Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Giver by Lois Lowry

88 reviews

mikathereviewer's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The Giver is about a society that has strict rules and prefers 'sameness' over 'difference' and 'change'. Everything needs to be the same and everything gets assigned to you. Your professon, love interested even your children gets assigned to you. There is no freedom of choice as there is also no freedom of expression. Jonas receives memories from the Giver that no one else's holds.

At first I was excited to read this book, the premise sounded interesting and I saw that quite a lot have read this book. I liked many things, for instance how The Giver and Jonas formed a relationship that was characterised by kidness and understanding. They bonded through these memories they shared. Another thing that was interesting to see was how Jonas reacted to the memories he received. The way his mind and behaviour changed. 
I also liked how the new things (like seeing beyond) was described to us readers, giving the feeling like we experienced it for the first time as well. While I read about the things that Jonas and also the rest of the people didn't know of as they didn't have this memory and therefore knowledge I was shocked. I couldn't imagine how one could lose that much. While reading I learnt how selfish the society was to burden the Giver with all memories and not wanting to have these memories as well. That made the Giver feel very lonely, as he had no one to share his feelings about. I felt sad for him, especially as to how his behaviour when he was sad was described.
Some afternoons The Giver sent him away without training. Jonas knew, on days when he arrived to find The Giver hunched over, rocking his body slightly back and forth, his face pale, that he would be sent away.
“Go,” The Giver would tell him tensely. “I’m in pain today. Come back tomorrow.”

At some moments the writing style delivered the feeling one should feel while reading it good enough, but I was bothered how the book lacked any depth. The premise of this book made me think that there will be a lot of feelings, especially for the reader while reading. This didn't happen and in general I felt after I finished now this book, as if something was missing. I wished there would have been more to it, especially as the ending felt rushed too. The ending left me dissatisfied, I expected something else and I think that it was the wrong choice to end this book like this. 
+ the plot twists weren't shocking to me, as they were hinted on multiple times before they were revealed.

Even though the concept/idea behind this book had so much potential it wasn't executed. The writing style was beautiful and in some moments I did feel sad (mainly for the Giver), but I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped for.
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bella_01's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

The giver is an amazing book! It was short but still very impactful. 
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alicianoel126's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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bookishdragonshoard's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.0

Evocative, bleak, captivating. I really enjoyed this book but was a little thrown by the very quick pacing towards the end. Still a great read though. 
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bgirl1214's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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kmoz's review against another edition

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emotional 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? No

4.5

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a_novi's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense 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

4.0

A classic book, and a great lesson in a healthy distrust in government. Just because “it’s the way we do things” doesn’t mean it’s the way we SHOULD do things. There’s three more books in this series that are often forgotten and I can’t wait to read the rest.
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lilawsahar's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad fast-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

5.0

I remember reading this for the first time in 7th grade and being mesmerized. How could a society agree to get rid of color, feelings, and make everything the same? Who would agree to that? But on the flip side, what right does Jonas and the Giver have to choose that the collective group should get these memories back? I understand that these are memories too strong to be held by one person, but who are they to decide to change the way of the whole community without the community's consent? Just a question, I had this second time around. 
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eilidhcan's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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just2sadie's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Really great book for a long car ride! I love dystopian novels, and this one is a great snapshot into a theoretical utopian society with precise rules and regulations to keep the society progressing forward with little to no crime, no famine, no sour spots of any kind. Each person gains different permissions at each age, and we follow our protagonist,Jonas, a 12 year old in this society, as he receives his permission to train for his role (job) in the society. It’s a shorter book that I believe is assigned to 7th graders. It is age appropriate and they can relate to the protagonist in being of similar age. The book continually makes new revelations in the plot, which would keep anyone reading entertained. I would recommend this book for anyone to read.
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