Friday, August 12, 2011

One strong woman- 20

"I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end it's just too much. The current's too strong. They've got to let go, drift apart. That's how I think it is with us. It's a shame, Kath, because we've loved each other all our lives. But in the end, we can't stay together forever." (Never Let Me Go, page 282) 


I really liked Kathy's character. I felt like she was strong and considerate, yet had insecurities just like all of us. I felt like I could really relate to her. She loved Tommy all along, yet she never tried to steal him from her best friend. Kathy was also very positive. While other carers hated their jobs and the solitude, Kathy found comfort in the alone time she had. I also find it heartwarming how much she loved Hailsham and all the memories she had there. She could have been angry at the way her life turned out and wanted more from it. I'm sure she was a little bitter, but she chose to embrace the life she had and live it to the fullest. This idea of clones is scary and throughout this book I wondered how our society today would embrace it. It's strange to think that if these students did exist, they would pretty much be just like us. I enjoyed this book a lot better than Brave New World and I feel like that is because it was written in first person point of view and I could really relate to Kathy.

Misunderstood- 19

"And I saw a little girl, her eyes tightly closed, holding to her breast the old kind world, one that she knew in her heart could not remain, and she was holding it and pleading, never to let her go." (Never Let Me Go, page 272)


The conversations that Kathy and Tommy have with Miss Emily and Madame answer many questions. I found the above quote very interesting because I always wondered what exactly Madame was thinking when she saw Kathy dancing in her dorm room. The students always saw Madame as harsh and afraid, but I can see now that she was just misunderstood. She worked hard to give those students a fair chance at having the best life possible, and she feels bad that Hailsham had to close.


Madame's job couldn't have been easy. When everyday people like herself were afraid of the students and didn't want to think they existed, it must have been hard to come to Hailsham and work with them. She took their art because she wanted to showcase that they were just like everyone else. I'm surprised people wouldn't be more grateful towards these students that were giving them a cure to cancer. I applaud Madame because she stood up for what was right. 

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Well that was surprising- 18

"Do I go too far?" And now: "Do we continue?" I realised, with a little chill, that these questions had never been for me, or for Tommy, but for someone else--someone listening behind us in the darkened half of the room." (Never Let Me Go, page 255)


This chapter was very suspenseful and raised a lot of questions. I was really confused by the way Madame was acting and how she kept asking these questions. The fact that the person in the shadows was Miss Emily was definitely a shock, yet I don't really know what I was expecting. And when Madame said, "It's you they've come to speak to" it makes me think that the rumors are true, and Tommy and Kathy might get a defferal. Although the whole defferal thing is a little weird. I mean after the three years is up, then what? Do they go back to exactly what they were doing before?


I also really want to know who the man was that Madame was speaking to. They never addressed if she was married or not. I wonder is she has a husband? I also want to know why Miss Emily is living with Madame. I'm sure these questions will be answered soon...

Ruth says sorry?-17

"The main thing is, I kept you and Tommy apart." Her voice had dropped again, almost to a whisper. "That was the worst thing I did." (Never Let Me Go, page 232)


In my opinion, this is the climax of the story. I feel like the plot has been leading up to this moment when Ruth FINALLY admits that she has wronged Kathy. I'm not saying Kathy is completely innocent, because she isn't; but Ruth did some pretty awful things to her. From the beginning, I thought Tommy and Kathy liked each other, that's why I was so shocked when Ruth and Tommy became a couple. It really makes me angry that Ruth was just with Tommy to keep her away from Kathy.


I'm glad Ruth finally admitted it and is trying to correct a wrong, but seriously did she have to wait this long? I'm not sure if Tommy and Kathy will be able to be a couple now. I think they do have feelings for each other, but with all the history they have, it will be hard to start fresh. 


I'm also glad that when Ruth died, her and Kathy were on a good note. I didn't think they would ever get that way, but I guess as they grew up, they became wiser and less childish. I think Kathy's friendship with Ruth will always mean a lot to her, but now her and Tommy can be together without Ruth hanging over them.

End of an era- 16

"I thought about Hailsham closing, and how it was like someone coming along with a pair of shears and snipping the balloon strings just where they entwined above the man's fist. Once that happened, there'd be no real sense in which those balloons belonged with each other any more." (Never Let Me Go, page 213)


I really like this analogy because it puts into perspective how Kathy feels about Hailsham closing. It is kind of like her childhood is gone because this was the place where she grew up and where she created her fondest memories. I feel sad for Kathy because I know how much Hailsham meant to her. It would be like if Roncalli or Saint Barnabas got torn down. Even though I wouldn't still be going to school there, I would still be incredibly sad because that is where a lot of my childhood memories are.


The second part of the analogy discusses that after the balloons are separated, they can't really be connected to each other any longer. Kathy feels like now that Hailsham is gone, there is no reason for all the former students to stay in touch. There is no longer something that connects them. I kind of feel like all the characters think that once they leave Hailsham, there good days are behind them. Now that they are carers and donors, there is nothing really to look forward too. Although Kathy enjoys being a carer, I think she cherishes Hailsham so much because it was a huge part of her life. 


Monday, August 8, 2011

Daft and Jealousy- 15

"In fact, if that's why you're hiding in here now, it's really daft." (Never Let Me Go, page 188)


"She said immediately how daft it was, the three of us having rows over the most stupid things." (Never Let Me Go, page 199)


Daft: senseless, stupid, or foolish; insane or crazy. I had no idea what daft meant but I guessed it was something bad. The constant usage of the word daft in the novel is an example of dialect. I think it was a term mostly used in England since that is where the characters are from. I think dialect is effective because it shows the reader where the characters are coming from. 


On another note, I'm starting to think Ruth is jealous of Kathy's relationship with Tommy. I think Ruth feels threatened by Kathy and doesn't want to lose Tommy. Especially when Ruth tells Kathy that Tommy could never see Kathy as a "proper girlfriend", it's clear that Ruth has some jealousy. Kathy doesn't share much insight on what Ruth said and leaves the subject kind of mysterious. This makes me think that deep down Kathy does have feelings for Tommy. 


Hailsham vs Non-Hailsham- 14

"They were relieved they wouldn't have to face, more starkly than ever, the notion which fascinated and nagged and scared them: this notion of theirs that there were all kinds of possibilities open to us Hailsham students that weren't open to them. I remember thinking then how different they actually were, Chrissie and Rodney, from the three of us." (Never Let Me Go, page 165)


That last line really hit me. At first, I didn't really see a big difference in the kids that came from Hailsham and the kids that didn't. However, it is becoming more and more apparent that the kids from Hailsham are "special". I'm not exactly sure what makes them so special, but there has to be something. Clearly Chrissie and Rodney have heard many rumors about Hailsham students getting more opportunities than others especially the situation where a couple can have more time together if they are truly in love. I'm sure Ruth will want to explore this with Tommy, but I really think that deep down Tommy is in love with Kathy, not Ruth. I'm interested to see how this will play out.


I do think that Tommy, Kathy, and Ruth understand each other in a way that Chrissie and Rodney can't. The two groups are different from each other, and because they have different backgrounds, they don't share as much common ground.This situation is kind of like the tv show Switched At Birth. A deaf boy named Emmett is trying to pursue a relationship with a hearing girl named Bay. While the two do share some similarities and do like each other, they can never truly understand each other fully. Emmett's mom tells him that Bay can never understand him like a deaf girl would. I think that different people can have relationships with each other, but it's easier for people who come from the same background.


Searching for something more- 13

"That was probably why we went on shuffling around that gallery for so long; we were delaying the moment when we'd have to confer. Then suddenly the woman had left, and we all kept standing about, avoiding each other's eyes." (Never Let Me Go, page 163)


I think the author has definitely created a mood in this passage. The "shuffling around that gallery" and "avoiding each other's eyes" are details which clearly present the atmosphere in the room. The reader can feel the tension and anxiety in the gallery. None of the characters want to address the subject of Ruth's "possible" because no one wants to be responsible for ruining the happy mood. 


The mood is effective because it helps the reader clearly identify the atmosphere in the story. Reading this passage, I almost felt uncomfortable too, because I felt like I knew exactly how the characters were feeling. Ruth is such a strong character and the others feel like they can't let her down. 


It's interesting how much they care about finding their possibles. Like Tommy said, just because they find them, doesn't mean they will end up exactly like them. However, I kind of understand their desire to find their possibles, because these people are almost like their parents. They are the ones who created them. The characters have never had parents and don't understand what it's like, so they are almost searching for that empty place in their hearts. 


Sunday, August 7, 2011

End of a friendship? -12

"As it turned out, though, it was just about the last moment like that between me and Ruth for the rest of that outing." (Never Let Me Go, page 149)


I think this line is definitely foreshadowing Ruth and Kathy's friendship. The girls are growing further and further apart, and I think this trip to Norfolk may be the final straw. Ruth has made it clear that she wants to be connected to the veterans at the Cottages like Chrissie and Rodney. She cares a lot about her reputation and if Tommy and Kathy are messing it up, I have no doubt she will drop them in two seconds.


The structure of this book is very different. The sequence of events is all out of order and there is a lot of foreshadowing at the end of every chapter. I think foreshadowing is effective because it makes the reader want to keep reading on. So far, I like this book better than Brave New World because I feel like there is more excitement and secrets to be discovered. I also feel like the characters have more depth to them.

Friday, August 5, 2011

The Many Sides of Ruth- 11

"I'd had this notion there were two quite separate Ruths...there'd been a definite understanding these two Ruths wouldn't merge; that the one I confided in before bed was one I could absolutely trust." (Never Let Me Go, page 129)


The reader can clearly tell that Ruth is a round character. She has lots of dimensions to her and seems to almost be two different people like Kathy states. It is difficult to identify which is the real Ruth. I think she values her friendship with Kathy, but I also think she strives for attention and popularity. Round characters are very complex and Ruth is definitely complex. I'm not evens sure if Ruth herself knows who she is. She cares so much about how other people perceive her and contemplates her every move. It looks like she is trying way to hard to get people to like her. What I still don't understand is how her and Tommy are a couple. Tommy is completely down to earth and isn't afraid to be himself. Ruth is the complete opposite and will lie about anything to get people to like her. There hasn't been a scene in the book about how Ruth and Tommy act when they are alone together and I'm curious to know.


Ruth reminds me of the character Nathan from my favorite tv show One Tree Hill. Nathan tries to act cool and is a jerk to a lot of people because he wants to be popular and have the popular people like him. However, when he is with his girlfriend, Haley, he acts completely different and is actually a sweet guy. In the end, he chooses Haley over his friends; so we will see what Ruth chooses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw1m4XPC8TE&feature=related

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Check Mate- 10

"It was like when you make a move in chess and just as you take your finger off the piece, you see the mistake you've made, and there's this panic because you don't know know yet the scale of disaster you've left yourself open to." (Never Let Me Go, page 124)


I think an extended metaphor is being used here. Kathy is comparing her confrontation with Ruth to the point in a chess game when you know you made the wrong decision but it's too late to correct it. The metaphor also develops over many lines. I think this extended metaphor is very effective because it defines the moment perfectly. The reader can sense Kathy's panic as she realizes she has now turned the situation around, and she is the one who is going to be attacked by Ruth.


I also like this metaphor because I feel like it applies to Ruth and Kathy's friendship as a whole. Their friendship is like a chess game. They both are trying to make moves that they know will upset the other, and they both try to be the best. I think Ruth is more guilty of this because she is usually the one who starts drama. However, both girls know how to push each other's buttons and are constantly competing for the other's "queen" or attention.