I must admit that I was really disappointed the first time I read The Giver ... mostly because my father thought that starting me on Ayn Rand at 12 was appropriate and had already read Anthemand>/b> Atlas Shrugged by the time this was assigned to my seventh-grade class. and had also grown up on Rush's 2112 which remains my favorite dystopian narrative of ever. Now, I can look back and see all the wonderful things that I missed at 12 with Lois Lowry's wonderful narrative.
Um, excuse you writer, but EVERYONE is divergent. NO ONE IS JUST ONE THING.
um... YES THAT IS THE POINT OF THE NOVELS. The science is STUPID and IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. The protagonist has to go through the process of living in a system where people are SOCIALLY programmed to be "one thing" and learns that it's all bullshit ... again and again and again. It's all backed up with ridiculous science that makes no sense and that's the point: that we classify people into groups that make no sense and it IS HARMFUL.
Is it just really well-written and that's why people are obsessed with it? It's decently written. The science is /bad/ - but it's supposed to be. There's more female characters than male and all have varied personalities and experiences and motivations. The main "relationship" is the best I've ever seen in the genre - both characters talk shit out and MOVE FORWARD. They are in love: but that doesn't make everything roses. They fight. A lot. For completely justifiable reasons that they work through as a couple. Also did I mention ladies? The big baddies for all three books are (mostly) female. The protagonist is greatly strengthened through her relationships with other women. Women are friends and support each other and fight for what is right and have equal footing with men. There's very little in the way of gross gender politics in the text.
By placing everyone into "categories" the narrative is able to deflect all gender, sex, race, etc. issues onto the "categories" - there's no sexism and the "racism" is based on classes of people.
Also the female protagonist is surly and grouchy like Katniss AND SHE NEVER APOLOGIZES and unlike Katniss - NO ONE EVER SHAMES HER for the way she behaves. She's brilliant and strong and she loves women for the strengths they bring to the table and she's just really feckin' awesome, alright?
Yes, the /categories/ bullshit is some bullshit. And the author is totally aware and her PONT is that it is bullshit.
I really honestly think that you would love this series and was going to ask you if you had read it? because I find it so wonderful and...
I have a lot of feelings about these books. They are not perfect by any means, but they do SO MUCH right.
no subject
I must admit that I was really disappointed the first time I read The Giver ... mostly because my father thought that starting me on Ayn Rand at 12 was appropriate and had already read Anthem and>/b> Atlas Shrugged by the time this was assigned to my seventh-grade class. and had also grown up on Rush's 2112 which remains my favorite dystopian narrative of ever. Now, I can look back and see all the wonderful things that I missed at 12 with Lois Lowry's wonderful narrative.
Um, excuse you writer, but EVERYONE is divergent. NO ONE IS JUST ONE THING.
um... YES THAT IS THE POINT OF THE NOVELS. The science is STUPID and IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. The protagonist has to go through the process of living in a system where people are SOCIALLY programmed to be "one thing" and learns that it's all bullshit ... again and again and again. It's all backed up with ridiculous science that makes no sense and that's the point: that we classify people into groups that make no sense and it IS HARMFUL.
Is it just really well-written and that's why people are obsessed with it?
It's decently written. The science is /bad/ - but it's supposed to be. There's more female characters than male and all have varied personalities and experiences and motivations. The main "relationship" is the best I've ever seen in the genre - both characters talk shit out and MOVE FORWARD. They are in love: but that doesn't make everything roses. They fight. A lot. For completely justifiable reasons that they work through as a couple. Also did I mention ladies? The big baddies for all three books are (mostly) female. The protagonist is greatly strengthened through her relationships with other women. Women are friends and support each other and fight for what is right and have equal footing with men. There's very little in the way of gross gender politics in the text.
By placing everyone into "categories" the narrative is able to deflect all gender, sex, race, etc. issues onto the "categories" - there's no sexism and the "racism" is based on classes of people.
Also the female protagonist is surly and grouchy like Katniss AND SHE NEVER APOLOGIZES and unlike Katniss - NO ONE EVER SHAMES HER for the way she behaves. She's brilliant and strong and she loves women for the strengths they bring to the table and she's just really feckin' awesome, alright?
Yes, the /categories/ bullshit is some bullshit.
And the author is totally aware and her PONT is that it is bullshit.
I really honestly think that you would love this series and was going to ask you if you had read it? because I find it so wonderful and...
I have a lot of feelings about these books. They are not perfect by any means, but they do SO MUCH right.
Especially the ladies.