The chapter I just read in this book was by far my favorite so far. It really made me think. It was about how imagination is so essential to life. The whole chapter continuously alludes to 7-11 which I found a very interesting subject to reference while speaking about imagination. The narrator refers to his imaginary 7-11 as the "7-11 of his dreams where is is surrounded by five hundred years of lies." The way he connects the repression of native americans to a 7-11 is very clever.
The chapter begins with a series of scenarios in native american history where the outcomes were different. The first is, " Imagine Crazy Horse invented the atom bomb in 1876 and detonated it over Washington D.C. Would urban indians still be sprawled around the one-room apartment in the cable television reservation?" It really makes the reader think about how an event so long ago can shape the present and future. The scenarios are strange and slightly humorous to think about, but they are very powerful statements. Alexie is very good at wording things in a sarcastic way, but still maintaining the full force of his powerful statements. He doesn't sound angry when he writes, but he really makes the reader put things in perspective. Almost every chapter in this book has left me with some question or theme to think about. He ends things in a very open ended manner.
That sounds really interesting! Is the whole book different stories every chapter? Or is there a theme throughout the entire book? When you say the chapter alludes to 7-11, do you mean the convenience store? If so that is humorous, and I would like to know some of the other examples he uses. Are the different chapters in different person? By the way that you described this chapter, it seems there is no narrator which interests me. I know that previous chapters have a central character and narrator (who I'm guessing is the character) while this chapter doesn't seem to have one distinct character. Have you read more about the little kid Alexie adopts? That is very interesting about how past events could rupture what we know today even if they were only changed in the slightest way. Sometimes I think how my life would be different if something (like the invention of the atom bomb) that I had nothing to do with never happened, or happened at a different time. Do you think the book will wrap everything up all together, or just leave you with little quips of Alexie's imagination?
ReplyDeleteIts good that you notice how the narrator makes you use your imagination. You said this chapter in particular, made you think. What di it actually made you think of, in terms of your imaginaton, was it something relating to the story or was it just a random thought? You also said the chapter continuously alludes to 7-11 and i was wondering if it was the store like, 7-11 or you may be referring to something else lol. You also said the chapter begun with different scenarios, like the crazy horse who invented the atom bomb. is that what caused you to stop and think about these references to stuff that happened long ago but still shaped the future? I think its good that you find the scenarios humorous and strange. You mentioned that Alexie was good with wording in a sarcastic way but still maintains the full force of his powerful statements. I actually don't understand what you mean by that but i might have an idea of what you're talking about.Is a good thing that this book leaces you with question or is it a bad thing? i personally think unanswered questions make a story interesting. and you said he ends it in a open ended manner. is that because might want to keep a pattern of some sort going? but this book sounds relly interesting and i hope to read it sometime when i get the chance to do so.
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