Month: March 2026

Categories
Luiselli

Luiselli – So It’s a Story, Not Reality?

To start, this is definitely one of the novels that I struggled with the most this term. It had a completely different and unique take on literature. Normally, I like to write my blog post before I watch the lecture or conversation video, as a way to showcase my own perspectives when it is still fresh after reading. However, I had to watch the lecture video because I genuinely could not understand what was going on in the book. To my surprise, my confusion was somewhat justified as I learned that the book consists of fragments that fail to tell a coherent story.

I think this is the beauty of this book. While I was reading, I was led between different storylines and felt like it contrasted my normal reads. Usually, each sentence from the novels I read serves a purpose and results in a finale. It has a beginning, middle, and an end. Yet, it was interesting how this story almost seems like it is a work in progress, as her husband reads and questions if what she has written is reality. So, although Faces in the Crowd got me questioning my understanding, I am trying to appreciate Luiselli’s style of writing.

On page 39, the narrator’s husband reads some of her written work and asks her “Did you use to sleep with women?” He then “asks how much is fiction and how much is fact” (50). This is something I was trying to figure out as a reader. Yes, I read the entirety of the novel. However, I felt like I was reading without comprehending. By the end, I was left questioning what I just read.

“I began to die in Manhattan, in the summer of 1928. Of course, no one except me noticed my deaths—people are too busy with their own lives to take note of other people’s little deaths” (61). This quote reminded me of how everyone has their internal struggles and some people are really good at hiding their feelings. I believe this novel has a lot to unpack, I just do not know where or how to start.

A question I had while reading was: What is the meaning of objects and furniture? Specifically, this thought hit me when “Owen listed the objects in a room he was renting in Harlem: writing desk, pictures, plant, magazines, a piano” (22). I could not help but notice there was something going on in the background. After the lecture video, I realized that there are connections between incidents and objects. For example, the red coat. Hence, this is something that I would like to ask everyone. Additionally, what did everyone think about the novel having multiple stories? How did you approach the novel?

Categories
Piglia

Piglia – Hold On, There’s Way Too Many Characters

I probably already mentioned this before but keeping track of all the characters is one of my absolute weaknesses while reading. To be honest, I started off pretty good for this specific text. I made notes of each new character and jotted a bit about who they are so I could refer back to it. However, by the end of the book, I definitely lost track of witnesses, other characters who had connections to the gang members, and more.

Aside from this, it is safe to say I quite enjoyed Money to Burn and it reminded me of Mad Toy, a previous text we read in this course. The action and suspense in this book is something that I am naturally drawn to when choosing what to read. However, I definitely found the more sexual parts to be a little uncomfortable and maybe even disturbing? I think one reason for this is because it is out of the ordinary.

One of the first quotes that stood out to me shows how everyone has a dream they can live out only if they have money. For example, “with 100,000 dollars he could open his bar in New York. A place where he could live out his retirement in peace” (13). As well, “they could split the cash and carry on leading their lives as normal. The fortune would accrue to their children” (19). It was interesting to see how everyone has their own motivations for crime. Furthermore, I was surprised by how innocent their dreams are. What they want to do with the money seems very pure to me.

Another part of the book that I would like to highlight is “Money is just the same as drugs: what’s fundamental is its possession, knowing it’s there, touching it, checking it’s still in the cupboard, there in its bag slung among the clothes, checking there’s still a half-kilo of the stuff, a hundred grand’s worth, being content with that” (30). In a way, this foreshadows or connects to the novel’s ending. Afterall, nobody truly possesses the stolen money at the end, rather the bills are burnt and “looked like butterflies of light, flaming notes” (157).

Overall, I believe Money to Burn is super rich and dense, encapsulating many things to unpack. Although I did not directly state this in my blog post, I recognize there is significance in how the criminals decided to burn the money they stole. Personally, I feel like this shows some sort of connection beyond the obvious monetary value.

So, in relation, my question is: How easy do you think it was for the criminals to burn something they stole? If you were in their position, would you have been able to make the same decision? What would you have used the money for?

Categories
Duras

Duras – I’m Sorry What?!

To be honest, I think this is one of the books so far that I actually did not particularly enjoy reading. I just could not get over the fact that the age gap between the two characters was 12 years. There was a lingering discomfort and I really could not get myself to immerse myself into the plot as much as other books have. 

Something I found ironic is how the text describes “she’s become just something you write without difficulty, cursive writing” (29). While cursive may be easier once learned, I genuinely think it is more difficult than standard letters.

Another potentially significant theme I noticed was photographs and beauty. This is supported by “I don’t know who took the photo with the despair” (31). We can also refer to page 95 for more references to photos. Additionally, on page 33, I thought that “she asks him what he is” was such a peculiar, strange, and even inappropriate way to ask someone’s ethnicity?

“She says, I’d rather you didn’t love me. But if you do, I’d like you to do as you usually do with women” (37). This part of the book made me wonder if she does not want to be treated differently just because she is younger. Perhaps, his hesitancy is also because of their age gap?

Furthermore, they have different races, social class, and age. “Chinese is a language that’s shouted the way I always imagine desert languages are, it’s a language that’s incredibly foreign” (41). This emphasizes how different the two really are. In a way, I guess their relationship is considered unacceptable in the society they live in.

The difference is also emphasized by “he says he went to study at a business school in Paris, he tells the truth at last, says he didn’t do any work and his father stopped his allowance, sent him his return ticket, and he had to leave” (49-50). It seems like his family has the means to send their kid abroad. This reminded me of sending the eldest son to study accounting and inherit the family business-type trope.

I would like to leave off with two quotes that stood out to me: 

  • “Never a hello, a good evening, a happy New Year. Never a thank you. Never any talk. Never any need to talk. Everything always silent, distant” (54). 
  • “I think I’m beginning to see my life. I think I can already say, I have a vague desire to die” (103).

Question: What importance does the man’s wealth have in their relationship? Is this why the girl is staying interested? After all, “she listened, watching for anything to do with his wealth, for indications as to how many millions he had” (34).

Spam prevention powered by Akismet