What do you think of the way that Ng decides to structure the book? Why does she begin with Lydia's drowning and then use flashbacks to fill in details?
It reminds me a little bit of 12 Angry Men how they started with the verdict first and then showed us the details behind the one juror convincing everyone else. I think it makes us build up what we think happened in the events leading up to Lydia's death, and as more and more details are revealed through the flashback, we can change our understanding to model that.
Interesting comparison! I hadn't thought about that, but it is very similar. I also wonder if it makes us experience the family's story the same way they experience it...none of them seems to have the whole picture of what is going on, and they're pieces things together a little bit at a time...and often incorrectly.
I really like how Ng structures the book. I like that the story goes back and forth between the present and the past. It's helpful because, like Caroline is saying, more details are being revealed each time so we can connect those details to the previous ones we had discovered. And I like that the story goes back and forth between the different family members, so we are able to see what each person is thinking and feeling throughout the book. I also think it is interesting that as Lydia's family is trying to connect the puzzle pieces, we are as well.
I think Nath knows most about Lydia. He was the only one in the family that knew about Jack. He also knew that the people that James and Marilyn thought were Lydia's friends were actually more like acquaintances.
I wonder how good of a movie this book would make. I feel like the audience would be eager to find out the truth behind Lydia’s death. However, it would be hard to understand everything as an audience member because it would be hard to convey a character’s thought in film.
I've gone through the whole book waiting to find out how Lydia actually died. Finally, in the penultimate chapter, Ng decides to show us. The day before jumping into the lake, Lydia called Nath but Nath is mean to her and just told her to talk to Jack about her problems, Lydia came on to Jack but he admitted that he was gay, and Lydia thinks about the day that Nath pushed him into the lake. All three of these things had happened only a few hours before jumping into the lake, so it makes her death seem a lot like a suicide. However, Lydia also thinks that if she can swim from the middle of the lake to shore, everything will be alright for her.
How is Marilyn affected by the sexism of the society in which she has grown up and in which she still lives? How does it affect her sense of self and her relationships with her husband and her children?
It reminds me a little bit of 12 Angry Men how they started with the verdict first and then showed us the details behind the one juror convincing everyone else. I think it makes us build up what we think happened in the events leading up to Lydia's death, and as more and more details are revealed through the flashback, we can change our understanding to model that.
ReplyDeleteInteresting comparison! I hadn't thought about that, but it is very similar. I also wonder if it makes us experience the family's story the same way they experience it...none of them seems to have the whole picture of what is going on, and they're pieces things together a little bit at a time...and often incorrectly.
DeleteI really like how Ng structures the book. I like that the story goes back and forth between the present and the past. It's helpful because, like Caroline is saying, more details are being revealed each time so we can connect those details to the previous ones we had discovered. And I like that the story goes back and forth between the different family members, so we are able to see what each person is thinking and feeling throughout the book. I also think it is interesting that as Lydia's family is trying to connect the puzzle pieces, we are as well.
ReplyDeleteI think Nath knows most about Lydia. He was the only one in the family that knew about Jack. He also knew that the people that James and Marilyn thought were Lydia's friends were actually more like acquaintances.
DeleteI wonder how good of a movie this book would make. I feel like the audience would be eager to find out the truth behind Lydia’s death. However, it would be hard to understand everything as an audience member because it would be hard to convey a character’s thought in film.
DeleteI've gone through the whole book waiting to find out how Lydia actually died. Finally, in the penultimate chapter, Ng decides to show us. The day before jumping into the lake, Lydia called Nath but Nath is mean to her and just told her to talk to Jack about her problems, Lydia came on to Jack but he admitted that he was gay, and Lydia thinks about the day that Nath pushed him into the lake. All three of these things had happened only a few hours before jumping into the lake, so it makes her death seem a lot like a suicide. However, Lydia also thinks that if she can swim from the middle of the lake to shore, everything will be alright for her.
ReplyDelete