This novel is set in a future society where a young boy named Jonas lives in a seemingly perfect world. But when Jonas is selected to be the "Receiver of Memory" he starts to see the cracks in the carefully constructed society. The Giver won the Newbery Medal in 1994.
Il est des romans dont on craint de raconter l'histoire, tant on a peur de faire passer à côté de l'essentiel. L'essentiel ici, c'est bien le style de l'autrice et l'ambiance dans laquelle elle réussit à plonger le lecteur ; sa description d'un monde pas du tout désirable (encore que... patientez jusqu'au dernier et 4e tome) et pourtant chaque page est pétrie d'humanisme. De la SF avec un monde d'une inventivité incroyable que l'auteur parvient à distiller sans être démonstrative, au fil de l'histoire qui nous happe page après page.
I enjoyed reading this book, and it was interesting. I thought the author did a good job of not making the society be dystopian or clearly bad or evil, but rather just a different decision about what makes a happy society. I felt the ending was weak in many ways however.
This book is on so many "must read before you die" type lists that I never actually read the blurb or knew anything about it. I heard it was a kid's book so I put it on my TBR and never really thought about it again. Until I saw it listed on paperbackswap.com and decided to request it.
After I received it in the mail yesterday, I figured I'd jump right in. I still didn't know what it was about and kept my expectations low. But, damn, what an incredible book. I mean, for about 200 pages, I felt quite a few gut punches and, yes, even dropped a few tears. I can't believe how much the story and young Jonas and The Giver touched and moved me.
Now I have to decide whether to list the book or keep it for another read later on.
I first read this book in high school, but I'm glad I picked it up again to read.
At the beginning, the author throws you straight in, which can make the reader feel like an outsider and not sure about anything.
The copy I had (e-book) had a number of missing spaces between words, and weird line spacing (where the line would finish, then the next word would be on the next line). Both of these happen multiple times which sometimes may for some frustrating reading.
There are a number of things that happen in the book that happen in real life,
"But the committee would never bother The Receiver with a question about bicycles; they would simply fret and argue about it themselves for years, until the citizens forgot that it had ever gone to them for study."
There are a couple of times where the author moves forward …
I first read this book in high school, but I'm glad I picked it up again to read.
At the beginning, the author throws you straight in, which can make the reader feel like an outsider and not sure about anything.
The copy I had (e-book) had a number of missing spaces between words, and weird line spacing (where the line would finish, then the next word would be on the next line). Both of these happen multiple times which sometimes may for some frustrating reading.
There are a number of things that happen in the book that happen in real life,
"But the committee would never bother The Receiver with a question about bicycles; they would simply fret and argue about it themselves for years, until the citizens forgot that it had ever gone to them for study."
There are a couple of times where the author moves forward (or back) a length of time without indicating it to the reader, which comes across as confusing.
When I finished the book (which I did in one day) I'm not sure if it ended on a positive or negative note. I was almost in a haze for the rest of the day.
"Jonas frowned. "I wish we had those things, still. Just now and then.""
"It's the choosing that's important, isn't it?"
"The life where nothing was ever unexpected. Or inconvenient. Or unusual. The life without color, pain, or past."
Review of 'The Giver (The Giver, #1)' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Livre assez bien écrit, présentant un futur dystopique vraiment intéressant qui n'est pas sans rappeler Le meilleur des mondes. J'ai retrouvé des éléments classiques dans la science fiction ça et là, mais cela ne gâche en rien le plaisir de lire. La société décrite est intéressante, le rôle de dépositaire encore plus, car il est intriguant et pose énormément de questions. Je suis juste un peu resté sur ma faim, mais je vais m'attaquer à la suite pour combler ça. Petit bémol, les personnages sont à mes yeux pas assez creusés pour que on s'attache vraiment à eux.
starts off interestingly enough. setting is some (future) utopia/planned society. But then fizzles in the end. Book includes a reading guide in the back. Would be more interesting for middle/high school students perhaps. I was disappointed with the lack of examination of intriguing ideas that were touched on but not gone in to in more depth.
