Book #22: The Giver

The twenty-second book I read since May 2008 is:

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Labeled juvenile fiction, The Giver is a lot deeper than most books aimed at that age group. It takes place in a world without meaningful differences, where people's obedience is their greatest strength, and where all feelings are discussed and dismissed before they get out of hand. It's a world of control that evolved out of a fear of chaos.

In some ways it's like the world in The Handmaid's Tale (by Margaret Atwood), given that the society is closed and insular but you don't really know how far it reaches and what is just beyond it. And that uncertainty helps hold it all together.

But back to The Giver; the main character is a teen named Jonas and he is chosen for the ultimate job -- to serve as the repository of all emotions of the greater society. It's important because some decisions can't be made through sheer logic, so when the elders are faced with tough choices they will call on Jonas to make the right decision.

But the new job comes with difficulties: the newly provided freedom to lie to those close to him, knowledge of his family's (and the larger society's), and understanding of the horrors of starvation and war. He is up to the task, but it is exhausting to both him and "The Giver" (the man giving him the emotions).

However, once Jonas begins experiencing the joys and sorrows of emotion, he just can't bring himself to deny them to the rest of his community. And even though he is called "The Receiver" through most of the book, at the end he sacrifices himself to become the real "Giver" -- gifting emotions to all those in his orbit in exchange for his own life.

The Christ symbolism is thick here, but the tale is one that shows the scary underbelly of conformity and ultimately shuns it for the unpredictable world of natural beauty and feeling. A quick read and a layered story that held my nephew's attention (no small feat). I'd recommend it; and given how quick a read it was, I'll probably re-read it again soon.

- Scott