Granted the novel had a great start, but I'm starting to feel a little iffy about it now. I think Rora's influence is majorly affecting Brik. Especially when he told a story that wasn't his at a wedding reception and his wife called him out. He thinks its because he didn't share the story of how they met like the other couples did, but I think she was just calling his bluff from knowing him that well. Anyway, I think the half of the novel that includes Rora and his immoral ways is getting a little long. I'm not a big fan of Rora--he sounds like a bad friend that always wants the spotlight.
In the beginning of this section, I was astounded at the number of bullets that hit Lazurus. I remember all the chaos, but I didn't know all the guns were pointed at him.
Poor Olga. I think she is attempting to write her mother a letter telling her about the death. What's really sad is the part where the narrator says that the mother is still far off wondering about the well-being of her son, not even knowing that he is dead.
Isador, the curly-haired accomplice is in the outhouse, where all the feces go. If Olga had not come out there to think about her brother, what would he have done? I love his reasoning: "Good people had told me to stay away from the law" (93). My thoughts--"good" people should never be in the way of the law. Then the dictionary of which had much sentimental value falls into the feces, after hitting Isador in the face. Maybe this was Isador's way of saying, it was a bad idea to begin with. While Olga was sleeping, I found something quite interesting in that passage. "If I fall asleep and wake up dead, I could be rid of this sickening grief" (95). Waking up dead? That's ironic.
She explains how Lazurus looked in the morgue. Her little brother loooked "so angry in the morgue, so tense, his lips frigid and sharp" (95). I remember back in May of 2001 when I made a trip to the morgue to see my older brother. He looked peaceful, almost about to crack a smile. That's scary now that I think about it. But, he made me want to laugh. Especially wearing this awful yellow Hawaiian looking shirt with blue flowers that my dad picked out to go with Timberland boots. I know my brother is somewhere pissed about that last outfit choice! Oh well, God doesn't judge.
The words read from the dictionary are put into sentence form at the end of page 96, and I tried so hard to interpret it, but I can't. Just words, they probably don't mean anything.
Just a couple things to comment on in the next few pages.
First, Andriy the driver of the Focus doesn't want anyone to wear a seat belt and says "If it is your time to go, it is your time to go" (100). I say "If it's your time to go, Jesus will take you--but don't make him have to hurry, because He's a busy man." Seat belts save lives, and I'm glad Brik put it on the second time he got into the car. With all Rora's stories about casinos and Range Rovers, he was starting to sound, for lack of a better word, sketch! So in their society, it's not hard to believe that "nobody expected the truth" (103). I found a profound statement on pg. 105, something I had never thought about before: "The whole life a dash between the two arbitrary numbers". When someone walks around in a cemetery, you know nothing except when they were born and when they died. The in between lies with their soul and the few names that might have left a message. There is no brief biography, no list of accomplishments. In the end does it all matter? Wow.
I love how Guzik is some little person in a dark room who trades inside stories for cash! Just what this story needed!
I personally didn't think that your comments on religion in class were that racy; but then again you are teaching in Bible Belt central here at CU where everyone who isn't Republican with a Bible in your right hand and American flag in the other stands out. What's wrong with playing devil's advocate or stirring up he crowd? And, I'm glad to hear that another Nigerian will be playing. I have a personal thing against Egyptians and Ethiopians though, most claim they aren't "African". Hahaha.
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This is a really good, in-depth blog. I like how you used all of the quotes that stood out to you. Also, I really liked how you compared the story to your personal experiences. I tend to agree with your last point as well about Kudera's comments. I do not find anything he says offensive, but could see how some might. I really enjoy hearing different perspectives on topics such as the ones he covers. All in all, very good blog.
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