Everett Lo > Recent Status Updates

One thing that struck me was how little involved Ellis was in deciding to go on her journey to America, she barely spoke at dinner and her sister Rose did all the paperwork + logistics almost like the decision was made from the start. Her passivity almost makes her seem like a child. I would guess Tobin does this to set the groundwork for Ellis' character arc, which to be a coming-of-age novel, must be ground zero.

Chambers’ final message to us is that just being a part of the world is a valid purpose. This challenges our global obsession with "mastery": control over the environment and constant productivity that have driven our environmental crises. By valuing existence over utility, she pushes us to question when we are finally satisfied; if simply existing is enough, why do you need to build cities and terraform landscapes?

We see the humans become more eco-friendly and divide the island into a human and non-human section. Yet, I found how when Mosscap and Dex meet in their "cultural exchange" it becomes clear how, rather ironically the humans are trying to break away from nature and the environment while the robots are trying to become part of it. I think Chambers does this to comment on how humans reject the natural order.

I think Chambers uses Mosscap’s confusion over "purpose" to critique our modern productivity culture. In our world, people tie their self-worth to their output leading to mass burnout. Chambers suggests rejecting this "usefulness" trap and simply being a part of the world is a valid reason to exist. It's a relaxing shift from out capitalistic drive for achievement to laying back and enjoying life.

When Dex meets Mosscap for the first time, they are terrified, yet the robot seems polite and curious, not the monster we sometimes imagine. I think Chambers does this to show that our fear of technology is rather a fear of ourselves. Technology is built by us humans, and humans are often corrupted by power, greed, and ambition. It's not a fear of wires and code; it's a fear of the intent of the creator.

In his first tea service Dex struggles. He realizes that tea service isn't easy just like how empathy and consoling a person isn't easy. I think Chambers uses this to show how difficult and important human interactions are. It seems in our digital world and likely panga that we have lost a lot of face to face connection. On the contrary, tea is the perfect counterexample as it takes time and patience to consume.

I think the crickets represent the quiet, simpler sounds of nature. I think Chambers uses this to show how their civilization has almost lost its touch with nature, which is instead replaced with loud city noises. I think she is trying to draw parallels to our world, as everything today is constantly filled with noise in our loud, digital age. This leads me to believe this book will have an environmentalist angle.

I think Erica's suicide represents the symbolic death of the American Dream. After 9/11(death of Chris) the optimistic and friendly America that Changez knew(Erica) had vanished. Erica’s issue was that she couldn't live in the present. I think Changez views the U.S. post-9/11 in the same way. It is slowly killing its own values of liberty and justice to try and achieve its former glory.

Changez telling Erica to close her eyes and pretend he is Chris is his lowest point in the book. I think this captures what it's like being an immigrant in America. To win the love and support of Erica(America, he had to give up a part of himself, his identity. I think this captures the dark meaning of "Non Sibi" as he literally had to give up himself and his identity to finally be accepted.

Like a Janissary—a Christian child raised to fight for the Ottomans, Changez initially serves America at the expense of his own people. At Underwood Samson, he embodies "Non Sibi" through loyalty, oblivious to the harm caused to 3rd world nations like Pakistan. However, he realizes what is happening and returns home. By becoming an activist and teacher, he reclaims "Non Sibi" and finally serves his own people.

The beard Changez grows is the first act of defiance. Instead of shaving his beard, he grows it out, unsettling his colleagues. I think it show how Changez acceptance into America is conditional, and by being different he is pushed out. I also think it relates to title of being a fundamentalist, not in religion, but in his identidy, as he embraces his Pakistani roots instead of trying to be someone different.

Changez was named by Hamid for the way he changes. The flight back from New York is what I think sparked the major change in the book. Changez feels invincible, his job in Underwood Samson and status as a "Shark" make him feel invicible. Yet as he arrives in New York his delusion crumbles as he is escorted to the secondary inspection room. Here he finds his worldview of a Meritocracy, and the American Dream collapse.

During his Manila assignment we see that Changez is not only an outsider in America, but he also feels like an outsider in another third world country. He grew up in Pakistan which is a poor country and has been a key piece of his identidy. Yet, the moment where he stares out of the cab at the filipinos he realizes how this newfound wealth has also alienated him from his roots making him an outcast in both settings.

I think Erica and the romance in the novel isreally an embodiment of America, not in a positive way, but in a flawed sense. While Erica is quite beautiful, we learn she seems to be missing part of herself, similar to how America has looks but no substance. We later learn that the missing part is Chris, who I think represents Old America. I think this reflects America post 9/11, which was longing for the "glory days."

The Underwood-Samson interview highlights one key piece of Changez: being an outsider. We learn that while his family has status, they lack money. This is opposite to America, with tons of "New Money" but no real status. I think the fact that he never told anyone at Princeton shows that he doesn't have anyone he trusts, suggesting he is a social outlier. I think Hamid uses this to foreshadow the future conflict.

One event at the start of the book is when Changez tells the stranger, "Do not be frightened by my beard; I am a lover of America." I think this shows the main conflict in the book, an identity crisis between modernisation(loving America and Princeton) or keeping with tradition(hence the beard). The title backs this up with the word "reluctant," suggesting a similar conflict, though with victory to the latter.

What stuck with me were Wes's last words in the novel, "Don't blame Montana, Don't ever blame Montana!" Oftentimes, after terrible events people say: "Don't blame me, and don't blame us." But Watson used Wesley here to highlight how it really was the fault of the people. I also think the "reverberations" Davy could feel at the end were symbolic of how the past is never truly over and its lessons can be learned.

The largest event in this section is the suicide of Frank, which shows his character in two different ways. One interpretation shows selflessness, where he died to save Wes and Julian from having to deal with his fall. Another interpretation shows cowardice, where he would rather die a hero than face his crimes. Whichever interpretation, perhaps even both, Watson put the final nail in Frank's story and character.

I think Wes trapping Frank in the basement, while very practical, also has a deeper symbolic meaning that the author is implying. Basements are places where you keep things hidden, things you don't want to be seen. Frank being placed in the closet can be seen as "hiding" a family secret. I think the author also used this to build tension. A living person being with you makes the problem real and tantamount.

I was interested by Davy's "vision" at the end of the section. In the vision sees the Indians, not as savages but as just ordinary people. I think the author used a child to show just how backward racism really is. Davy is a child and thus a clean slate without prejudice who can look from an unbiased view and see just another person, not a savage. This is also quite similar to Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird."

While the death of Marie didn't shock me, what Davy describes that night piqued my interest. He claims to have been unable to breathe and feel the death. I think Watson did this to give us clues as to how she died. Ironically, she supposedly died of Pneumonia, which causes the inability to breathe, yet as Davy describes the room as if someone else is there. This could indicate someone actually murdered Marie instead.

I was surprised when Davy described shooting a magpie on page 75. I didn't expect him to hit anything and saw the scene as simply taking out his anger on something. I think Larry Watson added this to really show the moment where Davy becomes a man. He sees himself release all his anger on a magpie, and begins to realize that the world isn't just sunshine and rainbows, and that everyone can do evil, even himself.

An event that caught my interest is the homecoming picnic and Wesley's reaction. He isn't jubilant like his beaming father. Instead he melts into the crowd, being seen picking up paper scraps while his brother is congratulated. I think the author did this to show Wesley's jealousy as he is dutiful, picking up scraps even with broken leg, while his brother is being applauded by the whole town which clearly angers him.

One thing that piqued my interest was Marie's refusal to see a doctor, while it while it is passed off as indian superstition, she then asks for Dr. Snow instead of Dr. Hayden. Even after she hears it will be free she still insists on not seeing Dr. Hayden. This action seems to defy logic, so I think the author put this in to show that there might be something more sinister as to why Marie is scared of Dr. Hayden

I was surprised that the father chose to obey his father and become the sheriff. Since he went to law school, so I would assume he would practice law. I think the author mentioned this to reinforce what we know about the father as an obedient and passive man, and the grandfather as dominating. It could also be important since historically sheriff's carried out their own justice instead of following the law.

Cal finds himself introduced to the cruel reality of Challagi. One of his first interactions is with the Nurse. She does the job cruelly giving strict commands and saying insensitive things showing no empathy. Possum however brings Cal to a special place in a tree where he stashes things. This place feels like an escape from the brutal adults. Makin it a place where the two of them can cement friendship and relax.

Everything did happen so fast. Almost as soon as they got there they were given a tour and Cal will be thrown into school. That would be crazy if that happened to me. Things luckily do not seem as bad as they were for Pop so I hope Cal does not have a horrible experience at Challagi. I hope Pop end up successful in the vets march on washington(historically it was in 1936 so 4 years until they got it.

It is amazing how these people work together so well, they are not family, some just barely friends, but work together to feed everyone. It does show how tough times really bring people together. Pop continues explaining the plan of him going to D.C. and Cal going to Challagi. It seems very difficult for Cal having his whole identity or what he thought it was shattered.

A lot happened this chapter, I have noticed most of the hobos we meet are generally considered nicer and kinder than some of the other people such as the sheriff, this dynamic allows you to understand the hobo's complaints more. This chapter feels very repetitive toward the end, we continue to talk about Challagi throughout the end of the chapter, making a pattern of talking about it and Cal questioning his identity.

Wow, a lot is beginning to make sense. I feel really bad for cal, he is struggling with the news about him being a native american. It seems that everything he knew about his identity is being shattered. Now it seems a lot about Pop's odd skillset is explained ie; Tracking, he is really skilled at tracking which is a common skill among native americans.