2009-2010 discussion

Im not that far in my book but so far I love it. The main character Nasarina has been through so much in her life and if it was me, I couldnt deal with what she has been through. When she was younger she had to deal with one of her brothers always makeing cruel remarks about her mother and beating on her.She also lost her mother and father and was forced to live with her father's other wives that treat her like dirt. But yet she acts as though none of it ever happened. She is a very strong woman and I admire her for that. What do you think of Nasarina? Because to some she may come off as weak for letting her stepmother and brother run all over her the way they did.

Kuwana? I think you're confused, thats the authors name, the main characters name is Nasarina...
I think she's a very strong willed person. She manages to finish school, get into university despite the opposition to it,and move past the people closest to her's (Her father, mother and young cousins) deaths.
I recently finished the book, and it seems that many of her problems would have been solved if she'd thought more before acting-what do you think?

I agree with jasmine. I also think nasarina is a very strong person to face her mother brother and fathers death and make something of herself. like going to a university. and I admire her for that because she's indicating if she can do it so could anybody else including myself .

Sorry about that. I agree with Jasmine though. Many of her problems would have been solved if she'd thought more before acting. For instance during the time she had to walk to Lalasi's home and was attacked by a hawk for getting to close to its prey.Why would she even go and try to see what the hawk had killed. When she first heard the shriek she already knew it was either a hawk, vulture or eagle and that the terrified mewling was coming from a new born animal. She just had to be nosey and see for herself what the animal was knowing if she got to close the hawk or whatever kind of bird it was would attack her.

Not too long ago I read the part where Ngatuny watched his mother get killed. That was so sad.Why did the Pokots have to be so heartless. Not only did they kill his mother but also all his brothers and sisters, even a poor newborn. They could have atleast spared the new born's life because the baby wouldnt have been able to tell on them. But they got what they deserved in the end. They didnt deserve to live after what they did. But imagine having to see that happen to your family. I wouldnt be able to live after seeing that happen.

Well, I doubt any of us could deal with something like that, but in their culture they have to. They're expected to suck it up and move on. Such as when Nasarina's parents died, her mother wasn't dead more than a week before she was shipped off or when Naiseku died, she wasn't buried a month before she was gone off to university, or how Ngatuny's first words after his families death were "I'll be inherited now, won't I?" and not some expression of grief or the type of reaction we'd expect from someone.

Life for me would be so much easier if I could do the same.Learn to move on from things quickly and not let it bother me. The people in this book are very strong and can deal with sistuations alot better than we can. Its like emotions dont even exist to them. But all of this proved what Nasarina's pastor told her. he said,"no matter what happened to her, no matter where she went, she had God's promise that she would be more than a conqueror". Him saying that to her inspired me. Now I know that no matter what Im going through I should keep my head up and just keep pushing and in the end I will acomplish my dreams.

julia took the words right out of my mouth when she said,"Life for me would be so much easier if I could do the same.Learn to move on from things quickly and not let it bother me." i honestly dont understand how the characters in this book have no feelings what sooo ever! especially watching a family member die. and thats one of the things i didnt like in this book.

I have to say that I disagree with both of you, Julia and Melissa. I don't think that the characters completely lack emotion,they're just less likely to show it. Their society places very little value and feelings and thus people who show them often are considered weak. I actually admire that, because it seems like people could get a lot more done if they were less emotional.

Did anyone else notice that at some point in the book the main character changed religions?
As Julia commented above, towards the end of the book Nasarina's pastor was telling her that no matter what happened she would always be "more than a conqueror".
However, at the begging of the book she was talking about her mother and how Nzgai (Sp?) would be coming to take her spirit.

now that you mention it she does change religions. do you know why she changed religions?

and I agree with you , jasmine when you say the don't necessarily "lack" emotion and their society does consider people who show emotion "weak". but what I was saying life would be sooo much easier for me if I could ignore or hide my emotions..