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  • The Giver

  • Written by: Lois Lowry
  • Narrated by: Ron Rifkin
  • Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (298 ratings)

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The Giver cover art

The Giver

Written by: Lois Lowry
Narrated by: Ron Rifkin
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Publisher's 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

What the critics say

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

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Music

This audiobook contains small amounts of music. The music is low quality and feels out of place.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Terrible Musical interruptions.

The story was good.
the musical interludes were absolutely terrible. I don't want to experience that again.

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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

Wonderful story

Could not put it down, Lois use of language is so colourful, enchanting. There are so many layers to this story - so enjoyable

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Such a Classic - Needs a New Narrator

This book brought back so many good memories from reading it in high school - what a great classic novel! The narrator is outdated, and it always weirds me out when grown men try and read the parts of young children. Could also do without the background music - no thank you.

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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

A wonderful book

the narrator made it so believable I felt like I was in it myself.

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

Thought-provoking

I've loved this book since I was a kid. There's something very captivating about the world-building, the gentle crescendo, the deliberate and intentional word choice, given more light by the main character's own attention to precision of language. With each description, I can feel the writer's true meaning. She is truly a master at painting a mental picture, whether of terrible grief and misery or the profound delights of life. By opening up the world to Jonas in this gradual manner, we are able to see all the beautiful things in our own world that we take for granted every day, like music, colour, and the beauty of variety. The freedom of choices. Reading The Giver always reminds me that there is so much joy to be obtained in this world, and that the pain of everything else can be borne so much easier if we are all bearing it together. It speaks of the blessing of unity, of love, of the terrible, wonderful depths of human emotion.
In my opinion, The Giver is a masterpiece. Concise, razor-sharp, and full of depth and meaning. It is not overbearing in its length. It tells you what you need to know, and leaves you wanting.
The narrator was very good, with the kind of precise speech one would want from a book of this nature. The only thing I didn't like was the music constantly interrupting his narration. I was drawn in enough by his fantastic performance.
A book that makes you reflect and be grateful. A masterwork to be sure.

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1 person found this helpful

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

interesting atory

The person reading kept swallowing and that made it really hard to finish the book. Might just be my issue but it was pretty awful hearing all that.

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

Excellent and thought provoking

I remember our class read this book back in elementary school. I remember it made a big impact on me but there was a lot I didn’t quite catch. I think I liked it even better this time through.

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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

Amazing story

I love this book it ends on a cliffhanger but the question slowly get answered in the series great narrater too

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

Beautifully simple story

I first read this story in highschool and love it, decided it was a simple story I enjoyed and would like as background noise so I bought it here and honestly?

it holds up, the story isn't anything the write home about, it's a pretty simple story about independence and the self but it's solid and told well, the narrator isn't perfect but he fits and it makes beautiful background noise to fall asleep too.

Honestly still one of my favourite books because it knows what it is and doesn't try to be anything else.

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