Book Lair discussion

I have not read the book. Just watched the movie and found it pretty interesting. Some parts towards the end seemed a bit sketchy though.

Anyway, it has peaked my curiosity! Has anyone read The Giver? How many books of the quartet have you read? Do you think the movie does it justice?

I've read 3 of the 4. I enjoyed the movie quite a bit more than the book(s). Dystopia is my favorite genre, but the essential premise needs to make sense to me. I could understand a society's decision for "sameness" and even their desire to give up the majority of the painful memories, but the idea of ONE person keeping the memories and then passing them on just seemed far fetched to me.

Also, the loss of color with the relinquishing of the memories always felt a bit...silly.

Oh boy, that's not a good premise (liking the movie more than the books). I felt that a lot of important scenes were edited out, as must happen in all adaptations, there just isn't enough time for everything.

Yes, I do wonder how they were able to do all that. Losing access to colours and whatnot. I also wonder how they came to have people be born with that mark that allows to share memories.

There was a lot I wondered about the movie, really. Like (view spoiler)[where Jonas got his winter wear doing that final stretch, how the baby survived the harsh climate, how he fed both of them... I also did not understand the whole twin thing, why they killed one and why it was important that they had the same weight (hide spoiler)]. That and other stuff I can not remember right now. I was hoping reading the books would clear it up.

It's hard writing fantasy. You're creating a new world; if you want to make it unique and interesting you have to go the extra mile. Sometimes the book does not end up very believable due to that. I do think it has potential to be great.

There are a lot of YA dystopias out there, though. Quantity over quality, in my opinion.

I read The Giver when I was in high school, and absolutey loved it! Unfortunately, I forgot the title and couldn't find it back for quite a while. It's just recently, with everyone talking about the film, that I finally put a name on this book! But this book was one of my firsts big big book crushes.

I can't compare the book and the movie since I haven't seen the movie, guess I'll have to go to the theater and have a look at it!

Please let us know what you thought of it when you watch the movie! Will you be rereading the book first?

Yes, I think I will (re-read the book), because it has been such a long time! But as far as I know, the movie is not out here yet, and I am wondering if it's ever going to be out in the theaters. After all, China is a dictatorship and I'm not sure it'll take well that kind of social criticism.

So I guess I'll have to go to the DVD store when I get back here.

Hmm I did not consider that... China is very well developed in some aspects but yes it's still a dictatorship.

Well, I suppose if you can not go to the movies or get the DVD you could order online? The wonders of the internet :)

Yup, planning a trip to the DVD store as soon as I'll be back. In their backroom, they have everything, even before it gets officially out in DVD.

DVD stores here are a real Ali Baba cavern (not really legal though).

Ooh a backroom, I thought those things only existed in movies! You mean like... A secret room, stuff that is officially not sold?

Life in China must be so different than Europe...

Exactly!

Although the backroom is exactly like the front room, there's just a door they can close if ever the police comes. And usually, the door would look just like the wall.

But everyone nows that they are selling illegal things, even the police (they are probably even buying things from those DVD shops). They have much better things to do than to raid DVD shops.

So basically, they're not suppose to do it but no one care, so they all do it (except when international community and big producers are not happy, so there are a few raids for showing off, than things go back to "normal" again).

Well I am happy they can be lenient like that, it's just entertainment after all.

Kinda feels like you're constantly living adventures xD My life feels boring now :P