The Giver
I don’t read much Young Adult (YA) literature but chanced upon ‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry. Published in 1993 and receiving the Newbery Medal a year later, it is a short dystopian novel, dealing with a managed society in which no-one is allowed to experience deep emotion, or to learn about history. Society does not operate independently or democratically.
When children reach the age of twelve, they are assigned their lifelong tasks by the Elders. For example, if girls are appointed as Birth mothers, they will bear three children, and then become labourers. Babies are assigned to family units. Adults are matched with appropriate partners. There is no love, romance, courtship, or choice. In order to combat ‘stirrings’ of emotions, a daily pill is taken to suppress them.
Nurturers look after newborn babies. Other people live their lives cleaning up.
Jonas, the ‘hero’ of the book, is called to be a Receiver. In that role, he receives all the memories hidden from the rest of his community, and learns about pain, colour, hunger, happiness, and family. In time he will become the Giver of memories.
Inevitably, he decides to escape and takes with him the baby Gabriel, who has been destined to be ‘released’ because he is not considered strong enough to live in the community. They set off on an arduous journey to reach ‘Elsewhere,’ an unknown location.
The story feels like a slighter form of George Orwell’s powerful novel, ‘1984.’ It comes to an abrupt and unsatisfying end, when Jonas and Gabriel, cold and starving, see colour and warmth in a cottage at the foot of a steep, snowy slope.
It was interesting to read the author’s comments at the end of the book. She claimed that the ending was deliberately ambiguous and then wrote sequels to the book in later years.
It is not a book I would recommend. It starts well, but runs out of ideas once the hero leaves his secure environment, as though the original premise was exciting but had not been thought through thoroughly.
Have you read this book? What did you think?
I haven't read this story but I've read a lot of juvenile fiction.
ReplyDeleteYour synopsis suits me fine.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the book, but I think this was a movie that I saw bits and pieces of because the story sounds very familiar.
ReplyDeleteI've never read a Lois Lowry book. I don't typically read YA books, but, by all accounts, Lowry is a very good writer.
ReplyDeleteI have that criticism of a lot of writers -- great premise then they flounder not knowing how to write their way out of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anvil. Your synopsis is enough for me
ReplyDeletewe liked this book, the story was interesting enough to enthrall my son when he was nine and I enjoyed reading it. The end was mysterious to me but not to my son- he said "They died". that is all.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of the book or the author and I don't think I will look for it.
ReplyDeleteI found its premise deeply compelling, but I agree that the ending feels unresolved and that the story loses momentum once Jonas leaves the structured world that gave it such tension
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