Imagine a world where there is no color, music, or strong emotions; everything is the same. Then, one memory starts it all - the feelings, the colors, but also the truths.
The Giver by Lois Lowry, is set in the Community and follows the story of Jonas. Within the first chapters of the book, the idea of the Community is very confusing. The Community is very complex, operating on the concept of sameness. The idea of sameness is very similar to what it sounds like; it removes things including colors, music, and emotions, eliminating individuality in the citizens.
Additionally, the Community runs on an intricate set of rules. People who would like to be matched (to marry) have to fill out an application. The couples can "receive" up to 2 children; one girl and one boy. (P.S. I originally questioned what they meant by “received” children. However, it just means that there are birthmothers whose job is giving birth to kids, who are then distributed.) Finally, one of the most notable ones is that anyone who receives three warnings is released. Elderly are also released, which means that they are released to Elsewhere.
At first, the Community seems like an ideal place to live for Jonas and his sister Lily. However, that all changes the day of the ceremony when Jonas was assigned his job. Originally at the ceremony, Jonas is skipped which causes great shock because there could be no mistakes. Then, it is revealed Jonas is assigned to a vital role, the Receiver of Memories. Yet, Jonas didn’t only receive respect for his soon-to-be role, but also jealousy, and eventually drifting apart from friends.
Jonas’ training includes receiving memories from the Giver, the previous Receiver of Memories. When the memories are being transferred to Jonas, he has to experience them. All of the memories revealed deeper emotions including starving and love. Also, during one of these training sessions, Jonas sees a tape of his Father, a nurturer, and a newborn child. Because this newborn child was a twin, and twins are not allowed in the Community, he believed that his father would release the child to Elsewhere. SPOILER: He doesn’t, and Jonas watches his father kill the newborn baby with a shot, as he realizes being “released” was death.
With all the memories and the deep secrets of the Community, Jonas starts to question the Community. Around the same time, Gabriel, a baby who Jonas’ family took care of at night, is announced to be released because he doesn’t meet the standard. Despite the promise to not grow attached to Gabriel, Jonas grows attached after nights of transferring happy memories for Gabriel to sleep soundly. Now, Jonas with the help of the Giver, needs to form a plan for Jonas’ escape to release memories to the citizens in the Community and hopefully help Gabriel in the process.
The Giver had many strengths including the amount of information and plot in a relatively short novel. However, there were also times where I felt very confused. Especially towards the front of the book, not everything is established about the Community. With everything in the Community being complex, some things kind of felt skipped to me. Yet, even with all this confusion, one thing that also clearly stood out to me was the details that highlighted the changes after receiving memories. The emotional depth, especially the first feelings of seeing snow and the color red, was mind-blowing for me. In general, I really enjoyed this book and trying to visualize living in the Community.
Overall, this book is a great pick that explains this complex dystopian world, and touches on emotions, and identity.
Hyelynn
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