Past Shelfari Reviews: Messenger by Lois Lowry

*Note*- Past Shelfari Reviews may not be written in the same language as regular postings due to being intended for a different audience in its original context.

Messenger (Book 3 in The Giver Trilogy)

by Lois Lowry

available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Books

This is the third book in the "Giver" trilogy. This book takes the first took books and finally brings them together. At the beginning of the book it appears Lowry doesn't want you to fully understand that we are dealing with the characters from the first books and then she suddenly opens it up that these are those characters. This story focuses largely on Matt (Matty here) from the 2nd book in the series. This book is my favorite of the three because of how Lowry blends the three characters from the books together. She does so seamlessly. There is no moment in this book that you feel that she is trying to force characters into actions that make no sense, which sometimes happens in a book that is part of a trilogy because the author wants certain characters to end up somewhere together. Lowry is able to make it seem organic that they all meet because of the stories that she has told in the previous volumes. 

I admire the social commentary aspect of these books because Lowry is able to tell the reader that as a society we need to care for each other without necessarily beating us over the head with it. She does so in a subtle fashion that makes you almost think it is your idea to want to change the world while reading this book. Lowry often in the series shows us that we have to have our feelings, skills, and desires, but that we should use these things to help other people that we come across. She does all this while creating a fantastical world that one wishes that they could explore. I admire Lowry for creating a book series that can teach young readers that values are important and that each life has an importance regardless of age or ability. 

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Past Shelfari Reviews: Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Gathering Blue

by Lois Lowry

Available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Books

This is the second book in the "Giver" trilogy. Most trilogies have a very specific connection through every single book, but this book seems like it does not connect to the original book "The Giver", but that does not make it a bad book. In my opinion this book is actually in many ways superior to the other because this has more approachable characters. The characters here seem to be genuinely nicer and not as melancholy as the characters in "The Giver", but this is largely due to the differences between the two cities that are the focus points of each. In this one we are in a more wooded, secluded type of town than what is in the other.

Lowry is able to create a world of secrets, intrigue, lies, and hope that seldom is fully expressed by lesser authors. Here she is able to make us believe every single moment and we feel we are taken on the journey with Kira into becoming the caretaker of the robe. I also love the character of Matt in this book. He is a fun character and one that is full of heart. I admire him in the story because he is obviously someone that shows a lot of love and concern for his friends. He is something that I hope to be in all of my encounters with people.

Gathering Blue is a book about discovering your true talents and how you can change the world. It is also about learning that not everyone that you think tells you the truth does and that sometimes you have to look under the surface to discover what someone truly is. This book truly showcases the human experience and would be a great read for anyone that takes it on.

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!

Past Shelfari Reviews: The Giver by Lois Lowry

*Note*- Past Shelfari Reviews may not be written in the same language as regular postings due to being intended for a different audience in its original context.

The Giver

by Lois Lowry

available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Book

This was one of those books that I had heard about for some time but never got around to reading until now. I had read Lowry's "Number the Stars" for the Holocaust Literature course I was in during the 2012 Spring semester at Ball State University and found it to be a great read. This book, however, was far superior to that book. What Lowry is able to create here is a world that simply could be the future. She makes us believe that it is possible without being overly fluffy with her words. She choices small feelings to give to the main character through most of the story, which makes it approachable for children. It also has some rather big concepts in it about war, being the same, and other stuff that an adult would also be able to enjoy.

This book is part of a trilogy of books, which I intend to read the other two as well. This book sets the stage for a wonderful world of dealing with emotions, dealings with differences, and dealing with the humanity in all of us. Any reader who takes on this book will be challenged to look at their own belief system because they will wonder if parts of them are "sameness".

*Note*- Past Shelfari Reviews may be written in different language than other blogs as these were written before the writer started blogging officially. These were originally written for friends on the shelfari site.

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!