Wowzers!

When we were down in California last month, I bought several books: Peter and the Starcatchers (READ IT IT IS AWESOME! DAVE BARRY IS HILARIOUS! WHY AM I SHOUTING?), Inkheart, and The Giver. I had already read Peter and the Starcatchers, and made it a gift to Becky for her birthday. So, I was torn between the other two. I decided on Inkheart, since the movie was coming out (DON'T WATCH IT IF YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK. IT WILL MAKE YOU HOMICIDAL.). I finished the oddly translated tome, and sent it to Emily (I like sending things to Emily. I can feel how excited she gets 2 states away!). So, I let The Giver sit for almost two months, without really giving it a thought (honestly, it is hard to get excited about a book with a wrinkly old man on the cover. Although, he does look rather Grandpa-ish. Kinda snuggly.). On Saturday, I decided to give it a whirl, and WHOA! WHERE HAS THIS BOOK BEEN ALL MY LIFE!???





It was INCREDIBLE.
I had read other books Lois Lowry has written, and thoroughly enjoyed them, but WOW! The Giver is probably one of the best books I have ever read.


Now, I know some of you out there know I also liked The Wednesday Letters, and were thoroughly disappointed by it, so you may think my judgement is faulty (You know who you are...). But The Giver is in a league of it's own.


It ended on a cliff-hanger, and so I quickly googled it to see if I was just being optomistic about how I thought it ended, and discovered there are two more in the, as they put it, loose trilogy.
I also discovered some interesting things about the book.


Did you know that some schools have banned it?


They think that Lowry is promoting communism. Obviously, the person who thought that didn't read the book, or if they did, they didn't get the whole entire point of the book. I hate it when ill-educated people let their tongues flap. It just grates on my soul. It's like saying Number the Stars (another Lois Lowry book) is pro-nazi.




I am pretty sure that it is on the good list in Utah schools. I hope so, anyway.
The Giver is an excellent book, and it is short. PLEASE READ IT (I am perfectly happy to loan my copy)! Or, if you have already read it, post a comment about what you thought!

Comments

The Mrs. said…
Wahoo!!! I LOVE that book! I didn't realize that there are 2 other books though...what are they called?
Anonymous said…
There is "Messenger" and "Gathering Blue." I haven't read them yet, but I am going to!
Katscratchme said…
Snuggly? Um... okaaay.
I DO like getting stuff from you. I can feel you getting excited FOR me 2 states away. :D
Zaphod said…
I read Peter and the Starcatchers when it first came out. There is a second volume just as good.
Jen said…
I read The Giver a long time ago and loved it. Drew has read Peter and the Starcatchers and Inkheart. He enjoyed both. I had him read The Giver, too. He liked that as well.
Rebecca's Oasis said…
I have started reading Peter and the Starcatchers - I keep on getting interrupted by my family... :( I have to start over - I have disjointed images of boys dressed like Peter Pan and a heavy peculiar chest that makes people loopy if they touch it... ;(

Evan has read Inkheart and so has Aislyn. They were thoroughly disappointed with the movie. No depth to the movie - fluff. They are currently reading Inkspell and New Moon.

We had an experience with the City of Ember. Evan started reading the book when he was in 6th grade - didn't finish it. We watched the movie last night for FHE and it was okay. Hollywood really has strange interpretations of books. They really botched Spiderwick and Liminey Snickets. It made my kids mad.

Sometimes Hollywood will do us a favor and make books like The Count of Monte Cristo beautiful; fun and enjoyable. The book put me to sleep. Or maybe it was the fact that I was lying in the hammock in the sun... ;) I usually have about 5 books going at a time.
Amy said…
I'm always glad to have book recommendations. I'll have to check the library today.

...Love the psychotic kitty pictures.

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