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  • The Giver

  • By: Lois Lowry
  • Narrated by: Ron Rifkin
  • Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (73 ratings)
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The Giver cover art

The Giver

By: Lois Lowry
Narrated by: Ron Rifkin
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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

What listeners say about The Giver

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Annoying music detracts from the narration

A good story ruined by irritating intrusions of random music being played throughout with neither rhyme nor reason to its placing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

How it was told

The teller of the story giving the story a new way to experience the story by making it sound more alive like it was almost real

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Dystopian Concept

Great concept I which it had gone in longer. I felt attended when we were only just getting started.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great intro - dystopian fiction for young adults

I came across this book while looking for books suitable for young adult and adult readers for TESOL teachers and I would highly recommend it. I really enjoy dystopian literature as there is so much food for thought, but much of it is so dark and violent that it is difficult to share with new readers. This is really a wonderful book as the language is simple enough for new readers but the ideas allow for philosophical debate on a number of levels.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

fantastic dystopian tale!

imagine a world, centuries "post disaster", where a different kind of society emerges. Highly structured, where every citizen's role in life is strictly defined and there is no choice, no colour, no autonomy and no strong emotions. This has been done for the sake of safety and harmony, so there will be no more war.
But what has happened to all the memories of times past? They have been preserved in the Giver, whose role is to pass them on to a new Receiver every generation. Jonas has been selected to be the new Receiver of Memory. But his new role contains many horrible surprises, and as his eyes are opened, he is impelled to change the way his society is run.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Mehhh

Quite boring and uneventful. Interesting concept however. Had to read this for school and since I’m not really into dystopian literature I suppose I have some sort of bias.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good story but annoying voice

The story is very gripping and interesting but the narrator’s voice is rather annoying but overall it was really enjoyable.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Don’t bother

If you understand that without suffering there can be no joy then you don’t need this book. Just saved you a credit there if you hadn’t already realised that. Oh, what is with the god awful music?

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Griping story

The story was excellent - such a unique idea.
The storytelling let this down. While the narrator was great for the most part, why near the end of each chapter is there music playing, music that almost drowns out the narrator? And not sure why the narrator ends each chapter saying the last few words extra slowly.
Remove the unnecessary music and this would be a 5!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

creepy and brilliant

I loved this. Perfect reading, and the story was captivating. I could not stop listening to it. I think this will stay with me for a long time.

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