Gossamer by Lois Lowry Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Gossamer
Book Review: A book full of gentle spirit and ethereal beauty
Summary: 5 Stars
Without a doubt, Lois Lowry's books stand out when compared with some of the other fare on contemporary bookshelves --- and thankfully Lowry has been recognized for it. In 1990, she won her first Newbery Medal for NUMBER THE STARS, a fictionalized account based on the true story about a group of Christians in Denmark who saved their Jewish neighbors from persecution during World War II. She received her second Newbery Medal in 1994 for THE GIVER, probably her most well-known book to date. Now her audience can experience the joy of reading the much-lauded GOSSAMER in paperback --- a book that is so beautifully written and so poignant in message that its glowing reception from booksellers, media outlets and, of course, readers has given new meaning to the expression "three time's the charm."
GOSSAMER tells the story of a group of mythical creatures (for lack of a better expression to describe them) who create and distribute dreams. After being assigned to various households by their leader, Most Ancient, the creatures settle into their roles as dream weavers by "touching" objects in the house (photographs, articles of clothing, trinkets on a bureau) and gathering memories from them. After they acquire enough meaningful fragments, the dreamgivers combine them to create a story, or dream, to bestow on the sleeping inhabitants. This process is how dreams are born.
So, too, are nightmares conjured up by the evil Sinisteed Hordes, who attempt to undo all the good that the dreamgivers impart by banding together to flood their victims' subconscious with dark and stormy thoughts. If enough insidious nightmares are inflicted upon these sleeping individuals, their waking hours can become increasingly negative and damaging until they can no longer remember how to be happy and at peace. In this agitated state, they are a great risk to those around them and to society as a whole.
In addition to providing a unique and imaginative explanation as to where dreams and nightmares come from, GOSSAMER also tells the moving story of an angry boy and a lonely old lady who are brought together under unfortunate circumstances. John, the boy, has been uprooted from his abusive home, and the woman suffers from loneliness after the death of her husband. As a way to find companionship and to give back to the world, the woman agrees to take John in for a summer until his real mother can get back on her feet. The bond that forms between the two isolated characters is so subtle yet so ripe with feeling that by the book's conclusion you wonder how they ever could have been apart. Finally, Littlest One and Thin Elderly infuse John's and the woman's dreams with enough peace, love and positive energy to enrich their souls and ward off negative thoughts, and the result is pure magic.
Lowry's 2006 offering brims with sentiment and wisdom. It is evident that she has taken great care to write a narrative that will both teach and touch its readers. A book full of gentle spirit and ethereal beauty, GOSSAMER succeeds on all levels.
Book Review: An Awesome "Fairy" Tale
Summary: 5 Stars
Gossamer by Lois Lowry is a wonderful fantasy book. At the un-named lady's house, fairy world, and a school, Fastidious, Littlest One, John, and his mom each have their own problems, but Fastidious, Littlest One and John all must face the sinisteeds and try to make it through the horrible nightmares given. When the sinisteeds come to invade John's dreams, Littlest One must save him from that dreadful fate. Littlest One has a job that requires facing the sinisteeds and winning. Will Littlest One complete or fail training, and receive her new name? With a theme of dreams and nightmares any Lois Lowry fan who likes serious books will love Gossamer.Book Review: Delightful book
Summary: 5 Stars
Lois Lowry never disappoints. This charming little book is a pure delight. The story is a lovely fantasy that one wishes were true.Book Review: Gossamer
Summary: 5 Stars
This month I read the fantastic book Gossamer by Lois Lowry. It is about imaginary creatures called dreamgivers. Each dreamgiver has a house; there they gather happy memories from items and give humans and pets dreams. The main character in this story is named Littlest One. Each night she and her teacher Thin Elderly set dreams upon the humans. In the house to which Littlest One and Thin Elderly were assigned lives a lady and an eight year old boy named Jon. The evil sinisteeds have targeted Jon because of his troubled past. Sinisteeds are evil horse- like creatures that can sense weakness in people and work against the dreamgivers. It's up to Littlest One to save Jon before he is stuck with horrible nightmares forever. Will Littlest One succeed as a dreamgiver or will the sinisteeds take over Jon's dreams?Book Review: Gossamer
Summary: 4 Stars
This was an entertaining story. It portrays these creatures that give dreams and their struggles to help people through their dreams and to help them fight off creatures that bring nightmares. It also tells the story of an 8 year old boy abused by his father who also abused her mother and has now gone off to live with an elderly lady. It was a very short book. Very easy to read and pretty interesting. It starts out a little slow for the 1st couple of chapters before you figure out what's going on. Then it's very interesting.