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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
This book.... was so. Darn. Nerve-wracking.
This book is immensely difficult to read as a mother and on top of that, the characters made me crazy with some of the choices they made, or had thrust upon them. It helped in the beginning knowing what was going to happen as far as Jonas and Gabe were concerned, because it took a bit of the pressure off. But I actually had to skim through the last quarter of this book to find out what would happen, because I was so freaking nervous.
Also, Lois Lowry really, really likes to not tell you about things. Basically it's like, "So-and-So thinks So-and-So is pretty" and then suddenly they are married with 2.5 children and a dog. Nothing in between. This guy you got attached to? Oh, he died a while back. We're not even going to tell you how. This other guy? Yeah, you knew he died, but we're not going to give it any more explanation than we did when it happened, which was almost a big fat zero. Auuuuugh. It's a very bare-bones story, and I'm not used to that.
Also, it reeeeeeeeeeally bothered me that it stretched out over so many years. I get WHY it had to be that way in the context of the story, but if I was an author I would not be able to torture my characters like that. "Sure, things will work out fine but you're going to lose like 15 years of time you could have had with these people if I'd written the story differently." Again, toooooootally understand that that's where she chose to take the story. I just spent most of the book wishing it could have been different.
Sigh.
I guess that overall, I liked the series, but found it rather traumatizing and I'm not sure who I'd recommend it to. I think it affected me more as an adult (and especially as a parent) than it did when I was a kid, so maybe kids would benefit from the thinking part of it, and not be as bothered by the rest... but it really depends on the kid.
This book is immensely difficult to read as a mother and on top of that, the characters made me crazy with some of the choices they made, or had thrust upon them. It helped in the beginning knowing what was going to happen as far as Jonas and Gabe were concerned, because it took a bit of the pressure off. But I actually had to skim through the last quarter of this book to find out what would happen, because I was so freaking nervous.
Also, Lois Lowry really, really likes to not tell you about things. Basically it's like, "So-and-So thinks So-and-So is pretty" and then suddenly they are married with 2.5 children and a dog. Nothing in between. This guy you got attached to? Oh, he died a while back. We're not even going to tell you how. This other guy? Yeah, you knew he died, but we're not going to give it any more explanation than we did when it happened, which was almost a big fat zero. Auuuuugh. It's a very bare-bones story, and I'm not used to that.
Also, it reeeeeeeeeeally bothered me that it stretched out over so many years. I get WHY it had to be that way in the context of the story, but if I was an author I would not be able to torture my characters like that. "Sure, things will work out fine but you're going to lose like 15 years of time you could have had with these people if I'd written the story differently." Again, toooooootally understand that that's where she chose to take the story. I just spent most of the book wishing it could have been different.
Sigh.
I guess that overall, I liked the series, but found it rather traumatizing and I'm not sure who I'd recommend it to. I think it affected me more as an adult (and especially as a parent) than it did when I was a kid, so maybe kids would benefit from the thinking part of it, and not be as bothered by the rest... but it really depends on the kid.
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:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Overall, I was really impressed by the entire Giver quartet. And I’m glad I was late to jump onto this series so I got to read all 4 books together. Waiting 20 years from 1 to 4 would have been too long! I’ve never read a series like this, with “companion” books rather than one linear storyline. I knew little of the series and didn’t know what to expect from each novel, or even which character each would focus on. It was a pleasant surprise to watch these different worlds within a world unfold, getting to know the different protagonists, and then seeing them all come together. All very satisfying.
In addition to offering a rich storyline in its own right, Son came back to things I’d been curious about – birthmothers from The Giver, the trades from The Messenger, and whatever happened to young Gabe after he and Jonas made their new home. I had wondered about him throughout The Messenger. Everything masterfully pulled together. It was also great to see Kira & Jonas together, and again I reveled in the small detail of her being donned in blue. I enjoyed that Lowry never explained these special, little details to us – like their children being named after Annabelle and Matty. When writers have to explain the significance, the weight of the meaning is somewhat deteriorated. The way she interweaved small bits from all the novels into this final novel was beautiful.
It’s ironic that I came to this series, and especially to this final installment of Son, while I myself am pregnant. I can’t imagine this story of mother and son searching for one another to any more poignant to me than it is now. My heart ached for Claire, and I was waiting on bated breath for their reunion! (Thank goodness for the happy ending!!!)
I will say that Son seemed the least “young adult-ish” of the series. The issues and concerns here were so much more “grown up.” I kind of have a hard time imagining the younger audience being able to connect to the 14-year-old Claire as they did to Jonas, Kira, & Matty at those ages… but I think that may just be because of the way I super-connect to it now.
I enjoyed the way Son was broken into three books, though will admit that first part of the second book, when Claire had lost her memories, seemed to drag a bit. When her memories recovered and we got the story of her building her strength, I was much more intrigued. Book 1 was wonderful to follow, engaging in another side of The Giver storyline. And I sped through Book 3, delighted at the way all the pieces were coming together.
Thank you, Lois Lowry, for a wonderful sci-fi but incredibly human adventure!
In addition to offering a rich storyline in its own right, Son came back to things I’d been curious about – birthmothers from The Giver, the trades from The Messenger, and whatever happened to young Gabe after he and Jonas made their new home. I had wondered about him throughout The Messenger. Everything masterfully pulled together. It was also great to see Kira & Jonas together, and again I reveled in the small detail of her being donned in blue. I enjoyed that Lowry never explained these special, little details to us – like their children being named after Annabelle and Matty. When writers have to explain the significance, the weight of the meaning is somewhat deteriorated. The way she interweaved small bits from all the novels into this final novel was beautiful.
It’s ironic that I came to this series, and especially to this final installment of Son, while I myself am pregnant. I can’t imagine this story of mother and son searching for one another to any more poignant to me than it is now. My heart ached for Claire, and I was waiting on bated breath for their reunion! (Thank goodness for the happy ending!!!)
I will say that Son seemed the least “young adult-ish” of the series. The issues and concerns here were so much more “grown up.” I kind of have a hard time imagining the younger audience being able to connect to the 14-year-old Claire as they did to Jonas, Kira, & Matty at those ages… but I think that may just be because of the way I super-connect to it now.
I enjoyed the way Son was broken into three books, though will admit that first part of the second book, when Claire had lost her memories, seemed to drag a bit. When her memories recovered and we got the story of her building her strength, I was much more intrigued. Book 1 was wonderful to follow, engaging in another side of The Giver storyline. And I sped through Book 3, delighted at the way all the pieces were coming together.
Thank you, Lois Lowry, for a wonderful sci-fi but incredibly human adventure!
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
No
Four stars up until the ending, which I was oddly disappointed by.
I'm still glad I read it, though. The first part was my favorite, seeing the events of [b:The Giver|3636|The Giver (The Giver, #1)|Lois Lowry|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1342493368s/3636.jpg|2543234] through another character's eyes, and as the mother of a toddler boy myself I really felt for Claire.
Spoiler
Not that I didn't want things to end well for Claire and Gabe and all, but EVERYTHING was resolved. I just have a hard time with books where the big bad evil is defeated by someone THINKING HAPPY THINGS at him.I'm still glad I read it, though. The first part was my favorite, seeing the events of [b:The Giver|3636|The Giver (The Giver, #1)|Lois Lowry|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1342493368s/3636.jpg|2543234] through another character's eyes, and as the mother of a toddler boy myself I really felt for Claire.
good book, read it in a day, really sad though :(
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was alright, felt really long, it was interesting, I liked Claire more than some other main characters in this series. It was fine. I wouldn't really recommend it.