Science fiction book geared towards young adult readers, but I enjoyed it as an adult.

In a world without fear or war or pain, the elderly Giver assigns everyone in the community a role. Young Jonas is selected to be the new Giver and enters into special training from the Giver. As he learns, he gains the memories of fear and pain which no other human has.

Sent to AngelKitty as a RABCK.

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community.

When Jonas turns twelve he is singled out to receive special training from the Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now it's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
Very good book. I'll be buying myself a copy soon. It's one of the first books of a controlled future soceity that wasn't depressing at all. Kind of a good book to set your kids up to read 1984 some day, too...

In this book, the day when all children will receive their assignments for future jobs comes. Everyone but Jonas seems to know ahead of time what their jobs will be, as they are monitored by the Elders. (A kinder job assignment than more "grown-up" books in this genre; people are actually given jobs they've shown interest and aptitude in, and most enjoy their assignment.) So everyone is suprised when Jonas is told he has not been assigned, but selected for a special job that the children don't even know about, the Receiver of Memory. Unlike all of Jonas' peers, Jonas becomes the Receiver on the first day of his training. And, since there may be only one Receiver, his trainer becomes...The Giver.

Sequel: Gathering Blue

Received this in the mail yesterday. I started reading it this morning and am half way through it. I am really enjoying it. It's an easy read (since it's geared towards "young adults"). It definitely an interesting concept this community they live in. I'm sure I will be sending it on it's way this week.

Finished the book and will send it off to the next person (once I get the address). I enjoyed this book. It makes you think about what our lives would be like in a very controlled (or controlling) society.

Whee! What a nice thing to come home to from Thanksgiving travels.

The utopian society presented in the first part of the book is appealing to me, in some ways. In the absence of free will, it is possible to create an Eden. However, this one is not without it's problems, with the main one being a lack of emotion - specifically a lack of love.

One of my friends who encouraged me to read the book in the first place has said that it is the first in a loose trillogy, and now I think I would like to read the next one, just to get a better idea of what kind of world Earth has become in these books.

This one would get higher marks if it wasn't for the ending. If there is a conclusion, I cannot see what it is supposed to be, and perhaps there isn't supposed to be one.

AngelKitty sent me a message asking for the titles of the other two books, so I did a bit of hunting and came up with them:

Gathering Blue and the forthcoming Messenger that is supposed to tie together the characters from the previous two books.

Update 12/5/03:
There is now an international bookray for Gathering Blue, if anyone is interested.

Released on Wednesday, December 03, 2003 at Bookray in n/a, Bookray Controlled Releases.

Sent to Ppagano.

I received this book in the mail yesterday as a part of a Book Ray. I will be reading this book together along with my daughter, but may take me a couple of weeks due to I am also in the middle of another book that is quite lengthy. It looks like a very interesting read and I'm sure we will enjoy reading it together.

This book was a very quick read and very enjoyable, although I did not get the chance to read it with my daughter as I had planned. Jonas was a very unique and courageous young man.
Will PM next in line: LadyofUnicorns for her address.

I know I mailed this out to ladyofunicorns. Sorry, I forgot to journal the date. I believe it was close to January 9th, but it is on it's way.

Received book in the mail and am adding to my ring/ray tbr crate. As soon as I have read it, I will make another entry.

I really enjoyed this book. A controlled society...to be chosen to become the Receiver and the former Receiver becoming the Giver - hence the name of the book. I just can't imagine living in that kind of world...to have my job assigned to me...reminds me of George Orwell's 1984...