The Giver: A Smart Clever Classic about the Dangers of Utopia
A Review of The Giver by Lois Lowry
There’s always that book. It’s that book that everyone has read and you haven’t. The sort of book that, when the fact you never read it comes up in a conversation, the people go, “What do you mean you haven’t read that book?! Everyone’s read it!” This book is The Giver written by Lois Lowry. This was a book that was mandated as required reading in various public schools (not my school though) and is loved by many. Well, guess what world? I finally read it, and here is my review.
So what is the Giver? It’s a book set in a futuristic society made to be perfect. Everyone wears the same clothes, has assigned jobs, and are made to say please and thank you. There’s no love, no families, and everyone is naïve and childlike. The black and white world is essentially full of empty shells of people, who only act in a manner where their behavior is best for society. The book focuses on Jonas, a young man who, at age twelve, is assigned to be the receiver of memories. The receiver of memory is a keeper of memories from the world before the community, to help people deal with problems if similar problems from the past if an issue arises.
Jonas begins to get training from the elderly receiver. The memories are passed on from him to Jonas. Jonas soon learns about happiness, love, dancing and so many great things that were lost. He also learns about the war and tragedy that his community is trying to eradicate. But Jonas matures as he learns what is wrong with his community and all the dark secrets it has. He eventually comes to the conclusion to change it.
The good? I can see why this is a classic. It is a smart take on futuristic society on the verge of dystopia aimed at younger audiences. No doubt it influenced many books written today. It’s smart and intelligent. It’s a science fiction that will stand the test of time along with classics like Flowers for Algernon. It’s well written and plays with powerful themes.
The bad? It’s a quick read. It’s in large print and two hundred pages long. But I finished it in just under three hours total. Before this I read the novella Tenaldeo’s Tale and that took longer to read. So it’s an easy read quick read. So I would take this with you on vacation or anything.
Overall, the book is good. It’s smart. It’s well written. The book is certainly worth the read, and it’s easy to understand why it is such a classic. I recommend this to everyone.
4 smoothies out of four.
Overall Rating: A Smart Clever Classic about the Dangers of Utopia.