Monday, December 13, 2010

Monday Book Madness: THE GIVER by Lois Lowry

Folks, I am on a serious dystopian binge. Just ask my to-read pile. Equal opportunity reading is not in my game plan these days. *ducks from knives thrown by other books*

As part of my binge, I finally bought The Book.

What is The Book, you ask? The Book I've been dying to read for a whole year. Yes, that doesn't sound like a long time, but I am a very impatient person. One year = lifetime. So yeah, as soon as I bought The Book, I actually squeed. In front of the cashier. Who retreated four steps back.

Anyway, this is The Book:



THE GIVER by Lois Lowry


Le blurb:

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.


As you can see, this is one heck of a deep, moving story. And thought-provoking. And awesome.

Jonas is officially the Best Person Ever. He's so eager to learn, but he's afraid of knowing too much. He's always worried about a particular rule the Community enforces: the precision of language. You must say exactly what you mean to say at all times. No hyperboles or similes or metaphors. Exactly. What. You mean. 

Can you imagine writers living in the Community? The suicide rate would go up for sure...

Anyway! I'm officially recommending this one to all of you fine people. I wish I could talk about it more, but I don't want to ruin the experience. Trust me when I say it's a lovely story with excellent writing and killer tension. And I almost cried three times!

So. There you have it. How I spent my weekend (aside from slaving over two stupid research papers). 

Fess up: what did you read this weekend?

12 comments:

  1. Oh yes!!! I heart this book SO much, along with a couple of her others(Number the Stars and ...can't remember the other one).

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  2. Two research papers? In one weekend? I'm. Am. So. Impressed! I'm working on mine next week. *sigh*

    That book sounds amazing. I'll have to check it out! =)

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  3. You know, I STILL haven't read this one? I keep telling myself I need to. That it's classic and one not to be missed. Perhaps I'll ask Santa to drop a copy in my stocking.

    Happy Reading!
    Jen

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  4. I read Troy High this weekend, a lighthearted YA contemporary. Btw I've heard the new book Matched, by Ally Condie, is a lot like the Giver. Have you read it yet?

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  5. I read this in school and it was one of the only books I finished for a class!

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  6. Since you told me how awesome The Giver is (and since I've been wanting to read it for ages) I ordered it tonight! Squee.

    Yay for you kicking research paper butt!

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  7. Yay for GIVER love!!

    Lynn--I finished MATCHED just before starting this one! Yes, there are definitely similarities, but both are equally lovely books.

    Happy reading to all of you as well!!

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  8. Yup, I really enjoyed reading this book. What a hard truth Jonas learned, eh?

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  9. Jonas is the best person in the world

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  10. omg... so my 6th grade teacher made me read and i love this book but i didn't really enjoy the ending. I wanted it to keep on going!

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