This story if build up by very different characters with very different feelings, with Jinny and her condition as the thread that guides all those feelings.
What do you think of the different characters? What do you think is the point of the story? Why do you think the story starts with Jinny's brief escape and ends up with her being driven home by a young stranger?
If you had to choose one word from the title of the book, which one would it be? Hateship? Friendship? Courtship? Loveship? Marriage?
I read this story quite fast. I felt it was brief, and I thought it was quite easy to read. However, when I finished I realized I was missing something, since I did not get much out of it. Therefore, I am reading it a second time. Will see if after a second round I obtain a better sense of the story and I get to understand better Ms Munro's point :-)
ReplyDeleteI didnt feel something missing, but I think I know what you mean, it doesnt have the typical structure of intro, devepment and end.
ReplyDeleteI think this story shows that length doesnt matter, short as it is, you can feel the pain, the illness, the love and the end. For me Jinny has moved on, understood that she is going to die, letting her husband open new doors while she stays outside; and at the same wanting to feel young for a last time. Very deep and it feels very real, scary real...
Lets hope the next one presents a happier situation.
I agree with your point about the length, Rocio, and also with your comment regarding the structure. However, I have understood the story in a different way.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading it for a second time, I stopped longer in the sentences that Jinny brings back when she is in the car, the sentences from the doctor mentioning "significant shrinkage" and "favorable sign".
From that, I understood that there has been a change. She was ready to die and it seems that now, she might not… But she doesn't share the news with Neal. Why? Maybe because she does not know how, maybe because he does not deserve it, or maybe because she cannot be bother any more.
His attitude really annoys me. Hers, I don't get it, but the truth is I do not dare to analyze it because she has been through something that I think must alter too much how life and people are faced and embraced.
She seems to be too conformist in her relationship with Neal. Or maybe is just her way of finding balance. In any case, I feel going back home with a young stranger is an act of rebellion that symbolizes a change on how she wants to live whatever is left of her life, specially now that she has learned that it might be longer than she thought.
If I had to choose one word from the title for this story, it would be "marriage". Not because I think that is what marriage is about, but because I think marriage is what keeps Jinny and Neal together.
When I finished the story, I too had the feeling that something was missing. I wanted more details, more explanations.
ReplyDeleteThinking twice about it, there is probably before and after in Jinny’s life: before when she thought her life would finish relatively soon and after, when this period suddenly extended and she decided to make the most of it when she had the chance.
As Macarena said, it is difficult to know how each of us would react in such situation, but Neal’s attitude disgusts me. He of course is young and has the right to carry on with his life, but not in front of her, man! I think that was mean and unnecessary.
With the news, she feels tired but alive again. Her attitude is admirable, but is it realistic? The key message to me is you only live once, go and make the most of it!