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If there's one thing I am certain about, it is the fact I don't remember most of the plot and themes that occur in this novel when I last read it at the prime age of 11, or was it 12? I'M FORGETTING ALREADY. As an adult, during an unprecedented time where individuality matters most on social media yet all seems so ironically repetitive, this utopian-undercover-dystopian story is all worthwhile to re-read. While most of the themes are quite glaringly obvious as I now perceive them with a (hopefully) wiser mindset, I didn't think faith and religion would materialize in whispers in this story. The whole notion behind a governing council is so the mass of people can rely on them to make the right choices, right ideologies to continue forward this rigid and safe society. There is no power of faith, until we've come across the memory of Christmas. It is so vaguely described, but the holiday setting and traditions are undoubtably alluding to a Christian holiday, and having Jonas connect with this memory at the end despite the haziness of his whereabouts gave him some otherworldly strength to continue his last efforts of "changing the community". Although not inherently wrong to have faith, it makes me wonder what other childhood assigned readings have themes that went over my head. If it was love that a memory needed to convey, it could've been any other family gathering but this was so specifically made to be The Giver's favorite. Anyone else got epiphanies while re-reading this?