The Giver

I read The Giver today, which used to be my favorite book back in the day...I first read it in the fifth grade, when my teacher was Mrs. Wilson, who is the cousin or niece of Dr. Wehrbein, who teaches in the physics department. Anyway, The Giver is a pretty good book, and I recommend that you read it if you haven't. The New York Times called it "a powerful and provocative novel," thus proving (possibly) that it is a good book to read.

I have, however, been finding places in books that make me think "what the hell?" and stuff like that. For instance, they don't talk about cars or other vehicles at all...then The Giver brings it up like it is normal. Everyone riding around on bikes, and The Giver gets a car all of a sudden? Does that even make sense?

The author, Lois Lowry, seems to not use language as effectively as she should. When Jonas is thinking of the rules he has broken, right after crossing the bridge separating his community from others, Lowry builds up the "suspense" and "mood" or whatever...she says that Jonas doesn't take his bike, but his fathers bike. Why?

"It was necessary because it had the child seat attached to the back."

Anyone, even a fifth grader, can see that Jonas is going to take a child with him...and the only child is Gabriel...so you know that he has decided to take Gabriel.

Then Lowry has to ruin it all by saying: "And he had taken Gabriel, too."

We know, Lois, we know. Why did you have to spoil this glorious moment?

And then, when it is snowing and Jonas is ascending the hill with Gabriel, Jonas continues to ride the bike. It wouldn't have been so bad, but we know that the snow is at least four inches deep (Lowry describes how the snow covers Jonas's feet)...so why is he still trying to ride the bike?

And then, in about a minute and a half, Jonas is at the top of the hill, where he finds the sled. And the snow up there is probably pretty deep too, thus making it seem like there is a pretty big difference in snow fall in just a couple hundred meters...it just doesn't make sense.

Blah blah blah

Anyway, there's all kinds of things that I am starting to question. I guess it is good, though, because it shows that I am looking at the writing, not just the story.

Okay. That is all for now. I've read four books since Sunday, and am tentatively planning to start reading Prey by Michael Crichton tomorrow and finish it on Sunday.

Five books in one week is pretty good, I think.

Very refreshing.

And motivating.