Karen MacPherson, writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, includes further quotes from author Lois Lowry as to why she succumbed to readers who loved “The Giver” but hated the ending. The book ends on an ambiguous note, as Lowry leaves it up to readers to decide what happens to Jonas. "I saw it as an optimistic ending. I didn't feel the need to further explain it, or go on with a sequel," Lowry said. "What I like about provocative books in general is that they allow readers to bring their own beliefs, political as well as religious, to the fiction, to fit, to find the symbolism." But she also received a torrent of complaints from readers, both children and adults, who wanted her to write a sequel. Although she was at first adamantly opposed to the idea, Lowry eventually decided to do a companion book, in which readers get a sense -- however vague -- of how Jonas ended up. "Now, I don't generally cater to the reading public's whims and wishes. But their reaction affected me, I think, in that it made me want to sort out things for myself," Lowry said. ("Lois Lowry’s Newberry-winning ‘Giver’ still ignites debate”).
The undeniable proof that Jonas and Gabrielle survived their ordeal is revealed in Los Lowry’s third book in “The Giver” trilogy, “The Messenger.” The following are excerpts from that book: In the schoolhouse, Mentor, the schoolteacher, gently tutored a mischievous eight-year-old named Gabe, who had neglected his studies to play and now needed help. (Lowry 17).
From a window, the tall young man known as Leader looked down and watched the slow and cheerful pace of Village, of the people he loved, who had chosen him to rule and guard them. He had come here as a boy, finding his way with great difficulty. The Museum held the remains of a broken sled in a glass case, and the inscription explained that it had been Leader's arrival vehicle. There were many relics of arrival in the Museum, because each person who had not been born in Village had his own story of coming there. (18).
No comments:
Post a Comment