Mao II- last chapters

I am surprised by how much sympathy Karen expresses for the individuals mourning the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.  DeLillo writes: “ Karen could go backwards into their lives, see them coming out of their houses and shanties, streams of people, then backwards even further, sleeping in their beds, hearing the morning call to prayer, coming out of their houses and meeting in some dusty square to match out of the slums together” (188).  Karen develops such a deep concern for these people and feels like she knows them personally. She feels she is right there with the mourners, experiencing the anguish and grief at the hands of death.  This perhaps demonstrates the power of a crowd’s influence on a person. Maybe Karen is particularly vulnerable to be swayed by crowds, indicated by this example and her involvement in the Moonie ceremonies. This is in contrast to Brita who maybe has the tendency to remain independent.  The conflict between individuality vs. mass identify is once again presented.  After she notices that Brita is completely emotionless and unattached from the pictures on the screen, Karen questions how some individuals can remain unscathed through times of pain. DeLillo writes, “If others saw these pictures, why is nothing changed, where are the local crowds, why do we still have names and addresses and keys?” (191) Really, this is legitimate question people ask when bad events occur. Because one person’s life is turned upside down, it is hard to comprehend that others are still perfectly okay. Since Karen is wondering this, it suggests that she is experiencing the sheer anguish with the masses, as if it were happening to her alone.

     I was also struck by the prisoner’s longing to write. “The only way to be in this world was to write himself there. His thoughts and words were dying. Let him write ten words and he would come into being again” (204). He seems to be very independent, identifying himself not from the masses, but through his own writing. He has to express himself to know he is alive. This is in contrast to those who merely follow the masses to form their identify through others.
 
      I know I probably missed important themes in this book that became lost in the dull dialogue, descriptions, etc.  Even though this was not an easy read, I still glad I read it.

Mao II- The Middle

What an overwhelming experience so far. Remember how last time I said that I am willing to give this book a chance? I really did and, sadly, I have decided I don’t much care for this book at all. I force myself to read it, but then derive no meaning from it.  DeLillo may have well just have thrown a whole bunch of words together and called it a story as far as I’m concerned. This negative outburst and my inability to comprehend this novel may be partly because I am just struggling to focus. It’s hard for me to sit down and read a book right now with all of my other homework and finals looming over my head. Perhaps this would be a better book for me to read while I did not have any other responsibilities and could concentrate more.

            What I can say though is that I am really glad some more background is finally revealed regarding Karen and her past. For a while there I saw barely any connection to the prologue.  The way Karen meets Scott is almost creepy, though. He just stumbles upon her while driving around at night and kind of taker her under his wing. It is nice, really..... but just kind of an unusual start to an unusual friendship. I do notice the theme of crowds vs. individuality coming across. Being lost in a crowd can be negative, as in Karen’s experience of becoming “programmed.” Although she became part of a mass group, she still feels completely isolated. Page 78 reveals these feelings as Karen reflects on being separated from her husband and missing the little things in life such as her parents birthdays. She seeks more freedom. This reminds me of page 88 where Scott talks about the masses of people walking the streets, trapped in their own monologue completely detached from everyone else. Although these masses of people are not actually alone, they might as well be.

Please excuse my rather simple and negative post. I just don’t know what to write about when I don't really understand much of what I am reading.

Mao II- ch.1-5

Similar to many other opinions that have been expressed, I too, have a problem with the author’s style of writing. But I will give this novel a chance before I immediately decide I dislike it.  I do wish DeLillo would have included a few more “he said” “she said” references to help me out. But it does make the story more authentic, especially in portraying how chaotic conversations can be. This is something Dr. Dyer alluded to in class.

Bill Gray is an interesting fellow. I can understand the pressure one would feel after having written such a successful book in the past. Now, he must feel he has to beat himself, essentially, by once again succeeding in producing a successful piece. I can also understand how publishing his novel will make him feel like he is completely exposed to the world. When I read literature I find myself failing to distinguish between the “speaker” and the “author.” I do know that they are often separated and distinguished. However, it is something I have to remind myself of sometimes. Even when they are separated, I feel like it is inevitable that some of the author’s personality, ideals, and ways of thinking are going to be exposed and revealed to the world. Maybe this is the way Bill feels and why he keeps his work to himself. He seems like a guy who likes his privacy.

On page 48 he reveals to Karen, “the deeper I become entangled in the process of getting a sentence right in its syllables and rhythms, the more I learn about myself.”  Writing used to be a big part of Bill’s identity.  However, he also states that now he has forgotten what it means to write and fails to see himself in his writing. In a sense Bill has psyched himself out. Perhaps he is struggling in his work because he can no longer identify or recognize himself.