I found Lakshmi's description of the American quite amusing. Living in the U.S., I do not really realize how people in other parts of the world are still really cut off from the world that I live in. I cannot imagine what it is like not knowing what Americans look like, I've never even thought about it before. It must have taken a lot of courage for Lakshmi to speak to the American and then make arrangements and leave with him. I thought for sure that Mumtaz's punishment was for her, and when it wasn't, I thought for sure her guilt would give her away. I do not know that I would have had the courage to do what she did. I guess she really did not have any other options, I may have done it if I had no other hope.
I wonder if the other girls ever got out? I do not see why they could not have taken down the entire operation. Is prostitution not illegal in India? Maybe they can only get the girls out if they are willing to go. It is a shame that many of them are afraid of the Americans when they are really there to help them. I wonder if their fear is legitimate, or if it comes from rumors spread by people like Mumtaz who profit from this corrupt practice?
I also think it is ridiculous that their families will not accept them back. After all, they were the ones who sold them to begin with. It seems like there are many things that need changed so that other people do not becomes victims of sexual slavery. It is hard to imagine that this goes on all over the world, not just in India and other remote countries. I think there definitely needs to be some action against sexual slavery. I was glad to hear that victims of human trafficking are speaking out in an effort to stop sexual slavery. I wonder if telling the families what really happens when a girl is sold helps at all? I guess some people probably listen while others do not. Even awareness campaigns would be helpful. I doubt that many people are aware of how large an industry this really is. Something definitely needs to be done so that others do not suffer from this.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Sold (152-202)
Lakshmi seems to be doing a little better, and she is also becoming more accustomed to her surroundings. I was surprised that she did not know what soccer was. I realize that many people in other countries do not put nearly as much value as we do in sports, but I thought that soccer was loved by people in all parts of the world, whether professionally or not. It seems like Lakshmi did not really have a chance to grow up. I was surprised that Harish and Lakshmi are becoming friends. I thought that her resentment towards him would ruin any chance of friendship that they had. It seems like his lessons give her something to look forward to, other than getting a new roof for her family.
I was really surprised when Pushpa had to leave with Harish and Jeena. Every time something starts to go good, something bad has to happen. I wonder was Lakshmi is going to do without Harish. His lessons made her time go so much faster there, now it will probably drag on and on. I cannot believe that he is going to have to go to work breaking rocks outside of the city in order to take care of his mom and sister. What kind of person would throw out a sick mother with two little kids?
All of the girls have their own reasons for being there and their own struggles. I feel bad for Monica. Most of the girls are afraid of her, but really she is just trying to make life better for her daughter. I wonder if everything will really work out the way that she thinks it will. I hope it does, but I have my doubts. Everyone has something that they cling to, but I was surprised to find out that Monica's was a rag doll. As hard as life is for Lakshmi, at least she still has people who care for her at least a little bit.
I was really surprised when Pushpa had to leave with Harish and Jeena. Every time something starts to go good, something bad has to happen. I wonder was Lakshmi is going to do without Harish. His lessons made her time go so much faster there, now it will probably drag on and on. I cannot believe that he is going to have to go to work breaking rocks outside of the city in order to take care of his mom and sister. What kind of person would throw out a sick mother with two little kids?
All of the girls have their own reasons for being there and their own struggles. I feel bad for Monica. Most of the girls are afraid of her, but really she is just trying to make life better for her daughter. I wonder if everything will really work out the way that she thinks it will. I hope it does, but I have my doubts. Everyone has something that they cling to, but I was surprised to find out that Monica's was a rag doll. As hard as life is for Lakshmi, at least she still has people who care for her at least a little bit.
Sold (102-152)
I know that stuff like this really happens, but I think the details tend to be swept under the rug. The topic seems to be taboo. I cannot even imagine what Lakshmi and the other girls must be going through. I think some of the girls have just been hardened, like Monica, but others, like Shahanna, are still in pain over what they are going through.
It is hard to imagine that there is even a market for this, and not just in India, but all over the world. I do not think that words can even begin to describe what these girls are going through. And I do not see how someone like Mumtaz could do what she does. I wonder if she was sold into slavery as a child, or if she is just calloused and greedy? Science has been finding that some serial killers have something mentally wrong, maybe the same could be said of Mumtaz and others like her. I also do not see how the men could go there, knowing that these women are being held captive, whether by fear, insufficiency, or actual slavery.
I wonder if Ama and Lakshmi's stepfather knew what they were doing to her, or if they actually thought that she was going to be a maid? I also wonder if the same thing happened to Gita, or if there are legitimate jobs in the cities for young girls. I would like to think that girls like Lakishma are in the minority, but I kind of doubt it. I wonder if she is going to somehow get out from under Mumtaz's bondage, or if she will remain there for the rest of her life?
It is hard to imagine that there is even a market for this, and not just in India, but all over the world. I do not think that words can even begin to describe what these girls are going through. And I do not see how someone like Mumtaz could do what she does. I wonder if she was sold into slavery as a child, or if she is just calloused and greedy? Science has been finding that some serial killers have something mentally wrong, maybe the same could be said of Mumtaz and others like her. I also do not see how the men could go there, knowing that these women are being held captive, whether by fear, insufficiency, or actual slavery.
I wonder if Ama and Lakshmi's stepfather knew what they were doing to her, or if they actually thought that she was going to be a maid? I also wonder if the same thing happened to Gita, or if there are legitimate jobs in the cities for young girls. I would like to think that girls like Lakishma are in the minority, but I kind of doubt it. I wonder if she is going to somehow get out from under Mumtaz's bondage, or if she will remain there for the rest of her life?
Sold (52-101)
Lakshmi's stepfather takes her to Bajai Sita's store and tells her that Lakshmi wants a job in the city. The lady in the yellow dress comes out and they barter over a price. Lakshmi is sold for 8,000 rupees, half now and half later. Her stepfather haphazardly walks around the store buying unnecessary things. Lakshmi puts a sweater for Ama, a coat for her brother, and a bottle of Coca~Cola into his things as well. Auntie Bimla, the lady in the yellow dress, takes Lakshmi to meet up with "Uncle Husband." She then travels with him until they get to Mumtaz. On the way, he gives her candy if she behaves as they cross the border. She is disgusted by the women who relieve themselves in the streets, and she is even more disgusted that she has to do it as well. She also watches as men shave a woman's head as a sign of disgrace. She had been looking forward to the city, but as she travels she dislikes the things that she sees. The journey from Nepal to the city took Lakshmi four days. Mumtaz pays 10,000 rupees for her. She is taken into an area that would probably be similar to a lounge area in a college dorm. There, for the first time ever, she sees a TV. When Mumtaz came into the room, she said something to the other girls that Lakshmi could not understand. After she left, they began painting her nails and putting lipstick on her. She is very uncertain about what she is doing there.
So far, Lakshmi seems to have been treated well, but I do not think that will last for very long. The little bit that is known about Mumtaz is not very flattering. I am still shocked by the incredible difference in cultures. In the U.S., that would never be accepted. I cannot even imagine being in Lakshmi's position. I do not like to be uncertain about what is happening; I like to be in control. It seems like Lakshmi has never had control over anything in her life. She can't control whether or not she has food to eat, whether or not she can go to school, or whether or not she works. If she had refused to go with her stepfather, she most likely would have been beaten and then taken against her will. I do not know how anyone could stand being treated this way. I do not think that things are going to go the way she expected them to.
So far, Lakshmi seems to have been treated well, but I do not think that will last for very long. The little bit that is known about Mumtaz is not very flattering. I am still shocked by the incredible difference in cultures. In the U.S., that would never be accepted. I cannot even imagine being in Lakshmi's position. I do not like to be uncertain about what is happening; I like to be in control. It seems like Lakshmi has never had control over anything in her life. She can't control whether or not she has food to eat, whether or not she can go to school, or whether or not she works. If she had refused to go with her stepfather, she most likely would have been beaten and then taken against her will. I do not know how anyone could stand being treated this way. I do not think that things are going to go the way she expected them to.
Sold (pgs 1-51)
The novel begins with Lakshmi talking about Ama fixing the roof. They have a thatch roof because her stepfather gambles a lot and loses most everything that they have. Those who have a tin roof are considered wealthy. Lakshmi and her friend Gita enjoy playing hopscotch in the yard. However, Gita is leaving to go work for a family in the city so that she can send money back to her family. Lakshmi becomes bored and lonely. She has a goat named Tali. I think that Tali is more like a pet dog than a goat because she follows her around all the time. I feel bad for Lakshmi because it would be really hard to have your best friend move with no way of communicating with her.
The times seem to be very hard for Lakshmi's family. The weather never seems to cooperate for them. It is either too dry or pouring down rain for weeks. This has made it especially hard for Lakshmi's family. They are in debt to many people who will not allow their debt to continue for much longer. Her stepfather's gambling is not helping at all. I think it is frowned upon for a woman with children to not have a husband, but they would probably be much better off on their own. They would have one less mouth to feed, and they would not waste what precious little they have on gambling.
Lakshmi's stepfather came back one day from gambling with a motorcycle. Ama and Lakshmi are both disgusted by this, especially when that money could have been used to pay off debts and feed them. I think the motorcycle is the breaking point for Ama and Lakshmi. They realize that he is not going to change, he is only getting worse. They now know that something must be done. Personally, I would have gotten rid of the stepfather, but I realize that in Nepal, that is simply not done.
Her stepfather is going to sell her to the woman that came up to her at the festival. Her mother tries to give her advice to prepare her for being a maid in the city. I do not see how a family can just sell their children away. It seems like child abuse, and yet Lakshmi seems to be excited that she will be able to help her family. Something tells me that it is not going to be what she thinks it is. If I were her mother, I would probably resent my husband for putting her in the position that she is in. Instead, she just seems resigned to her fate. I think this says a lot about the difference in culture between the United States and India. We have so much that we take for granted that we become selfish and egotistical. Yet the people who have so little willingly leave everything and everyone that they know so that they can maybe make their life a little easier. I know that if I was sold by my parents I would be bitter and resentful, but Lakshmi just seems grateful that she can help out.
The times seem to be very hard for Lakshmi's family. The weather never seems to cooperate for them. It is either too dry or pouring down rain for weeks. This has made it especially hard for Lakshmi's family. They are in debt to many people who will not allow their debt to continue for much longer. Her stepfather's gambling is not helping at all. I think it is frowned upon for a woman with children to not have a husband, but they would probably be much better off on their own. They would have one less mouth to feed, and they would not waste what precious little they have on gambling.
Lakshmi's stepfather came back one day from gambling with a motorcycle. Ama and Lakshmi are both disgusted by this, especially when that money could have been used to pay off debts and feed them. I think the motorcycle is the breaking point for Ama and Lakshmi. They realize that he is not going to change, he is only getting worse. They now know that something must be done. Personally, I would have gotten rid of the stepfather, but I realize that in Nepal, that is simply not done.
Her stepfather is going to sell her to the woman that came up to her at the festival. Her mother tries to give her advice to prepare her for being a maid in the city. I do not see how a family can just sell their children away. It seems like child abuse, and yet Lakshmi seems to be excited that she will be able to help her family. Something tells me that it is not going to be what she thinks it is. If I were her mother, I would probably resent my husband for putting her in the position that she is in. Instead, she just seems resigned to her fate. I think this says a lot about the difference in culture between the United States and India. We have so much that we take for granted that we become selfish and egotistical. Yet the people who have so little willingly leave everything and everyone that they know so that they can maybe make their life a little easier. I know that if I was sold by my parents I would be bitter and resentful, but Lakshmi just seems grateful that she can help out.
"Lost Names"
"Lost Names" begins with the boy's mother and baby sister in Pyongyang visiting her parents. He is upset because his grandmother packs his lunch with white rice daily. He does not want to have white rice because the other children cannot afford it so they only have barley and millet. His lunch has been stolen from him four times since him mother left. His sister threatens to tell his grandmother that he does not like her lunches if he does not make her a pair of skates. He made himself skates even though he had a leather pair because he felt like he was showing off. This is such a big deal because white rice is hard to come by for the Koreans because the Japanese take it all for themselves. Even the boy's family's rice supply is limited. It seems to me like it is becoming harder and harder for the Koreans to survive with the Japanese. It is kind of like the Nazis and the Jews. At first, things were not so bad, but pretty soon people were being sent to concentration camps and killed. It is becoming unbearable.
The schools are also becoming more and more ridiculous. Students are not allowed to wear gloves or have their hands in their pockets. In fact, the pockets have to be sewn shut because it "harms your posture and weakens your constitution." I thought this was crazy, especially in the middle of winter. The students also have to bring logs and pine cones for the stove. Because the boy is the class leader, he has to bring extra logs, but he also gets to sit beside the stove and have his lunch warmed.
The Koreans also have to register and get new Japanese names. No one is very happy about this. The students who had not registered yet had to leave school and go to register. On their walk to the police station, the boy's father is treated like royalty. Even the Japanese police are surprised to see him in person. He does not have to wait in line like everyone else, once again this is due to the financial difference between his family and most others. His father chose their family name to be Iwamoto which means "Rock Foundation." I think it is pretty ridiculous that the Koreans had to register new names. Why couldn't the Japanese just learn their old ones?? They just like to be in charge and make everyone feel below them.
People begin to go to the graves to visit their ancestors. They weep and wail openly because they are ashamed that the Japanese have taken their names away from them. The boy gets very irritated because he feels that it is useless to visit the graves. He asked his father what this was going to do, and his father said "nothing." This made him even more irritated. His father then tells him that he "made a small beginning." I'm not entirely sure that I understand what his father meant. I think he just meant that he is beginning to understand how communistic the Japanese are becoming. I can't believe that the Japanese would do that to the Koreans. Not only did they take away their names, but they took away their history and dignity.
The schools are also becoming more and more ridiculous. Students are not allowed to wear gloves or have their hands in their pockets. In fact, the pockets have to be sewn shut because it "harms your posture and weakens your constitution." I thought this was crazy, especially in the middle of winter. The students also have to bring logs and pine cones for the stove. Because the boy is the class leader, he has to bring extra logs, but he also gets to sit beside the stove and have his lunch warmed.
The Koreans also have to register and get new Japanese names. No one is very happy about this. The students who had not registered yet had to leave school and go to register. On their walk to the police station, the boy's father is treated like royalty. Even the Japanese police are surprised to see him in person. He does not have to wait in line like everyone else, once again this is due to the financial difference between his family and most others. His father chose their family name to be Iwamoto which means "Rock Foundation." I think it is pretty ridiculous that the Koreans had to register new names. Why couldn't the Japanese just learn their old ones?? They just like to be in charge and make everyone feel below them.
People begin to go to the graves to visit their ancestors. They weep and wail openly because they are ashamed that the Japanese have taken their names away from them. The boy gets very irritated because he feels that it is useless to visit the graves. He asked his father what this was going to do, and his father said "nothing." This made him even more irritated. His father then tells him that he "made a small beginning." I'm not entirely sure that I understand what his father meant. I think he just meant that he is beginning to understand how communistic the Japanese are becoming. I can't believe that the Japanese would do that to the Koreans. Not only did they take away their names, but they took away their history and dignity.
"Once Upon A Time, On A Sunday"--Lost Names
During this story, I learned a lot about the difference in education in the United States and Asia. During the summer, the students go to school on Sundays. While there, they listen to the principal talk about the Japanese Imperial Army, do calisthenics for an hour, and turn in their homework from the week. I thought this was very strange, especially on a Sunday. Apparently, the Japanese did this because they did not want the children to go to church. After the other students leave, the class leaders have to stay and do errands for the teachers. To me, this seems kind of like a punishment, I do not think that I would want to be a class leader because they have so many more responsibilities. Once again it is brought to the readers' attention that the boy and his family are wealthy because he receives a bike as a reward for being the class leader and going into third grade.
The boy is also regarded as an expert in flying and making kites, although nearly every student knows how to make one. In order to make a kite for fighting, they coat the strings with glass. This made me think of The Kite Runner. It has to be pretty painful to hold onto a string that is coated in glass. They probably all have calluses and scars on their hands from years of kite fighting. I was also surprised to learn that the best time for kite fighting is in the winter. I don't know why, but I thought it would be best in the summer.
During this story, one of the poorer boys gives him a sling shot that he made. The boy is very excited because he got to have some white rice last night for dinner. This makes the other boy feel very bad because he has white rice with nearly every meal, and the meals are always large. I wonder if he is scoffed at because he is so much more wealthy than the other students? He seems like everyone likes him though, maybe they all just look up to him.
His third grade teacher is Korean, but he tends to agree more with the Japanese. It seems like they never really know whose side he is on. When the boy was helping his teacher on Sunday, his teacher asked him where his father is. The boy excitedly tells his teacher that him and his father will be at the bookstore later that afternoon because his father allows him to get one new book each week. Once again, the family's wealth is advertised. The teacher says that he is going to the bookstore too, and will likely see them there. I thought that this might be a problem because one never really knows whose side the teacher is on. When they got to the bookstore, the owner, his father, and the teacher all begin to talk. I do not really know what the significance of their talk was. It seems kind of like they were discussing rebelling against the Japanese, but not really on a large scale. I think it may have been just to show how the Koreans are not happy with the Japanese for controlling them.
I think the purpose of this story was to show how the Japanese are increasing their control on the Koreans. I think that something major is going to happen in one of the next stories. I also think it showed how education is so different, and how many Koreans are becoming more and more poor, although this family still has some wealth. I think eventually they too will lose some of their wealth.
The boy is also regarded as an expert in flying and making kites, although nearly every student knows how to make one. In order to make a kite for fighting, they coat the strings with glass. This made me think of The Kite Runner. It has to be pretty painful to hold onto a string that is coated in glass. They probably all have calluses and scars on their hands from years of kite fighting. I was also surprised to learn that the best time for kite fighting is in the winter. I don't know why, but I thought it would be best in the summer.
During this story, one of the poorer boys gives him a sling shot that he made. The boy is very excited because he got to have some white rice last night for dinner. This makes the other boy feel very bad because he has white rice with nearly every meal, and the meals are always large. I wonder if he is scoffed at because he is so much more wealthy than the other students? He seems like everyone likes him though, maybe they all just look up to him.
His third grade teacher is Korean, but he tends to agree more with the Japanese. It seems like they never really know whose side he is on. When the boy was helping his teacher on Sunday, his teacher asked him where his father is. The boy excitedly tells his teacher that him and his father will be at the bookstore later that afternoon because his father allows him to get one new book each week. Once again, the family's wealth is advertised. The teacher says that he is going to the bookstore too, and will likely see them there. I thought that this might be a problem because one never really knows whose side the teacher is on. When they got to the bookstore, the owner, his father, and the teacher all begin to talk. I do not really know what the significance of their talk was. It seems kind of like they were discussing rebelling against the Japanese, but not really on a large scale. I think it may have been just to show how the Koreans are not happy with the Japanese for controlling them.
I think the purpose of this story was to show how the Japanese are increasing their control on the Koreans. I think that something major is going to happen in one of the next stories. I also think it showed how education is so different, and how many Koreans are becoming more and more poor, although this family still has some wealth. I think eventually they too will lose some of their wealth.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
"Homecoming"--Lost Names
"Homecoming" takes place during 1938. The family has just moved from Manchuria to live with the father's family so that they can help out on their orchard. The boy is going into second grade at the new school. The school is run by the Japanese and is very strict and orderly. I found it very odd that the male teacher, boy students, and members of the Japanese army all wear the same style of pants. The girls have different uniforms. Their culture is very different from our own. In the morning, they have a military-style routine. The girls and boys are separated, and the Japanese students are on the other side of the building. It seems to be very segregated. The boy states that a couple of years later the Japanese even go so far as to build a separate school for Japanese students. Each morning, the students must face east and bow to the Japanese Emperor in Tokyo. I think this irritates a lot of the Korean families, but no one says anything about it.
I thought it was kind of strange that the boy's teacher was Korean because I did not think that the Japanese would hire "outsiders" to teach at the school. In the beginning of the class, he has to sing his favorite song to conclude his introduction (a tradition for new students in the class). He sang "Danny Boy," but none of the students knew what he was singing because they did not speak English. I thought it was especially odd that the entire school did not have class so that they could go see a movie about the Japanese army. I also thought it was pretty ridiculous that the students had to pay for their own tickets, especially since many of them are poor. Although, I have learned that the boy and his family are pretty wealthy because they have a tile roof, which most families can not afford to have. Two bigger boys in his class invited him to go swimming with them after the movie. At first I thought that they were going to be a bad influence, but later I learned that they were not.
While the class was outside for a break (kind of like our recess??), a student from his class told a Japanese teacher that he sang a foreign song. The teacher and the student came in, and the teacher began speaking to him in Japanese. I felt very bad for him because he didn't even understand what the teacher was saying. When he nodded his head "no" to say that he didn't understand, they accused him of lying. The teacher began beating him. He then punched the student who told on him in the stomach. His teacher came in and beat up the Japanese teacher. I was really surprised by this whole episode. I could not believe that a teacher could beat up a student without getting in any form of trouble at all. If his teacher hadn't stepped in, who knows how far the teacher would have gone. I have heard of teachers punishing kids with paddles and stuff, but I have never heard of them beating them up. His teacher then takes him to a Chinese restaurant, and then he takes him home.
While he is at his house, fourteen boys came to visit him. One of which was Pumpkin, the boy who invited him swimming earlier. I do not know if Pumpkin is significant or not, but he seems like he is because so far he is the only person in the stories that I have read who has a name. I was really surprised that fourteen boys came to visit him. I did not think that he would make any friends on the first day, let alone fourteen. I think punching the other student helped increase his popularity. They invite him swimming, but his mother says he cannot go because he needs to heal.
Later that night, he eats with his father and grandfather, which apparently is a treat. He also gets to drink two cups of wine. It seems to be their custom to drink out of each other's cup and then fill it for them, and then pass it around. I thought this was kind of strange, but maybe it is just kind of like showing their hospitality. While they are eating, his teacher comes. He is covered in bruises, and he is swollen. He was questioned by the Japanese army. He asks if he can leave with the boy's uncle, a member of the Manchurian army. When his uncle comes, he leaves with him, but he is captured by the Soviets, accused of being a Japanese spy, and killed.
The night of the fight, before he goes to bed, his mother tells him that Pumpkin ran to jump into the river first. He hit his head on a rock, and the other boys could not find him. Later they found him dead. I was really surprised at this turn of events. It seemed like the two people that he had started to form a bond with were killed. I wonder if he blames himself for his teacher's death? I know I probably would. Yet for some reason, he is still excited about going to school. I wonder if he will later change his mind, or if he will always like school?
I thought it was kind of strange that the boy's teacher was Korean because I did not think that the Japanese would hire "outsiders" to teach at the school. In the beginning of the class, he has to sing his favorite song to conclude his introduction (a tradition for new students in the class). He sang "Danny Boy," but none of the students knew what he was singing because they did not speak English. I thought it was especially odd that the entire school did not have class so that they could go see a movie about the Japanese army. I also thought it was pretty ridiculous that the students had to pay for their own tickets, especially since many of them are poor. Although, I have learned that the boy and his family are pretty wealthy because they have a tile roof, which most families can not afford to have. Two bigger boys in his class invited him to go swimming with them after the movie. At first I thought that they were going to be a bad influence, but later I learned that they were not.
While the class was outside for a break (kind of like our recess??), a student from his class told a Japanese teacher that he sang a foreign song. The teacher and the student came in, and the teacher began speaking to him in Japanese. I felt very bad for him because he didn't even understand what the teacher was saying. When he nodded his head "no" to say that he didn't understand, they accused him of lying. The teacher began beating him. He then punched the student who told on him in the stomach. His teacher came in and beat up the Japanese teacher. I was really surprised by this whole episode. I could not believe that a teacher could beat up a student without getting in any form of trouble at all. If his teacher hadn't stepped in, who knows how far the teacher would have gone. I have heard of teachers punishing kids with paddles and stuff, but I have never heard of them beating them up. His teacher then takes him to a Chinese restaurant, and then he takes him home.
While he is at his house, fourteen boys came to visit him. One of which was Pumpkin, the boy who invited him swimming earlier. I do not know if Pumpkin is significant or not, but he seems like he is because so far he is the only person in the stories that I have read who has a name. I was really surprised that fourteen boys came to visit him. I did not think that he would make any friends on the first day, let alone fourteen. I think punching the other student helped increase his popularity. They invite him swimming, but his mother says he cannot go because he needs to heal.
Later that night, he eats with his father and grandfather, which apparently is a treat. He also gets to drink two cups of wine. It seems to be their custom to drink out of each other's cup and then fill it for them, and then pass it around. I thought this was kind of strange, but maybe it is just kind of like showing their hospitality. While they are eating, his teacher comes. He is covered in bruises, and he is swollen. He was questioned by the Japanese army. He asks if he can leave with the boy's uncle, a member of the Manchurian army. When his uncle comes, he leaves with him, but he is captured by the Soviets, accused of being a Japanese spy, and killed.
The night of the fight, before he goes to bed, his mother tells him that Pumpkin ran to jump into the river first. He hit his head on a rock, and the other boys could not find him. Later they found him dead. I was really surprised at this turn of events. It seemed like the two people that he had started to form a bond with were killed. I wonder if he blames himself for his teacher's death? I know I probably would. Yet for some reason, he is still excited about going to school. I wonder if he will later change his mind, or if he will always like school?
"Crossing" from Lost Names
I thought this first story was pretty interesting. It was not at all what I had been expecting though. I expected it to be kind of like Things Fall Apart, where there are like mini stories that all tie together to make one novel. However, that doesn't seem to be the case for Lost Names. From what I understand, each story is about the same family, just at different times in their life.
I was really surprised that no names were ever mentioned in the story. It was always just "the lady," "her husband," and "the baby." I wonder if the names are going to be given later on, or if the descriptions will always be vague? I felt really bad for the lady when her husband was taken from her. It really took a lot of courage for her to get off the train with a baby, especially since she didn't know anyone. I was also surprised that she stayed outside the whole time in the snow. If that were me, I would have gone inside to wait for my husband. I didn't think that her husband would come back at all, let alone that same night.
I was also surprised that they left that night. I would have stayed and left during the day, but I guess it was not really safe for them to do that. I think I was probably more nervous than they were as they crossed the river. I thought for sure that her husband was going to fall in and drown. I was incredibly relieved when all three of them made it safely across. At the end, the narrator, who is the baby, talks with his mother about crossing the river. I was kind of confused because he was a baby, and I don't really see how he could remember that. Maybe his parents have just told him about it. When his mother said that she did not think that she could do it again, he says that she already has many more times and that he has as well. I wonder if this is maybe foreshadowing about other stories later on in the book? These stories probably have something to do with doing something dangerous, maybe even illegal at the time, to survive. Although not literally, they are probably like "walking on thin ice, with lots of cracks and holes."
I was really surprised that no names were ever mentioned in the story. It was always just "the lady," "her husband," and "the baby." I wonder if the names are going to be given later on, or if the descriptions will always be vague? I felt really bad for the lady when her husband was taken from her. It really took a lot of courage for her to get off the train with a baby, especially since she didn't know anyone. I was also surprised that she stayed outside the whole time in the snow. If that were me, I would have gone inside to wait for my husband. I didn't think that her husband would come back at all, let alone that same night.
I was also surprised that they left that night. I would have stayed and left during the day, but I guess it was not really safe for them to do that. I think I was probably more nervous than they were as they crossed the river. I thought for sure that her husband was going to fall in and drown. I was incredibly relieved when all three of them made it safely across. At the end, the narrator, who is the baby, talks with his mother about crossing the river. I was kind of confused because he was a baby, and I don't really see how he could remember that. Maybe his parents have just told him about it. When his mother said that she did not think that she could do it again, he says that she already has many more times and that he has as well. I wonder if this is maybe foreshadowing about other stories later on in the book? These stories probably have something to do with doing something dangerous, maybe even illegal at the time, to survive. Although not literally, they are probably like "walking on thin ice, with lots of cracks and holes."
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