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mikathereviewer's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
Chapters 9, 22 & 23 include a brief mention and description of starvationkmoz's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Blood and War
Minor: Pregnancy
cursed10fold's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Murder, and Pregnancy
gandalf_a's review against another edition
- 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? N/A
4.75
Moderate: Child death, Death, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
jacob_miller666's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Blood, and Murder
kawaiicorgireads_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Child death, Death, Drug use, and Xenophobia
Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, and War
amsswim's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The audiobook on Libby was only 5 hours, so this was a great weekend/day ready. Highly recommend to everyone.
Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
breedawnwriter's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
It’s a hard book to read, but it is—quite possibly—one of the most important.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
allysm0llbean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.0
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
michalsstoryadventures's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, and War