Super depressing and contradictory. Basically that's how I sum up this book.
It's really hard to trust this narrator. But I always catch myself enveloped in the novel, believing everything he says. Perhaps I'm just a careless reader. Oh well, i'm getting off topic...
So I find trends of major contradictions. "A true war story cannot be believed". WHAT?!?! If it's true, why can't I believe it?? Okay, I'll be honest, I do sorta get it, but it's frustrating as a reader. Because now I have to constantly search for the truth. But actually, I think he means that the truth is what we make of it. It's actually our interpretation. Well that's how I interpret it anyway. Also, I think that he has to add in the depressing, brutal, almost animalistic happenings into his stories, whether they are true or not, to get his point across. Not neccessarily for their truths, but to get to the truth. The excess details, or lies, are there to capture your attention. If you stay interested and really get involved in the story, then you can feel the story. He talks about how war can't be experienced unless you are there, so he tries to get the feeling of war across to people. Also, i'm sure he wants someone to relate to so he tries to get people on the same page. Overall, it's depressing and unbelievable. But i think it has to be for someone to be able to believe it.
Sorry this sucks and I;m talking in circles :( lol
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Hm, very nice blog, Jessie. It helped remind myself to be careful when I read this novel. Yes, the feelings in it are very genuine, but how reliable is this author, especially when he is basically saying that manipulating people and their feelings so the YOU can feel less alone, at the expense of the truth (LYING TO PEOPLE)is A-OK, again, if it makes you feel better/makes your point. While it's definitely not good to keep things bottled up, proclaiming that the only way to determine the TRUE truth (whatever that's supposed to mean...)is through lying is an awefully slippery slope. Thank you, Jessie, for quite possibly saving me from a dishonest author. I'll remember to keep on my toes (even though it gets tiring every now and then).
ReplyDeleteNice blog Jess...I agree with the fact that it is sometimes really hard to trust the reader, becasue he is always contradicting it self. This just like Cami, reminds me to be more careful when I read (Because I am somewhat of a careless reader most of the time anyway.) It is quite frustrating to always have to go back and think about what he said just to make sure that you understand were he is going with that. Kind of like when I first read "How To Tell a True War Story". I was confused until we went over it in class, then I found the meaning behind it.
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Ugh, so wrote awhol long comment and it didn't save for some reason, okay, so I do agree with you, well all three of you that readers can get confused about what they read, that is why for this book, I am trying to read everything more carefully, I want to understand what the author is saying just a little bit the first time.
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