Dave Han > Recent Status Updates

Finished Devotion, and I’ve been wondering why the book was named Devotion, and now I know it. That moment when Tom refuses to leave Jesse shows what true devotion really is. Loyalty beyond orders, beyond survival. The last section of the book reflects that, and it made the ending hit even harder. I enjoyed how the Makos was able to build tension, and while reading the book, I was fully engaged in the book.

Daisy receiving the letter after Jesse’s death really made me emotional. I felt heartbroken, especially since I was so deep into the story at that point. I didn’t expect to get this emotionally invested in a book and I am impressed by how Makos was able to show the lasting impact of sacrifice, not just in war but on the people left behind. How do families even move forward after something like this?

Hudner’s decision really questions me. I kept thinking, would I have done the same? The loyalty between him and Brown feels real, and I feel that they've made an incredible bond. I noticed how fear and duty clash here. I believe that Makos is trying to show how war forces impossible choices and highlights the meaning of sacrifice and friendship. How does someone even decide in that moment?

The intensity of the book is increasing as the war gets intense, with the Chinese joining the battle. I am amazed by how Makos gives the readers meticulous detail about the plan for an attack, allowing me to understand and be more focused on the story. Also, I'm curious if Coderre survived the grenade explosion. I like how the author continues the tensions of the battle by not showing if he survived the explosion.

I was struck by the moment when Tom flies back through enemy fire instead of leaving his wingman behind. I saw how strong their loyalty was, and it made me think about courage as acting despite feeling scared. This story feels more personal because I'm Korean, and this pulled me deeper into what comes next. I wonder why Tom chose to risk his life to turn back for his wingman, even when the odds were against him.

I was inspired watching Jesse face enemy fire and freezing temps, and amazed that Tom rejected Harvard to serve his country, showing real determination and bravery. I started to admire him for that. Their friendship continues to grow, and Jesse’s thoughts of Daisy made me see his courage and sacrifices. I felt empathetic toward Daisy, knowing Jesse might not return from a mission.

I’m starting to see the bond forming between Jesse and Tom during squadron life. Their first interaction was awkward. However, Jesse proves himself under pressure, and Tom grows to respect him. I believe that the Andover ring shows the different paths they had in life. Tom had a smoother journey, while Jesse faced racism and hardship. Adam Makos is showing the two men, from distinct backgrounds, growing together.

I’m starting to really connect with Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner. When Jesse gets an egg thrown at him with Daisy, it shows the racism he faces, yet he stays determined. I also see Tom slowly changing as he watches Jesse. One thing Tom and Jesse have is common is that they stand up for Justice. I like how Makos goes back to show their backgrounds. It helps me empathize more and get into the story.

Something I will keep an eye on is the relationship between Tom and Jesse as I read Devotion. Tom is shown as an 8th grader in a strict school where even sitting with the opposite gender could lead to ridicule, and he follows the rules. This makes his later friendship with Jesse more meaningful. I think Makos is showing how personal connections can challenge and overcome the rules and prejudices people grow up with.

At the end, when Dex decides to keep going instead of finding a final answer, it made me realize that purpose might not be something we completely figure out. The return of the crickets also stood out to me. Like earlier in the story, they felt like a pull toward change and growth. I liked how this showed that it’s okay to not have everything figured out and still keep moving forward.

I see the author critiquing the pressure to define worth through productivity. Even in a healed world, Dex still feels restless, which makes me think solving material problems doesn’t end internal pressure. I relate this to Korean society’s intense academic competition. This made me question, can’t people just do what makes them happy instead of what proves their worth?

I was intrigued by Mosscap’s conversations with Dex, which made me think about how often I feel pressure to prove my worth through productivity. This connects to our theme of non sibi, not for oneself. It reminded me that purpose might not come only from personal achievement, but also from how we exist with and support others. It made me question how I should balance my own goals with helping others.

When Dex meets Mosscap, and it asks what humans need, it made me pause. I realized I don’t always know how to answer that myself. I liked how Mosscap wasn’t judging, just trying to understand. It made me think about how our world struggles to define what people truly need versus what we just want. Are the actions I do necessary to me? This interaction pushed me to think more deeply about what I actually need to grow.

Ms. Jules stood out to me because she offers calm, steady support to Dex, even if she doesn’t fully understand what they’re feeling. Her interaction with Dex made me think about the adults in my life who try to guide me when I’m unsure of myself. I think the author uses the cricket to symbolize nature, showing how Dex is drawn to the wild and unfamiliar things that he hasn't experienced yet.

The world portrayed in the book seems almost the perfect environment to live in. This made me think about how different Earth could be if we actually took sustainability seriously. But Dex still feels anxious, and I think Dex wants a change in life, so he wants to experience something new. Would I feel satisfied in a world where my big problems were solved? Or would I still want something more like Dex?

The ending of The Reluctant Fundamentalist left me disturbed in a way Hamid clearly intended. By not showing whether violence actually occurs, Hamid forced me to confront my own assumptions about people. I interpreted the glint of metal the American man reached for as a gun. The novel showed how easily fear and suspicion can shape how we judge others, especially after a big incident that affected the world.

I noticed that at the end of each chapter, the focus briefly shifts from Changez’s monologue to the waiter’s actions, which makes me question Hamid’s intention. Is it to build suspense? On page 160, Changez admits that his tension with those around him had grown, which shows his increasing isolation. The fact that Wainwright was the only one to wish him farewell emphasizes how disconnected he had become.

I felt empathetic toward him, especially when Jim offers kind and understanding words after Changez’s interaction with Erica, showing that not all Americans see him the same way. That moment made the conflict more complex than it looks because some view Changez negatively based on 9/11, but some still view him the same. I felt sorry for Changez as he still loves Erica, but Erica is still left behind in her past.

Changez continues to face unfair treatment and bias beyond his control. When he is insulted because he is Arabic, it shows how things beyond his control influence his life. I felt empathetic because his reaction was similar to my reaction. He says he is usually calm, but in that situation he was furious. I predict Changez will start standing up for his own identity and try to go against the system that limited him.

Changez’s success in America feels more tiresome than rewarding. Even when he’s doing everything right, he still doesn't get treated fairly. I felt empathetic toward his quiet frustration. I think this part strongly connects to Non Sibi, as Changez begins realizing he’s been living for expectations and systems that don’t truly serve him, and I think Changez starts to realize that America might not be the best fit.

I could imagine Changez's feelings during the airport scene. The scene made me frustrated because it showed how quickly people judged him by appearance alone, and I've faced similar events where people judge you based on your look. For example, there is a stereotype about people who wear glasses that you must be smart, which is not true. I respect Changez for facing unfair treatment for something that they didn't do.

I felt Changez becoming more distant from America in these pages. I felt Changez had changed a lot since he graduated from Princeton. His work at Underwood Samson continued, and he still admired Erica, but I felt a growing tension between how he saw himself and how others treated him. I also enjoyed how the author allows the readers to be focused on the conversation by not showing the dialogue of the American men.

I felt impressed by Changez's confidence but also a little unsure of his true intentions when talking. I think that Changez's view towards America has changed since he first arrived. I also realized that the way Jim speaks felt supportive but also distant. I'm unsure whether his guidance was personal or just more like a work habit, which made the interactions between them more confusing.

I was really surprised by how the author portrayed the interaction between the narrator and the American man. I wondered why the author never shows the American man’s dialogue, which made me focus more on the narrator's voice and words. The formal language felt deliberate. I felt that the narrator was aware of being a Pakistani, and the perspective of Americans towards Muslims.

Davy’s perspective makes the story unique because he sees the truth from a child’s point of view. When Wesley refuses Julian’s demand to free Frank, it shows how justice and law crashes. Frank’s suicide makes Davy realize the cruelty of the world. The quiet, open Montana setting makes these moments heavier and more meaningful to me. On the outside, Montana looks like a peaceful place, but there is a hidden story.

Wesley refusing Julian’s demand to release Frank really stood out to me, because it’s one of the first times he openly goes against his father. It shows how serious the situation became. The house feels tense, and David can sense the fear and anger building. Wesley’s choice makes it clear that doing the right thing is starting to break the family apart, and I realized that Wesley chose justice over family royalty.

I felt sympathy toward Wesley’s situation. He arrested Frank to protect him from being embarrassed in front of other people, but Julian doesn’t care and demands that Wes let Frank go free. Julian refers to Frank as “my son,” which excludes Wes, and this was shocking to me because I also have two brothers. It made me think how Wesley felt when his father referred to Frank as “my son,” as if he only had one son.

I think Frank might have killed Marie because she is an Indian woman, and Frank molests Indian women to show his authority over others. Frank killed Marie to hide the cruel truth and maintain his power and perfect image. The story gives more hints, like Frank acting too calm. David also starts to notice the difficult situation Wesley faces between justice and loyalty.

David’s view of his family changes as he learns the truth. He must choose between justice and loyalty, and he chooses justice. When David kills the magpie with the gun Julian gave him, it symbolizes his transition from boy to man. The mix of power, sadness, exhilaration, and fear he feels shows adult emotions, showing that he is changing. Why did Julian give the gun to David? Does he want David to be the next Wes?

This part really shows how heavy silence can be in a family. David’s father struggles between justice and loyalty, and you can feel how painful that choice is. I’m starting to see how doing the right thing isn’t always clean or simple, it can hurt people you care about. The atmosphere feels tense and quiet, like everyone knows the truth but is scared to face it. Why is the mother hiding what Wesley is doing?