Eric Mortensen
asked
Lois Lowry:
I'm assuming that you wrote the dystopian Giver trilogy in reaction to your concerns about the direction you saw for our society. In the intervening two decades we have seen significant social changes with expansion of the internet, the further globalization, political upheaval and economic upheaval. Is society moving toward the vision you described or driftinf toward different but equally concerning directions?
Lois Lowry
Such a complicated question, with no real answer. We move, I think, toward some things portrayed in the book...both good and bad. In the story...great health care, great child care, good educational system... No crime. Gender equality. We continue to strive, with no notable success, for those things. In the story....hypocrisy in the leadership: Check. Loss of basic freedoms: Check. And lots more. It's a cautionary tale, I think.
More Answered Questions
B.E. Howard
asked
Lois Lowry:
As a fellow Brown alum, allow me to congratulate you for your ongoing achievements. It is with the utmost humility that I've found your motivations for writing similar and inspirational. I do hope our paths cross one day. If you find that "the work {or purpose or goal or result} of books" are to break "down the walls" that "separate us from others," what would you say is your ultimate goal or purpose as a writer?
Meighan
asked
Lois Lowry:
Three of my favorite books when I was a kid were Anastasia's Chosen Career, Taking Care of Terrific, and A Summer to Die. (I say when I was growing up but they're all still on my bookshelves.) I didn't realize until later that they were all written by the same person, because they seemed different. I guess I wonder how you manage to switch from serious to more day-to-day topics but still have the novels seem genuine.
Gee
asked
Lois Lowry:
Dear Lois, I have a two part question: 1) Were you a ever member of the Junior League of Portland? I work at the Association of Junior Leagues and we are curious to know! 2) What inspired you to write The Giver? Your novel was an introduction to dystopian fiction and 15 years later I still love this genre and have fond memories of The Giver. Thank you!
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