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Another one of these inappropriate children's books I see.

The Giver is a 1993 children's novel by Lois Lowry. It is set in a society which is at first presented as a Utopian society and gradually appears more and more dystopian. The novel follows a boy named Jonas through the twelfth year of his life. The society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to "Sameness," a plan that has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives.

Jonas is selected to inherit the position of "Receiver of Memory," the person who stores all the past memories of the time before Sameness, in case they are ever needed to aid in decisions that others lack the experience to make. When Jonas meets the previous receiver—The "Giver"—he is confused in many ways. Additionally, the Giver is able to break some rules, such as turning off the speaker that listens to peoples' conversations in their homes, and lying to people of the community. As Jonas receives the memories from the Giver, he discovers the power of knowledge. The people in his community are happy because they do not know of a better life, and the knowledge of what they are missing out on could create major chaos. He faces a dilemma: Should he stay with the community and the safe, consistent but shallow life it offers, or should he run away in pursuit of a life full of love, color, choices, and knowledge, but also potentially full of danger?

Despite controversy and criticism that the book's subject material is inappropriate for young children, The Giver won the 1994 Newbery Medal and has sold more than 5.3 million copies.[1] In Australia, Canada, and the United States, it is a part of many middle school reading lists, but it is also on many challenged book lists and appeared on the American Library Association's list of most challenged books of the 1990s


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Giver

Tetralogy. Since they're a total of four books. The author calls the series 'The Quartet' :)

Perhaps that series comprises 4 books, but that is not what my comment was in connection with.

a 3 book trio

3 books is a trilogy. Using three and trio together is a tautology.
 
Another one of these inappropriate children's books I see.
I honestly don't understand why some people find the book inappropriate. It has been challenged and in some parts of the States, banned. There are some who think that it promotes infanticide and I wonder if they've really read the book. I personally didn't find it disturbing and I don't think it needs to be banned.

In 1995, a parent in Franklin County, Kansas, challenged the book on the grounds that it is “concerned with murder, suicide, and the degradation of motherhood and adolescence.” The book was the removed from elementary libraries, but remained available to the teachers in the county.

A school board member in Wrenshall, Minnesota and two parents objected to the inclusion of The Giver on a list of books to be purchased for a high school, on the grounds of offensive language and objectionable themes. The school board ignored the objection, but released a list of books to reconsider releasing before the next school year.

In Johnson County, Missouri, complaints were charged that The Giver desensitized children to euthanasia and asked that the books “not be read in class to children under high school age.” The book is still in the high school section of the library, but is not available to children under high school age.

In 1994, The Giver was temporarily banned from classes by the Bonita Unified School District in LaVerne and San Dimas, California because four parents complained that violent and sexual passages were inappropriate for children.

Perhaps that series comprises 4 books, but that is not what my comment was in connection with.

a 3 book trio

3 books is a trilogy. Using three and trio together is a tautology.

Ah, ok. I misunderstood. Yes, it is called a trilogy.
 
I haven't read The Giver but was curious about the author, Lois Lowry. I did Google her and found out that she is the children's author whose books I read and my children read. I so enjoyed her stories. I may have to give this book a try.

I recently finished William Lashner's The BarKeep. Main character Justin is a law school grad turned bartender for reasons explained in the story. He has a philosophical side and a well defined idea of the role of a bartender. The story is a mystery that has nice twists and turns. I will try another book by this author. this book was hard to put down.
 
All The Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
:star4:

"Really, Children, Mathematically all of light is invisible...."
Werner is a brilliant and curious orphan growing up in an impoverished coal mining village in Germany. His imagination and curious nature are fed by the voice of an unknown Frenchman who broadcasts a children's science program on a banned radio channel. Seemingly destined to end up working the same mines that claimed his father, Werner's life takes a turn when his brilliance at repairing radios is noticed by a ranking member of the Reich. He is whisked away to a Nazi youth school where he envisions all of his dreams of exploring the scientific world coming true.

Marie-Laure is a french girl living in Paris and the daughter of the master locksmith for the museum of natural history. At a young age she is struck blind by a rare disease. With the help of her loving father she begins a new life. Entranced with the natural world as she experiences it through her remaining senses, and enthralled with Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Marie-Laure's world is safe and predictable.

As WWII begins to engulf Europe both children's lives begin to change, and like a magnet, events beyond their control or comprehension begin to draw them towards a meeting that cannot be the product of chance.

Anthony Doerr has done something really special here. His writing is an absolute joy to read. You will want to turn the pages as quickly as possible, but at the same time you will want to savor every sentence. Books like this crush the spirits of aspiring writers. The author peoples the story with wonderfully revealed characters. Doerr is like an impressionist master who can capture everything his subjects are with just a few brush strokes. He effortlessly creates their worlds, and he seems to be schooled in all subjects. Radios, light, gems, puzzles, crustaceans, physics, etc, etc. Doerr serves up the story in tiny bite sized chapters that alternate between the two main characters. There is also a cancer ridden Nazi Sargeant-Major who is charged with locating a magnificent gem that was spirited away from the Paris museum just before the occupation of the city. The gem is said to be cursed. It will keep the owner alive through anything, but all those that they love will perish...

This is a story of people struggling against being defined by choices that other people have imposed upon them. Some are successful and some fail miserably. It sounds cliche, but this was a time when to stand against the evil in a system meant that you had to be willing to die. The title of the story talks about the light we cannot see, but the author shows plenty of light to us. A woman shares her scavenged food with her starving friends. A boy in a military youth camp refuses to abuse a prisoner. An old man, wracked with fear from his experiences in WWI, finds the courage to aid the French Resistance. A father carves an entire city in miniature to help provide his blind daughter with the confidence to find her way home...

As much as I enjoyed this book I do have a criticism. The end. And maybe I am being unfair, but it just felt disconnected from the rest of the story. For all of the effort applied to enthralling us with these characters, their struggles and failures, building expectation of their meeting, etc. The author seems to end things on an almost dismissive note. Maybe there is meaning in that, but I found it dissatisfying.
Still without a doubt a four star read.
 
Gentlemen of The Road - Michael Chabon
:star3:1/2

Michael Chabon channels Robert E. Howard. Fun lighthearted adventure reading.
 
Storm Front - Jim Butcher :star3:

Fantasy isn't really my preferred genre anymore, but this was a fun read.
 
Just finished reading The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls by Julie Schumacher. I enjoyed the reference to other books I haven't read but am interested in reading now, and the story was okay - it kept my interest - but definitely not a favorite read.
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

SuperReaderGirl,

Have you read any of the comedic Spellman Files books by Lisa Lutz? I think you might like them. Check them out on Amazon. I think you can read a few pages there as a sampler. If you haven't read any of them yet and decide to try one out I'd recommend The Curse Of The Spellmans (2nd of the series). Very quirky, zany and refreshing type of humor. Lisa Lutz herself is hilarious in real life.


EDIT: Oh yes, I forgot ..... I am currently reading Candide by Voltaire for the third time.
 
DATo! We've missed you!! Thank you for the recommendation - the Spellman Files books look fun! I just put the 1st & 2nd ones on hold at the library. :)

I have yet to read any Voltaire....seeing as you have read this title 2 times before, would you suggest Candide as a good place to start?
 
DATo! We've missed you!! Thank you for the recommendation - the Spellman Files books look fun! I just put the 1st & 2nd ones on hold at the library. :)

I have yet to read any Voltaire....seeing as you have read this title 2 times before, would you suggest Candide as a good place to start?

Dear S.R.G.,

The Spellman books are fun - not great literature I must warn you - but just good, clean fun; a nice palate cleanser between heavier courses of literature.

Candide, a hilarious novel, was written by Voltaire as a rebuttal to the philosopher Gottfried Leibniz's position that we live in "the best of all possible worlds". Voltaire, who was always critical of his times, considered this assertion to be ludicrous. All one had to do was look around him to see that this world of our sad humanity couldn't in any manner be considered "the best of all possible worlds". Virtually everyone in this novel goes through HELL on earth and many of the situations the characters find themselves in are very funny. Voltaire's power as a writer was to be found in his biting yet humorous satire and this book is generally considered his magnum opus.

- DATo
 
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn :star4:

Sometimes insanely hyped novels are insanely hyped for good reason! This book is the definition of a page turner.

I agree. Gone Girl was definitely an "unputdownable". I was hoping for another ending which would include the idea of double jeopardy, if you get my drift .... (don't want to give too much away here for those who haven't read it).
 
Blacklands - Belinda Bauer :star4:

A gripping serial killer thriller and a heart rending family drama play out side by side on the misty English moors. Perfect October read. I was amazed that this was the author's first novel.
 
Rose Gold - Walter Mosley :star4:
I like the series, I like the protagonist, I love Mosley's style. Reading an Easy Rawlins mystery is like having a really close friend tell you a wild story about something that happened to them. 4 stars, even though this one felt like it got a little convoluted. Too many sub plots occurring detracted from any real sense of urgency for the main storyline.
 
Just finished Blacklands by Belinda Bauer as recommended by 753C and it is everything he claims it to be. Indeed a gripping novel and I also share 753C's opinion that this is a remarkable effort for a debut novel.
 
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