It was most uncanny that I should have read this International Herald Tribune article about author Lois Lowry (http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/15/arts/lowry.php) only to discover when I got home that she was the author of the book that Ivana recommended me to read!
The Giver. This story follows Jonas who lived in a dysto-utopian society where the ignorant bliss in which all it's people lived depended solely on the efforts of the Receiver of Memory. At age 12, Jonas was appointed to be the succeeding Receiver, after which his life was turned head over heels as he made discoveries he never knew he could.
I must agree with Mehegan that Lowry definitely "doesn't talk down" to her readers. It is not the frank discussion of the myriad human emotions that make this story, but it's unabashed acknowledgment on how growing teenagers are, frequently, deliberate kept from them. Although the intention may be noble, as in "The Giver", the implication of it is cruel.
Because it lacks the layered nuances we find major literature, it is easy to dismiss this short story as a callow attempt at analyzing the human condition; but for a 3hr leisurely read, it was enrapturing. I was genuinely touched by the eponymous character and his apprentice's unpretentious affection for the host of emotions and experiences that human life has developed. In today's increasingly commercialized world where many lament the loss of humanity, this story serves as a gentle reminder to perhaps "stop and stare" and appreciate our existence for all its pains and pleasures.
So if you have the time to spare, just pick of this novella and enjoy.
The Giver. This story follows Jonas who lived in a dysto-utopian society where the ignorant bliss in which all it's people lived depended solely on the efforts of the Receiver of Memory. At age 12, Jonas was appointed to be the succeeding Receiver, after which his life was turned head over heels as he made discoveries he never knew he could.I must agree with Mehegan that Lowry definitely "doesn't talk down" to her readers. It is not the frank discussion of the myriad human emotions that make this story, but it's unabashed acknowledgment on how growing teenagers are, frequently, deliberate kept from them. Although the intention may be noble, as in "The Giver", the implication of it is cruel.
Because it lacks the layered nuances we find major literature, it is easy to dismiss this short story as a callow attempt at analyzing the human condition; but for a 3hr leisurely read, it was enrapturing. I was genuinely touched by the eponymous character and his apprentice's unpretentious affection for the host of emotions and experiences that human life has developed. In today's increasingly commercialized world where many lament the loss of humanity, this story serves as a gentle reminder to perhaps "stop and stare" and appreciate our existence for all its pains and pleasures.
So if you have the time to spare, just pick of this novella and enjoy.
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