had grown close to. I still prefer The Giver and Gathering Blue over the third and fourth books, but it was definitely worth reading.
I have loved this series. I finished the last of the four books today and my husband just started the first. I cannot wait for him to finish reading them so we can discuss. They are simple and profound. They were entertaining and insightful. I couldn't say which of the four I liked but best but I did love the ending of this one. Well done Msl Lowry. Well done.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
This was the second best book in The Giver quartet because it took the reader back to the original story and the original community. I enjoyed reading the first 2 sections, but the third was too short and didn't give enough time to understand Claire's perspective of this time: why did she not tell her story right away instead of wasting 7 years? The ending was rushed.
While Gathering Blue and Messenger were not my favorite, this one brought us back to the community of The Giver and tied so many things together. If you want to know what happens to Jonas and Gabe then this is a must read.
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A couple things bugged me about this last book. For some reason, it seemed a little bit more of a fairytale in that the character named Trademaster which was introduced in the last book echoes a lot of the characteristics of Rumplestilskin. It seemed a bit odd and abrupt to really show Trademaster like that since there really are no fairytale-like qualities in the other books…
Another thing: it felt odd to me that the book had really two books in one. It’s organized into 3 sections (Books I, II and III). I had no problem with Books I and II being together, but Book III switches POV and it seemed to be a bit more appropriate as a separate book. I don’t know if Lowry intended each book to be a different gift? If so, then maybe it wouldn’t make sense as a separate book since the third book is when a different gift is mentioned.
I still really enjoyed this book though. I loved learning more about Gabe, who I’ve wanted to know more about since the very first book. And I can’t help but really want a composer to write a symphony about this series. Especially in this last novel, I think it would adapt well since there is so much rhythm and repetition.
Another thing: it felt odd to me that the book had really two books in one. It’s organized into 3 sections (Books I, II and III). I had no problem with Books I and II being together, but Book III switches POV and it seemed to be a bit more appropriate as a separate book. I don’t know if Lowry intended each book to be a different gift? If so, then maybe it wouldn’t make sense as a separate book since the third book is when a different gift is mentioned.
I still really enjoyed this book though. I loved learning more about Gabe, who I’ve wanted to know more about since the very first book. And I can’t help but really want a composer to write a symphony about this series. Especially in this last novel, I think it would adapt well since there is so much rhythm and repetition.
Exquisite. There is one character who's ending I would like to know though. Lowry, please write us something of Einar. I need to know what happens to him.
But man, what a wonderful incorporation of the main characters from the previous 3 books. I am thoroughly impressed with Lowry's craftsmanship.
Did you have to read The Giver in school? Did you know it's part of a four book series? Get reading! This is a superb quartet that leaves you pondering huge things. I feel like I did after reading Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet and The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper: these authors have captured truth and spun it into captivating stories that offer an invitation to battle on behalf of Goodness.
And now this series will be a new recommendation for my nieces. Because these kinds of books that unveil the truth are required reading.
But man, what a wonderful incorporation of the main characters from the previous 3 books. I am thoroughly impressed with Lowry's craftsmanship.
Did you have to read The Giver in school? Did you know it's part of a four book series? Get reading! This is a superb quartet that leaves you pondering huge things. I feel like I did after reading Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet and The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper: these authors have captured truth and spun it into captivating stories that offer an invitation to battle on behalf of Goodness.
And now this series will be a new recommendation for my nieces. Because these kinds of books that unveil the truth are required reading.
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For the last book of the series, I didn't like it all that much. The magical direction of the quartet took me by surprise and it just never quite clicked for me. This book was much the same. Claire's story was interesting, up to a point at least.
Will take time to process, however I enjoyed the end of this series.
Disappointing after the others, and as an end to the series, but pretty good nonetheless.