THEY DON’T NEED THERAPY, THEY NEED JAIL TIME. Warning: This book is so utterly explicit that my blog will have to be, so I am sorry if this is a bit much.
I’m 100% sure this relationship is simply sexual. Maybe I’m just a little conservative, but there is simply no excuse to make one accept that sort of age gap where the girl is underage! Be White, Asian, Middle Eastern, I don’t care but I will still treat this kind of a problem the same for all people despite their race. This is not a money thing, nor a race thing in my opinion. This issue could have never happened in the first place, that is how I know this is purely (how ironic) sexual.
I’m giving THE STANK EYES to both The Narrator, the White girl and The Lover, the old Chinese man.
They are both at fault.
Why lie about your age being 17 and not 15. In all honesty though, it does not make it any better by being 2 years. How is The Lover still ok with a young girl anyways? Does it make him feel better that he is desired by a White girl? It is so disgusting to be ok with using the young girl for sexual desires. Would you ever let your younger sister or daughter do that?! Is it that she’s a White girl that you think she has no value, making it ok to mess her life up. He is a grown man that knows what sex can do to a person. The girl is just clueless.
The Narrator’s family is sad with her abusive and opium addict older brother. Also the mother that allows her daughter to sell herself to that man (pays money to the school board so The Narrator can sleep with her Lover) and encourages her son’s addiction.
BUT STILL WHERE IS HER SELF RESPECT. She gives herself, but then ends up attached (no shit) and crying. The Lover tells her that he can never marry her, but still does whatever she does anyways. Please focus on your school girly. She is probably very uneducated about sex given that you’re even put into this situation. Attraction does not justify doing whatever you want. Also, bold of The Lover to assume The Narrator did not once think about the money he had. What else would the girl want to do with you besides the ‘attraction’ and money. Be so forreal, that’s a young girl that probably does not know what a true and healthy relationship is.
Let’s not forget to mention the borderline rape scene after the dinner with the family?! I really could not deal with these two. I am not a professional relationship expert but this book is not about love or lovers, it’s nonsense.
The only character I liked in this book is the younger brother. HE DESERVES JUSTICE. Poor guy is sobbing all throughout the book because of the chaotic family he is born into.
Great, she’s a writer now! Used him to write his book, but I think The Lover used her just as much to satisfy his desires (he’s probably lacking that with his wife).
Question: Who was your favorite character in the book? Also, do you think if The Narrator was educated on sex and relationships that she would have been less likely to be or get fooled by the relationship with The Narrator?
This rant is so real, like actually what was she thinking?? But also, get your bag I guess but I agree, the relationship probably would not have happened if she had better sex education or was in a better financial and familial situation. My personal favourite character was Hélène cause she was the least problematic, also Duras was lowkey in love with her.
I found Hélène to be an interesting character. I also believe that there may have been some platonic love there.
Hi Adia,
I enjoyed reading your blog post and can relate to a lot about how you were feeling throughout the book. I can agree with this idea that both lovers were at fault in some sense. I found myself feeling bad for the narrator, Duras as she was so young and chasing money to help her situation yet being taken advantage of and not leaving the situation. Also, the man was disgusting as he knew what he was doing was wrong. The book gave off very mixed off emotions and was uncomfortable overall. – Puneet D
the book made me uncomfortable too!
5. Adia, I couldn’t help but laugh at your title despite the seriousness of the topic. I will say that even though you say that race isn’t an issue you brought it up as a potential excuse for why the man might be interested in the white girl still. Maybe your point is that even though the most important part is the age, race and class play a role in the minds of the characters even if it shouldn’t. I am curious to see if your opinion changes after watching the lecture video!
Tesi
I’m glad the title made you laugh haha, it made me too honestly. But anyways to your point about the lecture, no, my opinion doesn’t change. Sure, this book attempts to challenge the intersectionality of race, and class but I just can’t buy it. This book wanted to focus on that, but I think the issue the book focuses on is how messed up the relationship between The Lover and The Narrator in terms of it sexuality and how age plays into this.