The Giver by Lois Lowry
It’s the future, but it’s a future very different from our own. There is no color, no weather, no hills, no war, no pain, no family, no diversity, no memories, no choices. This is The Giver by Lois Lowry.
In this perfect society, everything is very orderly. At age one, each child is assigned to a family unit (born from a woman whose occupation is that of birth mother). Two children to a family, one male and one female. At age eight, each child’s “comfort object” is recycled and they receive a bicycle. And it’s age 12 that each child is given their occupational assignment in which they will serve until it’s time to live at the “home of the old.” There they live until it’s time to be “released.” And as a mother, I was very affected by the release of babies and infants. Especially, when Gabe, a one year old, is selected to be released because he didn’t sleep through the night yet. Can you imagine?!!
Jonas is about to turn twelve and attend the Ceremony of Twelve and receive his assignment. He is unsure of what position he will receive because he doesn’t seem to have any interests towards a particular job. He is shocked (well, as shocked as one can be to someone who’s emotions are suppressed) to learn that he is given the highest position in his society, that of Receiver of Memory.
From The Giver he receives special training and it is upon his shoulders alone that he holds all the memories, feelings, and history of his society. He learns of snow, cold, heat, red, blue, green, war, death, pain, grandparents, Christmas and love. As he receives the truth there is no turning back. Does he have the power to change his world to convince people of the truth?
An excellent book that I highly recommend to those who haven’t read it, but I believe that wouldn’t be very many of you. Visit Lois Lowry’s website here. Read my review of Number the Stars by Lois Lowry here.
I really enjoyed reading this years ago. I should pick it up again. Lowry has some great books.
on May 22nd, 2008 at 5:15 pmOkay, this is one of my absolute favorite books of all time. When I graduated college, one of my roomates asked for a list of book recommendations. I put this book in my top five, under the heading “Must Read or Never Talk to me Again.”
on May 22nd, 2008 at 7:00 pmThis one is one of my all-time favorite must-reads.
on May 22nd, 2008 at 8:16 pmI have NOT read this book yet! I gave it to my sister as a gift (coincidentally in the same year she had to read it for school) so I think I will ask her to bring it with her when she visits this summer! Thanks for the great summary and review.
on May 23rd, 2008 at 3:53 amI agree with Jen this is on my top 5 too.
on May 23rd, 2008 at 4:13 amI’ve read this a number of times but not since I was a sophomore in high school and I have not read the two follow up books yet. I really need to read them.
on May 23rd, 2008 at 6:31 amThis was one of the books I listed on my Weekly Geeks #3 challenge. I absolutely loved The Giver when I was a younger. It made such an impression on me in those years. Maybe I’ll re-read it and see if I still feel the same way.
on May 23rd, 2008 at 6:49 amI read this book last year, and I loved it! Thanks for reminding me of how good it was!
on May 23rd, 2008 at 10:31 amI also really liked this book. I had heard it was really good but I kept putting it off because of the picture of the old man on the front. I just wasn’t ever in the mood to read about some old man! Finally, I did force myself to read it and then wished that I had a long time ago. Oh well, some of us never learn, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
on May 23rd, 2008 at 11:20 amI’m clearly in the minority here and probably always will be. I had to read this back in elementary school and I hated it. Granted there were some parts of it I liked, such as the boy giving the baby the memories of sunshine etc. But I just couldn’t get into it. Oh well, can’t like ‘em all.
on May 23rd, 2008 at 12:28 pmI’m one of the few who hasn’t read it, but I WILL. How can I resist after so many great reviews?
on May 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 pmThe teacher my daughter will have next year for 6th grade teaches this book every year. I haven’t read it but I think I will read it in advance of my girl so we can talk about it together. Great review, thanks!
on May 23rd, 2008 at 7:09 pmI read this close to when it came out and had a love/hate relationship with it. I found the writing excellent, but the concept appalling. Great author.
on May 24th, 2008 at 4:41 amI too, loved this book and was enamored by Lowry’s trilogy. Sucked my daughter in too! I agree about being a mother and especially effected by the releasing of the twins. I sobbed. My daughter couldn’t understand.
on May 24th, 2008 at 5:20 amI am one of the few that didn’t really care for ths book. I remember reading it for a book club and the discussion was so tedious. I should probably read it again and give it another chance.
on May 24th, 2008 at 7:08 amThis was the first dystopia I ever read, and I was all, Whaaaaaaaaaaa? What if this really happens. Then I hit ‘A Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘Brave New World’ and ‘1984′ and then my brain exploded.
on May 24th, 2008 at 8:52 amI haven’t read this yet.. but I’m sure I will.
on May 24th, 2008 at 3:55 pmAh, This is a classic. I was really happy when finally two other books came out to follow it up. I really loved Gathering Blue I think it was called, but didn’t love The Messenger as much. Still a really cool series.
on May 24th, 2008 at 8:07 pmSounds like the consensus is that this is in most everybody’s (with some exceptions) top five. I’m looking forward to reading Gathering Blue and The Messenger. What order are they in? Does it matter?
on May 27th, 2008 at 9:51 pmI’m a bad reader and haven’t read this book yet.
I believe I own it, though! 
on May 28th, 2008 at 3:44 pmHi, Natasha! I love the Giver! I loved it so much that I wrote a paper on it for grad school. The class was on individualism in American literature and I studied how the Giver explored the theme of individualism.
on May 29th, 2008 at 2:56 amWasn’t this a beautiful book? I’m still a little shaky on the ending–is it a good ending? But even still, a really good one to be passed on.
on May 30th, 2008 at 5:11 amTrish - I own a lot of books that I keep meaning to read and not get to.
Tarie - A grad paper! Then you’re the expert. Any insights to share?
Trish - I agree. I wish that the entire society could have experienced Jonas’ ending.
on June 4th, 2008 at 12:23 amWho is on the front cover?
on July 21st, 2008 at 7:04 pm