READING RESPONSE: THE GIVER BY LOIS LOWRY

My group has finished 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry, and it was an excellent book. It is about a boy named Jonas who lives in a perfect world where everything is the same. No one has a distinctive personality, people are given children by applying for them, and most importantly, no one can make their own decisions as everything is chosen for them by the committee of elders. Children go through stages in this prefect world, from year one, where they are named, to year twelve, where they are given an assignment. Jonas is the eldest child in his family unit of four. He is 12 and is about to be given a job in the ceremony of 12. Surprisingly, he is given the most prestigious yet dangerous job of receiver of memory. He is trained by a man named the giver who holds all the memories of the past, which he must transfer onto Jonas. Jonas goes through the adventure of receiving these memories. From simple memories about riding a sled, to traumatizing memories of hunger in Africa. The memories change him and the way he sees the world completely. He becomes wise and knowledgeable, just like the giver. Jonas soon comes to realize that it is unfair for the people of the community to be deprived of memories and making choices. He decides that the community must change. With the help of the giver, Jonas chooses to leave the community and go to elsewhere, a place beyond the community where rebellious citizens had been banished. When Jonas leaves all his memories will be let loose and the citizens will become aware of what they had been missing. Jonas departs on the long and difficult journey, facing some of the memories the giver had told him about. Eventually he reaches Elsewhere, and his mission to change his community is successful.

My earlier prediction, that Jonas would become close with the giver came true. Although some of the memories were harsh and depressing, it only made Jonas connect with the giver on a deeper level. This book was amazing, and I highly recommend it.

READING RESPONSE: THE GIVER BY LOIS LOWRY

I have started to read 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry with my book club. The book focuses on the challenges faced by the protagonist, Jonas. Jonas is a twelve year old boy who lives in a perfect world where everyone's life is planned out for them. When Jonas undergoes the ceremony of twelve, which is when each child is assigned a role in the community, he is singled out to train with the receiver of memory, who he later calls the giver. The giver holds in his mind all the memories from the past, which he will give to Jonas, as he is becoming too old.

I predict that Jonas will develop a close relationship with the Giver, because judging by their first meeting, the giver is very keen to tell Jonas the truth about the past. As his first lesson, he gave Jonas the memory of snow, and Jonas decided to trust and respect the giver. I think this trust will increase with each meeting.

The author, Louis Lowry, is very talented. She writes very descriptive flashbacks to the past, such as when the giver is transmitting his memories to Jonas. I am highly enjoying this book, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

READING RESPONSE: THE GREAT GATSBY BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

I just finished The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and it was amazing. It is a captivating story about a man who rose from rags to riches in the hopes of winning the love of a woman. This man was called Jay Gatsby and he was madly in love with a woman named Daisy. Unfortunately Daisy had married another man, so Jay threw extravagant parties in the hope that she would notice him again, as they had a romantic history. Eventually they became involved again, but Daisy's husband, Tom, found out and everything went downhill from there. Tom's mistress was run over accidentally by Daisy, and Jay took the blame. Then the husband of the mistress was so distraught that he swore to murder his wife's killer. He tracked down Gatsby and shot him. In the end no one attended Gatsby's funeral except for Nick Carrway, his one true friend. Daisy didn't even pay her respects, she just wound up with Tom, the horrible man who cheated on her, which I suppose she deserved because she let Gatsby get killed for something she did.

This story has a very interesting moral, which really got me thinking. I think the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, wanted the reader to understand that having to change so much for someone isn't worth it. Mr. Gatsby had to become rich and live in a mansion in order for Daisy to even consider him again, and in the end she didn't even attend his funeral.

My previous prediction that Nick would uncover the secret behind Gatsby's wealth became true. Gatsby had become involved in a gang called Wolfshine which sold drugs and other things for large sums of money. This way, he could use his quickly earned money to impress Daisy.

F. Scott. Fitzgerald, the author of the great Gatsby is very talented. He is excellent in writing flashbacks and is very descriptive of the 1920's time period. I love how he describes the party, as it makes me feel as if I am there.

In conclusion, I loved this book, and I highly recommend it.