The Giver

By: Lois Lowry

Narrated by: Ron Rifkin

Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

December is the time of the annual Ceremony at which each twelve-year-old receives a life assignment determined by the Elders. Jonas watches his friend Fiona named Caretaker of the Old and his cheerful pal Asher labeled the Assistant Director of Recreation. But Jonas has been chosen for something special. When his selection leads him to an unnamed man, the man called only the Giver, he begins to sense the dark secrets that underlie the fragile perfection of his world.

Told with deceptive simplicity, this is the provocative story of a boy who experiences something incredible and undertakes something impossible. In the telling it questions every value we have taken for granted and reexamines our most deeply held beliefs.

©1993 Lois Lowry (P)1993 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, An Imprint Of Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

Newbery Medal Winner, 1994

"This is a compelling prospect for family listening. Initially Rifkin's voice seems too regional to portray the characters of this utopian/dystopian world, but he convincingly conveys the anticipation of the coming-of-age ceremony of Jonas and his friends. As the meaning of Jonas’ selection as “Receiver of Memory” unfolds, Rifkin’s characterizations become more powerful. Although the story drives the presentation, Rifkin’s juxtaposition of the young boy and the old Giver has tremendous effect. His voice for the Giver becomes increasingly weary and strained while Jonas' gains strength. Sharing this audiobook in a family or a classroom offers a valuable opportunity to respond to and discuss Lowry’s moving novel." (AudioFile magazine)

"A powerful and provocative novel." (The New York Times)
"Lowry is once again in top form...unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers." (Publishers Weekly)
"The author makes real abstract concepts, such as the meaning of a life in which there are virtually no choices to be made and no experiences with deep feelings. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time." (School Library Journal)

Amazing

On of the best books and number the star is good too by Lois Lowry

Good listen.

A fable of what humanity might become if those in charge sought a "perfect" world of efficiency, and homogeneity at the price of the human spirit.

Ending

the ending was a little disappointing. I wish you would have found out where he ended up and where he was prior.

An exciting adventure!

I loved this story. It kept giving me new adventures every minute I read! Thank you!

a great story

I wish the author would of extended the ending further, it left me wanting to heard more. Overall it was a creative and attention keeping work.

awesome

voice wasn't boring saved tons of time would recommend to anyone with a busy schedule or someone who has a hard time reading and following

childhood favorite

This is one of my absolute all-time at childhood favorites. It was amazing as expected

Excellent book

Great story, interesting point of view. Can't wait to hear the next three books. Awesome

Decent start to a series

Though it is not a masterpiece it does have the ability to make one think about society as a whole and how it could be better if we were emotionless machines. Really it only really states how communism only works when we destroy the one thing that makes us human. It saddens me thus to think about how it would work in our world especially since we definitely do not have the power yet that is shown int he main character. Really it was more supernatural what I saw in this book when it came to what he and his teacher could do but maybe it is explained in the later books which I hope to also listen to also. Until then I recommend this book as do hundreds of thousands more simply based on the thought provoking nature of it without seeming like it's smashing you over the head with its message.

A Classic.

This is how to write a simple yet gripping and timeless story. Narration was excellent.