The Town of Odyssey

I just read the most awesome book called "The Giver". (I will look up and post the author) I can't tell much about the book because it'll give cool stuf away but it was a very thought provoking book about the role of society.

Another book in this genre I read was called "Comrade" about a fictional experiement to prove that socialism was the ideal way to run a country.

I've also read Animal Farm and the last page of 1984. ( I didn't want to read the rest of the book after that.)

What about all ya'll? If you take me up on my challenge to read "The Giver", I would really enjoy discussing it!!!

I've read 1984. It's quite weird.

J-man wrote:I've read 1984. It's quite weird.

I didn't enjoy the ending. I read Animal Farm as well--don't see the movie.

What's 'The Giver' about, again? I may have read it.

Although I don't have the time to give my full view and opinion on the books, I commmend a writer who makes our lives seem foolish to those who are living it. Comparing it to silly things such as Animals...or brainwashed humans in the future, can really go a far way to getting us back in line. I always await a good read in that form of writing.

BC

J-man wrote:I've read 1984. It's quite weird.

I will second that. Not really my type of book. Rather foul.

Ahhh...the Giver. The closest that a children's book has ever gotten to a political cautionary. I read it in one afternoon. I'd love to discuss it LbG. Wooh, I don't remember the author.

It's about this closed society where your life and career and determined by a counsel...this boy is named "the Giver" (ooh what's that?) and he eventually realizes how horrible the society is and blah blah blah. Then he escapes. It's very exciting. Actually, it's extremely exciting.

Sorta reminds one of 1984. (which is a really good book you should read it LbG.)

The Giver is written by Lois Lowry, according to a quick Google search. I've heard of it, but I've never read it.

What I loved best about the book is that all the creepy and (what we think is) bad stuff about the society is slowly giving to the reader. Little clues are dropped. This isn't bad but it makes it clear the world is different. Children have "comfort objects" which are "imaginary creatures" called things like Bear and Elephant.

In this world, choices are made for you by the Counsel. You are only allowed two children, one boy, one girl. The things each child gets is determined by their age. (Certain clothing, a bike, responsiblities.)

And the worst thing that can happen to you in this society is being "released".

I've never heard of the Giver. I have read Animal Farm, though. I found it to be a very interesting and thought-provoking book.

I thought Animal Farm was quite funny. Very interesting too, it could hold my attention, even at 12 years old. Funny how they used Pigs for the communists too.

Isn't Lord of the Flies one of those books? How they portrayed the adult society evil. It was a cruel book and nobody who likes pigs should read it. It's a thought provoker though.

Animal Farm has been on my "to-read" list for awhile now, but I have not gotten around to checking it out from the library.

I started reading 1984, but stopped part way through becuase of the foul elements in it.

Ray wrote:Isn't Lord of the Flies one of those books? How they portrayed the adult society evil. It was a cruel book and nobody who likes pigs should read it. It's a thought provoker though.

Lord of the Flies...that was an awesome book. It wasn't disgusting...just thought-provoking. I thought about life and youth, sadness and survival...it was a good book.

I saw part of the movie on TV "Lord of the Flies" it made me really sad!

I haven't seen either of the Lord of the Flies movies, but I've heard that both versions don't follow the book very closely.

I read the book for an English class a few years ago, and it was okay. It was kind of sad and gave you a look at a side of human nature that I would rather ignore. I found it rather depressing, and probably won't ever read it again.

(And the pig thing was rather gross!)

I'm reading 1984 and annotating it for English now. It's creepy. That poor, poor Winston Smith. I'm in the third part where he's being tortured it's so creepy.

As in G. Winston Smith from "The Painting"?

Chandler wrote:As in G. Winston Smith from "The Painting"?

That's what I thought too when I read it. (An AIO moment!)

I love it when I finally catch references like that.

NOw I'm reading a series about "third children" and the fact that it is now illegal to have more than 2 children. If you have a third it will be taken away and killed. (To keep down the population.) Now the main character lived on a farm and did ok, but had to stay hidden all the time and then he got a fake identy and went to a school and do you know what they do to kids they catch with fake identies? The penalty is death by torture of the government's choice.

AHH! I am kinda thinking this is a little bit like persecuted Christians.

LovedbyGod wrote:NOw I'm reading a series about "third children" and the fact that it is now illegal to have more than 2 children. If you have a third it will be taken away and killed. (To keep down the population.) Now the main character lived on a farm and did ok, but had to stay hidden all the time and then he got a fake identy and went to a school and do you know what they do to kids they catch with fake identies? The penalty is death by torture of the government's choice.

AHH! I am kinda thinking this is a little bit like persecuted Christians.

Sounds exactly what China is doing by instituting a "one-child" policy. Parents literally abandon their children to die.