Thursday September 25, 2014
Year Two Book One: The Giver, Lois Lowry
Amy: I rate this book 5 out of 5. I have become obsessed with the concepts in this books and could probably dedicate as least half of the year's discussions with my thoughts, but I will just focus on a few.
First of all, why was this book assigned in grade school!?!? After digging through trenches of my memory, I think I was in grade 5 when I read this book for English class. The only thing I remember from that first reading was the idea of precision of language especially with the concept of feeling "starving" vs "hungry". I also remember thinking the book was about controlling a community as to avoid pain or danger and thinking it was a metaphor to listen to my parents.
My problem with the age group that this book is often associated with as appropriate age range is too young! A major theme that struck me in reading the Giver as an adult, is the portrayal of the pain and pleasure of choice. The community Jonas grows up in has decided that leaving the individual to make their own choices, will lead to their own pain and suffering and potential harm the community itself. To truly understand the concept, I think a person has to have the ability to choose and as a 10 or 11 year old grade 5 student, my range of decision making was very limited. I think this would be a better fit for the end of junior high or high school, where we are starting to branch out from the oversight of our parents and begin to live the potential pain and pleasure of our choices.
My second thought was I loved reading a book knowing I was about to watch the movie. It forced me to really focus and use my own imagination. Though the movie was very different from the book, I think the adjustments were warranted and I actually felt a bit teary eyed at the end with the transfer of courageous and brave memories from human history. Oh! Even now, I feel emotional thinking about how bad-ass humans can be when they stand up for justice! It reminded me of the Kid President videos! I will attach my favorites below....
In short, best book ever!
A Pep Talk from Kid President
A Letter To A Person Their First Day Here(Robyn, you can watch that on January 15th!!!)
Lacey: it was pretty fun to dig out my copy of "The Giver" from grade 6 with my name written all in the cover with various gel pens. Anyway it was pretty cool reading this book as an adult, the same with Amy I really think assigning this is elementary is a shame, so much was missed for me at that age that I was able to pick up on this time around. I really enjoy the way the book was written, its short but its deep and I was inspired to read the three companion books that go with the giver, for sure worth the read, I give its a 4/5 stars.
Brianne: I love this story. I think that it is so layered and suggestive. It intrigued me enough in Elementary but most of it went over my head. I've reread it a couple times (like the first time I met Lacey at camp!) and each time I've gotten something different out of it. I know the first time I read it I definitely glazed over the killing babies part.
First of all, why was this book assigned in grade school!?!? After digging through trenches of my memory, I think I was in grade 5 when I read this book for English class. The only thing I remember from that first reading was the idea of precision of language especially with the concept of feeling "starving" vs "hungry". I also remember thinking the book was about controlling a community as to avoid pain or danger and thinking it was a metaphor to listen to my parents.
My problem with the age group that this book is often associated with as appropriate age range is too young! A major theme that struck me in reading the Giver as an adult, is the portrayal of the pain and pleasure of choice. The community Jonas grows up in has decided that leaving the individual to make their own choices, will lead to their own pain and suffering and potential harm the community itself. To truly understand the concept, I think a person has to have the ability to choose and as a 10 or 11 year old grade 5 student, my range of decision making was very limited. I think this would be a better fit for the end of junior high or high school, where we are starting to branch out from the oversight of our parents and begin to live the potential pain and pleasure of our choices.
My second thought was I loved reading a book knowing I was about to watch the movie. It forced me to really focus and use my own imagination. Though the movie was very different from the book, I think the adjustments were warranted and I actually felt a bit teary eyed at the end with the transfer of courageous and brave memories from human history. Oh! Even now, I feel emotional thinking about how bad-ass humans can be when they stand up for justice! It reminded me of the Kid President videos! I will attach my favorites below....
In short, best book ever!
A Pep Talk from Kid President
A Letter To A Person Their First Day Here(Robyn, you can watch that on January 15th!!!)
Lacey: it was pretty fun to dig out my copy of "The Giver" from grade 6 with my name written all in the cover with various gel pens. Anyway it was pretty cool reading this book as an adult, the same with Amy I really think assigning this is elementary is a shame, so much was missed for me at that age that I was able to pick up on this time around. I really enjoy the way the book was written, its short but its deep and I was inspired to read the three companion books that go with the giver, for sure worth the read, I give its a 4/5 stars.
Brianne: I love this story. I think that it is so layered and suggestive. It intrigued me enough in Elementary but most of it went over my head. I've reread it a couple times (like the first time I met Lacey at camp!) and each time I've gotten something different out of it. I know the first time I read it I definitely glazed over the killing babies part.
I have been mulling over a part of our book club discussion for a couple of weeks now. In the book, no one experiences pain, disappointment, rejection, failure. Everything is managed. All of us, because we know the merit of those things, can rationalize that it wouldn't be much of a life without that. I can't remember who mentioned it but the gist was that, if you had no framework, no understanding of those negative feelings, you wouldn't know the need for them, in a way. You could blissfully go about a life that, yes, is very small, and one-dimensional, but you would go through a life that is exactly what you want it to be. I haven't been able to stop thinking about that.
Love this book. I would definitely give it 5/5 because it started me on a dystopian/utopian/post society love affair that has lasted.
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