Book Comments

Reading “Management of Grief,” gave me an insight to how people struggle with death, especially of their loved ones. This reminds me of 9/11 and the reactions of people who lost their loved ones, which happened after this crash in London. I felt attached to this story instantly, mainly from the cultural aspect because of similarities between Pakistanis and Indians. I’m Punjabi as well, but Muslim (not Sikh or Hindu) and to most people out there, all these words just sound the same. The fact that I knew how these groups of people feel about each other helps me understand the story even more, especially because the crash mentioned in the story involves the religious/ethnic identity of Indians. For example, in the story Shaila says, “They are Sikh. They will not open up to an Indian woman.” I also have to say that I liked how Hindi words were used in the story such as: behn meaning sister, angresi meaning English speaking, ghee meaning oil/butter, zaminders meaning property owners/sellers, samosas being a typical South Asian snack that I’m a fan of, and etc. I think it’s clever how the words were used in a way where in text clues helped the readers know what the words meant anyways. Out of all three, this was my favorite story. It contained couple sayings that I thought were very deep and the whole situation with Judith was something even I’m sure my family could relate to at one point. It’s not cynicism or ignorance; it’s just the inability for the two groups to understand each other from each others perspectives.

The way the story started instantly informs the reader that something out of the ordinary is happening. It’s the same way with the story “Are These Actual Miles?” This is a great technique because rather than providing the background history first where the narrator rambles on about age/location/occupation like in “The Lifegaurd,” the readers are thrown right inside the situation taking place and then a little about everyone is revealed as they read on. In “Are these Actual Miles?” … I was kind of confused. The relationship between the couple is complicated and not strong at all, and well…. they’re filing for bankruptcy and so they are hiding away their valuables. They’re selling the convertible but why does she have to SLEEP with the guy? Was he not going to buy it otherwise? I thought since Leo talked about how Toni has skills in selling, she would actually use those, not her body.

Some of the students mentioned how “he says” “she says” bothered them in “Are These Actual Miles?” It didn’t really bother me because as I was reading the sentences, there were enough details that already helped me figure out how he or she said it. Both stories contain anger, sadness and curiosity to know what happened. The ending in both stories weren’t similar though. Leo never got to say what he wanted yet he did discover what he wanted to when he stripped Toni. Shaila never received much information about the crash besides that there was a bomb present yet she was pretty much very content by the end, ready to move on. Maybe ignorance is bliss.