The Giver

Absolutely loved this book. Perfect for middle schoolers, everyone in my grade I read this with loved it. Great dystopian era type book with a fantastic plot. The movie was also pretty decent but I will forever love the book more, (loved Taylor Swift as rosemary too, coming from a swiftie)

So, I know The Giver has been out for a long time, and I know they made a movie, but somehow I'd never read or watched it. But on the recommendation of a friend, I finally have. What a strange little book! It definitely belongs in the same realm as Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, 1984, and The Handmaid's Tale – which are among my favorite books – but the ending was tremendously unsatisfying. It's the first book in a quartet, though, so I'm hoping the other three, which I have requested from the library, will tie up the loose ends. It definitely feels like it's only the first installment of a story.

The dystopian society in this book has effectively banished most feelings. But to get rid of hate and war and prejudice, they also had to banish the memories and feelings of individuality and difference. With everyone and everything the same, they're mostly incapable of feeling true love or happiness. So they all live in peace – but it's a complacent, uncaring peace. It's not peace because of love, it's peace because of the absence of passionate feelings. Whether this is good or not, well, that's up to the reader to decide for themselves. The actions of the main character, who aims to disrupt that peace, could be seen as good or bad.

I'm not actually entirely sure how I feel about this book. I will probably have a better opinion once I read the next three – Gathering Blue (2000), Messenger (2004), and Son (2012).

Edit: I have now read the other three, and I'm still a bit at a loss. These were...odd.

You can find all my reviews at Goddess in the Stacks.

I finally came around to read this. And it was good.

Part of me wants to think this story is about growing up and leaving your innocent and orderly life as a child behind, to face the gruesome reality of adulthood. But another part of me just takes the story as it presents itself. A scifi”ish” dystopia where manhood altered nature and feelings, because we destroyed the world with our behavior. Because those are stories that I like.

I like frightening future predictions, because it's fun to weight them for their possibility of coming true. And this one really could come true, or is already if we look at North Korea.

And this is where my problem with the book emerges. Lowry created a world that feels really claustrophobic and intense, but it leaves me with a desire to learn more about it. There's not much depth in everything, be it the world building or the characters.

I settled with the thought that this is on purpose, because that's how the characters in this world live. That's all they know. There isn't much depth in everything. Everything is superficial.

This way I could really enjoy the book, because it throws you right into this community.

Am I wrong? Probably. Could one interpret much or even less deeper than this? Sure, but with this mindset, paired with the really awesome ending that leaves you like you want it to leave you, I really enjoyed The Giver. I think it's a book that you can form like you wish.

I'm a life-long fan of dystopian fiction, and The Giver is a fine entry in the genre. Lowry's writing is clear and direct. Every word and scene seems to be present in service of the Story, and I appreciate that. The story itself is small-scale dystopia, about a community containing maybe a few thousand people. (There are precisely fifty children of any given age.) So, this novel feels like it's more a critique of cults than of society as a whole. I liked it very much.

YA dystopia/post-apocalyptic was the genre that got me into reading when I was younger, and with this being dubbed as the OG dystopia (first published in 1993) novel, I just had to read it. I also watched the movie adaptation a few years ago and liked it, and more recently, a university classmate who I had a crush on mentioned that this was his favourite book, so obviously I am going to read it.

I found that it did not feel like a YA book at all, it read more kid-ish, and this might be because of the standardised language the citizens of the Community are required to use. Everything is standardised, which gave a technical feel to the world. Sameness, they called it. Sameness was the ideal, Sameness meant everything is perfect.

The main character, Jonas, is likeable and easy to empathise with. I think that if I had come to the novel cold, I would have been just as frustrated as Jonah was, trying to make sense of all that he is finding out about this seemingly flawless world. But of course, we know that it isn't perfect at all. It raises interesting questions- whether having potentially disruptive knowledge and information purposefully hidden is ethical or not, is it better to have limited choices to ensure stability, and oh, how would you feel if your big, life decisions, like what your career and who your spouse and children would be, were mandated by a system and the government?

The book ended on a hopeful note, a cliffhanger which I felt was a perfect segway into the next novel in the series. I have not gotten my hands on it yet, but because this was a good read, I intend to do so.

Like many my age, I had first read this in middle school. Many parts of the book stuck with me all through the years. A society ruled by “properness” and assigns careers based off of your childhood. Along with the memory of the dying soldier, the realization of what “release” really was, and what family and love mean to people.

This is the first time I have reread the book in 20 years, and the Giver still feels like a powerful message. I think many should listen to.

This was a really good and fast read. The story was well written and kept a great pace. Would love to know what the “rest of the story” is!

And...I did totally see the similarities between Matched and The Giver in the beginning, but as the story began to take shape it fell away for me. Both were great reads.

This is a really deep book masquerading as juvenile literature. What is the difference between a utopian society and a dystopian society? Turns out, not a lot.

“Thank you for your childhood.”

This book is on the list of best books I have ever read–perhaps in the top ten, or even top five. I read it in one exquisite, gasping, weeping session.

Such a good novel.
Although it is meant for younger audiences, it does not shy away from gory details.
Made me think of another dystopia, 1984.

I don't get the hype. I liked the writing and found it to be an entertaining book but I didn't find that it fully expanded on any of the ideas it's discussing. The pacing feels off too and the ending felt abrupt and unsatisfying.

I'm not in the YA age range this book was meant for, but I can't imagine giving this didactic book to my YA-aged daughter for entertainment or a challenge. The obvious freedom and individuality vs. comfort and safety argument that Lowry makes leaves you no room for complex thought.

I believe that 12-18 year olds can find something better. An older middle-schooler/high schooler is going to see right through this very quickly. In high school, our class read Brave New World, which has similar ideas and then some and is a much more interesting and entertaining book. In other words, kids can handle a lot more than The Giver has to offer.

The most interesting concept is the Giver himself, but this story doesn't strike me as being (as described) about memory. The Giver is a (not at all subtle) device to show the terrors and wonders that this society gave up for their secure life.

Certainly, it kept me reading because first, it's incredibly easy and didn't waste much of time and second, as the world was revealed, there is a compulsion to see how bad it really is. By the time the Giver's purpose is revealed and the main character makes some kind of choice for himself, the book is basically over. Just when it seems it should be getting started.

A small, impressive book that shows us a world which could be a utopia. Like Jonas, the protagonist, we learn at what cost this society has been created. Lois Lowry teaches the importance of free choice, of memories, and of being allowed to have feelings - all without preaching. I personally wasn't a huge fan of the ending but I think this book is a good choice for all those who are currently suffering from the YA dystopia craze.
Readers are not treated as morons, the language is concise and the story written so well that people of all ages can enjoy it.
For a full review go to SFF Book Review

Fascinating story and fascinating world... Despite a cliff-hanger ending, everything is beautifully written and the characters so well developed that I wanted to read on and on. Thankfully three more books to follow!

Rating:4 ⭐Summary:Jonas lives in a community in which the people have little to no choice–they are assigned their spouse, their family, dwelling, and job. This may keep order and peace, however, is it worth it? Jonas is selected to become the community's Receiver-of-Memories, a highly honored position in the community. Jonas begins to receive instruction from the current Receiver, who he calls the Giver, and with it, comes the memories of the far distant past. Jonas realizes wonderful things–colors, warmth, love, family–have been taken from humanity for the sake of Sameness and peace. He also experiences memories of horrible loneliness, loss, war, and tragedy. Is the removal of such horrible memories worth the peace and safety that come from putting all of the memories and horrible feelings onto one person?Review:A very quick read that provokes many different thoughts. Is human existence worth the tragedy that comes with it? It reminds me of a lot of the points brought up in [b:The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas 92625 The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas Ursula K. Le Guin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389866872l/92625.SX50.jpg 89324]. Is one person's suffering worth the safety and peace for the rest of the community? As a kid when I read this, I really did not enjoy the ending. I wanted to know what happened with Jonas and with the Giver. However, I do find it a stronger ending by not knowing. We can look to the past and make our best judgment, but the future is unknown and may not work out like we had thought. A great read. one that I will read again in my life. I do wonder how the community got to this point and what happened and more about the giver, but it's good.

Pretty slow at the begining

5/5
i still can't believe i went my whole adolescence without reading this book, and boy am i glad i finally did. a beautiful book about life & how love makes it all worth it.

This book, along with a very select few, has stuck with me decades after reading. It struck me in school when this book was first assigned, just how beautiful and poignant the subject matter was even when it was written in the 90s. It has only become more so as time has gone on. Especially when read as part of the quartet it was written into, this book has an excellent lesson to carry on.

I read this book in several hours. It was amazing. While some parts were hard to read (like the part where Jonas's father releases the twin & when his father talks about how Gabriel will be released the next morning), the book is still well worth reading.

For such a simple story it really does pack a lot of ideas in and raises some really interesting ideas. I loved reading it and was totally absorbed but I felt the ending dipped slightly so it just missed out on 5 stars

Based on the synopsis, I thought I would detest this one, but my only complaints were with the slightly condescending tone and the ending... But, I tend not to like anyone's endings, so take that with a grain of salt.

I am recommending The Giver to my 12 year old.

I'd never even heard of this book until a friend mentioned it on Facebook as an example of dystopian fiction, but apparently all of my friends have and they loved it. I did not enjoy reading this book because it's horrifying and painful,, but it's a good book and a very quick read.

It's the story of a boy who is born into a society of near-perfect equality, but is assigned the role of “Receiver” for his community. And in training for his life's work, he starts to understand all sorts of horrible things about life there.

4.5.
Muy buen libro. Ojalá fuera acá también una lectura requerida en el colegio.

1st read - 5 star
2nd read - 4 star

3,5 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. I feel I can both love it and feel absolutely nothing about it (and that explains my uncertainty about the suitable rating for it), which is incredibly adequate considering the story of the book. but it was enjoyable. I loved the ending!!! the idea of the book is fantastic. I can't wait for book two. I already though have a vague idea about it.