Book Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Hi there, fellow nerds! As you probably noticed by now (this is my second book review in two days. . .), I've been reading a lot lately. :)

Today I read The Giver by Lois Lowry, and although I was a bit skeptical when I first started reading it, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was very well-written, and the plot was intricate but incredible! Let's get started on the review, shall we? :D

(Again: if you plan to read this book, caution reading this review! There may be spoilers.)

The Giver is about a boy living in a Utopian society where almost everyone is assigned a specific job, where there are many laws to follow, where almost everyone is the same. Almost. One boy, Jonas, is different. When it's time for him to be Assigned, it turns out that he's very different from everyone else. He is assigned the crucial role of Receiver: the one who is to bear the memories of what used to be. Jonas's life is turned upside down when he learns the dark, sinister secret behind his world.

 

Characters (7/10):

 

To be honest, there were only about two main characters throughout the book (most of the others were supporting roles). However, Lowry did a wonderful job illustrating these characters and really setting them apart from the very simple people of Jonas's world.

Jonas is a conflicted character, and it was interesting to watch him mature throughout the book. He's frustrated because he wants everyone to have these memories and be free, but he understands that it just can't be that way, and he knows that there will be a lot of pain if that was to happen. He also becomes very brave as he continues on his "journey". He has to learn to accept his destiny and endure the things that those before him could not. He's quite young, but he's a brave, strong, and hopeful character. I really liked that.

The Giver is a wonderful mentor towards Jonas. Despite his constant pain, he is understanding and compassionate, and he encourages Jonas to ask him questions. Giver knows what he must do, but it hurts him to pain the boy with the memories of what once was. He's so empathetic, and it really shows in his words and actions. He's also incredibly wise, and he explains those bits and pieces that the reader doesn't quite understand yet. He explains things crucial to the plot, and he didn't leave me wondering about stuff for too long.

 

Plot (8.5/10):

 

I loved the plot. I've been working on a Utopian-style book for a little while now, and since this was my first time reading a Utopian book, it was nice to see how things played out. Lowry did a great job with the plot. It seemed pretty normal and serene at first, giving the reader a chance to dip their toes in the water before the real adventure began. It explained the basics by showing you how simple Jonas's life was, but it wasn't a big, boring info dump; it was intriguing right from the start.

Lowry goes on to show you that Jonas isn't quite like everyone else, even before the big news is broken to him. He shows you the difference between Jonas and his simple-minded friends, his shallow family, his vague acquaintances.

The plot pacing was pretty decent, in my opinion. It started slow, filling you in on the world's history, the simplicity, and the unrealistic "perfection" of the world. But it kept moving forward, and it didn't get stuck on unnecessary distractions and descriptions. It gave the reader just enough information to keep them thirsty, begging for more of this intriguing Utopian fantasy, while tying in plenty of mystery. And then, most importantly, Lowry answered the important questions before I lost interest!

Writing Style (7.5/10):

Lowry's writing style is interesting and unique. I'm not quite sure what it is about it, but there's definitely something. The book is written from the eyes of a boy, from a simple point of view, yet Lowry uses this to his advantage, making sure there's plenty left to the reader's imagination. 

 

Overall (8/10):

 

I really enjoyed this book, and I definitely recommend it to you guys if you're looking for a Utopian type book. It was very well-written! Do let me know if you check it out. :)

(I don't own that picture I used, by the way.) :P