Nina Godridge's Review (Oct 24)

Hello everyone, Nina Godridge. I got my review for this weekend's readings which I felt were both very enchanting. This was the first time I read Bharati Mukherjee's " The Management of Grief." What really captured me was the first person narration by Shalia, who had lost her husband and children to a devastating crash, that also affected others. What we are reading is the aftermath and her form of grief from it all. As many characters come and go like Judith Templeton and Dr. Ranganthan, and members of her family; each has an influence to her grieving process. A moment that stood out, was when Shalia is home in India. Entering into a temple, she sees a vision of her husband next to her. I really enjoyed reading about the spiritual aspect of the culture and how his words to her speak more deeply into the story. " You must finish alone what we started together?" What does that mean? I asked myself. After this I felt a spiritual aspect covered the rest of the pages. Through the ups and downs of trying to move on. Then at the end, when she's walking back to her apartment, she notices something in the trees, across from the University of Toronto and hears " Your time as come. Go, be brave." The story ends with a beginning, Shalia will start attending college, to start another chapter of her life, as throughout the story that was the main question asked to her, what are you going to do now? Now Shalia knows, and she won't be grieving no more.
" The Things I Carried" by Tim O'Brien was a huge throwback for me to when I was in high school, reading and analyzing just how much Jimmy Cross and his fellow soldiers literally, metaphorically, spiritually, emotionally and physically carried on their backs as they fought through the Vietman War. You are really transported there through the imagery of the soldiers as they travel the hills and vast lands. The narrator, Jimmy, does form this aspect to the war as he links it to the daydreams of his "one love" Martha back home in New Jersey, studying to be a poet and sends him letters. The imagery and the interpretations of the objects and/or figures to the short story play as a whole to what it means during this time in a man's life. Even though at times the thought of death terrifies him, it doesn't define him. Jimmy is defined by what he carries, what he sees, and how he processes the world around him. Before we know it, Jimmy is a man. He's accepted that Martha isn't waiting for him and he has to move forward, don't look back - carry on.
These two short stories were an excellent read after the week I had, it reminded me that I have to look forward and see that life isn't defined by one event, or one person. Life is a journey, which is perfectly crafted in these two short stories.