Lowry remembered other events that reinforced her belief that memory is necessary and important if we are to live meaningful, well-rounded lives. One event involved her parents, who lived together in the same nursing home when they were older. Lowry's father was in good shape physically, but he had lost most of his memory. Lowry's mother was dying, but she was able to share all of her memories with Lowry. The irony of the situation — a father in good shape physically but without any memory, and a mother in poor health physically but mentally alert — prompted Lowry to realize how important it is to remember and share memories with others. Another event that helped shape The Giver was when a woman, referring to Lowry's book Number the Stars, asked Lowry why incidents relating to the Holocaust have to be told over and over again. Lowry's German-born daughter-in-law told Lowry that such stories have to be repeated so that no one will forget the horror of what happened and allow it to happen again. In The Giver, Jonas understands that memories are necessary so that people can learn from the past and lead happier, more fulfilling lives.
Lowry also remembered a time when she and other girls whom she was living with during college completely ignored another girl because the girl was different. When people are perceived as being different in The Giver, they are "released" — in the novel, meaning killed — from the community. Lowry's own memories emphasize the themes in The Giver, including the importance of individuality and freedom of choice, and the need for caring relationships between all human beings despite their differences.
