That's not a plot, that's a twist!

I read this book as a companion to "The Giver," and I was pretty disappointed. The underlying sense of unease and the tense pacing that makes the Giver so fantastic just isn't present in "Gathering Blue."

Part of this, is that because it is a companion book, I read this book differently than I read the Giver. Instead of reading the book with white knuckles and wide eyes, thinking, "What the heck is wrong with these people???" I read it thinking, "Yeah, yeah, creepy village -- what's the twist?" I think the book might actually be better read if you haven't read "The Giver." However, I'm hesitant to say that, because if you're going to read one dystopic Lowry novel, you should definitely go for The Giver.

Because the main character is an outcast and the reader is therefore also kept at arm's length from the village, the reader doesn't feel a strong sense of betrayal or shock when the inevitable twist occurs. We're not connected with the village, in the way that we were connected to Jonas's community through his ties for his parents and friends. Furthermore, the world is not incredibly well-crafted (Do we really need the beasts? Another device might have been even more menacing), to the point of being uninspired.

Kira is also very passive and it was hard for me to connect with her. Things happen to Kira -- she doesn't make things happen, which doesn't make for a gripping read. I wish the story had been told from the point of view of her adventurous young friend Matt, the only character in the novel who is dynamic enough to act. Also, the pacing is horribly slow. I don't think I would have had the patience for this novel as a young reader.

If you think that reading about someone sitting around and weaving is absolutely thrilling, then this book is for you. Or, if you keep a framed photo of M. Night Shyamalan on your nightstand, then you'll definitely like this book.