Native Speaker Post 2
March 20, 2009 kclovinlife
Native speaker is definitely my favorite novel so far. What Chang-Rae Lee has done with this novel is not only a important piece of literature, but a beautiful piece of art. (Virgina Woolf move over!!) In class we focused on some main topics in the novel and there is so much to say about this novel that I wish we had more time.
One of the things that came up in class was Henry’s ability to look at himself from the outside. The wall that he holds up between himself and the other characters in the book and his reader. One of the quotes that we discussed was on page 92 and it was the scene with Henry standing on the street in place of John the politician. After rereading the part that we quoted in class and continuing on down the page I really began to see Henry’s ability to look at himself from the outside when he puts himself in the place of the onlookers and after describing his personal features; he says …”So he looks friendly, he looks like he’d be willing to talk to you, but really because of the way his gaze circles about you, gets at your outline instead of your live center, you think he’s really stepping back as he approaches, stepping back inside and back away from you so nothing can get around or behind him”. Lee’s use of language is so powerful. The way in which he uses words touches me, it makes me want to get inside of the novel or his head. In this quote I can see just how closed off Henry is.
Another part in the book that we discussed in class was the fight between Ahjuhma and Lelia. On page 72 one quote that we did not read was Henry’s thoughts on Lelia’s emotional crying fits and he says:”What I should have feared was the damage unseen, what she would’nt end up crying over or even speak about in our last good year”. This quote gives the reader insight as to what is to come between these two. I personally connect with a lot of what this novel has to bring. If you have ever been in a serious relationship this quote makes so much sense because it is when the crying stops that you need to worry about where your relationship is headed.
Lee like Flaubert uses form to his advantage. Unlike Flaubert he uses it to give the reader bits and pieces of characters and stories in between the plot. His ability to give the reader just enough before moving to something different and keeping the readers attention throughout the novel.
I know that this novel is definitely political in every way; dealing with aspects of race, culture, identity, religion, death, and gender. I think that we are definitely going to get a strong message from this author by the end of this novel.
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1. lilsmeg7&hellip | March 22, 2009 at 9:02 pm
I think your comparison about form with Flaubert and Lee is really interesting. I think that the major difference between the two is the length of wordiness and description given. I would agree that Lee gives just enough that the reader can grasp an understanding of what is going on leaving an element of want to know what will happen next or why that subject is important to the novel. In my opinion Flaubert totally overdid his descriptions leaving me wanting to know when it would end rather than looking forward to reading on.