Should have read classics discussion

This is the children's read for April 2014. I'm interested to see where this discussion goes and what people's perceptions of this book are going to be. Did anyone read this in school, or did their kids read it?

I will be reading this book. Did you know they are turning it into a movie? I believe it is coming out in August of this year.

I read this long ago and re-read it a couple of months ago. I didn't know about the movie - that is interesting!

I read this book over a decade ago, it will be interesting to revisit it!

I actually did not ever read this book while attending school but am aware a movie version is being released this year. It made me very curious about the details of the story, so I am looking forward to reading it. Plus it has companion books Gathering Blue, Messenger & Son. Am thinking the whole series will be made into movies??

Lisa wrote: "I actually did not ever read this book while attending school but am aware a movie version is being released this year. It made me very curious about the details of the story, so I am looking forwa..."

I'm sure the scripts are written, but they have to wait to see how The Giver does at the box office to put those movie's into production.

So true Lisa!! Let us hope the first movie does well then (globally too).

I saw the movie trailer and can't believe what they have done to the book. I won't be seeing it.

Has this book been in your school curriculum or your kids curriculum?

I saw the trailer, too. I am curious, but a little surprised as to what I saw in the trailer.

Lisa wrote: "Has this book been in your school curriculum or your kids curriculum?"

I had not heard of it before it was selected by this group. I was interested in the progress of the illustrations...didn't catch it at first.

Lisa wrote: "Has this book been in your school curriculum or your kids curriculum?"

Kid's homeschool curriculum and various bookclubs. I love the series (which wasn't a series when I first read it) and own them all. :o)

This was in our kids' homeschool curriculum. It has been so long since I first read it, so I can no longer remember how I first came in contact with it and decided to add it into the curriculum. My kids all loved it and went on to read what was the trilogy at that stage. My younger two read Son when I borrowed it from the library last year.

I think I read this book for the first time in school in fifth grade. I reread before each of the companion books came out. Somehow I completely missed the release of Son in 2012. So, I am excited to read that soon.

How is this going for everyone? What do you think about the ending?

For me it was just ok I was reminded of several other books and movies (logans run, brave new world, anthem etc)but I am sure others have thoroughly enjoyed it.

I liked The Giver a lot. I believe my daughter or others read it for school many years ago in 4th or 5th grade, but I just read it for the first time.
To me, it seemed nuanced and well told. I had forgotten that there are sequels. I will have to look for them, because I did want to hear more of the continuing story.

Lisa wrote: "How is this going for everyone? What do you think about the ending?"
I liked the ending, and it was okay that it ended when it did. But I was left wanting to hear more about how the community and The Giver were affected by the memories and also about how Jonas fared in his environment.
I read that some people think the last sled ride is a metaphor for death, but I did not take it that way at all.

I loved this book. Sure it was a little slow to me here and there, but it's so sad to think about what the Giver and the boy go through and how it effects their lives. And it's horrifying to me about what the father has to do with the babies. The ending was perfect for this type of book.

Has anyone read the other books in the series? There are three, Gathering Blue, Messenger and Son.

Not yet.