The Giver

We are listening to The Giver by Lois Lowry at work.  I have read it before, way back in 7th or 8th grade, and I remember hating it.  I couldn't really remember what exactly I hated so much about it, so I was pretty excited to hear it again and figure out the cause for my disdain.

Now that I am  hearing it, I pretty much remember.  I mean now, as an adult, I can recognize that it is a good book making a meaningful statement and whatnot.  But I still think it is awful.  The story, I mean, the society.    I love well fleshed-out "fantasy" worlds more than most things, and in that capacity I enjoy this book. I just can't stand the denial of self that "the community" entails. I know that is the point, I know you are supposed to feel that way.  But it just... skeeves me out, you know?  So maybe hate is too strong a word.  It's a fascinating book, it's just not somewhere I want to live.