The Giver
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I'm 32. Haven't read this.... is it worth the read??
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Sarah Obsesses over Books & Cookies
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rated it 3 stars
Apr 10, 2012 08:38AM
I have had this on my shelves for a while and have read that it's one of those dystopian books (for kids) that will make you think and is really good etc. I have so many books to read i'm wondering what my fellow goodreads readers think.... worth the read?
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The Giver is definitely "different"....but well worth the read! I read it in high school, so I'm not sure if my opinion of it would change if I were to read it again.....but, at that point in time I was completely in love with the book. It's hard not to be when the book is beautifully written and consists of extremely intense emotion that jumps off of the page. I hope that you decide to read The Giver....I have a feeling that you won't regret it. :-) Happy Reading!
It is worth the read, but the end was,uhm,dumb.But that's just my humble opinion, so take it for what it's worth.
Happy reading!
I read it when I was 34 - found it ok. Few interesting concepts. Not very great characters. Uninspiring storyline. Not worth it for me at least.
Thanks for the thoughts. I'll give it 'the college try' which is 30 pages. if i'm not curious to what happens it will be given away. :)
I read it when I was younger and re-read agagin just a year or two ago and found it held up really well and was just as powerful as the first time. I think you'll want to stick with it after 30 pages. Enjoy!
personally it's one of my favorite books.
Sarah wrote: "Thanks for the thoughts. I'll give it 'the college try' which is 30 pages. if i'm not curious to what happens it will be given away. :)"Where did you here the term 'the college try'? Thanks for explaining it, and that idea is simply quite brilliant! I'm going to do that with books from now on.
Yes you should read it. I liked but reading in a grade 7/8 split class is a bit awkward I have to say. Epsecially when you are listening to it on a cassete tape! LOL. Good times!
The best part about it (since you've got a bunch of books to read) is that it isn't very long. I think you will enjoy the book - I did even re-reading it not that long ago and I'm 29. It's the first of a group (I'll not call it a series because it isn't a typical series) and I enjoy all of them.
I read it just last year and I'm 37, and I loved it.
I read it for the first time last year - I boycotted reading it in middle school because I wasn't interested...thankfully, it was one of those classes where there were multiple groups reading different books - but I liked it when I read it - its an easy read, but has some thought-provoking ideas
YES OMG IT IS AN AWESOME BOOK:):):):):):):):):):)
Anna--giving a book about 30 pages is something I started doing after slugging through books that I had felt guilty about not finishing once started. I got over that when I realized that I wasn't getting anything out forcing myself to read stupid books, plus there are too many out there to read so if i'm not hooked in 30 pages I go to the next. The Old College Try is just an old saying meaning giving your best shot. I will be reading the giver and I hope I enjoy it as much as all of you!
Absolutely. I read this as a kid and recently read it again as part of my children's literature class. I had to analyze several features of it, and let me tell you, the author is wonderful at describing scenes. The plot is haunting and thought provoking. It really starts picking up in chapter seven. Try to stick it out until Jonas's first encounter with The Giver. I won't give anything away, but I wouldn't want you to base the entire book on the first 30 pages because that's not really the meat and potatoes of the book. Happy reading!
Read it! It's a fast read, but savor every word. I never read it in school -- I read it with my son when he was in grade school. I consider it a classic.
We just read it for school, and it was a pretty good book. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it does cover some pretty deep stuff without sounding too dark and "scary" I guess. I'd say that you should try it for sure, even if you don't end up liking it, it's worth the reading experience.
Read it! This was sort of my first dystopian-themed book and it stuck with me. It's not something you forget easily but its also not something you would talk about all the time.
i read half this morning... it's interesting.
Anna wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Thanks for the thoughts. I'll give it 'the college try' which is 30 pages. if i'm not curious to what happens it will be given away. :)"Where did you here the term 'the college tr..."
I think 30 pages sounds more like the high school try; I think books deserve at least 100 pages to be the college try. 30 pages is generally the introduction.
I just read it this week. Am 31 years old and had never read it before. It's definitely worth the 2-3 hours it will take you to get through its few pages. 4/5 stars.
I just finished it this morning. you were right.. interesting and different. I'm wondering what it would be like if it were more in depth, longer and for adults. I have a lot of questions and think that the "world" created by Lowry could have easily been more embelished and then more of the questions would be answered. I think the end was a bit weird and "fluffy".
I too wonder what it would have been like if it were written for adults. It probably would have been more dark and intense, but I think it was just right for the age range it was written for. As for not answering all the questions that arise as you read, I remember that it was frustrating to not have them answered as a kid, but when a lot of things are left unsaid, it lets your imagination run wild. I wouldn't want every book that I read to end that way, but I think it worked for this book. Next up, reading the books that came after!
Jenn wrote: "I too wonder what it would have been like if it were written for adults. It probably would have been more dark and intense, but I think it was just right for the age range it was written for. As fo..."Jenn Have you read the follow up books? I'm thinking of getting the next one.
I read it for the first time when I was 30, but I read it because I had to teach it to 7 th graders. The book has many layers to it, but people who don't delve into irony or symbolism may miss a lot of it. It's not rocket science, but there is more than meets the eye. Give it a chance. As for the ending, there are many interviews with the author online that can help you figure it out. Enjoy!
Perhaps I am more simple minded. I read this in my late 40's. Yes, it reflects a society of control. However, it is what is learned from discovering the truth, while living in such a society. To me there is a greater good to read from this book. Much like when I read, heart wrenching books about the Holocaust, and those who survived, escaped and overcame those tragedies. It's an easy read.. give it a try.
Ken wrote: "Perhaps I am more simple minded. I read this in my late 40's. Yes, it reflects a society of control. However, it is what is learned from discovering the truth, while living in such a society. T..."Ken, I read it this morning and did get a lot out of it but because it reads fast I might have missed some things that give it more meaning etc. Either way I think it would be cool to do a re-write for adults. A little darker but not as "village" as in m.night shamalalalalllalalala
The Adjustment Bureau.. perhaps
I read it as an adult as well, and it was a very good story. Worth reading for sure.
I've read this three times: Once for myself as a 20-something, then as a Jr. High classroom teacher, and finally just a couple of years ago as a reafresher. Excellent book that holds up to time.
Sarah wrote: "I have had this on my shelves for a while and have read that it's one of those dystopian books (for kids) that will make you think and is really good etc. I have so many books to read i'm wondering..."I actually read this for class in elementary school a long time ago. I'm now about to leave high school and I found an old copy of it. I re read the book(it's short so it wouldn't take you that long to read) and had a whole new perspective on it. So what are you waiting for? Go read it :)
it is a either you like the book or you hate it. but i recommend you to read it. its awesome
Sarah wrote: "I have had this on my shelves for a while and ..."As with all books, the decision as to whether or not it's worth your time is up to you. But I'm over 50 and felt that it was worth my time. It does have a young protagonist and it does appeal to kids but it is by no means solely a children's story.
It raises some issues that will be with us forever and there are moral concerns that will interest any thinking reader.
My review is at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... and I invite you to read it for more details.
What about the rest of the series, any comments? I read and liked the giver, but heard the follow ups aren't really a continuation of the first story.
Funny to see that so many people enjoyed it. I hated it.
The Messanger and Gathering Blue were not as good, but they are fairly short. You will see by the end that the stories are connected, but I didn't find the stories as interesting or as meaningful.
Sarah wrote: Jenn Have you read the follow up books? I'm thinking of getting the next one.I haven't yet but they are on my to-read list. I've heard they aren't as good, but I'll be getting them from the library for some light summer reading. I really like Lowry's style and approach to writing about difficult topics for children, so I'm sure I'll enjoy them.
yeah me too. I work pt at a library so i'll snag the next one and go from there. at least they're short enough that you don't feel bogged down if it's not as good as you thought.
Well. The original question did not ask if the book was enjoyable, it only asked if it was worth the read.
Yeah, not only is it an enjoyable story with wonderful characters, but it is extremely interesting and mind stimulating. The story really makes you think about society. Also, it is very well-written and the characters are very developed; you grow to love them or hate them or feel emotion for them when things happen. Overall, deffiently worth the read.
there is apparently a fourth book coming out this year - I read somewhere
Hunger Games kind of reminds me of it, in that it's a weird, different future world with less freedom than we have now. I read it when I was a teen/preteen and again a year or so ago. I think it's worth reading. It's a quick & easy read but thought-provoking. The 7th graders at my school read it.
Definitely read it. I read it before it won the award and was in my 40's at the time. Loved it.
Verdict: Ejoyable & worth the read. I got the second one, Gathering Blue today at the library. Interesting to think about society and how it could be so different; how we take the feelings we have for granted and the freedom to think and do things on our own and having the choice to do so. Yeah we feel pain and suffer but isn't it worth it?
I loaded Gathering Blue onto my Kobo (horrid thing but it gets the job done) and I'm about partway through it. Don't worry, no spoilers ;)
I read this and I was REALLY lost at the beginning... The first thing you need the know is that their community is without color and feeling... Other than that I totally recommend it!!!
I am 32 also and just finished it the other day. I loved it! It was a fairly quick read. If I didn't have two small kids running amok all day, I probably would have sat and read it all in one afternoon.
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