I know I have been MIA as of late and I am sorry for that. Real life just gets in the way like that but I will confess to have been stuck in a sort of lazy mode! You know the one where all you want to do is either curl up with a good book or watch some TV? That has been me and I have enjoyed every bit of it!
You all know how much of a book person I am and that I will read just about anything! Hence my reading of the Book ‘The Giver’! You also know how HUGE a fan I am of Alexander Skarsgård so in preparation of his role as ‘Father’ I had to give this book a go. I admit I was also very curious as to why it banned because in my opinion such as travesty SHOULD never occur!
From my reading, I saw no reason for the banning of the book as it showed very heartfelt feelings coming from a young man who was seeing the world as it really was, not the world the community wanted him to believe in. A world with no conflict, no rebellion, no color nor seasons. Young Jonas is chosen to be the receiver, the keeper of memories of things past that will help the community in making decisions for their continued future in an otherwise Utopian world, so as to keep the peace.
The only two in the community who feel any range of emotion are Jonas and the Giver and they would like to see this changed. In this community, everything is controlled, including to whom a person will marry and how many kids they have, which are not their own as sex is not an option. Pills are taken to stop the ‘stirrings’ of those type of feelings.
I am not going to give away all the details of the book because it really is a book that a person must read for themselves in order to gain their own insight and digest it for themselves. As soon as Jonas realizes for himself through the memories the ‘Giver’ passes on to him, he wants to experience all the ranges of emotions, trials and tribulations that a life not controlled can bring to him and others. That is his mission in this book and whether he can accomplish it or not is completely up to him.
As to why the book was banned, I did not find that answer in my reading but can only come to the conclusion that someone out there must have thought it too deep and hardcore that it might taint a young person’s mind. In my opinion, that is not the point of any book, the point of a book is to expand an individuals mind and to harness their own creative instincts!
At the end of the book, I had to use my imagination as to what the ending was because it was open to interpretation. It reminded me of a book I read for my Sophomore year English Class in high school, entitled ‘I Am The Cheese’ by Robert Cormier. That book,while hard to get into, really made me use my brain to figure out it’s meaning and intent. I have never forgotten that book and how it made me feel and how it made you think! ‘The Giver’ did much the same for me and I encourage anyone to read it that has not already done so.
As any Alex fan would know, he is playing in the movie version of this book entitled with the same name as ‘Father’. I had moments in the book where I liked the character because he was so nurturing and caring but he really did not have those emotions that you attribute with those words. It is just how everyone in the ‘community’ is and Alex will be great in this role.
There is one part in the book that I am not looking forward to seeing Alex perform as ‘Father’ because it was just heartbreaking for me but watch it I shall. I am looking forward to seeing how this book is transformed into a film for I thought it was brilliant!
Lois Lowry, the author of the book tweeted recently about a scene from the book with Alex as ‘Father’ they were shooting and it makes me wonder if it is the scene I mentioned above.
I do indeed know the scene by which the author mentioned and yes it is pivotal and yes it is the one I mentioned earlier.
The author also took a picture with our favorite Swede on the set of The Giver and he is just as handsome as ALWAYS! He always looks good in blue and there is reason he is in blue as it is part of his characters uniform! Read the book (if you have not already) to find out his given occupation!
As usual, sound off below!