[Book] #21. Son by Lois Lowry - The Most Precious of All

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Title: Son
Author: Lois Lowry
Other: Fourth book of The Giver series. (4 books)

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This book is the fourth of The Giver series. If you want to read my bookreview about the previous ones, please click here.

#18. The Giver by Lois Lowry - To Become the Master of Your Own Life: Extremely Thrilling, and Incredibly Frightening.

#19. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry - Maybe We Can Make It Different

#20. Messenger by Lois Lowry - The Village You Can See Anywhere, Everywhere

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The first part of this book shares the same time and space with The Giver. Claire is a few years older than Jonas, the main character of The Giver. This is her story.

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Seemingly Peaceful Society

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As I explained in previous bookreviews, this society looks like a peaceful Utopia. Since everything is decided by the Authorities with care and thoughtful consideration, people don't have to choose anything (hence don't need to take a responsibility for anything). All the things that might cause trouble, conflict or wars are eliminated from this world; there's no emotion, no color, and no personalities.

All children who turn to twelve will be allocated to a certain occupation by Authorities. According to their occupation, some continue to study in higher education system and others get training for their jobs. Claire was designated as a Birthmother. For the next several years, she'd have to work out and try to maintain stress-free life in order to be a vessel that will carry and give birth to healthy children.

Since there is no emotion, there's no love in this world. Only designated Birthmothers can give birth to babies, and Nurturing Center will take care of them until they become one year old. And those babies will be distributed to each family unit, that has applied and been approved to have a baby. No family in this world was connected by blood. Authorities will choose the best family member for you: spouse and even your child, too.

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What Is This Feeling?

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After several years, Claire gave birth to a baby. All Birthmothers give birth while covering their eyes, so that they don't know how their babies look like, not even the sex of the baby. All Birthmothers have three times to contribute to this society, and after that, they will be a Worker. But something happened while Claire gave birth to her first baby. Baby was okay but Claire couldn't have another baby. She was supposed to have two more babies for the next few years, but suddenly she had to change her job and her course of life, too.

It was an unexpected misfortune, but everything was under control. Authorities quickly allocated a new job and a place to live for Claire. Claire took this change well. Or so she thought. As time went by, she started to miss her child.

Source: Goodreads

Everyone in this society takes some pills that suppress their feelings and emotions. Usually they started to take pills when their body shows some sign of change, that is around 12. Only Birthmothers are exception. But they also take pills right after the delivery of baby. So they don't miss their child. In Claire's case, while allocating her a new job and preparing for a new place to live, somehow Authorities forgot to give her the pills. And now Claire has feelings.

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Claire Felt Love Toward Her Child.

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She made some excuse to go to the Nurturing Center. She found out that her baby was a boy, and what his number was. But could she keep coming back to see her baby without anyone noticing about her? When her baby becomes one year old, he will be sent to a family unit by Ahthorities. There is no way she can have her child back and raise him by herself. She's not even married. Her love toward her baby eventually lead her to a turmoil that changed her life irreversibly.

I found this book rather bland comparing the previous three books. But characters from three books appear a lot, and this book ties many loose ends from those books. So if you already read three books in the series, I recommend to read this one, too.

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Trademaster

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There's a strange villain in this book called, Trademaster. (Actually he also appeared in Messenger but I didn't mention it at the time.) He can provide anything that people want: money, fame, power, beauty, merchandise, etc. Instead, just as his name indicates, he asks for something, usually the most precious thing from you.: He wants to trade.

The things he wants are the very best in someone: vibrant energy, youth, honor, honesty, laughter, etc. People who made a deal with Trademaster could have what they wanted, but they became meaner and more selfish.

You be careful, too. There might be a Trademaster near you, even in Steemit. They may offer that they can make you whales in a short time, they can make you rich with higher reputation. But what they might want instead? Self-esteem? Conscience? Honor?

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A Few Good Lines from the Book

1.
A man admitted that he had met Trademaster.

I had traded away the most important part of myself.
...
Many people had traded away their best selves.

2.

This is your journey, your battle. Be brave. Find your gift. Use it to save what you love.

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Disclaimer) There's only first part of the storyline in this review to introduce the book. No major spoiler included.

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Here are the recent 5 bookreviews that I wrote.
If you follow @bree1042, you can read many more interesting bookreviews!

#16. Momo by Michael Ende - Momo and Beppo, who know how to listen and breathe

#17. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri - Will I Be Happy If I Change My Name?

#18. The Giver by Lois Lowry - To Become the Master of Your Own Life: Extremely Thrilling, and Incredibly Frightening.

#19. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry - Maybe We Can Make It Different

#20. Messenger by Lois Lowry - The Village You Can See Anywhere, Everywhere

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