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A review by jonscott9
The Giver by Lois Lowry
3.0
In a perfect, not-so-futuristic world, there is no pain. But is that world so perfect? There are also no emotions, no colors, and no love. No choices. Pubescent children pop pills to combat "stirrings." Adults are assigned compatible spouses, and children who becomes Twelves (years old) are assigned duties for the rest of their adult lives by the Elders. (Age is meaningless after 12.)
Jonas is appointed the next Receiver of Memories at his ceremony of Twelves. (I'm not ruining it; there was no doubt and it's on the back cover.) His predecessor begins to transmit scenes and feelings to his mind that flow with colors and warmth and very real joy and pain. But what to do with all this? Jonas has an important decision to make.
Lowry's book, which apparently everyone else read in middle school, was refreshingly simple to me at age 25. She tells a good story, one that makes you glad for the pains and difficult choices in life as they come hand in hand with all the happiness and goodness. For without deep sorrows, would we really have a concept of unbridled joy?
These 180 quick pages have a pleasing cadence to them.
Jonas is appointed the next Receiver of Memories at his ceremony of Twelves. (I'm not ruining it; there was no doubt and it's on the back cover.) His predecessor begins to transmit scenes and feelings to his mind that flow with colors and warmth and very real joy and pain. But what to do with all this? Jonas has an important decision to make.
Lowry's book, which apparently everyone else read in middle school, was refreshingly simple to me at age 25. She tells a good story, one that makes you glad for the pains and difficult choices in life as they come hand in hand with all the happiness and goodness. For without deep sorrows, would we really have a concept of unbridled joy?
These 180 quick pages have a pleasing cadence to them.