What book am I thinking of?? Help!

[Anonymous]

I read this book as a summer reading assignment in high school (so, late 90s). The protagonist was a teen boy. It seemed to be set in an ancient civilization but it was actually a future, or parallel, civilization where people did not remember technology and their brains were not allowed to understand / invent even simple technologies. I remember the protagonist trying to remember , or invent, the wheel for example but his brain was shutting it down. There may have been a “seer” of some sort as a character.

It’s not The Giver.

I am going crazy trying to remember this book. Please help, DCUM book club!!!

[Anonymous]

I also think I remember a part in the book where the protagonist was trying to read a book but couldn’t understand it- like he was trying to read about something that involved simple technology like a wheel but his brain was hurting and he wasn’t “allowed” to comprehend it. I think??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read this book as a summer reading assignment in high school (so, late 90s). The protagonist was a teen boy. It seemed to be set in an ancient civilization but it was actually a future, or parallel, civilization where people did not remember technology and their brains were not allowed to understand / invent even simple technologies. I remember the protagonist trying to remember , or invent, the wheel for example but his brain was shutting it down. There may have been a “seer” of some sort as a character.

It’s not The Giver.

I am going crazy trying to remember this book. Please help, DCUM book club!!!

Are you thinking of "Ridldley Walker" by Russell Hoban? It was one of my favorites.

[Anonymous]

Snow Crash? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Crash

Other options here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dystopian_literature#1990s

[Anonymous]

John Christopher's The Prince in Waiting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read this book as a summer reading assignment in high school (so, late 90s). The protagonist was a teen boy. It seemed to be set in an ancient civilization but it was actually a future, or parallel, civilization where people did not remember technology and their brains were not allowed to understand / invent even simple technologies. I remember the protagonist trying to remember , or invent, the wheel for example but his brain was shutting it down. There may have been a “seer” of some sort as a character.

It’s not The Giver.

I am going crazy trying to remember this book. Please help, DCUM book club!!!

Are you thinking of "Ridldley Walker" by Russell Hoban? It was one of my favorites.

When I read the 2-3 line synopsis I was like YES! But when I read the full synopsis , no, it’s a different book. But similar in that the teenage boy protagonist is living in this ancient type civilization that’s actually in the future , and accidentally stumbles upon something he shouldn’t know- but in the book I’m thinking of I’m almost certain it’s the idea of a wheel that he stumbles upon. But his brain is programmed to not be able to fully realize the idea of the wheel. I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Snow Crash? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Crash

Other options here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dystopian_literature#1990s

I looked through that list! But none seem right. Not sure it was written in the 90s, that’s just when it was assigned to me for summer reading.

[Anonymous]

Let us know if you remember the name of the book, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let us know if you remember the name of the book, OP!

I am close to messaging everyone on Facebook who was in my English class who may have chosen this summer reading book too. Even though I haven’t spoken to them in 20 years. That’s how desperate I am getting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let us know if you remember the name of the book, OP!

I am close to messaging everyone on Facebook who was in my English class who may have chosen this summer reading book too. Even though I haven’t spoken to them in 20 years. That’s how desperate I am getting.

Are you a member of GoodReads? Crowd source it there, I guarantee you will get an answer!

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/185-what-s-the-name-of-that-book

[Anonymous]

The White Mountains

[Anonymous]

The Memory of Earth by Orson Scott Card?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Memory_of_Earth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Memory of Earth by Orson Scott Card?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Memory_of_Earth

YES!!!!!!!! Oh my god I love you. This has been eating at me for days and I have had no relief. Thank you SO MUCH!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Memory of Earth by Orson Scott Card?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Memory_of_Earth

YES!!!!!!!! Oh my god I love you. This has been eating at me for days and I have had no relief. Thank you SO MUCH!!!

Hah! I'm so excited to be right! Glad the DCUM hivemind could help.