When I first bought the book in December, I was not really eager to start reading it or studying it in-depth. Unlike the norm, the book’s cover wasn’t colourful or attractive as most children books would be. In fact, I thought that it would be rather boring. However, the phrase “never judge a book by its cover” is right. It turned out to be an interesting and unique novel.
While reading the book, I was a little confused at times. The setting in the book seemed vastly different from the world that I recognized. For one thing, jobs weren’t chosen for us but instead, depended on the qualifications we had. Furthermore, I could not understand the idea of release and why Jonas was called “a twelve”.
As I progressed more into the book, I gradually understood more and it became easier for me to catch up with the plot. I realized that the author was trying to portray a Utopia where everything is seemingly perfect and strictly controlled.
I felt that the utopia was strange in some ways. For example, Jobs and spouses were actually chosen for the people by the council of elders. I was rather amused by the fact that there was an occupation such as a birthmother. Though I can fully comprehend that a place with no starvation or jobless people would be conditions of a utopia, I didn’t see why politeness would be one of them. In the context of my world, it would seem really weird that we have to say “I accept our apology” every time.
The term released appeared many times in the book. It never really bothered me at first because my understanding of release was that those people would be sent to the “elsewhere” mentioned in the book. However, to my utter horror, I learnt that the term release actually meant death by euthanasia. I felt really disgusted because not to mention repeated offenders, the old and innocent newborn children were also sacrificed to maintain the utopia. The worse thing, in my opinion, is that no one actually knows what has happened to them or even feels sad for them.
I felt that the training sessions were all very fascinating. The exploration of different things such as snow and sunburn during the training sessions was really a great experience where I got to look at things from Jonas’s perspective. Things that seem fairly normal to me and however very new and unfamiliar to Jonas.
I personally feel that the giver is very noble as he is suffering alone in order to protect the community. Unlike other people in the community who are totally oblivious to any feelings, he had to bear the pain of losing his daughter. In the book, he is described as being very weak and in pain. His sufferings make my heart go out for him.
Throughout the book, I felt sympathy for Jonas and his community because there were just so much that they had to give up to maintain the utopia. Not only do they have no freedom of choice, they also have no idea what love, family, music, colour as well as emotions are. Jonas’s father felt nothing when he threw the body of the smaller twin into the rubbish chute!
I thought that it was rather understandable that Jonas wanted to leave the community. After being exposed to such heartless things that his community has committed, it would probably be quite hard for him to ignore it and act the way he usually did. Jonas seemed like a hero to me when he rescued Gabriel from the terrible fate of being released. However, like Jonas was, I also felt it was a little sad that he had to leave without saying his goodbyes.
I guess that the most exciting part and the climax of the book would be when Jonas actually sees glimpses of the elsewhere he has been looking for. I was really hoping to know what would become of Jonas and Gabriel in this new world. However, the story ended rather abruptly,living the fate of Jonas and Gabriel a mystery.I didn’t really enjoy the cliffhanger after so much excitement had been built up.
Louis Lowry’s idea of her utopia was described very clearly in the book and it was a joy reading it. After reading the book, I felt I was really lucky in the sense that I was able to see colours and have a family that really cared for me. Overall, I think that this book was a really good novel and I look forward to more discussion about this book in class.
Name : Sylvia
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♥ Saturday, June 26, 2010
Initial Impression of The Giver
When I first bought the book in December, I was not really eager to start reading it or studying it in-depth. Unlike the norm, the book’s cover wasn’t colourful or attractive as most children books would be. In fact, I thought that it would be rather boring. However, the phrase “never judge a book by its cover” is right. It turned out to be an interesting and unique novel.
While reading the book, I was a little confused at times. The setting in the book seemed vastly different from the world that I recognized. For one thing, jobs weren’t chosen for us but instead, depended on the qualifications we had. Furthermore, I could not understand the idea of release and why Jonas was called “a twelve”.
As I progressed more into the book, I gradually understood more and it became easier for me to catch up with the plot. I realized that the author was trying to portray a Utopia where everything is seemingly perfect and strictly controlled.
I felt that the utopia was strange in some ways. For example, Jobs and spouses were actually chosen for the people by the council of elders. I was rather amused by the fact that there was an occupation such as a birthmother. Though I can fully comprehend that a place with no starvation or jobless people would be conditions of a utopia, I didn’t see why politeness would be one of them. In the context of my world, it would seem really weird that we have to say “I accept our apology” every time.
The term released appeared many times in the book. It never really bothered me at first because my understanding of release was that those people would be sent to the “elsewhere” mentioned in the book. However, to my utter horror, I learnt that the term release actually meant death by euthanasia. I felt really disgusted because not to mention repeated offenders, the old and innocent newborn children were also sacrificed to maintain the utopia. The worse thing, in my opinion, is that no one actually knows what has happened to them or even feels sad for them.
I felt that the training sessions were all very fascinating. The exploration of different things such as snow and sunburn during the training sessions was really a great experience where I got to look at things from Jonas’s perspective. Things that seem fairly normal to me and however very new and unfamiliar to Jonas.
I personally feel that the giver is very noble as he is suffering alone in order to protect the community. Unlike other people in the community who are totally oblivious to any feelings, he had to bear the pain of losing his daughter. In the book, he is described as being very weak and in pain. His sufferings make my heart go out for him.
Throughout the book, I felt sympathy for Jonas and his community because there were just so much that they had to give up to maintain the utopia. Not only do they have no freedom of choice, they also have no idea what love, family, music, colour as well as emotions are. Jonas’s father felt nothing when he threw the body of the smaller twin into the rubbish chute!
I thought that it was rather understandable that Jonas wanted to leave the community. After being exposed to such heartless things that his community has committed, it would probably be quite hard for him to ignore it and act the way he usually did. Jonas seemed like a hero to me when he rescued Gabriel from the terrible fate of being released. However, like Jonas was, I also felt it was a little sad that he had to leave without saying his goodbyes.
I guess that the most exciting part and the climax of the book would be when Jonas actually sees glimpses of the elsewhere he has been looking for. I was really hoping to know what would become of Jonas and Gabriel in this new world. However, the story ended rather abruptly,living the fate of Jonas and Gabriel a mystery.I didn’t really enjoy the cliffhanger after so much excitement had been built up.
Louis Lowry’s idea of her utopia was described very clearly in the book and it was a joy reading it. After reading the book, I felt I was really lucky in the sense that I was able to see colours and have a family that really cared for me. Overall, I think that this book was a really good novel and I look forward to more discussion about this book in class.
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