The Giver

[DarkJedi]

We just saw the movie The Giver this weekend. I didn’t realize we had the book, DD said she had read it as a teen and turns out it was on our shelf. DS read it and I plan to read it. I loved the movie, and both children say the book explains things in much more detail.

I saw in it a parallel of sorts to those of us who are less orthodox. Trying not to spoil the book/movie, the general population was very conformist, and thought and believed alike. They unquestioningly followed their leaders. Only the Giver and the Receiver could see things differently. I found myself very much relating to the Giver and Receiver in being able to see what the majority couldn’t see, or didn’t want to see.

Anyone else seen the movie or read the book and do you have comments?

[mom3]

I read the book on a plane trip years ago. It was mind bending then, now I reflect on it all the time. (Won’t say more for spoilers.)

[cwald]

Read the book for a lit college class on the 90s. It’s a life changer.

[Old-Timer]

Great book. Highly recommend it.

[SunbeltRed]

I’m totally intrigued now – thanks for the next book suggestion.

[Roadrunner]

Saw the movie but haven’t read the book yet, but I ordered it as soon as I saw your post. In fact I saw the movie not long after I got my most recent calling and it really made me think. I’m seeing firsthand the deference that people have for even local leaders and it gives me pause and makes me want to be careful with words and actions.

Lots of lessons to be learned from the movie, too many for me to discuss here. It made me think about some periods of church history but also about some periods of US history. I wonder if I’d have to courage to stand up for something difficult when everyone else is doing what they are told.

Thanks for this thread.

[SunbeltRed]

I read this the other week.

Let me say that I really liked it, but when I finished it I felt more sad than I had felt in a long time. After processing the book for a few weeks and trying to understand my reaction, I think it was mostly due to the situation at the end and having a 1.5 year old and projecting.

But I think part of it also stems from the analogy of the book, of what the main character experiences and how it relates to those of use who now think and feel differently than others around us.

Overall, highly recommended.

[hawkgrrrl]

A great movie. I really liked it. So many of the YA books out there (Harry Potter series, Divergent, Hunger Games, MazeRunner, the Giver) teach kids the dangers of conformity and doing what you are told. The church really needs to realize that this is going to be a problem as Millenials come of age. I read this really interesting article about how Harry Potter was the source of most of the values of this generation, and one thing they hate is authoritarian hypocrisy. I blogged about it here: http://www.wheatandtares.org/14440/what-would-dolores-umbridge-do/

But in a funnier vein, if you didn’t see this SNL parody of all these types of movies, you have to watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnTltDzqhzM

[DarkJedi]

hawkgrrrl wrote:

But in a funnier vein, if you didn’t see this SNL parody of all these types of movies, you have to watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnTltDzqhzM

Loved it! Thanks for the laugh.

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