Apparently this is a book that some high school students were forced to read in their English classes. It was not on my syllabus for English, which is unfortunate because I would have liked to have found this book sooner. (There is always something special about finding a good book before it becomes popular). "The Giver", by Lois Lowry, is now very popular and is also a movie, which I have yet to watch. This as another book set in a controlled community that has become so popular these days. "The Giver" came out in 1993 though, so I guess it is one of the first of it's kind.
This book is very unique. It takes "controlled community" to a whole new level - one where you don't get to choose the clothes you wear, the job you have, what you do with your day, when you get to ride a bike, or even the words you say. Every choice is made for you. This was the life of young Jonas, until he received his job assignment to become the community's new 'Receiver' and was told that he is suddenly allowed to be different. He can ask questions, lie, and even be rude. His life is turned upside down and through his training he realizes that he's not satisfied with the way the community is run. What will he do about it though?
"The Giver" is a book that will make you ponder things that you have probably never thought of before, and it's thought provoking contents will stay with you long after you have finished reading. It's reasonably easy to get through and there is nothing questionable about the content. I recommend this book for all ages. If you enjoyed this book, be sure to check out it's companions - "Gathering Blue", "Messenger", and "Son".
Let me start by saying, if you haven't read (or watched) "Pride and Prejudice", you need to turn around right now and read it. Then you can come back to this book. "Mr. Darcy's Diary", by Amanda Grange, is the perfect addition to the beloved "Pride and Prejudice" story. It retells the love story between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, only this time it's from Darcy's point of view. The author takes Mr. Darcy and basically turns him inside out and shows his deepest feelings and secret thoughts. It's all of the things that the reader pictures Darcy thinking during "Pride and Prejudice", only his thoughts are right there on the page for you to read, reread, and savor.
It's obvious that the author pulls her story from both the book by Jane Austen as well as the movie (the version with Keira Knightley in it) because there are some lines that are almost direct quotes from the movie, but the general storyline follows that from the book. If you are familiar with these then you will know exactly what I mean when you read this one. The author also takes the story and adds on to it. Perfectly depicting what life would have been like for Elizabeth and Darcy after their marriage. This book is a very easy read, is good for all ages, and will only add to your love for this timeless story. Let me know what you think!
