September 23, 2008

The Giver

Rating:
Awards: Newbery Medal Winner 1994
Author: Lois Lowry
Narrator: Ron Rifkin
Category: Fiction
Publisher: Listening Library
Release Date: 2003
Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins
Unabridged

An Overview:
I read The Giver for the first time when I was in college. I had purchased it for my sister as a holiday present, but being the book junkie that I am, I had to read it first. I read it cover to cover in one sitting. I wouldn't give away the ending, but when I reached the end, I had to turn it over and read it a second time! My sister never did end up getting the book, that's how much I loved the book.

The story takes place in what seems at first to be a utopian society. Distress is to be eliminated at all costs and the citizens all seem happy to comply with the extensive rules. Marriages are arranged in order to create the most compatible relationships. Families meet on a daily basis to share dreams and talk about what they are feeling in order to prevent resentment and anger. There was no violence, no poverty, none of the ills that our society faces today.

On a closer look, you learn that the price for what seems like a perfect society was far greater than initially realized. Referring to their period of time as "Sameness" is a good clue to this. Nonconformity, however small, is to be prevented at all costs. Emotional and sexual bonds can lead to emotional distress, therefore are discouraged, even to the point of requiring all of the adults to take medication to prevent 'stirrings' (sexual feelings).

Family units consist of a mother and father with up to two children, but reproduction is left in the hands of the government, who uses surrogate "birthmothers" and then chooses who may or may not adopt the infants. After the children have grown up and no longer live with their parents, the partnership is dissolved. Eventually, even the children forget their parents as they move on to the childrearing phase of their lives.

Jonas, the main character in the book, is approaching his twelfth birthday when the story begins. During the coming of age ceremony, the twelve year olds are assigned the jobs that they will be doing for the rest of their lives. He is assigned the job of "Receiver of Memory". If there is ever a need for accessing the information from the eras before Sameness, the Receiver has those memories and can help to make decisions without having to upset the other members of the community with those memories.

As Jonas trains for the position, he begins to receive the memories from the previous Receiver (known to Jonas as The Giver). He starts to question everything he has ever known and comes to some frightening conclusions about his home.

While I loved the book in college, I wasn't sure I would recommend it because the end left me so disturbed. However, since then, Lois Lowry has published two more books that are loosely tied to The Giver, giving some resolution to the open ended conclusion to this fabulous book.

The Narration:
Rifkin's voice as the Giver becomes strained while Jonas' gains strength as the story progresses to great affect.

Audiobook reviewed by Sarah Gross