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How did the barman figure out that she was related to the man who had died (her grandfather)?
What is significant about the death of the boys?
Why is the narrator still being so secretive about her whereabouts when it comes to Zora, her bff?
This book relies very heavily on description. Do you feel the description serves a purpose most of the time, or do you think it's just window dressing? Give an example and explain your thoughts.
75 comments:
Natalia’s grandfather started searching for the deathless man near the end of his life. I believe that he was trying to prove to himself that the deathless man was real, and that he wasn’t crazy. Or maybe Natalia’s grandfather just wanted to know if it was his time to pass away.
The barman figured out that Natalia was related to the man who had died because Natalia signed her name for her grandfather’s stuff, and she made sure that the barman could see what she was writing. The barman could probably tell that the dead man was important to Natalia, since she was so concerned about his stuff and who he was with.
Natalia is being secretive around Zora because she doesn’t want Zora to know something’s wrong. Natalia doesn’t want Zora to know that her grandfather is dead, because Zora looks up to Natalia’s grandfather in a way and wants his advice.
I like the fact that this book is very descriptive. It allows me to see everything in my mind, and I know that I’m imagining everything correctly because Obreht describes everything in great detail. Here is an example where everything is described, allowing the reader to picture what he or she is reading: “The room was unfinished, the rear wall missing, and in its place, from ceiling to floor, an enormous, opaque tarp that the afternoon light pasted with a dull yellow sheen. Outside, the wind picked up and the hem of the tarp lifted, crackling.” (146). Obreht’s description of that room was so detailed that when I picture the room, I see it as rundown and unsanitary. It’s not somewhere I’d go to be treated if I was injured or sick; it seemed like a gross place.
The narrator's grandfather went to search for the deathless man when his life was practically over. He knew he was dying, and so he decided to search for the deathless man. Maybe he just wanted to prove that the deathless man was real, or maybe he wanted to see if there was a way he could cheat death too.
The narrator is being so secretive to her friend, Zora, because she doesn't want Zora to know that anything is wrong. She doesn't want Zora to know that her grandfather has died, either.
I love how much description is in the book. It pulls you in and paints such a clear picture in your head. Right in the beginning of the novel, it says: "It must have been going on for hours: water was everywhere, flooding the tile grooves and pooling around the rims of the squat toilets, dripping over doorstep and into the dried-up garden behind the shack." (9). It makes me think of a very dirty bathroom that I would never, ever use.
I think her grandfather went in search of the deathless man so late in his life because he felt older and wiser and thought that may be able to help him. Or this was the last thing he wanted to understand in life. Basically putting it in current terms, this was the last thing to cross off his bucket list. I think it was kind of meant with finality.
The barman figured out that she was related to her grandfather because of her concern for his things. I also believe that he saw the similar mannerisms between the two of them and was just an observant man. I think that her signature was just a confirmation of the barman's speculation of them being related because of the statement after she signs the receipt. "There were no forms, so he turned over a receipt for saline solution and handed me a pen, watched me sign Natalia Stefanovic, which I did slowly, hoping he would make the connection. But his eyes told me he had already done this on his own. (148)" The similarities of their personalities and being doctors outside of their cities, it made sense to the barman that she and her grandfather, the man who died, be related.
Natalia's grandfather went in search for the deathless man so late in his life because his time was coming to an end. He realized he wouldn't have much time to find the man again, so he made out on the journey. With the way her grandfather and the deathless man left things, her grandfather probably had many unanswered questions.
The barman finally figured out that Natalia related to the grandfather when he watched her sign for the bag of her grandfather's stuff. However, I think the barman had a hunch that they were related due to her interest in the stuff. Also, she never wavered in her aggression to retrieve the stuff, even when everyone told her she'd have to wait.
The narrator is so secretive to Zora because she doesn't want Zora to know that her grandfather died. Natalia knows that if Zora knows something is wrong she'll send her back to her family. The narrator just wants to help the children before she goes back home to grieve.
I like that the author uses so much visual descriptions to help engage the reader in the scene. She did a great job describing the hospital when she wrote “The fan above me wasn't working, and a dead fly was suspended on the lip of one of the blades. I crossed the room to lift the tarp, my shoes ringing on the tile even when I tied to preserve the silence by dragging my feet. (146)” She visually showed the reader that the hospital was very run down and hasn't seen much use.
I think that Natalia's Grandfather went looking for the deathless man so late in life because he might have been looking for answers. He knew that the man couldn't die, and he would never want to leave Natalia and the rest of his family, so he might have been going to find him to see if there was anything he could do to be like the deathless man.
The bar man figured out that she was related when she signed the back of the receipt and she had the same last name. He also had a guess as to her behavior and sense of urgency.
Natalia hasn't told Zora that her grandfather had passed away, so telling Zora where she was really going would tip her off that something was wrong. I also think that she doesn't really want company, a death in the family is a hard thing to deal with and it could be better for Natalia to deal with it by herself.
I think that the descriptions are very important for developing the story. If the descriptions were not so in depth you wouldn't be able to truly understand the situations and the whereabouts that are being talked about. Because the places change in this story so often the descriptions play a perfect role in separating them visually.
Natalia's grandfather went on the search for the deathless man I believe because he knew his life was ending. The story of the deathless man is one of the main stories Natalia remembers from her grandfather. That story was very important to both Natalia and her grandfather. If I knew I was going to die I would see the people that made a huge impact on my life, and the deathless man was one of them to Natalia's grandfather.
The ultimate way that the barman figured out that natalia was related to the man who died was through the receipt she signed. I believed he assumed though, that she was related, through her persistence to find his belongings. In addition, the Barman mentioned that she had an accent, and knew that no one on the “other side” would be coming over for someone not her own relation.
The significance of the death of the boys is that that is the possible answer to why Natalia’s grandfather died where he was. He was possibly helping save the boys. I also think it’s significant because you find out more about how the war was fought and that there are still mines that blow up even after the war has end. It’s also odd that they try to keep the information of the mines quiet to all the neighboring provinces.
Natalia is being very secretive towards her friend, because that is just how she was raised. She hid the fact that her grandfather was dying to everyone around her, including her own grandmother. I also think she is trying to cope with death, and the first way is by denial. She is almost denying his death by not telling anyone about it. She also might refuse to tell Zora because she does not want to go home, and face her grandfather’s death with her family, and her grandmother knowing that Natalia lied to her.
I feel that all the description is just too excessive. My eyes start dragging across the page when there is over a paragraph long description of the candy they gave the children to vaccinate them. Reading a whole page and realized you learned nothing important about the book because it was all description makes it so much less exciting.
In my opinion, Natalia’s grandfather went in search of the deathless man so late in life because he knew his death was fast approaching. His previous meetings with the deathless man had left him with many unanswered questions, and he was seeking answers. I think Natalia’s grandfather sought a reasonable explanation from the deathless man. I believe it was his last business to attend to before his life ended.
The barman’s assumption that Natalia was related to the man who had died was confirmed when Natalia signed her last name, which was the same as her grandfather’s, for the bag filled with her grandfather’s personal belongings. However, the barman knew well before she signed her name that Natalia was related to the man that had died. She had shown much concern in the man’s death. She was very pressing in getting the man’s belongings immediately. “There were no forms, so he turned over a receipt for saline solution and handed me a pen, watching me sign Natalia Stefanovic, which I did slowly, hoping he would make the connection. But his eyes told me he had already done this on his own” (148).
The death of the boys is significant because this is what I think led Natalia’s grandfather to search for the deathless man in Zdrevkov. Natalia’s grandfather had heard about the mine accident. He may have been looking to help the three boys, but I think he was more hopeful that he could find the deathless man there.
Natalia is being so secretive about her whereabouts with Zora because she still doesn’t want Zora to know that her grandfather has died. Natalia thinks that Zora would tell her to return home to her family, and she would have to finish the work at the orphanage alone. I also think that Natalia is not ready to open up to Zora about her grandfather’s death because she is trying to cope silently with his death.
The book does rely very heavily on description. I do think it serves a purpose because it helps to develop the story. The description of the run-down town of Zdrevkov and the description of the drab hospital all add important details to the story.
I believe that grandfather would have gone in search of the deathless man so late in his life because it was one last thing he wanted to do before he died to give him the book that he owed him. He made a bet with the deathless man, and the deathless man won, although he did not receive his reward from the bet. He probably thought that it was something he should do before he died so stay true to his word.
The barman realized that she was related to the man who died because she was asking for his things and described what he had seen. The barman knew that it would only be family who would come for his belongings, especially that far out of the City.
The significance about the death of the boys is that it brought Natalia to where her grandfather had died, who also went there to help while he was searching for the deathless man. By the death of the boys being such big news in the town, Natalia was told about the situation and the name of the town got brought up in conversation, leading her to where her grandfather had died and his belongings.
I think the narrator is still being secretive about her whereabouts because she doesn't want to upset Zora about the death of her grandfather until they get home. Zora relied on Natalia's grandfather almost as much as Natalia did because they were so close. I also think that Natalia doesn't want to have to reveal her grandfather's stories to anyone because she wants to keep them sacred between her and her grandfather.
I think description serves a purpose most of the time because it is used a lot of the time for foreshadowing or lets you understand the situation. For example, in the beginning of the book you learn that grandfather keeps a copy of the jungle book in his pocket all the time, but you don't learn until later the significance of the book.
The grandfather went to search for the deathless man because he knew he was near his death and he wanted to prove to himself that the deathless man was real since the deathless man said he visited people who were near their death. I think the barman realized Natalia was related to the man when she was on the phone talking to the lady about his belongings. I am not really seeing anything significant about the death of the boys except maybe the boys are another possible reason the grandfather had come to the city. Natalia is still being secretive about her whereabouts because she doesn’t want Zora to find out about her grandfathers death because it will result in Natalia having to go home. I think in this story description is needed because it helps the reader understand the feeling and setting more; like when the story of the tigers journey is being told and the pain that the tiger is going through. In other stories though, like Life of Pi, description is over used and completely unnecessary and it makes the story hard to follow.
I think Natalia's grandfather went searching for the deathless man right before he was about to die because he had a connection with him. Although he did not get to know much about him in the one meeting mentioned in the book, I feel like they had unfinished business. I think that whatever went on between the two was not quite finished, but seeing the deathless man one more time would allow Natalia's grandfather to go in peace and with closure. I think the deathless man will come up again later on in Natalia's life, and I think it will reveal something about her grandfather's character or his past.
The barman figured out that Natalia was related to the man who had died by how much concern she expressed about the man's belongings and his family. In a village as small as the one they were in, a person would not show that much concern for a dead human being unless they were a loved one. Natalia was so eager to get the belongings back and she was determined not to leave until she got them, which easily revealed that she had some type of deep connection to the man that died.
Natalia is still being secretive about her whereabouts when it comes to Zora because she does not want Zora worrying about her all of the time. She does not want her too involved because she has business she wants to get taken care of, and with Zora knowing Natalia's every move, it would never get finished. Zora is the responsible planner of the two and sees little benefit from spontaneity and risk taking, while Natalia knows what she wishes to get done, and she will do whatever it takes to get it done.
I think the descriptions in the book serve a great purpose. I think it is good to give a vivid description so that the reader creates an image in his/her mind. It is always good for a reader to imagine the scenery, the time, the people, etc. on their own, and it creates a whole new story in their head. It makes the book much more interesting rather than just getting the story line across with little added detail. I really liked the chapter about the deathless man. When the whole coffee cup scene took place and they described the way the church looked, like no one had been in it in years, and the decor, and the white cup with the gold rim, everything was so vivid. I was easily able to create an image in my mind of what everything would look like, and it made me focus more and also enjoy reading much more.
I believe the grandfather went on to search for the deathless man so late in his life to prove to himself he actually existed. As far as human instinct goes, if you ever begin to doubt something you must prove yourself correct or incorrect. He was trying to do just that. Maybe even trying to “cheat” death, just as the deathless man has.
The barman assumed she was related to him because nobody else would have traveled out of their way to retrieve his belongings. Nobody else could have known exactly what he has on him, unless they were very close to him.
Some of the description in this book really pulls me into it, and some even pushes me away. Its very interesting. For example, “It was a long white corridor with a clerestory of little square windows that ran parallel to the inner sanctum of the church.” (129) That sentence really gives you a mental image of where you are, and what is being seen, but I am not sure if it is all really necessary to the book. So maybe I believe a bit of it is just a window dressing as you had said, but I believe it helps the overall standpoint of the novel.
The two myths of the novel, the one of the tiger’s wife and the one of the deathless man, are an integral part of the life of Natalia’s grandfather. As such, it should not be surprising that he would go in search of the deathless man at the end of his life. The two myths serve as bookends of his life, the tiger’s wife being youth, and the deathless man being old age and death. I suspect that he went in search of the deathless man to find out when he was going to die, especially since the deathless man made it clear that having that information instills a sense of peace to a person.
I think that the descriptions in the novel are present mainly to set a mood, and while most of the time it isn’t “necessary,” they do add to the reader’s experience. Especially for the modern novel, descriptions seem to take up nearly as much space in the book as actual actions. For this reason, I believe long and precise descriptions were used to lengthen the novel, which, although a good story, didn’t have to be 300 pages long. The average reader, who would go to Barnes & Noble and read this book solely for pleasure, would probably enjoy the lengthy descriptions. For the purpose of our class, however, I do not believe the descriptions add any literary merit to the novel. The story stands on its own; the descriptions were Obreht showing off her literary ability, which I am not trying to undermine – she is a talented writer. I just don’t think that the descriptions are what make the novel good, it’s the story, and I would have rather she focused more on that than on the contents of a room.
Natalia doesn't want Zora to know of her whereabouts because-- although they are best friends-- she wants to venture out to discover her family secrets on her own. It's a very deep and personal issue Natalia is putting herself into, so she doesn't want anyone else close to her to be invovled.
I agree that this book is very heavy when it comes to descriptions. There are many times so far where it doesn't seem to be necessary to have all the vivid details of where someone is, the landscape of the area, and all those certain ideas Obreht has written in her novel. It's important at times to have detail and description, but others times-- as I've said-- it's not needed in great depth.
I believe Natalia's grandfather went to search for the deathless man so late in his life because he knew that he was nearing the end of his. Her grandfather had many encounters with the deathless man, all of which left him wondering, and he was seeking an explanation for his unanswered questions.
I think the barman assumed she was related to the old man because she traveled all the way to Zdrevkov to retrieve his belongings. Most people don't know where Zdrevkov is because it's all small village that a majority of people have never heard of, so not just anyone would set out to travel there.
I believe the death of the boys is significant because her grandfather traveled there knowing that they were injured badly and probably couldn't be saved. He traveled there not to help save the boys, but to meet up with the deathless man when it came time for them to pass.
Natalia was being secret toward Zora because she wasn't ready to tell her about her grandfather's death. Natalia knew that Zora loved her grandfather and respected his opinion, so she just couldn't break the news to her while they were on a mission to help sick kids. She didn't want to break Zora's focus or change the mood of the rest of the trip.
I think Natalia's grandfather set off to find the deathless man because he knew that he was dying and finding the deathless man was one last thing he wanted to do before he died. Also, I feel like the grandfather's copy of the Jungle Book, that he bet and now owes to the deathless man, had something to do with the grandfather's decision to find the man.
The barman probably figured out that Natalia was related to the man who had died when Natalia showed obvious concern for her grandfather's actions the night the barman saw him and when she showed concern for his belongings. When Natalia signed for her grandfather's belongings, her last name would have only confirmed his suspicion.
In my opinion, the narrator's grandfather went to find the deathless man because he knew that he was dying and the deathless man was one last thing he wanted to do before he died.
The death of the boys is significant because it brought Natalia to where her grandfather had died, who also went there to help while he was searching for the deathless man.
Natalia was told about the situation and the name of the town and it was brought up in conversation, leading her to where her grandfather had died and his belongings.
Natalia’s grandfather wanted to prove that he wasn’t crazy and wanted his story to be proved true. I think that Natalia doesn’t want Zora to worry about her all the time so she hides everything from her. I feel the descriptions Tea uses are perfectly enough there isn’t too little and there isn’t too much. An example is when Natalia is talking on the phone with her grandmother and she explains to the reader all about her surroundings which enhanced the story greatly.
While the lengthy descriptions seem to be useless and merely add a nice dose of fluff to the novel for a general reader, I think they allow the author to leave a lot of things unsaid and go about some of her points with more subtlety. Instead of simply saying, “the hospital was run-down and a simply awful place to die,” the author gives great detail about the way the clinic is run and its shabby appearance. This not only sounds better, but it gives the reader a chance to come to conclusions on his/her own. No one ever mentioned anything about the merit of the hospital- it was simply implied by the vivid imagery. A lot of times I find myself guilty of zoning out and simply skimming over some of the more lengthy descriptions, especially when not much seems to be going on in the novel. But whenever I do this, I find myself slightly confused as to why things are happening the way they are happening the next few paragraphs or so. While some authors waste a lot of precious action space on descriptions, Obreht does a nice job seamlessly incorporating these seemingly wasted paragraphs into the storyline.
If it were anyone else I would have said it was just one of those things Natalia’s grandfather had to do before he died. But being the man he was, I feel like there was a deeper, hidden reason.
The barman just knew; who else would have gone through so much trouble for someone that they didn’t care about?
I’m not sure what was so significant about the two boys’ deaths. I feel it had something to do with Natalia’s grandfather. Perhaps it was part of the reason he was in the town when he died.
Natalia doesn’t want Zora to worry. She feels obligated to finish the vaccinations and if Zora were to find out, she would have insisted they go back home to be with family. Also, I feel that Natalia doesn’t want Zora to know because it’s something she needs to do by herself in secret. It’s something between her and her grandfather and no one else.
I love description. It’s my favorite part of books. I like to feel like I’m actually there, taking part in the story. It’s a talent to be able to make the reader feel like he or she is there, in the story’s setting. I like Obreht’s three page description of the trip to Galina that starts on page 97. It shows how far away and desolate the town is, how difficult it is to find it of you don’t know exactly where it’s located. It adds to how close the townspeople must be to each other and their way of living.
I think grandfather went in search of the deathless man either to see if his sickness was really supposed to be the cause of his death, or to see if the deathless man could keep him from dying.
The barman saw the she was related to her grandfather because of when she signed for her things. She was aware he saw what she was writing.
The death of the boys could have a connection to the death of her grandfather. We aren't sure but it is a possibility.
She doesn't want Zora to worry and she wants to keep her calm until she figures out what to do and talks to her grandmoter.
I hate description . I feel like people need to say what they need to say without sugar coating it. If a novel can be good without having to use all the adjectives I would be very impressed.
Natalia's grandfather went in search of the deathless man to look for answers. He knew he was old so it's possible he wanted to become "deathless" like the man. Her grandfather may have wanted to know why the man was unable to die before his own death.
Natalia is still so secretive towards Zora because that is the only way she knows how to deal with it. Her whole family hides things from each other in order to spare their feelings.
I know that when I read a book I have a mental picture of everything that happens. Kind of like a movie in my head that for some reason I always want to be as accurate as possible. So the description in this book helps me visualize and understand what is happening. "He was dressed in a cassock, cutting herbs with a pair of scissors, and when he straightened up he has glasses and a ponytail and two overlapping front teeth, and he smiled at us in a comfortable way..."(129). The narrators description of Fra Antun is an example of how the author's description helps readers visualize how someone looks and gives an insight to their personality.
Natalia's grandfather went searching for the deathless man because he knew he was going to die soon. I think it something that he's always wanted to do to prove to himself that he didn't make Gavo up or that he wasn't tricked. Natalia's grandfather probably wanted more of an explanation too and probably had tons of questions to ask him.
I think Natalia's grandfather went searching for the deathless man because the man foretold his death and he knew he was reaching his end. The grandfather had many questions for the man that he needed answered.
The barman realized that Natalia was related to the man who died because while she was talking to him, she was very specific on the things she wanted to know and she demanded to have his things back from him.
The deathless man was probably the greatest phenomenon that Grandfather ever encountered. Something that impossible must have stuck with him his entire life, and, in his dying days, he probably wanted to meet this man one last time.
Though she didn't give any hint at first, Natalia unintentionally made it very clear that she cared about the man who died. The barman didn't have to be a scholar to see how concerned she was.
In O'Breht's case, description of seemingly insignificant details helps the reader get insight into the bigger picture (quote stealing..)"He was dressed in a cassock, cutting herbs with a pair of scissors, and when he straightened up he has glasses and a ponytail and two overlapping front teeth, and he smiled at us in a comfortable way..."(129). The fact that Fra Antun is dressed in a cassock and that he had a nice smile, despite his imperfect tooth alignment, says nothing about the story. It does, however, reflect on his surroundings. By simply telling us how one character is dressed, or how he looks, the author hints that even though the monastery looks run-down or dirty or depressing, happiness and hope does live there.
He probably searched for the deathless man so late because he felt thath his time was near.
The barman probably figured it out after Natalie asked for his posessions and spoke about the date of the funeral.
Natalies priorites seem to be her grand father first and the orphanage second and obviously she doesnt want her Zora knowing this.
Description is key to the plot it helps set mood of the story
have you ever had a unfinished book? like this one im reading now it gets close to the end and i want to know how it ends, what happens. That is what the grandfather must have been feeling when he was reaching the end of his life, he must have wanted to know the end. The barman knew who she was because of how specific she was about the things she wanted and the things that were missing.
she is being so secretive because thats what her grandfather would have wanted, not to make people sad or worry. She must have thought that her grandfather would have wanted it.
Natalia’s grandfather could’ve went searching for the deathless man to see if he was going to actually die or he could’ve went to see if he could somehow live longer or be like the deathless man. The barman figured out Natalia was related to the man because of when she signed the receipt for her grandfather’s belongings.
What is significant about the two boys’ death is that they stepped on a landmine. Also it was kept a secret; It wasn’t supposed to get out. Natalia is so secretive because she knows that if she is tells Zora, Zora would send her home to attend the funeral. Then Zora would have to take the medicine to the orphanage herself.
I think the descriptions do serve a purpose. An example would be of the author describing the city where her grandfather died. I think that the description of the men in the bar might be important. The description also helps you imagine a lot better.
I think the grandfather went on the search for the deathless man so late in his life because he knew he was dying so he wanted to prove something. Like a dying wish or something along the lines of "I have nothing to lose so why not".
In my opinion the significance of the death of the boys seemed to lead Natalia to where her grandfather was..humm..ironic? I think yes.
If Zora finds out, it's all over. She'll send her home and it would be a big mess. The goal is for Zora NOT to find out.
The barman figured out that Natalia was a relative of the man who died outside his bar because she showed concern not only for his personal items but also for a possible cause of death, where it happened, and if he was with anyone. Had some random person came to collect his things, he/she would most likely not be concerned with the details of the death.
The death of the boys is significant because if it hadn’t happened, Natalia might not have known she was so close to the place where her grandfather died and she wouldn’t have been able to collect his belongings. It also gives a possible reason for Natalia’s grandfather to be in the area. He could have been giving them medical care.
I think Natalia is still secretive with Zora about where she is going because Zora is aware of the relationship Natalia had with her grandfather and if she knew of his death, she would make Natalia go home.
I like the descriptions in this novel. I think it does serve a purpose because it tells the story without being so blatant. The author’s descriptions are subtly implying the themes (if that even makes sense) rather than being so obvious about what the reader is supposed to get from the novel.
Natalia's grandfather went searching for the deathless man so late in his life because he knew his life was ending. He was looking for answers to the unanswered questions, and wanted to prove to himself that this man was real. It was the last thing on his death list.
The barman figured out that Natalia is related to the grandfather when he saw her sign for her grandfather's things. She was very urgent about getting his stuff. I think the amount of concern she showed led him to believe this as well.
The narrator is being so secretive towards Zora because she doesn't want to upset her. Zora was also close to Natalia's Grandfather, so Natalia is not comfortable with telling Zora about his death. I think she is somewhat used to keeping secrets.
I think her grandfather went out in search of the deathless man so late in his life to help ease the idea that he truly exists, because he was such a shock to society. Her grandfather was most likely also curious about how much time he actually had left, and felt that the deathless man may hold the answer. Barman determined Natalia was related to the man who died because of her reaction to the death. Although in the beginning she attempts to conceal her feelings, the sadness does surface allowing Barman to piece together the puzzle.
I do believe the description serves a purpose because it helps paint a picture and tell the story. Without all of the description I would not be able to have the vivid pictures of places and events that are in the story, such as the city where her grandfather died.
The deathless man claimed that he knew when the grandfather was going to die. Perhaps he wanted to know if he was going to win his battle with cancer.
Natalia's reaction gave it away. No random person would come for a dead man's belongings and ask so many questions about his death.
I think the death of the boys led Natalia to the place of her grandfather's death. Without them dying, she may not have found it, or it would have taken her longer to get there. Also, it might give a reason for her grandfather to be there, but if that was the case, I don't know why he would lie about it to his wife.
Zora keeps mentioning wanting to talk to Natalia's grandfather. I'm guessing that Zora would be very upset to find out he has died, so Natalia is trying to protect her friend.
The 'window dressing' may serve some sort of purpose in this book. It could have hidden details that foreshadow future happenings or characters. For instance, in the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling mentions Sirius Black in the first chapter of the first book and then he plays a major role in the third book. Tea Obreht could be doing the same thing.
Natalia's grandfather went searching for the deathless man late in his life because he knew he was going to pass soon and he had many unanswered questions. It may have been his last desire out of life.
The barman knew that Natalia was related to the dead man because she travelled so far to a small town that is not well known to gather his belongings.
The death of the boys led Natalia to the town of her grandfather's death. Without these boys, she may not have found the town for a very long time.
Natalia keeps the secret of her grandfather's death from Zora because it's easier for the both of them. Zora was also close with Natalia's grandfather and Natalia needs to figure out the story of her grandfather's death without letting her emotions slow her down. By talking about her grandfather with her best friend it would make things difficult to remain calm.
Description is necesscary for a reader to understand everything that occurs in the story. It brings the novel to life with the vast descriptions of places and events.
Natalia's grandfather went searching so late in his life for the deathless man because he knew his time was coming to an end. He realized he was not going to have much time to be able to go on journeys anymore. He wanted to see if he could get one last journey in for the search that really mattered to him.
The barman knew she was related to the man who had died because she was showing such concern for the man that had died. The town she traveled to was small and not well known and she had traveled such a long way to retrieve his belongings. I think her concern and questions about him gave it away that the man that died was her grandfather.
The death of the boys is significant because it helped Natalia find the town where her grandfather died. Without knowing the story about the boys, she would have had a lot more trouble finding the place.
Natalia is so secretive about her grandfather's death because she knows that if she tells Zora, Zora will send her home right away. Natalia does not want to leave Zora alone to do all the work so she decides she will wait until they are done helping the orphanage to tell her.
I think a book that relies on description makes a book more appealing. Although sometimes some of the description is window dressing, it provides a better picture and a more interesting read. Books that are too dull and don't go into detail tend to be a boring read and this makes it hard to finish the book. Description is always helpfull in the fact that it gives you the whole picture of the scene, people, and events that are happening at the time.
Natalia's grandfather could have gone searching for his grandfather so late in life because he know he doesn't have much time left and hasn't been able to figure much about the deathless man another motive could be he knew he was going to die soon and if the deathless man was true maybe he could defy the odds and survive.
The barman knew that Natalia was related to the man who died (Her Grandfather) because she traveled so far to a small, fairly unknown village to get his belongings.
The death of the boys is significant because if they hadn't died then Natalia may have never found where her grandfather died, not to mention if they had not died he may have had no reason to be there in the first place.
Natalia is so secretive to Zora because she is her good friend and she doesn't want to hurt Zora with the news her grandfather is dead, Zora was close to Natalia's grandfather.
While description can be highly overused, see The Red Badge of Courage, description is a very important part of literature and as long as it is not overused which I don't believe it is in this case then it strongly enhances the reading experience.
I think that Natalia's grandfather went to search for the deathless man so late in his life because he knew the end was coming and he wanted to see if such a man existed before he died. It may have been the last thing on his "bucket list".
The barman figured out that Natalia was related to the man that had died because of her genuine concern about the death. She was very concerned about what had happened to him and what happened to his belongings. The death of the boys helped to lead Natalia to the town where her grandfather died.
I think that Natalia isn't telling Zora the entire truth because she's just not ready. I think that Natalia wants to figure some things out for herself before she's ready to tell even her best friend about her wherabouts. She needs many questions to be answered before she can even begin to explain things to Zora.
I think her grandfather went in search of the deathless man so late in his life because he knew he was dying. He wanted to make sense of the situation and make sure the deathless man is real. Also, I could see her grandfather searching for the deathless man to find out what kept him immortal. How did he cheat death?
The barman figured out that she was related to the man that had died because of her comments and the way she cared so deeply about getting her grandfather's stuff back. She solidified the barman's assumptions when she signed her name with the same last name as the dead man.
I enjoy the description in the story because it helps me to really see Natalia's surroundings in my head while I am reading.
Natalia's grandfather decided late in his life to go on the hunt for the deathless man because he was close to his end and ready for this experience. The barman was able to figure out Natalia was related to the man who died because he watched her sign for her grandpa's stuff. The barman probably picked up on Natalia's interest in the stuff and figured it had an important meaning to her. The significance of the boys' deaths is that it might give insight as to why her Grandpa was where he was when he died. Though Zora and Natalia are best friends, sometimes it's better not to share every single thing with a friend because you don't know how they will react. But Natalia's specific reasoning was because if she told her where she was then she would realize that Natalia's grandpa died and then she would be sent back to her family. I really like all the description in the novelbecahse it helps me understand exactly what everything looks like and it helps me imagine every detail which allows me to better understand the story.
I think Natalia's grandfather went on a search for the deathless man towards the end of his life because it was one thing that he wanted to understand before he died.
The barman, I think, figured Natalia was related to the man who died because she was showing so much concern and curiosity over the situation. Natalia's asking to get his belongings probably was the confirmation for his hunch.
I'm not sure what the significance of the boys' death is... I'm really curious though.
Natalia's still being secretive because everywhere she goes without Zora has to do with the death of her grandfather, which she still hasn't revealed to Zora.
I think that most of the description in this book makes the read more interesting and provides a better picture for most of the scenes.
Natalia's grandfather knowing that it might have been his time to go, I assume that he went to seek for the deathless man so that he can take him to the crossroads to come across of death.
The barman relates Natalia to her grandfather by the signing of her name. However, it did seem before that incident that he connected the dots earlier. He probably figured that why else would she care for his belongings?
The death of the boys represents that the deathless man might have been present in the community leading her grandfather to reunite with the deathless man.
Natalia is secretive probably because she does not even know the meaning of the chain of events herself, how is she supposed to explain it to Zora?
Her grandfather would have most likely gone in search of the deathless man to prove whether or not the deathless man was right. Right about whatever it was that they had spoken about. It seems as though if something were to happen in your life, and you were always consistanly questioning it.. Wouldn't you want to find out if it's true?
The barman probably figured out that she was related from the phone call. Everyone in the bar was listening, what else were they goin to listen to? Talking about how she was here for the belongings would definately show some kind of connection between the people. Also, when she signed off for the belongings. He may not have looked over her shoulder to make sure they were related, but he could have looked at it after she had left.
The significance about the boys dying brought Natalia to the penninsula in the first place. It brought her to where her grandfather had perished at. Coincidently enough they had happened to die after her grandfathers death.
The narrator is still being secretive because she still doesn't Zora to worry. The news itself still hasn't fully sank in for Natalia. If she were to express what was really going on, Zora would most likely try to talk to her about it and tell her that everything is going to be okay. That would just make things twenty times more confusing for Natalia to fully grasp what is going on around her.
I feel that sometimes the description is just too much. Almost as if the author just tries to make things extremely descriptive just to make the chapters thicker. I mean it's one thing to be really descriptive to help one visualize the book, but another to just always describe things.
Natalia's grandmother might have gone in search of the deathless man this late in his life because, even if he told himself he didn't believe it, a part of him deep inside might have found something truthful in the deathless man's story. He might have gone to the deathless man to settle his debt, or to see if he was going to die from his illness. He might have wanted the comfort of certainty.
I believe that he grandfather went looking for the deathless man so late in his life because he was dying so he wanted to prove that he was real, or he wanted to see if maybe he too could cheat death like the deathless man. The narrator was secretive to Zora, her bff, because she doesn't want her to worry and she still doesn't know about her grandfathers death.
I guess Natalias grandfather searched for the deathless man because he knew he time was coming and maybe he wanted to know the truth about him and maybe try and see if he himself could become deathless. I think the barman connected the dots together when Natalia was talking about how much she cared about the man that had died. I think Natalia doesnt tell her bestfriend that that her grandfather has died because she will send her back home and she really wants to get the medicine to the children because i think Natalia thinks her grandfather would want her to do so.
Natalia's grandfather most likely started searching for the deathless man near the end of his own life as a last effort to see if there was anyway for himself to cheat death and continue living.
The barman figured out Natalia was related to the man who died, her grandfather, because she signed for a bag of his things. The barman most likely knew before this due to her being interested in his stuff as well the persistence to get his stuff.
Natalia is keeping her grandfathers death a secret from Zora so she isn't sent home as well as doesn't hurt Zora's mood. Zora looks up to Natalia's grandfather and is seeking his advice and if she found out that he has passed away she might force Natalia home and quit attempting to help the children.
I think that Natalia’s grandfather went searching for the deathless man so late in his life because he wanted to see if he really existed. Because her grandfather was so close to the end of his life, he wanted to know for sure what the deathless man was like before he died himself.
The barman figured out that she was related to the man that dies because she signed for his things.
She is so secretive with Zora for multiple reasons. Mainly, she doesn’t want Zora to worry. Zora would be worried about her and force her to go home.
I think there are a couple reasons why the grandfather went searching for the deathless man. One reason may be because he was nearing the end of his life and he wanted to see if he could find the unimaginable. Two, because he was so close to death this was a chance if he could cheat death himself. I think the last one is the most plausible.He wants the deathless mans secrets.
I think Natalia doesn't tell Zora about her grandfathers death because she might send her back home. Natalia needs the medicine for the children so she will continue to keep the secret until she gets what she wants.
I think her grandfather went searching for the deathless man so late because he is a procrastinator. He finally realized the he didnt have much time left so he went to search for him hoping to discover the answers to his unanswered questions. The barman figured out Natalia was related to the man who had died because she signed for his things. Again, i think Natalia is being so secretive because that is just the way she is. I think description is good in a way because it helps the reader understand the situation better. I also think that the other puts in a lot of descriptions because he/she wants to make the book longer.
I think Natalia’s grandfather went in search of the deathless man so late in his life because he knew that he was sick and was going to die soon and had many unanswered questions he wanted to know. Also since the man couldn’t die maybe the grandfather was trying to find the deathless man to see if there was a way that grandfather could never die.
The barman found out that she was related because when she signed the receipt she had the same last name. Since Natalia has not told Zora about her grandfather dyeing she doesn’t want to make her think something is wrong by telling Zora where she is really going. Also I do not think that Natalia really wants to be with anyone. I think she wants to be alone to really have time to grieve her grandfathers death.
I think the description does serve a purpose because it helps develop the story and shows foreshadowing and helps the reader understand the situation more in depth. I liked the description of the deathless man because before his image was explained I imagined an old gray haired half rotted man, not a young man.
It makes sense that the grandfather would have gone looking for the deathless man as he was nearing death. When someone knows of their eminent death, they yearn for a sense of finality and closure to aspects of their life. He pledged his book and since he won't be needing it anymore, he thought now would be the time to settle things. We also find out later (if the deathless man is to be believed) that the deathless man collects souls in order to protect them and ensure that they arrive at a crossroads to be given to death. The grandfather may have been seeking that assurance of safety.
I think that Natalia is still not ready to mourn and so she's not ready to tell anyone about it, even her best friend Zora.
I think that the details serve a great purpose in this novel because I think it's not fast-paced enough or intriguing enough for people to be able to fully appreciate the experience of the novel without being immersed in the moments. That's what the details provide- immersion.
I think that her grandfather went out to search for the deathless man so late in his life because it was one thing he wanted to do for himself his whole life and he had to do it now or never. He knew he was dieing and it was his last time to go do something for himself.
The barman was able to figure out that Natalia was related to the man that had died because he was observing her and saw her sign for his things. He most likely was very observant and knew right away what she was doing and who she was.
Natalia does not tell her best friend about her grandfather because she doesn't want to worry her. Also, she knows that if she were find out they would have to leave their expedition.
I think that her grandfather went in search of the deathless man so late into his life because he wanted to see if he was actually real. Maybe to gain some understanding to do something that maybe he felt was unfulfilled before. The barman figured out she was related to her grandfather because when she signed she shared the same last name as him. I think the narrator is being secretive to Zora because maybe there are some things that she doesn't think Zora will understand. Or things that she doesn't need to understand. It might just be easier for Natalia to keep things to herself so she can think on her own terms.
I think Natalia’s grandfather went in search of the deathless man so late in his life, because he knows what he pledged and he knows he didn’t hold up his end of the deal. I think he wanted to repay the deathless man by dying close to him in hopes that the deathless man could reach his Uncle and ask for forgiveness and go back to normal.
Seeing as Natalia came such a far distance over something unimportant to anyone, but the family of the man who died, the barman would’ve easily been able to assume Natalia was related. Not including the part where she signed for her grandfather’s things on the back of a receipt for saline solution.
The narrator is secretive about her whereabouts to her best friend Zora because they relate to her recently deceased grandfather. If Zora found out about Natalia’s grandfather’s death she would send her home without completing their mission at the orphanage. Not to mention, it would affect Zora emotionally to learn about the passing of Natalia’s grandfather when she has hopes on speaking with him for words of wisdom.
Is anyone else curious about Natalia’s father? I mean it’s obviously not important to the book now, but it just seems like it would have been mentioned. For example, when the man from the enlistment office comes to question Natalia’s grandfather he confirms that her grandfather had a daughter and a granddaughter, but didn’t question if the father of the granddaughter was around. It seems to me like something they would ask seeing as they are interested in finding men for fighting in the war.
Maybe her grandfather knew where the deathless man was going to be… Maybe her grandfather wanted The Junglebook back to give to Natalia before he died. The barman may have made a connection because Natalia was so determined to get her grandfathers things back, also she mentioned she signed the receipt very slowly so maybe he would notice they were related. The narrator is being so secretive about her whereabouts when it comes to Zora because she does not want Zora to make her go home. Sometimes I feel the description serves a purpose, but other times I feel description is unnecessary. I feel some descriptions will become important later in the book.
Natalia's grandfather went searching for the deathless man because he knew his death was creeping up on him. The deathless man had told him they might meet again and so he wanted to find him. It might have been like a bucket list item type thing. He had to see him again before he died.
Zora would want to help Natalia and I think Natalia wanted to figure some things out on her own before she brought someone else in on her excursions. It was a personal issue she was dealing with.
I like the descriptions in the book, it makes me feel like I'm actually there. I think it adds a lot to the book.
The grandfather went searching for the deathless man, I think, partly out of a search for clarity. It was an amazing event for him, but it had happened to many years ago that he might have begun to doubt his memory. He wanted to see if what he remembered was really true, and if there really was such a thing as a deathless man. It also might have given him comfort to think that people can overcome great problems that, by all accounts, should kill them. It might have given even the practical doctor hope that he might heal.
Because of Natalia's efforts to collect her grandfather's belongings, and her determination to do so, it was probably pretty obvious that they were in some way related. To go through all that trouble to collect relatively worthless possessions shows a deep connection to someone.
Her grandfather is searching for the deathless man because he said that he helps those who are dying.
She made it obvious when she started talking about the dead man like he was family.
Their death is significant because they were killed by 15 year old landmines.
Natalia's grandfather went in search of the deathless man because he realized that his time alive was coming to an end. The deathless man left a huge impact on her grandfather, and the way that the deathless man left the first time probably left the grandfather with a lot of unanswered questions. So before his time came, he probably wanted an answer to some of his questions, like who the deathless man's uncle is.
The barman figured out that she was related to her grandfather because while he was observing her, he saw her sign the receipt and recognized the last name.
The death of the boys is significant because it helped lead Natalia to the town where her grandfather died.
The narrator is still being secretive about her whereabouts when it comes to Zora because Natalia still hasn't told her about her grandfather's death, and doesn't want to upset her. She may be waiting till she knows more about the situation herself.
I think the grandfather waited to search so late because he found out about his sickness and then felt a massive urge to honor his pledge to the deathless man. He probably feared a curse would come upon him or his family.
I think Natalias granfather goes searching for the deathless man because he never left his mind and he was wondering about him for all those years. I think it was a type of closure to see him again. Also the deathless man said he could see his death in the bottom of the cup he might have wanted to know when.
I think the boys death is significant because it is connected to her granfather and why he was where he was when he died.
I think the narrator is still being so secretive with Zora because she wants to protect her but also because she might not be ready to talk about it now. Her grandfather was such a big part in her life especially because she did not have a father and she is not ready yet.
I think the description is just enough, it gives you a good insight to the whole story but doesnt bore you.
Natalia's grandfather went out to find the deathless man because he probably knew that he didn't have much life left in him. The last time Natalia's grandfather saw the deathless man, he was left with some unanswered questions, so this was probably another reason why he went to search for him.
The barman probably figured out who Natalia was, was probably due to her picking up her grandfather's item, and the barman observing her sign her name.
Natalia doesn't tell Zora about the death because she doesn't want to be sent home to grieve yet. She wants to finish helping the children before she goes back. In a way, I think her grandfather would have done the same thing if he was in her situation.
Her grandfather went on this hunt for the deathless man so late in his life because he is going to die anyways so he might as well try to look for him and possibly save himself.
Natalia didn't want to tell Zora anything because she wants to get her job done instead of being sent home.
Natalia’s grandfather went in search of the deathless man so late in his life because he was on the cusp of death. He wanted to see for himself if a man who was shot in the head twice survived this long, and to see if he truly was “deathless.” He also had the perfect opportunity to leave and said he wanted to see Natalia so that his wife would not pursue him.
The barman knew Natalia was related to the man who died because she was so interested in his stuff. This interest intrigued the barman into watching Natalia sign for her grandfather’s stuff.
Natalia is so secretive about her whereabouts with Zora because she knows that if Zora finds out that her grandfather died she will force Natalia to go home to her family. Natalia doesn’t want to go home until she has helped the children, so she is keeping her grandfather’s death a secret from Zora for now.
Natalia's grandfather went to look for the deathless man because he was about to die and who wouldn't want to meet someone that couldn't die?! That would be one of the coolest things ever, he also had prime opportunity to slip under the radar so he went off to search for him. Natalia is also super secretive about where she is at with zora because if her good friend zora hears about her poor grandfathers doom that zora would forcibly force her to leave to stay with her family; and natalia doesnt want to leave because she cares about the children, so she must wait to tell zora.
The man figured out that she was related to we grandfather because of the way she observes things. She is so secretive to Zora because she doesn't want to worry Zora and doesn't want her finding out about her grandfathers death. The grandfather searched out the deathless man do late because he knew he didn't have much time left. He wanted to figure this out before he died. The significance of the boys dying shows the effects of the war and how the grandfather possibly died
Her grandfather probably went on his search for the deathless man so late in his life not only because he was nearing his death, but he also wanted to prove his belief in the deathless man.
Description is very important to this novel. I believe that the description is almost a resemblance of the theme of family. Family is very detailed and unique, similar to the descriptions in the novel.
The gandfather probably went to find thedeathless man because he had grown in years and had become more wise. Perhaps the goodbye he originaly had with the deathless man was not as satisfying as he wanted and he just wanted closure.
The barman figured out the relation between Natalia and the grandfather through her ability of observation.
The news of the two boys dying in Zdrevkov catches Natalia's attention because that was where her grandfather was said to have died. With it being so close, she'd be able to not only retrieve his stolen belongings, but also try to uncover why he'd been there.
Even though the death of someone you're close to isn't usually something one would keep from her best friend, I can see why Natalia did it. She probably didn't want to go back and face her grandma's inquisition, which is what she would've had to do had she told Zora. Telling her what she was really doing when she was supposedly buying candy would've meant telling her everything, and Zora would've still sent her back.
From what I have seen, most people who have lived a full life are ready to go when they know they will pass away soon. I think that Natalia's grandfather just wanted to find the deathless man because that was one part of his life that he felt unfinished. The burner should be the deathless man's, and he does not know who his uncle is.
The barman had a feeling that Natalia was related to her grandfather due to her concern for his things, but he knew when she signed for his things.
Natalia is being secretive because that was the way she was raised to be. Her family has always hidden their pain from each other, and now she is practicing that skill.
I find that quick, concise descriptions that give you an overall feeling for something are great, but long, drawn-out descriptions are often too cumbersome. I could describe a butcher as an overweight, dirty man who has deep cuts in his hands and enjoys his job a little too much, or I could go into a huge list of every little detail. I would much rather read the shortest version that gets all of the relevant details across.
He probably figured he didn't have anything left better to do, so why not prove a point? And he probably just wants to finally know for sure or not.
She's being secretive because she doesn't know any better. After living in a home shrouded with secret and mystery, she just adapted it and that personality trait for herself.
it depends, really. Description can be great to express details, foreshadowing, appearance, mood, setting, etc. But it can just as easily be used as window dressing. I feel like the author uses descriptiveness for just that AND window dressing, which in my opinion is totally fine because the descriptiveness isn't ALL or MOSTLY window dressing.
The barman probably figured out that Natalia was related to the man who died since the town they live in is small. The town probably doesn't see strange people that often, especially those asking about a man who died and his pocessions.
I believe the grandfather went searching for the deathless man inorder to confirm that the deathless man was really deathless. Searching and possibly having found the deathless man would either bring him comfort in the fact that, yes everybody dies, or bring him to relize that life truths are not always truths.
I think the grandfather wanted to prove that the deathless man existed and he knew he didn't have much time. This shows that he wants to prove to himself the reality of the deathless man. The opportunity came for him to leave without being pursued. I think death seems most real when one is so close to it. I think this is what sparked her grandfathers prime interest in the deathless man.
I think that the reason Natalia is being secretive about her grandfather to Zora is because that is the way her family and grandfather were with eachother, and she spent a lot of time with him so she was heavily influenced by his actions.
I think that some of the details in the novel are too strung out, and i lose focus when I am reading. Some, however, are key to understanding the story, such as the little poem that the bird recites when Natalia and Zora first arrive in the home that they are staying in.
Grandfather went in search for the deathless man because he was about to die. He had a lot of questions left so he set out on the adventure to find him. The barman figured out Natalia’s relation to grandfather when he saw her pick up his grandpa’s bag. The narrator is secretive to Zora because she doesn’t want her finding out that her grandfather died. I really liked how much the author described things. She really helped paint a mental picture of what certain things looked like.
The narrator’s grandfather searches for the deathless man because he knows it’s his time. I have a couple of different theories on why he went looking for the deathless man. First off, I do believe he went looking for this man and ended up in that small town because he knew he would be there due to the two children dying.
My first theory is he went to settle his debt. At this point I am convinced that he believes the deathless man is who he says he is, and her grandfather is a man who keeps his word so he wanted to acknowledge that by giving him the book. Now why he would spend the last days of his life seeking out that man just to settle a debt is beyond me, but this man and his story is a very important part of his life. But that question got me thinking, what if he went to see this man in hopes that he would do the same to him as he did the girl, allow him to live longer. He would have nothing to lose since he already could not die. Maybe they could trade, the book for a few more years to live with his family. Obviously if that were the case it did not work because he did end up dying. The man could have refused because he wants to get on his uncle’s good side. Her grandfather did find the deathless man and it had something to do with the debt otherwise the book would be with his belongings. I thought of other possibilities such as her grandfather wanted to know for sure if he was dying or he wanted the deathless man to lead him directly towards Death for fear of his soul wondering, but I think the reason is one of the first two I gave because it definitely had something to do with the book.
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