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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
I just can't figure out exactly how I feel about this series. I truly enjoyed [b:The Giver|3636|The Giver|Lois Lowry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1342493368l/3636._SY75_.jpg|2543234] and [b:Gathering Blue|12936|Gathering Blue|Lois Lowry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388195391l/12936._SY75_.jpg|2134456], but by time [b:Messenger|12930|Messenger|Lois Lowry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924375l/12930._SY75_.jpg|901952] and [b:Son|13324841|Son|Lois Lowry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349952095l/13324841._SY75_.jpg|18252076] came around, I was worn out. They each were great stand-alone books. However, as a series, I'm not so sure. Due to Lowry focusing on different characters for each book, I felt that I only got a superficial understanding of each. I found the characters so endearing, but I felt that they weren't allowed to reach their full potential.
I loved Claire's story, but she wasn't thrown into the ring until the very end and then was only really involved with half of the last book. Additionally, while we saw her recover her memories, we never learn how she lost them in the first place. I do think Lowry values her readers' imaginations and I enjoy that I am given the opportunity to come up with my own conclusions on so many of her developments, but this one just felt like she almost forgot to write it.
Jonas had a great arc, but I hardly was able to see it. I absolutely adored Kira, but at the conclusion of the quartet, her story felt like it hardly mattered with the rest aside from being carelessly mentioned in [b:Son|13324841|Son|Lois Lowry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349952095l/13324841._SY75_.jpg|18252076] as a wife and kind mother. And Matty? My sweet Matty? Sure, he became a hero, but again, I hardly got to know him.
Ultimately, I did enjoy the series and think it is a great introduction for young readers into more mature conversations. I loved the idea of each book offering a different perspective from a character. [b:Son|13324841|Son|Lois Lowry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349952095l/13324841._SY75_.jpg|18252076] was a good ending, but the last fifty pages really felt rushed and not at the same level as the beginning of the story. The details of Claire's climb kept me on the edge of my seat and literally biting my fingernails as I read. However, this attention was not given to Gabe's journey. At the end, I found myself just saying, "Oh, okay, I guess that works." While I do enjoy sudden finality in some regards (i.e. Voldemort's quick, unclimactic death), this felt like it was attempting the same feat, but it just fell short (and really did not even make sense).
This series is an enjoyable, quick read that I would definitely recommend to families. While I do find a lot of the plot developments written as though Lowry had an ending in mind and wasn't sure how exactly to get there (Matty's story, [b:Son|13324841|Son|Lois Lowry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349952095l/13324841._SY75_.jpg|18252076]'s ending, etc.), I think it as an extremely creative story and I thoroughly enjoyed my journey with these wonderful characters.
my kiddo [7th grade] came home with the giver as their reading assignment for english. i tend to like to read the book that is assigned so that we can have a conversation about it. i read the giver really quickly and then discovered there were 4 books where characters/places overlapped and thought - why not read them all.
they are definitely dystopian light - age appropriate books that bring up big topics [think 1984 or animal farm, but a bit less disturbing]. you know - existential ideas like - what it means to have a society, how the rules of that society can be beneficial or harmful, euphemisms for killing those that serve "no purpose", what it means to be "different" or have a "gift", what happens when freedom and art art taken away or relegated to a few.... you get the idea... all good topics to discuss in this day and age.
i liked following certain characters as they got older - but each book can also stand alone. i also like how lowry doesn't really have a political point of view - she mostly just weaves a story that forces you to respond to these situations. what is OK? what isn't? where do you draw the lines for freedom, personal responsibility, creepiness?? if i'm being honest the second book is the slowest - although i did like matty as a character and was glad he was the main focus in the 3rd book. i think some people might not like the happy ending of the last book, but thinking about giving young people hope i didn't mind too much.
my kid and i talked a lot about "releasing" and how we create euphemisms to deal with things we don't really want to discuss. what it means to live in a "colorless" world. what it means to be "special" and heroic. all in all a win in my book.
they are definitely dystopian light - age appropriate books that bring up big topics [think 1984 or animal farm, but a bit less disturbing]. you know - existential ideas like - what it means to have a society, how the rules of that society can be beneficial or harmful, euphemisms for killing those that serve "no purpose", what it means to be "different" or have a "gift", what happens when freedom and art art taken away or relegated to a few.... you get the idea... all good topics to discuss in this day and age.
i liked following certain characters as they got older - but each book can also stand alone. i also like how lowry doesn't really have a political point of view - she mostly just weaves a story that forces you to respond to these situations. what is OK? what isn't? where do you draw the lines for freedom, personal responsibility, creepiness?? if i'm being honest the second book is the slowest - although i did like matty as a character and was glad he was the main focus in the 3rd book. i think some people might not like the happy ending of the last book, but thinking about giving young people hope i didn't mind too much.
my kid and i talked a lot about "releasing" and how we create euphemisms to deal with things we don't really want to discuss. what it means to live in a "colorless" world. what it means to be "special" and heroic. all in all a win in my book.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'd read The Giver in gradeschool, and then again at uni. I love dystopian fiction and The Giver was a cornerstone to my literary thinking. Only recently (thanks to TikTok) did I learn about the Quartet. Reading the three companion books changed my view of The Giver. They highlighted aspects of the original story that had not leapt out to me, for whatever reason (call it reader's bias). I really enjoyed the additional books.
The Giver Quartet (The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son) by Lois Lowry is a compilation of four books written over almost a decade. The books beautifully capture dystopian societies, describing the menacing reality underneath a seemingly serene and utopian surface. I love the ethical and philosophical questions the books raise, and I love the open endings. Both leave the reader – even an adult reader – with a lot to think about.
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2014/12/the-giver-quartet-giver-gathering-blue.html
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2014/12/the-giver-quartet-giver-gathering-blue.html
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I reread all of these because the last one just came out.
The first of the quartet remains to me an extraordinary book. I have thought back to it so many times over the years, Because its dilemmas have been so similar to things that come up in our world all the time.
Unfortunately, I'm just really disappointed by the other three. I want to like them, but there are too many holes, too many unrealistic things for me, And too many unsatisfying resolutions.
But I still plan to reread the giver in the future, when the spirit strikes me.
The first of the quartet remains to me an extraordinary book. I have thought back to it so many times over the years, Because its dilemmas have been so similar to things that come up in our world all the time.
Unfortunately, I'm just really disappointed by the other three. I want to like them, but there are too many holes, too many unrealistic things for me, And too many unsatisfying resolutions.
But I still plan to reread the giver in the future, when the spirit strikes me.
Read The Giver didn't like that sequel wasn't continuing Johns's story