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.
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I think her grandfather went in search of the deathless man to full fill his end of the deal by giving him his copy of The Jungle Book. I think he may also have just been insanely curious about his whereabouts. Also a possibility is that he thought the deathless man may know a way to stop the ongoing war in the story. Or that the grandfather as a man of science simply wants to find out the true logical explanation of the deathless man before he dies. I'd find it hard to believe that later in the book Natalie doesn't find the deathless man, learn his secrets, and give him her grandfather's copy of The Jungle Book.
I thought that the story of the two teenage boys was meant to show that war, even when it's over, can have lasting effects. Like any action, there is always a consequence, good or bad. In the case of the teenage boys, even though they are past the time of battle and raging war, the consequences are yet to officially pass. When Fra Antun talks about the mines, he says, "Most of them have been cleared, but the ones that haven't get found when somebody steps on them. A shepherd or a farmer, or somebody's child, cuts through an unpaved area. Then there's a rush to keep it quiet" (137). This quote, for whatever reason, struck me again with the word "consequences." War is an ugly and brutal thing, and it has a lot of consequences for those involved. For the countries, it costs millions and millions of dollars to start, to participate in, and to finish. For the people inhabiting those countries, it costs their lives, their security, and countless other things. The fact that these two young men, who had nothing to do with the war or how it started and ended, suffered from the results of the war, really saddened me. It reminded me that all actions have lasting consequences, and even when an action seemingly goes by without one, it can blow up (that's a cruel pun, I know) later on. I wonder if that theme will show up later on in the novel, maybe with Natalia's grandmother and how she withheld her knowledge of Grandfather's sickness from her?
The two boys died in Zdrevkov, where Natalia’s grandfather was, after stepping on a mine. The mine was located in their lettuce patch in their own yard for over 12 years. For some odd reason, everyone is trying to keep the deaths caused by mines a secret. The death of these boys was significant because it reminds us that the effects of war can remain for a long time and can still cause damages.
The barman was able to deduce that Natalia was related to the man who died by Natalia’s accent and her desperation to get her grandfather’s personal belongings. Zdrevkov is a very isolated town so there isn't that many outsiders coming in. Because of this, it's easy to identify newcomers and to sense different accents than the one in Zdrevkov.
Natalia was raised in a very secretive family. This is addressed in chapter two when Natalia keeps saying she knew nothing about her grandfather's death. Later in chapter two, we find out that Natalia's entire family does this. Supposedly the lack of communication about serious matters is to spare other's feelings. When it comes to Natalia and Zora, they're best friends. Natalia values her friendship very much, almost to the point of Zora being considered family. Zora wants to talk to Natalia's grandfather and I think that Natalia doesn't want to break it to her that her grandfather is dead. She wants to spare Zora of the disappointment she might feel. I also think that when Natalia finally does tell Zora about her grandfather's death, she wants to have all the details of it worked out.
The way that the bar owner found out that Natalia was the daughter of the man who died, was how seriously she was to getting the stuff back. If she weren't related to the family there would be no point being in such a hurry to get into the clinic with such urgency. Also the fact that Zdrevkov is so off the map that someone hired to go there would probably lose motivation as soon as they hit the dirt road to the town. And the last possible way if he hadn't caught on yet would be how slow she wrote her last name to sign for the dead man's goods.
I totally agree with Madelyn and Kim about the significance of the deaths of the two boys from Zdrevkov. The mine being in the lettuce patch for over 12 years and now causing destruction does show the everlasting effects of war. It is entirely true for real life as well. Take for example the effect of the Yugoslav conflicts on the countries formed out of Yugoslavia. Earlier in the novel, Natalia states, “[t]welve years ago, before the war, the people of Brejevina had been our people. The border had been a joke, an occasional formality” (Obreht 15). Before the war, Yugoslavia used to be a united socialist nation where no borders existed between people of different cultures. However, after the war, Yugoslavia broke apart, forming into separate countries. It seems as though people think once war is over, it is over. But, war is never really gone. The consequences are always there, whether it be a mine in a lettuce patch or the separation of a nation into several countries still seen today.
I think her grandfather went in search for the deathless man so late is because he is curious about the true logical reasoning of why he is actually still “alive”, but will not die. There are many possibilities that he could want to search for him, agreeing with Paul maybe he wanted to give him the Jungle book to really fulfill his side of the deal. The death of the two boys I think is a symbol and reminder that even when war is over there are long lasting effects and can cause damage, for the good or bad. Obviously the narrator is being secretive to her bff because she does it to her family so it is no different. She does not want to disappoint Zora and tell her the bad news of her grandfather neither of them are ready to talk about it because Zora is going to want to know detail by detail and Natalia is not ready for that yet.
I definitely agree with Madelyn. The boys' deaths were a huge symbol for how war never really ends. The mine was still there many year after the war had "ended", but there are still people suffering from it even that long after. You have innocent people suffering from wounds, from the destruction, the financial distress, and the emotional damages that war causes. And some of these things don't go away. The death of the boys shows how war never fully goes away. As ugly as it is, there is always someone that is going to be suffering from the aftershocks of war, whether it be right after or, in the boys' case, 12 years after.
Natalia's grandfather wanted to go and see the deathless man so late in his life to see what his outcome would be in the near future. Her grandfather was ill and becoming seriously ill quickly and rapidly. The deathless man is able to tell whether or not the person is going to die in the near future by drinking coffee out of his gold-rimmed cup and seeing what the coffee ground show him. So far in the deathless man stories, grandfather has snot believed that he can tell whether or not the person is going to die. But as mentioned before, death makes people to crazy things that would not normally do. I believe that the grandfather wanted to find out if the deathless man was a real thing and the best way to prove that to himself was to know his fate because he would not play any tricks on himself. It would be a honest answer and he would know what he would need to know.
He goes and searches for the deathless man so late in his life, due to him dying soon. Also her grandfather is still very intrigued and curious of why this man can not die, and who his uncle is. But they made a deal if he doesn't drown that the jungle boo is his. But he did not take it when he did not drown, all he said was that they will meet again. The barman was able to figure out that the man who died was who she was related to, since she is an outsider and not many people come to Zdrevkov. It is easy to for the barman to tell that she has the same accent as the man who died.
War lasts forever. No one goes to or lives through war and stays the same. Communities struggling to put their lives back together with, sometimes, nothing to help them build it back up. People living with mental and physical wounds and even not being able to live with them. The boys' deaths really symbolized that. It takes years to prosper again.
I think the description in this book is to give a proper impression of the story the author wants to tell, or how she wants a situation to be interpreted for the story’s benefit. I think her grandfather wanted to see the deathless man so late in his life because he knew he could tell him how he was going to die.
I think Natalia's grandfather waited so long to go looking for the deathless man because he was afraid that he might not like hearing how he would die and didn't want it to haunt him for a long time. After he found out he would be dying soon anyways, he probably decided he had nothing left to lose. also, I think he wanted to know more about the man who couldn't die, after all it does go against everything he knows and believes in after being a doctor for so long. I think Natalia is being secretive about her grandfather because she thinks it should be one of those things that she keeps to herself, just like how her grandfather told her. Maybe she thinks that by discovering the truth on her own, it can be the last thing she shares with her grandfather.
I think Natalia's grandfather waited to search for the deathless man so late in his life because he didn't really need him until then. I think Natalia's grandfather wanted to talk to him to see if he could somehow make him live longer. I believe it was his last resort after knowing he couldn't receive anymore medical help. I think the barman figured out Natalia was related to the man who died by her accent and also because of how adamant she was about getting his belongings. A normal doctor would not travel all that way to pick up a random patients belongings, they would just simply make the family have to deal with it.
Natalia's grandfather wanted to see the deathless man late in his life because the deathless man knew how Natalia's grandfather was going to die.I think her grandfather half wanted to see how he would die, but also see if the deathless man was a real thing or if it was all just a scam.
I agree with Olivia on why her grandfather went after the deathless man so late in his life. I think the deathless man is an all around intriguing man and would be just interesting to talk to. I am sure that her grandfather continued to be curious about where he ended up. Also, sometimes as people get older or ill, they realize tomorrow is not promised. Some get really religious, build strong relationships with family, or try to the best of their ability to do everything their heart desired to do on this Earth. I liked how Paul mentioned the idea of finding him to give him the book! I actually didn't think of that, but I can totally see that being the reason he is searching for the deathless man. Her grandfather seemed to be the type of guy who, though lacking communication skills, was trustworthy and an over all good man.
I think that Natalia's grandfather was still unsure about the validity of the deathless man's story. He wanted to verify it. It was probably one of those things where you know you want to do it before you die and it's becoming too late. He knew that if he wanted to reconnect with the deathless man, he needed to do it quick. The amazing feat that the deathless man accomplished is surely enough to make anyone interested in him and how he did it. The deathless man also said something to him about seeing his death, so it could've also been about that.
I think that Natalia is secretive with Zora about her whereabouts because for one, Zora still doesn't know that the grandfather died, and two, she wants to do this on her own. You get the feeling that this was something she wanted to accomplish and go through by herself, so she had to withhold some information from Zora to be able to do that.
The death of the boys is very significant. The death of the boys allows Zdrevkov and her grandfathers death to enter her thoughts again. If the topic of the boys death had not been brought up, then maybe she would have never got the opportunity to ask how close it is. She said "I haven't allowed myself to picture the clinic where he had died, or the living person who would have his belongings, but that was all drawing in around me now." The death of these boys made her even more curious about the place where her grandfather spent his last days. Maybe the boys death could reveal why he was there. She questions if he was there to help the two boys after he heard about the mining accident in their lettuce patch. The news of these boys reignited the questions she tried to fight back about her grandfathers death.
I think that the barman knew that the dead man was Natalia's grandfather for many reasons, the first of these being her coat. Natalia was giving vaccines to children, which means she would be in her work clothing. Considering that Natalia grandfather's nickname was the doctor, he might just assume. Second, her age. Natalia is younger, which means she wouldn't have two teenage boys. Lastly, it was said that no one really cared about the boys that died sadly. I feel like the description serve a purpose some of the times. For example, at the beginning when Natalia was talking to her grandmother through the pay phone, they described a sketchy town, I think that ties in to the sketchy circumstances on Natalia grandfather's death.
Natalia's grandfather went to find the deathless man at such an elderly age because he had not much time left. He wanted to place his mark on the world. Also, it was a dream of him to find him, and, relating back to my first point, his time was running out to find him. And who knows, maybe her grandfather wanted to become the next deathless man.
Natalia is not letting Zora know where she is because she wants to achieve the feat on her own. (Just like her grandfather trying to find the deathless man).
I have mixed feelings about the description in this novel. I enjoy the elaborate description in the context of character description. For example in Natalia's description of Barba Ivan coming down the stairs "putting both feet on each stair"(194) makes me think that Barba Ivan is a man who has an abundance of time and is thorough in everything he does. That may seem like a lot just from that little description, but I think that is the image the author is trying to convey in description of the character. However, I do think that the setting descriptions are often far too lengthy to add to the main plot of the story. For example, the description of Zora and Natalia's walk with the vaccine-filled dollies just seems like too much unnecessary information. I personally got distracted by all of the description of the setting and such in-depth imagery of each second of their walk that I lost sight of the main idea. I often have reread sections such as this one to decipher the necessary information/description from the excess.
I agree that the death of the two boys is significant because it shows the long term affects of war. It shows how terrible of a thing war is and how it continues to hurt people even after the war is said to be over. I also believe that Natalia's grandfather want to search for the deathless man so late in his life because as he became older, I believe he became more curious. I think that as he grew older he began to wonder more and more about the questions surrounding the deathless man. I also believe he began to seek him because the deathless man knew how he would die.
The deaths of the boys in Zdrevkov are a connection to Natalia's grandfather. They are her first clue to what he possibly could have been doing there and just how close he was to her when he died. Learning of their deaths was the catalyst that led Natalia to Zdrevkov to finally try to collect his belongings and piece together what had happened to him.
I think Natalia's grandfather would have gone to search for the deathless man so late in his life either to learn about his own death or finally get an explanation of the deathless man's immortality.
I think her grandfather searched for the deathless man because he wanted to make a different deal where he wouldn't have to give up the book because he wanted to give it to his granddaughter. he may have wanted to explain the significance of the book to his family and why it needed to stay with his granddaughter because it meant so much to her. The boys death is significant because the mine that killed them was in their own lettuce patch for twelve years without going off. It's unfortunate the manner they were killed because a home is place where you feel the utmost safety and to be killed like that is saddening for all those involved.
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