Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Gossamer by Lois Lowry


Reason for Reading: Once Upon a Time III, Dewey Reading Challenge
Where do dreams come from? What stealthy nighttime messengers are the guardians of our most deeply hidden hopes and our half-forgotten fears? Drawing on her rich imagination, two-time Newbery winner Lois Lowry confronts these questions and explores the conflicts between the gentle bits and pieces of the past that come to life in dream, and the darker horrors that find their form in nightmare. In a haunting story that tiptoes between reality and imagination, two people—a lonely, sensitive woman and a damaged, angry boy—face their own histories and discover what they can be to one another, renewed by the strength that comes from a tiny, caring creature they will never see.

Gossamer is perfect for readers not quite ready for Lois Lowry's Newbery-Award winner The Giver and also for readers interested in dreams, nightmares, spirits and the dream world.
Dear Dewey,

Before I even talk about your review, I am going to have my moment. I have read three Lowry books during my blogging days (not counting this one), and while I really liked The Giver, I was not as impressed with it as other people. The two sequels just disappointed me. I think, though, I am just first and foremost a fantasy lover and books about the end of the world are not my thing. I like hopeful books with lots of adventure. Lowry's trilogy is a bit depressing. That's not to say that I didn't like it, it was just not my first choice in young adult literature. Then, I read this book! I loved it! It was just a cute, fast story, but this is my favourite Lowry book now. I am so mad at myself for not reading it sooner!

I really liked how you summed up this review. The book is about dream-givers and is told from the point-of-view of Littlest, who is a dream-giver in training. The dream-givers touch objects and get memories from them to pass on as dreams to the humans. Like you, I found myself browsing the objects in my house and wondering what memories would be taken from them if this was a possibility. It was fun to look at things I have owned forever in this light. It doesn't have to be big, either. Littlest found memories in simple objects like a button a sweater. We touch and experience so many things everyday that there are so many things that can influence our dreams! Oh, and I couldn't be as patient with John as the unnamed woman either, but children are not exactly my strong-point! Especially in books.

This was just a sweet, little treasure of a book. I thought it was well-written and it is about an aspect of the fantasy world that doesn't get a lot of book time! I am really glad that we both read this book.

Until next time...

To read Dewey's review of this book, click here.

11 comments:

  1. Loved your review. This really is a great book. This is one fantasy world that just felt so very right--the dream givers and Littlest especially.

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  2. Anonymous9:47 PM

    I liked this book. I thought that Littlest One was very sweet and liked how it told the story of tw peole with completely different lives. Those people being the boy and Littlest One.

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  3. Great review! I've never seen this book, but I think now I may have to go seek it out. Thank you.

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  4. "... little treasure of a book." I heartily agree. I did like all 3 of The Giver books, however.

    If you're in the mood for a good YA real world novel by Lowry I suggest Number the Stars. It's one of my favorite.

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  5. Becky: Yes, it was very believable to me. I loved it!

    Amanda: Littlest One was very sweet. It was a good book all around. :)

    Amelia: Happy to bring it to your attention! Hope you enjoy it!

    Booklogged: I will go add Number the Stars to my library list. :)

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  6. This really is a treasure. I second the recommendation of Number the Stars!

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  7. I've been so hesitant about reading something by Lowry. My son who is an insatiable reader had to read Number The Stars for school a few months back. This is a book that is so short and it's about the war/history (which is his thing) but he was miserable while reading it. He even begged me to read it for him - that never happens!
    So yeah, I'm torn. This does sound okay though so maybe I will give it a go.
    Thanks for the great Dear Dewey :)

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  8. Oh, good, I'm glad you loved this one. I just got a copy, this week!

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  9. I've only read on book by Lois Lowry so far, The Giver. It had quite an impact for me and is what opened my eyes to the fact that I souldn't write off books just because they are written for children.

    I look forward to reading this one and some of her others.

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  10. I love this book!!

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  11. Ana: I will add Number the Stars to my list. :)

    Joanne: This book is a fun read. It doesn't have the strong subject matter as some of her other books. Having not read Number the Stars, though, I am not sure how they compare!

    Bookfool: I hope you enjoy it!

    Teddy: Until this year, I had only read The Giver, too. And, yes, it was one of the books that told me I really need to read more books for younger readers.

    Alice: Me too!

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