Review Friday: The Giver by Lois Lowry

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Goodreads Blurb:

"Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back."

Review:

The first time I read this book, it was a couple years ago.  It instantly appealed to me and still does now.  It's such a simply story of wanting more.  When Jonas is exposed to everything that could have been, he feels his life, and everyone else's, are meaningless.  Basically, the danger is worth it because it is that freedom and immense risk that makes life worth living.  It's such a beautiful message.

That's pretty much why I love this book so much.

I do love how it was written so simply.  There were no literary tricks or metaphors or crazily profound sentences meant to emblazon the reader.  It was just... that's how it is.

I could read this book over and over again and never get bored.  And if you haven't read it yet, go read it!  It's a short book so if you love it, yay!  If you don't, well it didn't take too long to read it did it?

Let's see... *taps chin* what else do I love about this... I have no idea.  You know those books you love just because they're awesome?  This is one of those books.

The Final Verdict:

Okay, I admit, that wasn't a very cohesive review... but I just love the message this book sends and the simplicity of which it is written.

5 stars

Quotes:

“The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.” 

“We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others.” 

“If you were to be lost in the river, Jonas, your memories would not be lost with you. Memories are forever.”

“For the first time, he heard something that he knew to be music. He heard people singing. Behind him, across vast distances of space and time, from the place he had left, he thought he heard music too. But perhaps, it was only an echo.” 

“They were satisfied with their lives which had none of the vibrance his own was taking on. And he was angry at himself, that he could not change that for them.” 

“He knew that there was no quick comfort for emotions like those. They were deeper and they did not need to be told. They were felt.”

“It's the choosing that's important, isn't it?” 

“The life where nothing was ever unexpected. Or inconvenient. Or unusual. The life without colour, pain or past.” 

“Even trained for years as they all had been in precision of language, what words could you use which would give another the experience of sunshine?”