"Baba spoke in a low voice, the one he took on whenever I embarressed him in public. "Aren't you going to thank Assef jan? That was very considerate of him." I wished Baba would stop calling him that. How often did he call me "Amir jan?"" (pg. 97)
It is very important that the reader of this book realizes where this story is taking place throughout the entire book. One way Hosseini reminds the reader is through the words he chooses to use. I am sure that most people who read this book have no idea what these words mean in the beginning, but by using context clues, one can figure out their meaning. "I'm going to the baker to buy naan." Other times Hosseini translates the words right after he puts them in the text. "Tashakor." Thank you, "Bachem." Chair, "Khastegar." A suitor, "Mojarad." A single young man, "Nang. Namoos." Honor and Pride, "the Dil." the Heart. It is very important that he includes these words to give the story more of an ethnic background. I found that Hossseini uses these words more often when the plot changes over to America. I believe this is because he wants to show how they will always keep their roots no matter where they live.
Out of all of the terms that Hoseini uses, I believe that the word "jan" has the most significance in this book. When put after a name, this word is a term of endearment. The reader must recognize when this word is used because it shows if the people who are talking to each other truly care about the other person and respect them or not.
Showing posts with label Hosseini. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hosseini. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Technique - Transitions
"Rahim Kahn had been wrong about the mean streak thing" (pg. 23)
" "Well," I began. But I never got to finish that sentence. Because suddenly Afganistan changed forever." (pg. 34)
"Because that was the winter that Hassan stopped smiling." (pg. 47)
"Then I knocked on Baba's door and told what I hoped ould be the last in a long line of shameful lies." (pg. 104)
These are some of the sentences that end a few of the beginning chapters of the book. Hosseini somehow ties in what he is saying and brings about something new and random that keeps the reader moving forward. These transitions leave the reader wanting more and they keep the reader from setting the book down. Suspense is somthing that every book needs to have to keep the reader engaged. Hosseini does this well by placing suspense in his transitions from chapter to chapter. Sometimes there are sections to the chapters and suspense can be found there too. This book jumps around so much and transitions from place to place so quickly that it always keeps the erader on their toes.
This book doesn't have a common plot, so the reader can't truly infer what will happen next. That is what makes this book so interesting.
" "Well," I began. But I never got to finish that sentence. Because suddenly Afganistan changed forever." (pg. 34)
"Because that was the winter that Hassan stopped smiling." (pg. 47)
"Then I knocked on Baba's door and told what I hoped ould be the last in a long line of shameful lies." (pg. 104)
These are some of the sentences that end a few of the beginning chapters of the book. Hosseini somehow ties in what he is saying and brings about something new and random that keeps the reader moving forward. These transitions leave the reader wanting more and they keep the reader from setting the book down. Suspense is somthing that every book needs to have to keep the reader engaged. Hosseini does this well by placing suspense in his transitions from chapter to chapter. Sometimes there are sections to the chapters and suspense can be found there too. This book jumps around so much and transitions from place to place so quickly that it always keeps the erader on their toes.
This book doesn't have a common plot, so the reader can't truly infer what will happen next. That is what makes this book so interesting.
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