This was a surprisingly calm dystopian novel, which I rather enjoyed because as much as I like The Hunger Games and what not, it's really NICE to have something more thought-y and less pow-pow. 
 I have a friend who LOVES this book, so I was pretty sure I'd enjoy it as well, which I did. I don't personally LOVE it to pieces, but I DO like it quite a bit and found it very thought-provoking and moving. 
 It's interesting because while some aspects of the community life are good in themselves (the apologizing thing and the manners is nice) they've all been taken a bridge too far and no one thinks for themselves. It's also sad because they haven't gotten RID of death and loss AT ALL, only the feelings of it! They still kill babies and olds and anyone who doesn't fit in, there's your death. And they still have at least ONE person in existence (aka the giver) who has experienced and knows what loss is (with his own daughter, no less). Jonas is a likable character and it was entertaining to follow his story from being emotionless like everyone else in the book, to being overwhelmed by feelings, to finally becoming a person and not a zombie and doing the right thing to save someone he cared about. 
 I did feel that the book was missing something. Was the writing too simple somehow? Did it not quite explain some little nagging details I wanted more info on? I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong with it, but whatever it was it's why I liked the book but didn't love it. 
 Still a really good read; definitely recommend.