How The Giver Makes Me Feel About Christmas Time

 

The Giver by Lois Lowry is a book that stands out from my childhood. My fourth-grade teacher Mr. Fazzio loved reading and throughout the year would play audiobooks during our work time. I loved this because the books he would choose were always interesting, and it gave the class a reason not to be talking during work time. 

I know I loved The Giver, but looking back I couldn't remember much about the book. I thought it would be interesting to re-read The Giver now with a new perspective as a soon-to-be teacher instead of a student.

After listening to the audiobook and occasionally reading along I understand why this book was such a favorite of mine. The descriptive language in this book is amazing. Jonas grows up in a community where they've taken away deep emotions, colors, animals, free choice, and love. In this community, they also highly value exact descriptive speech. As Jonas begins his journey of becoming the receiver of memory for this community he gets to experience for the first time life's many joys and sorrows. 

I loved reading about his experience his first time on a sled. The confusion at first as he felt snow for the first time, turning into the happiness and thrill of siding downhill. This reminded me of all the fun I had as a child growing up in Utah where there's a ton of snow to play in all winter long. His experience seeing color and how amazing the deep reds and greens were for him. I always have had a fascination for color especially while I'm painting, so I related to the different feelings the colors brought out for him. The deepest emotion he discovered was love, and he felt it while watching a family unwrap presents during a holiday celebration. 

I thought it was so smart and special how the author describes the intimate family moments. The warmth of the fireplace, the cold snow outside, the happiness and laughter all brought me a lot of joy to read about. I know a book is truly special to me when it can make me reminisce about happy times with my own family. Right now the only time I see my whole family together is during the winter holiday. When I was a fourth-grader listening to this book I understood the happiness of Christmas time and opening presents. Now re-reading the book I understand the love and happiness of a family reunited for a special holiday. 

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