Well, honestly, after reading the beginning chapter OVER AND OVER again, I have finally managed to like the book! I've read till part 2 so far and I'm getting sort of interested. If you ask me, I didn't want to read the book at first because it reminded me of Pakistan. Because I've lived there for 3 years, i had to see a lot of poverty. So some of these living conditions aren't new to me. The fact that even if someone wants to adopt a trash-child, they cannot is really dreadful. It is like the government snatching a birth right of happiness away from them and I am not comfortable with the though.
As for questions, I have one. You know the temporary house-mother, Olivia Weston, I found it weird how she went to University but ended up not using that "education" for her career at all! I found it kind of odd, personally. And also, the most important part of the story is the "locker scene" The author didn't really describe it. Just that Rat took the envelope out of the locker. I just have preferred a little bit more detail on the scenario that started it all.. Over all, I am enjoying it and will finish the book today.
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I love how you emphasized 'over and over again' =D That's a beautiful connection with the book and how personal that is to you Navid.
ReplyDeleteWell she fell in love with Behala and I guess it's like one of those programs where University students are able to visit other countries and make a living there for a period of time. Ms. Olivia was probably just on summer vacation I assummed.
As for the Locker Scene, I felt the author wanted to make that scene with less detail as possible in a sense. Why? Probably because in the kids' perspective their only goal was to get the envelope and go so they wouldn't have time to admire everything. (:
Nice connection!! Your aspect of Pakistan seems appealing since it seems to have a lot in common with Bahala. I agree with Brenda about the Locker Scene. I think Mulligan's objective was to step back and let the reader use their imagination to figure out the further details.
ReplyDeleteHmm.. never though about it that way! But, by reading the summary on the back, i started to imagine the scene and was disappointed by the lack of detail. But i'm glad about the feedback!
ReplyDeleteHi, Navid (and Sosna and Brenda)... I am SO appreciative of your real-life perspective about your time in Pakistan and your relation to the book. I am sorry if it brought up troubling memories but I also appreciate how your experience allows you to relate to the book and put yourself in the perspective of the desperation that they must have felt.
ReplyDeleteAs for the description of the "locker scene" I think I have to agree with Brenda and Sosna that this is such an intense moment, and happening in only 5 minutes, that the boys have no choice but to focus on the details of finding the locker and retrieving whatever is it that is waiting for them. I actually thought it was fairly well written.
And for your question about Olivia... my perception is that Olivia is still enhancing her "education" through her experiences of volunteering at Behala. One's studies at a University don't necessarily always correspond 100% to their work, a lot of times the experience of going and working and experiencing life is very much a part of what a person learns during their educational experiences.
Well to start off, i'm glad that you commented(this being my first post and all.)As for memories,i've seen worse than described in the book. I guess the author did a good job of giving the reader a good glimpse of Bahala, without giving them really bad nightmares. About the locker scene, i guess i noticed it more because( as i've said before), i kept on reading the beginning over and over again so i did expect a little more. Now, i have a connection with Olivia. My sister is going to collage now and getting her education. Now, the reason behind it is to get a job. I don't know if Olivia is kind of disappointed at the fact that her hard working &(paying) years of university didn't help her much at this spot in life, but she loves kids and made a 'well' decision to me overall. I've finished and returned the book so, if my opinion is needed, i will share my thoughts.
ReplyDeletePlease do, Navid! I hope that everyone is still able to post about the remaining three sections of the book, respond to questions, offer insights... Also, if you (and Sosna and Brenda) are having fun and want to do another book after this please let the group know what you would like to read and we can start tracking it down.
ReplyDeleteHmm.. Maybe not this summer for say, but maybe in the beginning of the year. I wanted to read the second book from "the red pyramid" series; "the throne of fire."
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