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A review by my_corner_of_the_library
The Giver by Lois Lowry
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
I have mixed opinions about this book, but overall I really enjoyed it. My complaints? Unanswered questions and the end (*not* because it's so vague). So...let's talk about it.
First, let's talk about unanswered questions. This world and community are so interesting. The amount of regulation in this community goes so much further than I ever could have imagined going in, but what it didn't explain is how?? I want to know how the elders went about these crazy changes to society.
How did they get rid of the sun? And sunshine? How did they get rid of color? How did they deal with the memories that were released when Rosemary killed herself? Why is it that Rosemary's memories were released when she died but Jonas's are released the further he gets from the community? Is it all a simulation?
It's possible that these questions are answered in later books, but as I've heard that the rest of the series isn't very good, I've personally elected not to read them. I just wish this book was 3-4X longer so I could get so many more details!!!
Now....the ending....
Obviously: WARNING!! SPOILERS AHEAD!!
So, I wasn't a huge fan of the vague ending that is the cause of debate of whether or not Jonas and Gabe die. I understand that in later books it is revealed they do in fact live, but since I'm treating it as a standalone I'm going to discuss this as if that isn't known (and ultimately I don't think the knowledge either way changes my issues with the ending).
My issue with the ending isn't the vagueness though, it's the fact that I think it doesn't matter if they lived or died, it was a bad ending. Let me explain:
If they lived...Let's say Jonas and Gabe lived and the ending was meant to be taken as literal events that happened. Then this ending was so forced and BEYOND convenient that it's far from satisfying, purely for the sake of poetry (i.e. to mirror the first memory). You really expect me to believe that there just so happen to be a sled at the top of this hill that happened to be the same as the sled from the memory which happen to take them down into a town that happened to be alive and happy in the midst of Christmas? Sorry, but I don't believe you!
On the other hand...
If they died...Let's say Jonas and Gabe didn't make it and the ending is actually poetic and a beautiful mirror of the first and happiest memories Jonas received. This would be a perfect ending EXCEPT for the fact that it completely negates the point of the book???? Jonas saves Gabe because he believes it's wrong the baby won't be given the choice to grow into the person he wants to be in a world full of emotions, color, and choice. So, to remedy this...we kill Gabe? Rather than give Gabe the chance to die a peaceful, quick, painless death, we instead rescue him and starve and freeze him to death.....I don't see how this is any better? In fact, it seems way worse, and Gabe still didn't get a choice! As a baby, Gabe didn't choose to be taken from the community and didn't choose to starve and freeze to death. How is this any better???
First, let's talk about unanswered questions. This world and community are so interesting. The amount of regulation in this community goes so much further than I ever could have imagined going in, but what it didn't explain is how?? I want to know how the elders went about these crazy changes to society.
It's possible that these questions are answered in later books, but as I've heard that the rest of the series isn't very good, I've personally elected not to read them. I just wish this book was 3-4X longer so I could get so many more details!!!
Now....the ending....
Obviously: WARNING!! SPOILERS AHEAD!!
So, I wasn't a huge fan of the vague ending that is the cause of debate of whether or not Jonas and Gabe die. I understand that in later books it is revealed they do in fact live, but since I'm treating it as a standalone I'm going to discuss this as if that isn't known (and ultimately I don't think the knowledge either way changes my issues with the ending).
My issue with the ending isn't the vagueness though, it's the fact that I think it doesn't matter if they lived or died, it was a bad ending. Let me explain:
If they lived...Let's say Jonas and Gabe lived and the ending was meant to be taken as literal events that happened. Then this ending was so forced and BEYOND convenient that it's far from satisfying, purely for the sake of poetry (i.e. to mirror the first memory). You really expect me to believe that there just so happen to be a sled at the top of this hill that happened to be the same as the sled from the memory which happen to take them down into a town that happened to be alive and happy in the midst of Christmas? Sorry, but I don't believe you!
On the other hand...
If they died...Let's say Jonas and Gabe didn't make it and the ending is actually poetic and a beautiful mirror of the first and happiest memories Jonas received. This would be a perfect ending EXCEPT for the fact that it completely negates the point of the book???? Jonas saves Gabe because he believes it's wrong the baby won't be given the choice to grow into the person he wants to be in a world full of emotions, color, and choice. So, to remedy this...we kill Gabe? Rather than give Gabe the chance to die a peaceful, quick, painless death, we instead rescue him and starve and freeze him to death.....I don't see how this is any better? In fact, it seems way worse, and Gabe still didn't get a choice! As a baby, Gabe didn't choose to be taken from the community and didn't choose to starve and freeze to death. How is this any better???