How did the grandparents' story complement Oskar's story, or did it? Did the stories fit together? Why do you think Foer chose to tell both stories and not just one? How did it contribute to the overall message and themes?
Well, I've thought about this one and am not quite sure how I want to respond. I liked that the story wove together three generations. Like Taylor made reference to, the story is about relationships, opportunities (or lost opportunities), and the coping with life's experiences and tragedies. I felt like a lot of the same themes are addressed in both stories but I did feel confused at times as to how it would all come together, but it did. Sometimes the plot shift felt disruptive, but overall both stories were totally intriguing and I was looking forward to how it would piece together.
Sidenote: was anyone else thrown off by the fact that the renter was in fact Grandpa? I guess I should have seen it coming (Adam says he saw it coming) but I sure didn't. I was convinced that the renter wasn't an actual person... I liked the twist though. Like Cassidy mentioned, it really shows the Grandma's desperation for companionship.
Also, I was unclear about the ending. Are Oskar's Grandparent's just living in the airport together? What is up with that?
Some of the comments people have made have helped me to be more clear on what I think about this. The two stories definitely show different responses to tragedy--the grandpa's withdrawal and Oskar's reaching out. They also both demonstrate the importance of relationships and finding people who understand. The grandma and grandpa end up together because they understand each other's past and don't want to be alone. Oskar was looking for understanding the entire time, but couldn't find anyone that could help him, until the end when he discovered that his Mom had been struggling too. Of course, we don't know how Oskar turns out, but I want him to be okay, so I am going to throw out there that the two stories also show that while tragedy marks people indelibly, there are healthy ways to respond to horrible situations, and especially to loss. Oskar learns (is learning) to value what he has, while the grandpa can never move beyond what he did have.
Also, yeah, I guess they end up living in the airport. This is frustrating to me because I just want them to stop being so crazy, but in some ways the airport is a perfect example of a something and nothing place. The airport is a place where you can be involved in active life, but don't actually have to participate in life. Maybe the perfect compromise for people who don't want to be alone but can't handle relationships. I still don't really get it, though.
I've mentioned this elsewhere, but the grandparents story was really depressing. I was annoyed that there wasn't a little more closure with them and I was frustrated with both the grandma and grandpa by the end (ok, I was frustrated with them throughout the whole book).
I appreciate the comments because they help me appreciate their story a bit more, but I still don't know that I really get it. I was surprised about grandpa being the renter, and I got excited that there might finally be some significance with him and Oskar, but I was still disappointed that even when he showed back up, there wasn't much closure with him. I like that the grandparents' story adds more to Oskars, but I didn't like it by itself at all.
5 comments:
Well, I've thought about this one and am not quite sure how I want to respond. I liked that the story wove together three generations. Like Taylor made reference to, the story is about relationships, opportunities (or lost opportunities), and the coping with life's experiences and tragedies. I felt like a lot of the same themes are addressed in both stories but I did feel confused at times as to how it would all come together, but it did. Sometimes the plot shift felt disruptive, but overall both stories were totally intriguing and I was looking forward to how it would piece together.
Sidenote: was anyone else thrown off by the fact that the renter was in fact Grandpa? I guess I should have seen it coming (Adam says he saw it coming) but I sure didn't. I was convinced that the renter wasn't an actual person... I liked the twist though. Like Cassidy mentioned, it really shows the Grandma's desperation for companionship.
Also, I was unclear about the ending. Are Oskar's Grandparent's just living in the airport together? What is up with that?
Some of the comments people have made have helped me to be more clear on what I think about this. The two stories definitely show different responses to tragedy--the grandpa's withdrawal and Oskar's reaching out. They also both demonstrate the importance of relationships and finding people who understand. The grandma and grandpa end up together because they understand each other's past and don't want to be alone. Oskar was looking for understanding the entire time, but couldn't find anyone that could help him, until the end when he discovered that his Mom had been struggling too. Of course, we don't know how Oskar turns out, but I want him to be okay, so I am going to throw out there that the two stories also show that while tragedy marks people indelibly, there are healthy ways to respond to horrible situations, and especially to loss. Oskar learns (is learning) to value what he has, while the grandpa can never move beyond what he did have.
Also, yeah, I guess they end up living in the airport. This is frustrating to me because I just want them to stop being so crazy, but in some ways the airport is a perfect example of a something and nothing place. The airport is a place where you can be involved in active life, but don't actually have to participate in life. Maybe the perfect compromise for people who don't want to be alone but can't handle relationships. I still don't really get it, though.
That's a good point about the airport Loren. It helps me feel a bit better about it, not completely though.
I've mentioned this elsewhere, but the grandparents story was really depressing. I was annoyed that there wasn't a little more closure with them and I was frustrated with both the grandma and grandpa by the end (ok, I was frustrated with them throughout the whole book).
I appreciate the comments because they help me appreciate their story a bit more, but I still don't know that I really get it. I was surprised about grandpa being the renter, and I got excited that there might finally be some significance with him and Oskar, but I was still disappointed that even when he showed back up, there wasn't much closure with him. I like that the grandparents' story adds more to Oskars, but I didn't like it by itself at all.
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