The Giver

I am also in a young adult literature class this semester. This class, also, requires that I read 5-6 books that are found in middle/high schools. I began reading The Giver, by Lois Lowry, yesterday afternoon. So far, I am only on chapter tweleve of twenty-three, but it is proving to be a very interesting book!

The book is written in third person limited point of view. We come to know the main character, Jonas, who is an eleven (almost twelve) year old boy. He lives in a community that is centered around rules. There is even a book called "The Book of Rules." Everyone in this community is assigned a certain job at the "Ceremony of Twelve," which Jonas is about to attend.

This book has a very eerie tone to it, so far. The rules of the community control all aspects of its citizens' lives. It seems as if the book is taking place in a very Soicalist environment. However, the setting is almost other-wordly. These people do not know what common words are. They call a stuffed animal a "comfort object," for example. Jonas has just made it to the Ceremony of Twelve and has received his "assignment" as Receiver of Memory. This is the highest positon of honor in the community. Jonas is now meeting with the current Receiver and is learning through "transmission" all parts of the world that he never knew existed.

It sounds very complicated, but I can already tell that this will be a book that I will think deeply about. Already, I am trying to imagine this in our world and how strange it would be. Think about it, if we never knew what we don't know, how would we ever miss it? I wonder if there is so much more out in this giant world/universe that we, like Jonas, do not even know exists...
Read for 1 hour each day (Tuesday/Wednesday) Total -- 120 minutes