"Midnight's Children" Post 1b

Why did I choose to read "Midnight's Children"? There are several reasons. First of all, the name Salmon Rushdie came up as I was doing research for my award from last quarter, the Man Booker Prize. I was curious and looked into it, finding that his novel "Midnight's Children" had not only won the Man Booker for the year it was published; it had also won the Booker of Bookers! This award was given after the first twenty-five years of the prize to the best book out of all of the Booker winners, and "Midnight's Children" had been that novel. This award seemed significant to me because, as one judge described it, it was awarded to the best contemporary fiction novel that was not necessarily the most fun read, but that would make an impact on literature for years to come. Sometimes books such as these are a struggle to read, but you always feel satisfied that you have completed them and taken something from the experience in the end, and I was in the mood to read such a book. The story sounded interesting as well: when reading the Odyssey, the thing that fascinated me was the involvement of the gods in the mortals lives, and this dealt with the similar subject of fate, in Saleem's fate being tied to that of India's. This novel also sounds interesting in that it deals with a foreign country, and in learning about Saleem one also learns of India's culture and history. Finally, Rushdie is supposed to be a more difficult author, and I have to admit that this challenge drew me to his writing. Others of his novels, such as "The Satanic Verses", are supposed to be a little more dense, whereas this novel looked to be a good balance between a tough writer, an impressive award, and an interesting plot. We'll see how it goes!

"Midnight's Children" Post 1a

"This mother, who had spent her life housebound, in purdah, had suddenly found enormous strength and gone out to run the small gemstone business (turquoises, rubies, diamonds) which had put Aadam through medical college; so he returned to find the seemingly immutable order of his family turned upside down, his mother going out to work while his father sat hidden behind the veil which the stroke had dropped over his brain" (7). 

This quote from the book was interesting because it talked about the restrictions of purdah which I initially had no idea what it was. Purdah, according to Wikipedia, is "the practice of preventing men from seeing women. This takes two forms: physical segregation of the sexes, and the requirement for women to cover their bodies and conceal their form. Purdah exists in various forms in the Islamic world and among Hindu women in parts of India. Physical segregation within a building can be done with walls, curtains, and screens. A woman's withdrawal into purdah restricts her personal, social, and economic activities outside her home... with... a veil to conceal the face". This step by Aadam's mother shows how she is independent, and although their family had been quite strict, she was a modern person and dedicated to her son. It is also interesting to note that the father's new role after his stroke is characterized by a veil, a piece usually worn by women when following purdah. Aadam's mother and father have truly switched places, and this must make him rather uncomfortable. 

"Midnight's Children" by Salmon Rushdie

For my outside reading novel, I'm going to try reading Salmon Rushdie's "Midnight's Children". India seems like such a vibrant place and truly, I don't know much about it. This novel explores the nation after it gains its independence through the voice of a child as he grows up in this new India. I was interested in Salmon Rushdie in particular after seeing his name mentioned in the information regarding the Man Booker Prize (this novel won not only the Booker but the Booker of Bookers as the best book out of the first twenty-five winners of the prize). I loved "The Blind Assassin" so much and I hope this book will be similarly good. 

"One Hundred Years of Solitude" Post 7b

This book is very odd, but beautiful to read. It's tone is so even, calm, and matter of fact; after Anna Karenina it's quite a nice change. No one is sentimentalized and everyone has faults or makes mistakes: José Arcadio Buendía wastes his time on silly alchemical experiments, Úrsula is domineering and pushes Arcadio to his doom, Amaranta pushes Pietro to commit suicide, Rebeca spurns her lover, and many others. This very up front, clear tone contrasts with the almost dream-like confusing nature of the plot. The relentless sound of the bones of Rebeca's parents, the founding of the town itself, José Buendía's slip into madness, Arcadio's take over of the town, the flying carpet, the power of alchemy, the return of Melquíades from death: all of these events have a mystical aspect to them. Pilar Tenera embodies this idea: not only does she bring out the passion in almost every man, including her own son, but she has the power to read the future in cards. This contrast of real and mythical is the foundation for the novel. One Hundred Years of Solitude also plays an interesting role in literature. For me, it seems much like Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner. In Faulkner's novel of a Southern family's twisted history, Thomas Sutpen and his Hundred slaves like devils seem just as mystical, and his family's legacy becomes just as confusing with different relations between members. It also focuses on a patriarch's ensuing clan. However, in perhaps a Southern way it makes things extremely complex and connected, each part of a sentence bringing the reader to the next thought, and then the next, and then back to the beginning, weaving the story in circles. Márquez's novel's writing is much more straightforward, it is the relations between people that become confusing. Perhaps this novel represents Latin American thinking much as Faulkner's novel does.

"One Hundred Years of Solitude" Post 7a

Vocabulary
soporific (72): causing or tending to cause sleep
encyclicals (78): a papal letter addressed to the bishops of the Church or to the hierarchy of a particular country

Literary Elements
'"None of that, because he's alive," was the answer of José Arcadio Buendía, who finished the seventy-two hours with the mercurial incense as the body was already beginning to burst with a livid fluorescence, the soft whistles of which impregnated the house with a pestilential vapor" (79). The use of the verb "impregnated" or filled gives this passage a rather creepy air, aided by the use of the words "livid" and "pestilential". It describes how, as the mercury burst in the body of Melquíades, the whistling sound it gave off filled the house with a rather malevolent air. Impregnated makes the house seem especially full with this sound.
"The Italian, whose head covered with patent leather curls aroused in women an irrepressible need to sigh, dealt with Amaranta as with a capricious little girl who was not worth taking seriously" (80). This simile mocks not only the Italian but Amaranta as well. It undermines her plea and demands to her sister and fiancé, showing her rather selfish nature in doing so. However, the addition of speaking of Pietro's hair perhaps points to a vain part in his nature, as women are constantly admiring him. Perhaps the author is trying to make the point that both Amaranta and Rebeca are too good for him. Perhaps this more of a sibling rivalry than true love.
"She would arrive at any hour of the day, like a flock of goats, and would unleash her feverish energy in the hardest tasks" (83). This simile relating to Pilar seems like a rather odd one. Firstly, other than for milking and such I don't think goats are especially useful, especially not for doing work. Actually, they are more thought of as contrary creatures. Secondly, Pilar is just one person, not a group as suggested by the simile. Thirdly, a group of goats is not commonly called a flock, usually a herd.

Quote
"Father Nicanor Reyna- whom Don Apolinar Moscote had brought from the swamp to officiate at the wedding- was an old man hardened by the ingratitude of his ministry. His skin was sad, with the bones almost exposed, and he had a pronounced round stomach and the expression of an old angel, which came more from simplicity than from goodness" (89). This quote was really representative of the writing style of this novel and the characters within it. They all have some odd quirk, which is explained by the narrator with such a matter-of-factness that it almost stands out more to the reader. Everything is presented with its faults and value, nothing is "sacred" but nothing is criticized more than anything else. It's nice to read in it's straightforward tone, very different from the plot itself.

Theme
Nothing is as it seems.

"Anna Karenin" 6b

The ending to this novel shocked me incredibly. I couldn't believe that Anna truly went through with her suicide, although it had been foreshadowed during the novel. The earlier suicide obviously was pointing to something similar in the following novel, and Anna impetuousness had been shown before, in her abandonment of her life for Vronsky and previous mood swings. I felt that the author did a really good job portraying her state of mind and her feelings leading up to her jump off the station, and then removing the reader's perspective from inside Anna gradually as she jumped: "And exactly at the moment when the space between the wheels dew level with her she threw aside the red bag and drawing her head down between her shoulders dropped her hands under the truck, and onto her knees. At the same instant she became horror-struck at what she was doing... She tried to get up, to throw herself back; but something huge and relentless struck her on her head and dragged her down on her back... A little peasant muttering something was working at the rails" (802). This is a decision that Anna cannot back out of, and is so unfortunate that she felt compelled to take this step. Looking back, a reader might be confused as to why she needed this dramatic finish to her life simply to punish Vronsky. He had never abused her, had given up his career for her, cared for her and loved her; she may have had her doubts about his fidelity, but that often doesn't warrant throwing herself under the train. However, their inability to discuss their differences lead to increasing resentment and even hatred for the other, as their behaviors became incomprehensible to the other. They also had different priorities in the relationship; Vronsky loved Anna but wished for his "freedom", and Anna wanted to make sure that he did not stray, as her position was compromised enough already. However, neither explained themselves fully: their reconciliations were temporary only. The author contrasts this well by ending with Levin, although this section confused me a little. Accepting unfair business practices does not seem to fit with Christianity, and simply living the way you are living because you are living that way just seems a stretch to fit in with the rest of the book. However, I enjoyed that Kitty completely understood Levin's thoughts and was at peace with them, showing how the two as a happy couple could have conflicting interests and still achieve harmony. 

"Anna Karenin" 6a

Vocabulary
morocco (732): a fine pebble-grained leather, originally made in Morocco from tanned goatskin
bailiff (734): a legal officer to whom some sort of authority or jurisdiction is granted

Literary Devices
"He felt as though he were on some unattainable height, from which he painstakingly lowered himself every now and then, so as not to hurt the feelings of the people he was talking to" (749). In this simile, Levin describes his immense joy at his wife having successfully given birth to their son. He is so ecstatic that he feels different from other people, but as to not hurt their feelings he contains himself and lowers himself to their level of happiness.
"And he began pricking up his ears an casting around, and towards the end of the winter he heard of a very good post and began an attack on it, first from Moscow through uncles, aunts, and friends, and then in the spring, when matters had matured, he himself went to Petersburg" (752). This metaphor, describing the process used by Oblonsky to secure a government post for himself, makes it seem truly like a campaign, as his relatives begin the "attack on it". This military characterization emphasizes the importance of him winning this post, for himself and his family.
"... Oblonsky, touching Karenin's hand this time, as if he were sure the physical contact would soften his brother-in-law" (757). This simile talks of how Oblonsky is confident in all social matters, even ones as delicate as extracting a divorce for his sister from her husband after she ran away from him. He touches his hand confidently, as one who is sure that his brother in law can be softened and will be by his charm.

Quote
"But the Moscow significance of the word 'honest was lost on Karenin. 'Honesty is only a negative quality,' he said" (755). The section of Oblonsky's plea to Karenin leaves the reader rather confused about who is right and who is wrong here. Karenin is obviously holding a grudge by not allowing the divorce to go through, but Anna hurt him badly and he feels so hurt it is no wonder. He behaved nicely before, immediately after she left him, so perhaps he is within his rights to not present her with this option now, as she refused it earlier. However, the reader knows the negative affect that this withholding of the divorce is having upon the relationship between Anna and Vronsky, and one wishes that he would just accept that she is gone from his life forever and let her go. However, Anna is being rather silly as well, holding onto the idea of her son although she has already let him go.

Theme
Expectations can never live up to reality.