You fill in the blanks

I did not like this book as much as the first two in the series. However, art is not always supposed to cheer us up. I think that Lowry is the kind of author who really wants the reader to become the storyteller and fill in the blanks. There is no neat package at the end, even in the book which is the third of the trilogy. Matty's true name communicates what I believe to be Lowry's central message. I don't want to spoil the end, so I won't reveal his true name, but the following quote is similarly revealing, and my favorite of the book. "So you could meet in the middle with your gifts? It wouldn't be so hard if you only went half way. If you met." Despite the abrupt ending, Messenger is a must read for those who have read The Giver and Gathering Blue.

Deceptively Simple

This book ties together The Giver and Gathering Blue. It is a quick read, but don't let that fool you. I got to the end and was disappointed by what I thought was shallow simplicity and a quick-fix ending. However, when I tried to explain the plot to someone, I realized that like The Giver, this book could be read on more than one level. It would be a great book discussion book for people who have read The Giver and Gathering Blue and it will challenge the way you interpreted The Giver. A must read for Lois Lowry and fantasy fans.

Missing the Messenger

Okay, I just finished reading the Messenger, 5 minutes ago. And I felt really compelled to write a review.

The Messenger was to me, very dissapointing. The ending of the story didn't seem to impact me at all. Okay, so someone dies. I didn't feel anything. I just felt disappointed about the death of the character.

It doesn't offer as much explaination about the previous books as well.

The rest of Lois Lowry's books made you feel emotion, made you feel the characters, and enwrapped you in the story and the plot. What was supposed to be the climax in this book, didn't have that feel of a climax and turning point. Her characters, though already introduced, many of them, with exception of Matty and the Seer, did not have enough character rounding, they were flat and seemed like strangers.

I really really hate to be the critic, but this book dissapointed me very much! I waited for this book for a while and though i didn't expect every single thing to be explained, I found to myself that this book really really paled in comparison to the rest of Lois Lowry's books. And just paled in general.

Sometimes though the author can understand stuff, the audience doesn't; we don't understand what's going on.

This book kind of drew me in at the beginning and middle, but then it dropped me out just as quickly.

You should get this book and read it just to get a feel for it, but don't get your hopes too high up, like me, and maybe some other readers who had read the previous books and agreed.