The Giver

The Giver

Lois Lowry

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         The Giver is one of my all-time favorite books. And for none of the typical reasons. It doesn’t have a great, passionate love story. It doesn’t have action scenes or heroic powers. But this story leaves a mark on anyone who reads it. It makes you think. At least it really made me think when I first read it around the age of eleven.

            Jonas is eleven going on twelve, content with his life in the Community. He is approaching the age at which he will be assigned his job in the Community. In the Community everyone works, doing the job they were given. No one is ever hungry, pain is very rare and quickly relieved, and no one is singled out for differences because there are practically none, they all live in sameness. When Jonas is assigned the job of Receiver, the most honored position in the Community, he doesn’t know quite what he is in for, only that he is given this honor because he can see beyond. He works with the current Receiver to take over the job, but slowly begins to see that his once thought perfect community has more flaws than anyone is willing to admit to. But Jonas has to wonder what he, just one person, even with a gift can do to make a change reveal the truth.

            I know the description is a bit confusing and ambiguous, but I refuse to give anything away to those who have not read this absolutely amazing story. It’s a short read, and even though the narrative is from a 12 year old boy, I would recommend this to anyone. I have reread mine so many times the spine is tearing.  Lois Lowry did a wonderful job creating a realistic society and characters. Her sequel to this, Gathering Blue is another I would highly recommend, and will definitely be reviewing soon! Five Pearls for Mrs. Lowry!

XOXO

Kenna-Lee

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


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(Sorry lovely readers for the delay! Two jobs can be a little hectic, but I hope to get back to regular posting)


This collection of short stories has it's ups and downs, but it's ups are truly spectacular. This collection, while the overall title is lesser known, contains some of the more famous short stories, and introduces many key characters into the Canon.
What's different about these stories is that the reader sees more humanizing of Holmes. He went to University! He has a brother! (Mycroft Holmes is introduced in "The Greek Interpreter") He enjoys picnics! (I know, right? Sherlock Holmes on a picnic.) Conan Doyle outdoes himself with the little details in these stories.
On the other hand, the stories also seem to begin to build a pattern. They have similar plot lines, villains, and twists. Some of the stories don't even have real mysteries ("The Yellow Face" is well-written...but it's not a mystery really). Of course, by the time most of these stories were written, Conan Doyle was already getting tired of the Detective, and it rubs off in his stories.
But, then there are some incredible stories as well.


"The Gloria Scott" is a fun mystery with cover-ups, ships, false names, blackmail, and friends! In this story, the reader meet Victor Trevor, an old friend of Sherlock's. The story is also all written in flashback, as Holmes recalls the case.
"The Naval Treaty" is a great story that goes into great detail of each suspect and each of their possible motives. it's about an old friend of Watson's who has an important naval document stolen from him while he went to get a coffee.


And finally, I have to dedicate a good chunk of the review to the most famous short story of the entire Sherlock Holmes Canon.
"The Final Problem"
Because in this very story we meet the most important villain of all. Professor Moriarty (gasp!).
The story has an air of sadness over it. You know it's the end, you might even know how it ends, but you still want to read it. It's that effect along that has made it so hauntingly popular. Here is a man of equal intelligence to Sherlock Holmes, ready to fight to the death to win. And of course, it does end up to be a fight to the death. Watson receives a letter from Holmes saying that if he got this letter, Sherlock is, in fact, dead. Foot prints at the Reichenbach Fall in Switzerland show the two adversaries falling off the cliff.
The story has a sort of anti-climax that works for the story. The Man of Mystery dies...well, mysteriously! And at the end is the heartbreaking goodbye from Watson.
I think that's why this story above all the others, is the most often adaption to radio, film, and other forms of media. It's a battle, it's a downfall, and most importantly, it's the loss of a friend. Conan Doyle's writing superbly expresses Watson's heartbreak, and it makes you completely feel his pain.


My only problem with this story is that it's short. Sherlock Holmes should go out with a bang, right? And a huge one! This story is quick and to the point. But I'd love to see it in novel form.


Overall, another good edition to the Canon. A mixture of good mysteries, a few oddities, and a heart-string pulling ending. 4 pearls!


Ta!


XOXO
-Babsie