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The Giver Lois Lowry ISBN-13: 978-0440237686 |
It is a Newbery Medal winner, for young adults. Older adults, like myself, will certainly enjoy it as well. With an idea not complicated or sophisticated, Lois Lowry captivate the readers skillfully. I felt and identified with Jonas throughout his transformation. It is a quick read. But if you start late, prepare to miss the early meeting the next morning.
A future society chose to eliminate individuality and accepted the consequences that include the lost of biological family, job decision, longevity, colors, and music. In exchange, it has perfect harmony, peace, and no pains of any kind. Generations later, no one remembered how it was, let alone trying to change anything.
Except for one. This person kept the wisdom for the rest of the society. The wisdom, however, came from remembering and experiencing all the pains the society had endured before: crimes, chaos, wars, hunger, cold, burn, etc.; none of those existed in that society.
This worked until one such wise person disagreed with the original choice. His new partner, Jonas, gave him the last necessary ingredient and that society fell apart.
I found myself disagreeing with the premise of the society cannot have both individuality and free of pains. This disagreement, however, is exactly Lois Lowry’s point. She made me think and stirred up a small discussion at dinner table.
Isn’t that what books are for?