Lowry really needs to put more effort into her endings.

Gathering Blue had an ending that was truly one of the worst I've ever come across. It felt rushed and extremely weak. I got the distinct impression that as she neared the end, she simply didn't have the motivation or inclination to write anymore. Messenger is no exception to this shortcoming.

However, let me not jump ahead too quickly. Messenger takes up Matt's story, a character from its companion book Gathering Blue. He is now older and goes by the name Matty. He has left his old home and is living in a village where everyone is welcome. But things are starting to change around the village. People are behaving in strange ways, and the forest is growing thicker and more menacing.

The concept of the book is quite good. Although I'm not overly fond of the hidden message behind it, as I think it's a bit too obvious, the general idea of people mysteriously changing and behaving maliciously is an interesting one. The book was quite enjoyable to read right up until the last one or two chapters.

Unfortunately, many of the great ideas that Lowry had seem to have been lost somewhere within the pages. She could have delved much deeper into many of the themes, such as the Trade Mart, for example. It's just one of the numerous story lines that remained unresolved.

As I previously mentioned, the ending is just as rushed as it was in Gathering Blue. There was nothing to prepare me for what was about to happen. When I realized there were only a few pages left, the tension had built up to a point where it simply couldn't be resolved in just three pages. I really wish Lowry had taken more time to write this, given us more clues about what was going to occur, and also given the reader a chance to fully absorb everything before reaching the words "The End".

I did like how Messenger managed to bring together the storylines of The Giver and Gathering Blue. However, at least fifty more pages would have been necessary to truly make this an enjoyable and satisfying read.

The original article seems a bit unclear and fragmented. However, I will do my best to rewrite and expand it to approximately 300 words while maintaining a logical flow.

The text "WHAT?????????????" appears to express confusion or surprise. It could potentially be the start of a thought or a reaction to something unexpected. Let's assume that this is part of a conversation or a situation where someone is trying to make sense of something.

Perhaps the person who said "WHAT?????????????" was presented with new information that they found difficult to understand or process. It could be a complex concept, a strange event, or a statement that goes against their expectations. In such cases, using "WHAT?????????????" is a way to express their initial shock and seek further clarification.

For example, imagine a student who is given a difficult math problem to solve. After reading the problem, they might exclaim "WHAT?????????????" as they try to figure out where to start. Or, consider a person who witnesses a car accident and is left in a state of shock, asking "WHAT?????????????" as they try to make sense of what just happened.

In conclusion, "WHAT?????????????" is a simple yet powerful expression that can convey a range of emotions, including confusion, surprise, and shock. It is often used when we are faced with something that we don't understand or expect, and it serves as a starting point for further exploration and understanding.

This was an extremely disappointing book.

Certainly, some of the characters were rather interesting, and there were certain aspects that held promise.

However, as the story progressed, it unfortunately fell apart.

The initial potential seemed to fade away, leaving the reader with a sense of dissatisfaction.

It is highly recommended that one should be content with the end of "The Giver" and allow it to remain as a standalone piece.

"The Giver" has its own unique charm and conclusion that stands on its own merits.

Perhaps it is better to leave this other book as a failed attempt and focus on the brilliance of "The Giver" instead.

By doing so, one can avoid the disappointment that comes with reading a book that fails to live up to its initial expectations.

I'm off to a great start this year!

There are so many exciting possibilities ahead, especially when it comes to my next book choice.

The two options that are currently on my radar are "Red Queen" and "Gone".

"Red Queen" has been highly recommended by many of my friends. It's said to be a thrilling dystopian novel with a strong female protagonist and a complex plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

On the other hand, "Gone" also sounds very interesting. It's a mystery/suspense novel that takes place in a small town where all the children over the age of 14 suddenly disappear.

I'm really torn between the two. Which one should I choose? I guess I'll have to do some more research and maybe read some reviews before making my final decision. (:

Audiobook (4 hours) narrated by David Morse

The audio and narration of this audiobook are of extremely high quality. There is no distortion, no erroneous noise, and no obvious edits. It provides a seamless listening experience.

Messenger is the third book in The Giver series. I truly enjoyed this story. Initially, I thought it might be just another stand-alone story. However, towards the end of the novel, we discover that it is tied to the other two novels. I was so close to rating it 5 stars because I liked the story that much. But still, I am a bit troubled by the decision on how to write the novels. It seems like we started a whole other series or have stand-alone books linked together in some way. I feel that the author could have made the connection known in a better way that would serve the purpose of the reader without detracting from the style and story that Lois Lowry wanted to write and the way she wanted to present it.

After getting a glimpse of how the 2nd and 3rd books in the series are connected to the first, I am now excited to read the final book in the series and see how everything comes together. I highly recommend this audiobook and the series as a whole.

I was not impressed with this follow-up book to The Giver and Gathering Blue.

Despite the fact that the characters were not new to the story, I felt no emotional connection to either the book or its characters. It seemed to me that this installment completely missed the mark.

I remain hopeful that Lowry will conclude this series on a strong note in the final installment. I would only recommend this book to those who are desperate to obtain a few answers from the first book.

Personally, I did not like the plot at all. It failed to engage me and left me feeling rather disappointed. I had expected more from this highly anticipated follow-up, but unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations.

Perhaps the final book in the series will redeem this one and provide a more satisfying conclusion to the overall story arc. Only time will tell.

I truly have no idea what to make of this book. It encompassed a wide range of emotions, including sorrow and greed, as well as hope and anger.

It is the third installment in the Giver series. The main character in this particular one was Matty. He was an extremely entertaining and engaging individual. The world he inhabited was both simple and complex at the same time.

Matty's story took readers on a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. His experiences and relationships added depth and dimension to the overall narrative.

Despite the book's many strengths, there were also some aspects that left me feeling a bit confused. Some of the plot points seemed a bit convoluted, and it took me a while to fully understand what was going on.

Overall, I would say that this book is an interesting read, but it may not be for everyone. If you're a fan of the Giver series or enjoy stories that explore complex themes and emotions, then you might want to give it a try. However, if you're looking for a straightforward and easy-to-read book, then you might want to look elsewhere.

#3 of the Giver series holds a special place for me as it might be a turning point in a positive sense. However, it also sends shivers down my spine to see how relevant it still is today, especially after the disastrous 2016 US Presidential Election. In the story, some of the most hardworking, kind, and steadfast citizens of Village now step onto the platform and loudly express their desire to close the border so that 'we' (Matty shudders at the use of 'we') no longer have to share the resources. This shows a disturbing trend of selfishness and isolationism. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... I'm eager to complete this series, but at the same time, I'm filled with trepidation. What more revelations and thought-provoking ideas will it bring? Will it offer any solutions or just make me more aware of the problems that persist in our society?

My younger brother was always strongly opposed to my smoking. Sometimes he would even jump up and down like a crazy person, shouting and yelling, "Stop it, my dear! Stop it, my brother." Later, when I would put out my cigarette with only a few puffs left in the filter, he would shout, "Well, it's good that you stopped! You've spent the money! Why don't you smoke it all?" Now this is the story of me and this situation. I've read the first two books, but I still want to read the rest. Why? "Because I've spent the money!"

I couldn't finish reading this book. My reading speed had decreased because I was forcing myself to read it. But today, I didn't have the energy anymore and I gave up halfway. I, who would put out half of my precious hand-rolled cigarette if necessary, also give up halfway through reading this book!

The tone of the story is flat and cold. It's not clear at all why the world in the first volume, which was so scientific, suddenly became so full of fantasy. The use of imagery has taken the work to a place where it seems we are dealing with an old, philosophical story, not a fantasy or science fiction story. Believe me, by the time I read it, I had an image of people selling their emotions to a bad-tempered merchant! What does that mean?

Despite all this, I have to go and review some translations by Mrs. Asta'iyani and see if I have a wrong image in my mind and if her translations are always so dry, serious, and non-narrative.

I choose to keep the first book The Giver even though it has an open ending. For this saga or trilogy, I can't find an end or a reason for where everything ended up. The first book was full of surprises, twists, and things that were being discovered as it progressed. The second book dropped a bit and became predictable. However, the third book, although the shortest, was predictable from beginning to end. I think there is a fourth book which I don't plan to read in the near future.

After finishing reading this book, this was my reaction:

Messenger is the final installment in the trilogy that began with the highly popular The Giver and was then succeeded by Gathering Blue. Regrettably, in my view, the first two novels set a high standard that was challenging to meet successfully. This particular story appeared to be somewhat forced, lacking in coherence, and written without the same level of creative fluidity. By the conclusion, I was left with numerous unanswered questions, and I felt a bit cheated and disappointed. Ultimately, I believe the story had the potential to be far more engaging and profound. Ah, well. Nevertheless, I would still recommend the series to children. This is because I do observe that there are many moral issues explored, along with an underlying and meaningful social commentary.

Now that I have also read the fourth book, I can say that the worst book among these four is this Messenger. I felt that the author was completely incompetent in gathering and arranging the plots and connecting them together, and in many places, he was extremely unable to give the main characters "loves" so that they could save the story. In fact, this phase of love and such was clearly defined in the second book and was completely resolved in the second book, but in this book, it has really become a farce. In my opinion, if it is interesting for you, you can read the whole tetralogy and see what the story is, but I suggest you just read the summary of the story of the third book.

This Messenger seems to have failed to meet the expectations set by the previous books. The author's handling of the plot and character development in this book is rather clumsy. The attempts to introduce new elements of love and drama feel forced and do not contribute to the overall coherence of the story.

It is a pity that what could have been a great continuation of the series has turned out to be a disappointment. However, for those who are really interested in the overall narrative, reading the entire tetralogy might still provide some insights, although it might be a bit of a struggle, especially when it comes to this particular book.