The Giver by Lois Lowry

Zilbanne · 09-29-2008, 05:24 PM

Has anyone read ' The Giver' by Lois Lowry? The Giver is about a corrupted utopia. This is a society where political correctness and the avoidance of pain has gone to an extreme. The main characters, Jonas and the giver, have been forced into a different life from the type everyone else has, in that society. Ultimately through struggle they want to help themselves and others get back to a more normal world.

I cannot say more or I might give the plot away which is surprising and thought provoking. 'The Giver' has been out for awhile. It's not new but I cannot recommend it ENOUGH

http://www.amazon.com/Giver-Lois-Low...2723412&sr=1-1

Coffeehouse · 09-29-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zilbanne

Has anyone read ' The Giver' by Lois Lowry? The Giver is about a corrupted utopia. This is a society where political correctness and the avoidance pain has gone to an extreme. The main characters, Jonas and the giver, have been forced into a different life from the type everyone else has, in that society. Ultimately through struggle they want to help themselves and others get back to a more normal world.

I cannot say more or I might give the plot away which is surprising and thought provoking. 'The Giver' has been out for awhile. It's not new but I cannot recommend it ENOUGH

http://www.amazon.com/Giver-Lois-Low...2723412&sr=1-1

That's a cool book. We read it in English in Middle School. A good read, highly recommendable

BeardofPants · 09-29-2008, 06:41 PM

Hey, thanks for the rec. I've been meaning to read a Lois Lowry for a while now, so I bought The Giver today (& added it to my "to-read" pile

).

Zilbanne · 09-29-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffeehouse

That's a cool book. We read it in English in Middle School. A good read, highly recommendable

Middle school is a good time to read it because I think it helps teach kids to go ahead and question authority. It's a good idea not to accept what we are taught blindly.

Zilbanne · 09-29-2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

Hey, thanks for the rec. I've been meaning to read a Lois Lowry for a while now, so I bought The Giver today (& added it to my "to-read" pile

).

I wish I could read ' The Giver' again for the first time!

It led to a surprising mix of feelings inside me. As you'll see some aspects of the utopia are seductively attractive and other events in that society are horrific.

Enjoy!

Coffeehouse · 09-29-2008, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zilbanne

Middle school is a good time to read it because I think it helps teach kids to go ahead and question authority. It's a good idea not to accept what we are taught blindly.

Definitely. Our English teacher was quite at laying out that sort of curriculum. The one's I can remember are The Giver, The Pearl, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Mr. Gatsby. I think we read Snow Falling on Cedars too.. though that could have been High School..

And there's a part in the Giver which is just.. way weird. It's a surprising book yeah.

The last sane person · 09-29-2008, 09:05 PM

I liked that book. I do remember the rest of the class hating it. But I thought it was neat. Go on and give it a read.

***Rían*** · 09-29-2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffeehouse

Definitely. Our English teacher was quite at laying out that sort of curriculum. The one's I can remember are The Giver, The Pearl, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Mr. Gatsby.

Oh, Mockingbird is wonderful! And the movie is good, too.

shesabrandybuck · 09-30-2008, 12:09 PM

I read the Giver in seventh grade for pleasure. Then we had to read it in eighth grade. I loved it!! I still recommend that book to people. I also read City of Ember in seventh grade, and I also still recommend that book to people.

Midge · 09-30-2008, 06:04 PM

I read the Giver in ... eighth grade... for class. I think actually, my teacher may possibly have had an audiobook and we listened to it while having the books in front of us...

I thought it was interesting how they shared the visions and memories... if you think about it, that's not exactly conventional.

I think the thing about the Giver that was an odd balance was that though people didn't exactly suffer, but they were denied so many pleasures.

Coffeehouse · 09-30-2008, 06:17 PM

WARNING DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE GIVER

I just have to say this.. cause it's about the only thing I remember!

Like when **** sees **** for the first time

What a moment!

Empress_Flynn · 09-30-2008, 06:19 PM

Wiseguy

I read it back in the 8th grade... Really enjoyed it... it's one of those books whose meaning stays with you, even if the plot details get lost in time

ElizabethAnnRoger · 09-30-2008, 07:41 PM

I first read this is 3rd grade and LOVED IT. I read it every year and I always can reread it like a new book because of my increase of knowledege. The book never gets old and there is a lot to learn from it, some things (actually most) that I cant put in words. You have to read it for your self.
Read the next two books. You will love them:
Gathering Blue
The Messanger

Coffeehouse · 09-30-2008, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Empress_Flynn

Wiseguy

I read it back in the 8th grade... Really enjoyed it... it's one of those books whose meaning stays with you, even if the plot details get lost in time

Hehehe

Everyone has read The Giver it seems! Kinda neat. We should make our own thread for people who've actually read it!

ElizabethAnnRoger · 09-30-2008, 07:47 PM

have any of you read the sequels?
Gathering blue
The Messanger?
....more to think about...

Coffeehouse · 09-30-2008, 07:54 PM

There are sequels? I have to look into that

shesabrandybuck · 10-01-2008, 05:06 PM

Yes, there were sequels, I never actually read them. I failed the whole "don't judge a book by it's cover", saying, cause I didnt like the look of the cover... heh heh...

Zilbanne · 10-01-2008, 06:11 PM

On The he Cover is Lois Lowry's own close up photograph of the European artist Carl Larsen. Carl Larsen's face is supposed to portray her idea of the giver himself.

shesabrandybuck · 10-02-2008, 05:54 PM

It wasnt the cover of The Giver that I wasnt attracted to, it was the sequal.

ElizabethAnnRoger · 10-02-2008, 06:08 PM

gathering blue?
really...i read that one before the giver and it took me 5 yrs to find out it was its sequel..
lol der!

09-29-2008, 05:24 PM	#1
Zilbanne Enting Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Next to a Pumpkin and near a mushroom! Posts: 65	The Giver by Lois Lowry Has anyone read ' The Giver' by Lois Lowry? The Giver is about a corrupted utopia. This is a society where political correctness and the avoidance of pain has gone to an extreme. The main characters, Jonas and the giver, have been forced into a different life from the type everyone else has, in that society. Ultimately through struggle they want to help themselves and others get back to a more normal world. I cannot say more or I might give the plot away which is surprising and thought provoking. 'The Giver' has been out for awhile. It's not new but I cannot recommend it ENOUGH http://www.amazon.com/Giver-Lois-Low...2723412&sr=1-1 Last edited by Zilbanne : 09-29-2008 at 10:56 PM.

09-29-2008, 06:41 PM	#3
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Hey, thanks for the rec. I've been meaning to read a Lois Lowry for a while now, so I bought The Giver today (& added it to my "to-read" pile ). __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

09-30-2008, 12:09 PM	#9
shesabrandybuck Hero of Hyrule Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hyrule Posts: 1,052	I read the Giver in seventh grade for pleasure. Then we had to read it in eighth grade. I loved it!! I still recommend that book to people. I also read City of Ember in seventh grade, and I also still recommend that book to people. __________________ Ho! Ho! Ho! to the bottle I go To heal my heart and drown my woe. Rain may fall and wind may blow, And many miles be still to go, But under a tree I will lie, And let the clouds go sailing by. twitter

09-30-2008, 06:04 PM	#10
Midge Faithful Gardener Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: I walk here and there, they say... Posts: 3,603	I read the Giver in ... eighth grade... for class. I think actually, my teacher may possibly have had an audiobook and we listened to it while having the books in front of us... I thought it was interesting how they shared the visions and memories... if you think about it, that's not exactly conventional. I think the thing about the Giver that was an odd balance was that though people didn't exactly suffer, but they were denied so many pleasures. __________________ In God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11 "Starbuck, what do you hear?" "Nothin' but the rain, sir!" "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat." Make sure to check out the C.S. Lewis forum. Game threads, movie and book discussions and more!

09-30-2008, 06:17 PM	#11
Coffeehouse Entmoot Minister of Foreign Affairs Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Copenhagen Posts: 2,145	WARNING DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE GIVER I just have to say this.. cause it's about the only thing I remember! Like when ** sees ** for the first time What a moment! __________________ "Well, thief! I smell you and I feel your air. I hear your breath. Come along! Help yourself again, there is plenty and to spare."

09-29-2008, 09:05 PM	#7
The last sane person The Black Númenórean Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 6,773	I liked that book. I do remember the rest of the class hating it. But I thought it was neat. Go on and give it a read.

09-30-2008, 06:19 PM	#12
Empress_Flynn Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Everywhere and nowhere Posts: 814	Wiseguy I read it back in the 8th grade... Really enjoyed it... it's one of those books whose meaning stays with you, even if the plot details get lost in time __________________ "Even a mirror will not show you yourself, if you do not wish to see." "But remember... clowns make two things around here: balloon animals... and enemies." "If I loved you then I would love you in any way I could, and if we could not touch, then I would draw strength from your beauty... And if I went blind, I would fill my soul with the sound of your voice and the contents of your thoughts until the last spark of my love for you lit the shabby darkness of my dying mind." Last edited by Empress_Flynn : 09-30-2008 at 06:20 PM.

09-30-2008, 07:41 PM	#13
ElizabethAnnRoger Elven Warrior Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Along side the Emperor of France. Posts: 110	I first read this is 3rd grade and LOVED IT. I read it every year and I always can reread it like a new book because of my increase of knowledege. The book never gets old and there is a lot to learn from it, some things (actually most) that I cant put in words. You have to read it for your self. Read the next two books. You will love them: Gathering Blue The Messanger __________________ ...Ambition never is in a greater hurry that I; it merely keeps pace with circumstances and with my general way of thinking... Vive l'Empereur! Now and for always... Elizabeth Ann Roger

09-30-2008, 07:47 PM	#15
ElizabethAnnRoger Elven Warrior Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Along side the Emperor of France. Posts: 110	have any of you read the sequels? Gathering blue The Messanger? ....more to think about... __________________ ...Ambition never is in a greater hurry that I; it merely keeps pace with circumstances and with my general way of thinking... Vive l'Empereur! Now and for always... Elizabeth Ann Roger

09-30-2008, 07:54 PM	#16
Coffeehouse Entmoot Minister of Foreign Affairs Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Copenhagen Posts: 2,145	There are sequels? I have to look into that __________________ "Well, thief! I smell you and I feel your air. I hear your breath. Come along! Help yourself again, there is plenty and to spare."

10-01-2008, 05:06 PM	#17
shesabrandybuck Hero of Hyrule Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hyrule Posts: 1,052	Yes, there were sequels, I never actually read them. I failed the whole "don't judge a book by it's cover", saying, cause I didnt like the look of the cover... heh heh... __________________ Ho! Ho! Ho! to the bottle I go To heal my heart and drown my woe. Rain may fall and wind may blow, And many miles be still to go, But under a tree I will lie, And let the clouds go sailing by. twitter

10-01-2008, 06:11 PM	#18
Zilbanne Enting Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Next to a Pumpkin and near a mushroom! Posts: 65	On The he Cover is Lois Lowry's own close up photograph of the European artist Carl Larsen. Carl Larsen's face is supposed to portray her idea of the giver himself.

10-02-2008, 05:54 PM	#19
shesabrandybuck Hero of Hyrule Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hyrule Posts: 1,052	It wasnt the cover of The Giver that I wasnt attracted to, it was the sequal. __________________ Ho! Ho! Ho! to the bottle I go To heal my heart and drown my woe. Rain may fall and wind may blow, And many miles be still to go, But under a tree I will lie, And let the clouds go sailing by. twitter

10-02-2008, 06:08 PM	#20
ElizabethAnnRoger Elven Warrior Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Along side the Emperor of France. Posts: 110	gathering blue? really...i read that one before the giver and it took me 5 yrs to find out it was its sequel.. lol der! __________________ ...Ambition never is in a greater hurry that I; it merely keeps pace with circumstances and with my general way of thinking... Vive l'Empereur! Now and for always... Elizabeth Ann Roger

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