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* To some, "The Giver" is the coming-of-age story of young Jonas. As such, I'd count it among the best I've ever read.

* To others, "The Giver" is a tragedy about aging, where the main character, the Giver, knows too much and has seen too much -- all of which he has felt powerless to change. Personally, I'm such a fan of this book, as that kind of tragedy, that I would rate it right up at the top. I mean, comparable to the best such creations in world literature, right up there with "King Lear" by Shakespeare.

*** However, to me, "The Giver" is first and foremost a social commentary of almost breathtaking acuity. I shelve it as HIGHEST PRAISE, among the dystopias I've read, and also among the social satires I've read. (Think "Brave New World" and "Gulliver's Travels," respectively.)

Both "Brave New World" and "Animal Farm" portrayed dystopias that were mainly politically oppressive. Whereas this masterpiece by Lois Lowry reveals, through progressive revelations of the truth about how life really is lived in the dystopia... She reveals ways that society can exalt security and entertainment and comfort over riskier values, such as integrity, spirituality, and personal growth.

SUFFERING, WITHOUT KNOWING HOW THE SUFFERED

Materially and socially secure, the contented citizens in "The Giver" lived unquestioningly. Engaged in busy routines that were necessarily meaningful to them, in a deep sense.

Yet they seemed productive. Willingly they followed rules. They even flattered themselves about being truthful (due to studying linguistic precision from an early age).

Simultaneously, these cheerful citizens also lived with a terrible inner emptiness:

1. Both emotional emptiness -- shallowness
2. And spiritual emptiness -- as in the relocation ceremonies
3. Also, living with an extreme absence of authentic personal development... despite each citizens's many "connections" to others through talking, their prescribed rituals of politeness, and their incessant talking to others about their "feelings."

SUMMING UP WHAT STRUCK ME MOST, READING THIS MAGNIFICENT NOVEL

Many progressive iterations of learning... dawned upon me as I reading this first-rate dystopian novel. For me, these three were the most shocking:

* No Privacy

Why zero privacy? Because of the incessant togetherness, the requirement to share all personal dreams, and the wrong kinds of dream might have meant having to correct that problem with medication.

Ironically, the lack of privacy was related to the excessive degree of "sharing" (to use a term that I find revolting in its current usage, as a synonym for "talking," a usage that has emerged in recent decades).

Despite all that sharing, people in Jonas's society listening to each other as much as they might. Nor learning. Nor are they growing inwardly. So much social talking that masked so much inner emptiness.

* Free Will Doesn't Compute in that Society. Belonging Matters Instead.

Even one's name, the decision to marry or not, the choice of career: Nobody gets to choose any of these. A procedure, a committee -- never a person -- makes all important decisions.

So many major personal choices, in this dystopian society, are organized by others. As the founder of Energy Spirituality®, I find that the use of free will is one of the main ways that my clients grow. But in this dystopia, hello! The very idea of making a choice has no validity... At least not until, fairly late in the story, when Jonas and the Giver make some significant free will choices.

* Greyed-out Connection to Human Life

Not wanting to give away any spoilers about the plot, I'll bet that those of you who have read this book will understand some very specific things one assumes are part of everyday life in this dystopia. We assume certain essentials of life happen automatically... until we learn of their absence.

Shocking as could be, these revelations: They build and build during the later chapters, always striking me as progressive iterations of learning about quality of life for human beings in that dystopia.

IN A LONGER ARTICLE THAN I HAVE TIME FOR HERE...

It would be fascinating for us to consider how, even more so than when Lois Lowry published this novel in 1993, American trends have exacerbated the degree to which our relationships are souless, shallow, interpersonal contrivances.

For instance, you might wish to google "Energetic Real Time" -- in quotes, please. That can link you to a blogpost I've written on that topic. Goodreaders, you'll see the connection to what Lowry flagged in "The Giver." Because folks in this novel live as though there is no such thing as "Energetic Real Time."

One more example, you might wish to google "Collective Attention Deficit Disorder" -- in quotes, please. That can link you to a blogpost I've written on that topic. Goodreaders, again, you'll likely see exactly how that describes something that Lowry flagged in "The Giver."

IN CONCLUSION

Like many of you fellow Goodreaders, I am doing what I can to make a positive difference regarding the dystopian aspects of current society. My life work involves helping people to evolve toward using their full potential in life, that is, "Spiritual Enlightenment."

No, it's no accident that, in my most recent book, "Seeking Enlightenment in the Age of Awakening," I take on today's "Enlightenment Establishment" and do my best to provide better alternatives.

Each of us has a chance to bring more humanity -- vivid-and-passionate-and-authentic humanity -- into everyday life.

Whatever you fellow Goodreaders have managed to do... that helps... thank you for joining me.

NOW HERE'S MY ORIGINAL REVIEW, STARTING OUT TO READ LOWRY'S MASTERPIECE

For years I've meant to read "The Giver." Meant to but didn't.

Today the title came up for me on Libby. I clicked and started this saga. Already I can tell that the writing is almost frighteningly tight:

* Every transition? Perfect.

* Every scene? Exquisitely packed for !!!POW!!!

* Plot and character development are seamlessly sewn into every chapter.

Already I'm in awe of this powerful novelist, Lois Lowry. Although...

Generally speaking, I dislike dystopias.

Haven't read any since high school: "1984" and "Brave New World." Plus, along the way, I've read "Farenheit 451" -- because how could I resist a book-burning dystopia?

Now I've given myself "The Giver." Will this reader make it all the way through? I'd like to.

In my job, when not writing books and blogging and teaching, I facilitate personal sessions of Energy Spirituality. Already I encounter considerable suffering and pain, though clients are generally doing better after their sessions than they were before.

Still, why would I expose myself to a dystopian novel? Because this might be a great one. That's why.