Hannah

Most people read The Giver when in junior high, I did not until I was out of college. I still enjoyed the story and made me a bit disappointed I did not read it back when. The book is about a dystopia I find most troubling, one where your decisions are made for you. Story is good for young children to start a young love of reading and thought provoking subject matter.

Meh! That is how I felt when it ended. In fact this book underwhelmed me and made me wished she had stopped with the previous book. It would have wrapped up the series nicely. This story was often disjointed and felt like a clunky read. I would have rather the story been about Gabe returning to his home, so we could see what had happened to the town after they left. A mother's love is a great thing, but it could not carry this series, a series much more about self discovery and making the most of talents. This just did not fit.

Also just a burning question I had through the entire series.
Why do all of the other villages seem so primitive compared to the original village in The Giver?

This book is a confusing sequel that pays if you keep reading the series. Although as a series I find a lot of disconnect, I find Gathering Blue to be strong on it's own. A story I wish I would have read when I was younger. Strong female role model, self discovery, and standing up for yourself. I would recommend to anyone who has read The Giver and young children.

Messenger is where we start linking this series together. Where we find what happened to our characters from The Giver as well as Gathering Blue and how they all become connected. I loved Matty in Gathering Blue and I only felt more love for him after reading about him here. As Kira was a great role model so was Matty. Another story about self discovery that is great for anyone, but especially young children.

I have enjoyed many comedian's books. Zombie Spaceship Wasteland: A Book by Patton Oswalt will now be added to that list. What makes Oswalt's book stand out is that is not just a memoir. Movie reviews and treatments as well as comics give this book more to enjoy. The book can feel a bit discombobulated, jumping around a bit, but each section could stand alone as a great piece.

I actually finished the book while sick. Cackling and coughing just to get through some of the chapters. The movie reviews by Neil Cumpston had me howling. In fact if he wrote a book of just Neil Cumpston pieces I would buy it in a heart beat. Kudos Patton, I will look forward to your future works.