I was so happy to have two tests this past Monday because I could rush through them and finish 'The Giver' (don't worry, I got As on both).
Lois Lowry is perhaps one of the most inventive writers that I've read. 'The Giver' chronicles the comming of age for Jonas, a member of a utopian society. He grows increasingly suspicious of the logarithmic lifestyle to which all members of the community yield. Rules for manners, rules for workinng, rules for learning, rules for dieing. After recieving his assignment from the Council of Elders he learns that his intuition was right.
The next book in the series is 'Gathering Blue.' Its characters, society, and vocabulary reflect the same kind of search for utopia presented in 'The Giver.' However, theirs is a life of jealousy, competition, and limited knowlege (ignorance is bliss, right?). But a few of the community's choice citezens — artists — have the skill and power to literally compose a future for their people as bright as "a summer-start sky."
The pace of the first book drew me along at a quick clip, keeping the discovery of the community and the exposition of characters fresh. I couldn't put the book down. I finished it on the very day I borrowed it. It is my favorite of the two. I really can't reveal any more about it without completely ruining it for you incase you read it. Everyone I've talked to that has read it agrees that it is a book worth reading at least twice in your life.
Posted by timf at March 7, 2005 06:40 PMTim,
Long time no see. These blogs are something else.
Afirem.
Oh no...
I love those books. I can't say which is my favorite they each have their own color.
Posted by: Tom at March 10, 2005 05:11 PMTim! I met your DAD this weekend in Merrimack, NH. And I saw your adorable little brothers from both a distance and a rather-not-so-distant length, but was too shy to introduce myself. Your dad is wonderful! And he says I should be congratulating you on a ...new job and a book cover?? :o) I was so excited to see/meet Frenches in real life!
Posted by: jen d at March 14, 2005 08:52 AMJen! That's so cool, I'm going to have to call him right now and get the details! Yeah, they went down to boston to see the old homestead in Hull. More to come on that book cover stuff...
Posted by: timf at March 14, 2005 11:46 AMYeah, it was pretty neat. I think his main impression was something like, "Who IS this girl, and how does she know that I used to live in Hull?!?" ;o) Unfortunately, those are the sorts of impressions I usually leave people with: perplexity, and other forms of discomfort... He was so nice, though!!! Allie Thompson introduced us (she's at my Boston church while she's studying at Wellesley). We were up there to see our Pastor's son compete in some speech/etc. competitions. Yes, I took the day off for it. Any excuse is a good excuse, at the moment, and since I got to meet live Frenches, it was a grand excuse indeed ;o)
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