home, he immediately notices that all of the furniture throughout the spacious room is different. The furniture in the Giver's dwelling is intricately designed with various fabrics. In contrast, each home throughout the community has the same standard furniture. The most notable difference between the Giver's home and the typical dwelling in the community is the number of books. Jonas notices that there are bookcases along the walls of the room filled with thousands of books. In his own home, the family only has several community-issued books.

In a word, books. In Chapter 10, Jonas is finally allowed into the dwelling area of The Receiver. At first, he finds nothing terribly remarkable:

It was not unlike his family unit's dwelling. Furniture was standard throughout the community: practical, sturdy, the function of each piece clearly defined. A bed for sleeping. A table for eating. A desk for studying.

...

But the most conspicuous difference was the books. In his own dwelling, there were the necessary reference volumes that each household contained: a dictionary...and the Book of Rules, of course.

But this room's walls were completely covered by bookcases, filled, which reached to the ceiling. There must have been hundreds -- perhaps thousands -- of books, their titles embossed in shiny letters.

Knowledge, of course, is the most valuable thing one can possess, and it can be dangerous to those who wish to keep people under control. Keeping people ignorant keeps them oppressed. The slave owners of United States knew this, thus the prohibition on teaching slaves to read. Likewise, so too do the leaders of The Community.

When Jonas arrives at the Annex for his first training session with the Giver, he is astonished by the atmosphere inside the room, which is dramatically different from the other dwellings throughout the community. Upon entering the Giver's dwelling, Jonas notices that the furniture inside the spacious room is significantly more luxurious than the standard furniture inside his dwelling. The furniture inside typical dwellings is sturdy, plain, and practical. However, the furniture inside the Giver's dwelling is unique, ornately decorated, and handcrafted. The chairs are beautifully upholstered, and the drapes are intricately embroidered with elegant designs.

In addition to the artistic furniture, Jonas is amazed by the Giver's impressive book collection. In the typical community dwellings, books are standard, and each household contains a dictionary, a rule book, and several informative texts regarding various community offices. In contrast, the Giver owns thousands of different books that completely fill the shelves of his home.

The Giver's Assignment requires him to preserve memories of the past before Sameness, and he is given special privileges that allow him to research anything and everything. The different books contain valuable knowledge from classic works of literature as well as informative information about the past.

Inside the dwelling, the Giver has created a world apart from Sameness, which is unique, individualized, and comfortable. Jonas enjoys the Giver's dwelling and begins receiving his first memory, which is the experience of sled-riding down a snowy hill.