The story of how Chacko and Margaret met is told. They were both in England, he studying on a Rhoades scholarship, and she was a waitress. She told him a story about two brothers, one pessimist and the other an optimist, and they laughed a lot. I really liked this story. I thought it was very cute, even though the two were only in love for a short time, if even at all. The author really makes it sound that they are crazy about each other though. I really liked the story about the two brothers also. I thought it was pretty funny. It was kind of sad that the couple got a divorce right after Sophie was born though. It seemed like it hurt everyone involved, and even though it says she didn't know what she was doing or how bad it was hurting him, how could she not have known? That just doesn't make sense to me.
Margaret and Chacko exchange letters, and Margaret says that she is very happy with Joe in England. I don't really know why they would exchange letters if the divorce was so hurtful in the first place. This also didn't make sense to me. I guess writing back and forth made everything okay. Then Joe dies suddenly, and Chacko invites Margaret and Sophie to visit him, so they decide to go to India. Margaret never forgave herself for leaving Sophie.
Then the chapter kind of breaks and switches points of view. Sophie Mol's death is brought up again. It said that Mammachi and Baby Kochamma first heard the news. They had started to worry because the three children had been gone for quite some time and they knew that the river might be dangerous because they had just gotten quite a bit of rainfall. Why wouldn't they go look for the kids if they had been gone for a long time and no one had heard from them, especially if there was any chance they could have been doing something dangerous?
Vellya Ppaapen comes over to their house, drunk. He taled alot, and he revealed the affair between Ammu and Velutha to the family. Then, it jumps around alot around the time of Sophie's death, and I got really confused. I wish the author would just tell the story in order without jumping around so much. It is so hard to follow what is going on.
Comrade Pillai talk about the Paradise Preservative and Pickle company. I don't think it is going so well. The two also talk about Velutha. Comrade Pillai thinks that Velutha should be fired, and this is because he knows about the affair.
These chapters were very out of order and hard to follow. I really didn't like them.
1 comment:
Divorce carries a social stigma in India, much like it used to in America about 50 years ago. (not the case here anymore) Anyway, yeah, it was too bad they couldn't work it out especially after the birth of baby Sophie.
It's kind of weird how they write letters and so cordial. I never could understand how that can be so. My wife's parents are divorced, and yet they are much the same way. They talk to each other a lot and even come to the same family events. I guess everyone handles this differently.
Again, we see the jumping around in the plot. You are not alone in not liking this writing style.
Mr. Farrell
Post a Comment