Just finished this book. While reading it I had the sensation of reliving every stressful childhood moment ever. Every moment where you suspected maybe your parents were flawed and that it was possible that they were making a mistake right at that moment -- and there was nothing you could do about it. Intertwined with that sensation is the sensation of reliving all your own stupid mistakes, but right BEFORE realising you're repeating the mistakes you've seen others make.It's a beautifully crafted story, with 2 stories in different timelines following the same arcs - driving home the lesson that even though we know we shouldn't we still do repeat the mistakes of our parents before we can learn from them. The language is delicate and thoughtful. But it's the dwelling in the realm of mistakes I found uncomfortable. It's too close to raw wounds from mistakes and flaws in my own life. I'm too new to realizing them to really have lost myself or uplifted myself in this story.
11 comments:
Question: What does the text/book/narrative/etc. do?
anything?
Uh, do? Like other than tell the story? What is the arc? Speak woman, speak!
lol - hahaha i laugh b/c i know it was poorly phrased.
i was just thinking about the general function of storytelling. Even with respect to the politics of what makes a good story (what gets written), what gets published (based on marketing and profit or maybe even some ideology of good writing) what gets a prettier cover, what gets chosen for retail, what gets special shelf space, and so on.
And with that in mind, does the book (or any facet of it) 'do' anything?
:P
arg - i can't figure out how to modify my previous comment. i'm hungry and want to eat so i did it half-assed.
add this to the second part: "And with respect to the function or mechanism of storytelling, even outside of this capitalist/production-based sketch, it's interesting to talk about how what it does to society...or to you as a reader (but a specific type of reader? maybe? - i don't know...)
I still don't understand the use of the verb "Do" but I'm going to approach it as if you mean does it do anything else other than tell a story. And if that is in fact your question, then I would have to say no, at least in my case. I did make an emotional connection to the characters, which I guess is something, but I wouldn't say the place I arrived at in the end was different than the place where I started, but it was an enjoyable trip and I have some really good pictures.
As an amendment, I just want to say that I think sometimes a story is a history that we can learn from within ourselves, i.e. in application to our lives, but that doesn't specifically have to be informative.
i'm (i was) apparently experiencing technical difficulties.
hunger makes me stupid.
I really like the cover of your book.
Sometimes its the cover that draws me in or repels me away completely.
It's yours next time I see you.
Clarification (altho you needn't feel like you have to respond)
wrt "do" and all the mindless babble about "function" ... I now realize what I was looking for was some sort of political context. Either for you, for the author, in the narrative...where-ever.
What are, if any, the politics of the book?
If I had to pick something, I'd say it's about women. It's about the untrue lessons we pass on and mistakes we all repeat but that it doesn't have to be just that.
I guess?
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