martes, abril 08, 2008

Speaking as a Poet

I am currently reading The Gates of the Forest by Elie Wiesel. It's been kind of confusing so far, but what I do understand is that we are inside the mind of a young man (17 years old) who is a Jew in Hungary during WWII. What really stood out to me was the unrealistic way in which this young man speaks.

For example, on page 9 he shares with a stranger about how long he has been waiting for his father's return: "Sometimes I watch the sun rise and set, but it no longer marks the passage of time. If the sun were to stop, it wouldn't surprise me. It has become a stranger to the earth- it warms out of habit or out of boredom. People don't interest it any longer."

If I start speaking like that, either in Spanish or in English, please take me to a doctor. I have enjoyed being able to read more "novel" books than usual though. :)

3 comentarios:

rebecca. dijo...

Also good-- Night, by the same. It's... interesting. Eloquently written, again. And his relationship with his father is more deeply portrayed in Night, I believe. Check it out if you get a chance. :)

Josué Greenman dijo...

I wanted to read that book, but the library didn't have it...or someone had it checked out.

wren dijo...

If you were to write like that:

Take you to a doctor? No. Take you to the publisher? Perhaps. Be proud to have once been your English teacher? Yes.

Wiesel is literary, Josue. Study it. Speaking like that gets the girls... just a hint. :) (Were you at the poetry reading at Tambo when one student read a poem in French? You could hear the girls falling for him and they didn't even know what he was saying. Speaking eloquently when they can understand you can only help.) :D

Actually. I'm quite impressed. It seems you find his dialogue to be unrealistic, and his prose to be good. Nicely done. Keep reading with that discerning eye of yours.