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katwebb's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, and Child death
cheyburn92's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Child death
te_ss_i's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Torture, and Genocide
chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Suicide and Confinement
Minor: Murder, Pregnancy, and Deportation
mitta_girl452's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.5
I just finished re-reading this book after I read it when I was maybe 11 or 12?
It's good book with a unique idea and setting that is really timeless.
This book is very interesting with is dialogue about emotion, pain and choice in feeling. It talks about how pain, sadness and anger - all those 'bad' emotions - and happiness, love and joy, - all the 'good' emotions - are intertwined and cannot be separated. There is no way to feel only the 'good' or 'bad' emotions. If you have emotions, you have to feel both.
The people in this community, they don't feel anything, their emotions are dulled, their relationships unfulfilling, but they have no way of knowing that, because they have nothing to compare it to.
For everyone, emotion is something that is so core to us, it is our drive and gives us reasoning and motivation to do things. This community don't have that, and it's very interesting to compare them and the way they live to modern society.
Also brought up is choice. People in this society don't have serious choices. They can't choose their jobs, or their spouses or even their children. Everything is given to them, and they take what they get. Jonas chooses to have choice, but this comes at the cost of the stability, peacefulness and ease of his previous life. This fits alongside modern discussions of free will and responsibility of actions.
Some things I think this book could improve on is length. This book is rather short, and if it was longer, characters could be more fleshed out and developed. Characters like Rosemary, who we barely learn about, could be expanded on, and we could see the actual impact of her actions.
Jonas needs more time to decide he wants to defy the Elders and change the life the people of the community live. When I read about him deciding to do that, it didn't make sense to me, as he didn't really seem to have much reason or motivation to do it.
But that is my only real issue with this book. Other than that, this book is a timeless classic that I would definitely recommend.
It's good book with a unique idea and setting that is really timeless.
This book is very interesting with is dialogue about emotion, pain and choice in feeling. It talks about how pain, sadness and anger - all those 'bad' emotions - and happiness, love and joy, - all the 'good' emotions - are intertwined and cannot be separated. There is no way to feel only the 'good' or 'bad' emotions. If you have emotions, you have to feel both.
The people in this community, they don't feel anything, their emotions are dulled, their relationships unfulfilling, but they have no way of knowing that, because they have nothing to compare it to.
For everyone, emotion is something that is so core to us, it is our drive and gives us reasoning and motivation to do things. This community don't have that, and it's very interesting to compare them and the way they live to modern society.
Also brought up is choice. People in this society don't have serious choices. They can't choose their jobs, or their spouses or even their children. Everything is given to them, and they take what they get. Jonas chooses to have choice, but this comes at the cost of the stability, peacefulness and ease of his previous life. This fits alongside modern discussions of free will and responsibility of actions.
Some things I think this book could improve on is length. This book is rather short, and if it was longer, characters could be more fleshed out and developed. Characters like Rosemary, who we barely learn about, could be expanded on, and we could see the actual impact of her actions.
Jonas needs more time to decide he wants to defy the Elders and change the life the people of the community live. When I read about him deciding to do that, it didn't make sense to me, as he didn't really seem to have much reason or motivation to do it.
But that is my only real issue with this book. Other than that, this book is a timeless classic that I would definitely recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Confinement, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death
lambclown's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and War
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
theliterarylayla's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.75
This book is so good, short and simple, but just so amazing with such little material.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death
caitlyn_baldwin's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
4.5
I appreciated the focus of the novel on the identity of “self”. The future that Jonas was living in was one created to attain this level of “sameness”, to create a cohesive environment where people have their needs met and are assigned careers, spouses, and children in a utilitarian community where everyone is to be content. What Jonas learns upon his appointment of being the Receiver is that while the community’s “sameness” seems to reach its set goals, perhaps there are greater things being missed out on with this curated contentment.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
caitlaird's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
A very interesting and thought provoking read.
The pacing was a bit slow in some parts, but there were parts that could’ve used a bit more detail and world building. But for a rather short story it is very well done. I really enjoy the premise and it’s done very well. Jonas is such a wonderful character.
Listened to the audiobook narrated by Ron Rifkin. Anytime an important plot moment occurred there was music playing which I don’t generally mind but when listening in 1.7-1.8 speed it can be a bit distracting, especially considering it’s during the most important moments. Something to keep in mind.
The pacing was a bit slow in some parts, but there were parts that could’ve used a bit more detail and world building. But for a rather short story it is very well done. I really enjoy the premise and it’s done very well. Jonas is such a wonderful character.
Listened to the audiobook narrated by Ron Rifkin. Anytime an important plot moment occurred there was music playing which I don’t generally mind but when listening in 1.7-1.8 speed it can be a bit distracting, especially considering it’s during the most important moments. Something to keep in mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Suicide
ladyisse's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death