Jonah begins to receive lots and lots of memories from the Giver. The Giver not only gives him pleasurable memories, but he gives him painful ones as well. Meanwhile, the baby, Gabriel, that has been staying with the family has not been sleeping through the night. Jonah takes the baby in his room and finds himself transmitting happy memories to Gabriel in order to help him sleep.
By this time, Jonah has stopped taking his medication for the stirrings. Without the medication, Jonah has vivid dreams, and he finds himself enjoying them. After receiving so many memories and having several dreams, Jonah begins to realize that he is notably different from all his friends. They all seem so immature to him now.
Jonah carries so much knowledge with him right now, he holds fear and pain and guilt, but also intense pleasure and happiness and excitement. This is much more than the rest of the community can say. I almost feel like this is a big responsibility to put on a twelve year old's shoulders. However, if anyone can do it, Jonah can.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Freedom!
This past weekend the Homestead girls swim team competed at high school state finals in Indy. We got second overall and the meet was really fun. Chad even took us to Steak N Shake on the way home to celebrate! And now, since state is over, I'm free to do whatever I want after school and on the weekends, within reason of course. I'm so excited, no practice every day after school. I'm sure you'll all be interested to know that I'm going to get a manicure today haha. I have to be honest, I'm doing this blog entry from my phone during medical interventions.. So I should probably go. Bye!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Giver: Pg 65-107
I feel like this was a longer reading, but the book is getting really good so I just read a lot.
From the very first day that Jonah spends with the Giver, it is clear that these are very special circumstances. The receiver has hundreds of books, which is not allowed in other areas of the community. He can also lock his door and turn off his speaker, which is also not typically allowed. The Giver explains that Jonah will receive memories from the past. The first memory that Jonah receives is of snow, and he receives it when the Giver puts his hands on Jonah's back and transmits the memory to him.
This is where the memory of the apple comes back. Although it is not specifically stated, the reader can figure out that in Jonah's world, everything is black and white. There are no colors. However, the Giver tells Jonah that he is beginning to see the color red (he saw it in the apple, his friend's hair, and the sled from his snow memory). The Giver tells Jonah that the society let go of colors in order to gain more control. Jonah is understandably frustrated as he begins to see more colors in his daily life. He wishes other people could see changes and make choices for themselves, but he also needs to realize that the choices were made for them in order to ensure that no one makes the wrong decision.
The Giver also tells Jonah that he tried to train a Receiver ten years ago, but she failed. And when she did, all the memories she had received were released into the community, causing nothing but problems.
I understand why the society has eliminated choices, because by eliminating choices they also eliminate a lot of problems. However, it stinks that Jonah can see all the power out there but yet cannot completely grasp it. By limiting the society so much, they are clearly limiting the true potential of the people.
From the very first day that Jonah spends with the Giver, it is clear that these are very special circumstances. The receiver has hundreds of books, which is not allowed in other areas of the community. He can also lock his door and turn off his speaker, which is also not typically allowed. The Giver explains that Jonah will receive memories from the past. The first memory that Jonah receives is of snow, and he receives it when the Giver puts his hands on Jonah's back and transmits the memory to him.
This is where the memory of the apple comes back. Although it is not specifically stated, the reader can figure out that in Jonah's world, everything is black and white. There are no colors. However, the Giver tells Jonah that he is beginning to see the color red (he saw it in the apple, his friend's hair, and the sled from his snow memory). The Giver tells Jonah that the society let go of colors in order to gain more control. Jonah is understandably frustrated as he begins to see more colors in his daily life. He wishes other people could see changes and make choices for themselves, but he also needs to realize that the choices were made for them in order to ensure that no one makes the wrong decision.
The Giver also tells Jonah that he tried to train a Receiver ten years ago, but she failed. And when she did, all the memories she had received were released into the community, causing nothing but problems.
I understand why the society has eliminated choices, because by eliminating choices they also eliminate a lot of problems. However, it stinks that Jonah can see all the power out there but yet cannot completely grasp it. By limiting the society so much, they are clearly limiting the true potential of the people.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
The Giver: Pg 35-64
Within these pages, Jonah has a vivid dream where he wants a girl named Fiona to take her clothes off so he can give her a bath.. This might seem a little weird but you should know that Jonah volunteers at the center for the elderly, giving them baths on a regular basis. Still, he tells his mom and she tells them that is called a "stirring" and everyone gets them at about age 11. Jonah is put on medication to eliminate the stirrings. The day of the ceremonies has finally arrived and Jonah anxiously awaits his name to be called. However, when it is his turn to be called, he is skipped. Thinking he has done something terribly wrong, Jonah worries about it for the remaining part of the ceremony. That is, until he is called up at the very end and named the "Receiver of Memory." While Jonah isn't sure he wants this position, it is supposedly very important.
I understand Jonah being scared, because after all he is only 12 and this job seems to be a critical one. He seems to be getting special treatment from people, yet almost being ignored by others. Jonah is exempt from many of the rules, which I think is pretty cool. I think this just makes Jonah fret even more.
I understand Jonah being scared, because after all he is only 12 and this job seems to be a critical one. He seems to be getting special treatment from people, yet almost being ignored by others. Jonah is exempt from many of the rules, which I think is pretty cool. I think this just makes Jonah fret even more.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Giver: Pg 1-34
Since I haven't gotten the chance to find a good new book to read, I figured I'd just read another one that I know is good. This in mind, I dug out my copy of "The Giver" by Lois Lowry. I remember reading this book in middle school I believe, and thinking it was the dumbest book I'd ever been forced to read. Then last year I brought it to Florida with me and I read it all in one day because it was so good. So today I read to chapter 5.
In the first couple chapters, the reader just learns about the main character, Jonah, and the community in which he lives. From what I can tell, the creators of the community have tried to create a perfect utopia. For example, marriages are arranged by the government, and each family is given 1 boy and 1 girl child. Each child must do so many volunteer hours as they grow up, and Jonah does volunteer hours with his friend Asher. Each child is assigned a profession when they turn twelve. Jonah is currently 11 and describes being apprehensive about receiving his assignment.
One interesting thing that happened was a memory that Jonah recalled. It will become important later in the book. Jonah remembers seeing an apple change as he played catch with it. He can't put his finger on it, but something bizarre happened.
Jonah's family take in a baby to nurse him, because his father takes care of babies for a living. Jonah's little sister remarks that Jonah and the baby, Gabriel, both have the same light colored eyes (this is odd because everyone in the community has dark eyes).
Although it is not directly stated, it is clear to the reader by this point in the book that Jonah is different than most of the other people in his community. He seems to think differently than others. He doesn't necessarily rebel against what everyone else is doing, but he may question it. The eyes thing is also pretty important, for some reason everyone in the community has dark eyes, except Jonah and this new baby. I think (ok.. i know) this small fact will turn out to be rather significant later in the book.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Will You Ever Quit?
No, we want some more, we want some more, we want some more.
Swimming at the girls sectional finals yesterday, our team could be heard chanting this as we walked out before the meet. A couple of the girls started saying it, and it just stuck I guess. So I looked up the scene and watched it a couple times, from one of my favorite movies, Remember the Titans. I think it means that you can have all the physical power you want, but you have to have "soul power." You have to want to win more than anything. That's exactly what the HHS Girls Swim and Dive team wanted yesterday, and our Soul Power led us to win first place.
Swimming at the girls sectional finals yesterday, our team could be heard chanting this as we walked out before the meet. A couple of the girls started saying it, and it just stuck I guess. So I looked up the scene and watched it a couple times, from one of my favorite movies, Remember the Titans. I think it means that you can have all the physical power you want, but you have to have "soul power." You have to want to win more than anything. That's exactly what the HHS Girls Swim and Dive team wanted yesterday, and our Soul Power led us to win first place.
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