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maryconney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
mikathereviewer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
At first I was excited to read this book, the premise sounded interesting and I saw that quite a lot have read this book. I liked many things, for instance how The Giver and Jonas formed a relationship that was characterised by kidness and understanding. They bonded through these memories they shared. Another thing that was interesting to see was how Jonas reacted to the memories he received. The way his mind and behaviour changed.
I also liked how the new things (like seeing beyond) was described to us readers, giving the feeling like we experienced it for the first time as well. While I read about the things that Jonas and also the rest of the people didn't know of as they didn't have this memory and therefore knowledge I was shocked. I couldn't imagine how one could lose that much. While reading I learnt how selfish the society was to burden the Giver with all memories and not wanting to have these memories as well. That made the Giver feel very lonely, as he had no one to share his feelings about. I felt sad for him, especially as to how his behaviour when he was sad was described.
Some afternoons The Giver sent him away without training. Jonas knew, on days when he arrived to find The Giver hunched over, rocking his body slightly back and forth, his face pale, that he would be sent away.
“Go,” The Giver would tell him tensely. “I’m in pain today. Come back tomorrow.”
At some moments the writing style delivered the feeling one should feel while reading it good enough, but I was bothered how the book lacked any depth. The premise of this book made me think that there will be a lot of feelings, especially for the reader while reading. This didn't happen and in general I felt after I finished now this book, as if something was missing. I wished there would have been more to it, especially as the ending felt rushed too. The ending left me dissatisfied, I expected something else and I think that it was the wrong choice to end this book like this.
+ the plot twists weren't shocking to me, as they were hinted on multiple times before they were revealed.
Even though the concept/idea behind this book had so much potential it wasn't executed. The writing style was beautiful and in some moments I did feel sad (mainly for the Giver), but I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped for.
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
Chapters 9, 22 & 23 include a brief mention and description of starvationwelsh_witch's review against another edition
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
melist6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Gun violence, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide
the_book_nook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
isabella_boytsan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Slavery, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Grief
effys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Murder, and War
leahlovesloslibros's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Reading it as an adult was not quite as jarring as it was for middle school me, but there were still some very glaring issues with the society. For the most part, this story aged well, and I would definitely consider it one of my all-time favorites.
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, and Gun violence
Additional CW/TW: classism, elder abuse, warrainbowsandbookshelves's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Suicide
ghosterystore's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, and Violence