One Japanese college student's reaction to The Giver

Hi fellow Giver fans,

At my university, first year students have a choice of English novels to read over the summer, and they need to write a reaction to the book when they return. Several of my students chose The Giver, and here is one of those reactions. The student gave me permission to post her reaction.

Mark Christianson, ICU
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My Reaction to The Giver
By S. K.

I read The Giver by Lois Lowry this summer. I like reading SF story. Though SF story must not be realistic in general, it makes us think our real world more deeply. I have read a lot of SF stories, such as Hoshi Shinichi who is one of the most famous SF story writerｓ in Japan. Therefore, I chose The Giver after I read the outline of this book. I guessed how the world looks like in this book.

The main character, Jonas lives in ideal place. People who live there are almost equal. There are no war, fear, and pain. However, there are no sex, real family, color. They are controlled in order to cut differences among people, to give people happy life equality. There are a lot of rules which people have to keep. For example, they cannot boast about one’s special ability. When children become twelve, they assigned each role according to individual interest and aptitude by the council of elders. After selection, they start to training for their roles to be full-fledged. People have to marry with the person who is selected as each appropriate partner. And the people who are old or disabled are released. Jonas is selected as The Giver, who is the only person to know and feel the memories of true pain and pleasure of life. He was told that by The Receiver. As he knows real pleasure, love, and pain, he questions about his community. At least, he decides to open this feeling to everyone. He wants them to know real love, family, pleasure, pain, difficulty as human beings.

After reading this book, I focused two points. The first is “differences”. Before Jonas tells everyone real feelings, they are almost equal. It seems an ideal thing, but can they live as individual? “Because all members differ, they are wonderful.”This passage is quoted from “Me and Small Bids and Bell” by Misuzu Kaneko, who is my favorite poet. To have identity and to choice own way of life are very important things as a person. The second point is “relationship”. I was very impressed about the relationship between The Giver (Jonas) and The Receiver. They suffer their own positions, but they help each others and finally accomplish important thing to make their world wonderful place.

I want everyone to read this book. This book makes us think what is to live with others.