The Giver

The Giver by Lois Lowery is one of the most interesting books I have ever read.

The Giver is a story about a Utopian society where everyone lives the same lives. The only thing unique about each person is the job the government-type decides for them. Jonas, a boy living in this community, is about the turn twelve. When each child turns twelve, a job is chosen for them and their training begins. All of Jonas' friends seem excited about what job they're going to be given because each think they know about which field will be chosen for them. Jonas, on the other hand, has no idea. He is clueless. He volunteers in all the different houses, but has never been very interested in just one. When the assembly comes and Jonas receives the job as the memory keeper, his word immediately changes. All the strict rules he's followed throughout is life no longer apply to him. The new things he learns and receives from The Giver will completely change his way of thinking. He begins realizing all the things, good and bad, that are hidden from this society.

Many argue that Lois Lowery should have made a more concrete ending or should have written a sequel. I thought the ending was very appropriate because it gives each reader a new ending, good or bad, whichever satisfies them. If there was a sequel, I would read it because I enjoyed the first so much, but I would hope Lowery would still leave the reader to decide the ending.

I enjoyed reading this book because of all the details and way of living of this Utopian society. It's interesting to think about if there really was a society where people were completely convinced there was no emotions or feelings. Would they choose the life of pain, suffering, and hate but also happiness and love or the life of no emotion where no hardships occurred, but also no happiness was present?