Eva had always felt her mother's love. While yes her mother had passed away, it was obvious that Eva carried the memory and love of her mother with her always, especially when it came to telling stories. Eva also felt love from her madrina who taught her things she knew. Those sorts of love was different than the love she felt for Huberto when she was a teenager. He saw her in a more related sort of way. That obviously changed when they became adults and found each other again. Then we met Riad who had the relationship with Eva as a guardian would with their child. Then it turned into something more and the two made love and kissed. She lost her virginity to him, and that's a bigger deal than some people make it out to be if you ask me. Eva felt that with Riad, is when she finally became a woman, at least, that's what I made it out to be. I personally don't think having sex or not having sex yet determines if you are a woman or not.
Lastly we had Eva and Rolf which was a different love than the others. I think that part of it was yes, a romantic love but then the other part was that they both had this sort of sense that they knew each other from somewhere else. I remember someone saying something about they seemed familiar in a family sort of way, which I think would make sense.
I thought that it was interesting how the book could be so easily tied to issues that are big in modern day such as the suicides, the transgender, how fear played a role, etc. (Ex. Frau Carle and how her husband was killed by the school children. Fear had to be involved because she had talked about killing him but that she couldn't do it.)
I did like the quote(s):
"But if he can't change things, who can?"
"You and I, for example. What has to change in this world are attitudes." I agree with that quote to an extent, the only part of it that I don't agree with is when it comes to mental illnesses. Sometimes it's not a matter of attitude, but an illness, a disease that affects the mind and takes away control from you. Most people don't seem to understand that someone with depression for example, can't just be happy and in a good mood a lot, it's not their choice, it's what is attacking their mind. Same with someone who has anxiety, they may worry or panic and cannot just calm down. In cases like that, it isn't a matter of attitude, otherwise, I think that the quote would be fitting to the world.
I did like how, as Marcus also stated, that Mimi, Eva, Rolf, and Huberto were able to push through and succeed in their elements.
Also, quick question, how is the actual pronunciation of "Eva"? I've heard people say "A-va and E-va".
Those are just some thoughts I had, whether they are correct or not, those are just what I was thinking.
I enjoyed reading your thoughts, and I was wondering if there was anyone in this class that did not like the book. I always found it interesting of the polarities between the opinions on this book as a whole for this class.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that love played a big role in this book within the characters and narrative. I like the quote you picked and I do think that sometimes people do need to change their attitudes as well, and that it would probably change the world for the better.