tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post6564858153048105832..comments2023-11-05T10:11:31.578+00:00Comments on Just William's Luck: The Yellow Birds - Kevin PowersWilliam Rycrofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-69097412588706490612012-09-25T01:13:00.556+01:002012-09-25T01:13:00.556+01:00Thanks for the comment Shona and sorry to take a w...Thanks for the comment Shona and sorry to take a while to reply. I actually liked the way that the novel didn't follow a strict chronological line through as it increased my disorientation and made me feel that I was trying to piece together the pieces of something that had been broken, a perfect analogy for both of the men concerned. I'm not convinced that putting everything into order would have increased the tension because this wasn't really a book about escalating tension. By keeping things fractured it placed the tension in the reader's mind as they worked to put things together, far more effective I think.<br /><br />As for the images of water I'm afraid I didn't find myself remarking on that as I was reading so I don't think I can help you on that one.<br /><br />I'm glad though that you've enjoyed reading this one so much. My opposition to it came first as a natural response to reading it, an honest reflection of how I felt as I went through, but also I'll admit in response to some of the rather fervent praise it has received. That is perhaps a bit unfair on Powers, who has written a perfectly good novel, but important I think to offer an alternative view to those who are all too ready to claim it as an instant classic.William Rycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-29245637291741922572012-09-23T00:55:59.096+01:002012-09-23T00:55:59.096+01:00(SPOILERS!)
Will, I have confessed on twitter to ...(SPOILERS!)<br /><br />Will, I have confessed on twitter to liking this book more than you did and I have to say that now, two weeks away from it, I like it even more than when I finished it. <br /><br />I'm interested in your perspective on two things. <br /><br />1) When I first finished the book I was grateful that the story moves back and forth in time. I thought if Powers had told it chronologically it would be too harrowing. Now, I think it actually would have been better chronologically. To see the progression of Bartle from new recruit to his ultimate fate would have actually improved the tension and pacing. <br /><br />2) Images of water appear over and over in the story but I'm not sure what the author intended with them. The river by his mother's home, the river they throw the body into, the body bomb on the bridge, the sewage ditch; I can't figure out the theme or the contrast between these images. I feel like I've missed something here. Did you take anything from it?Shonahttps://twitter.com/wayfaringreadernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-69204794607851335252012-09-10T16:50:53.262+01:002012-09-10T16:50:53.262+01:00Good point Anthony and this book doesn't reall...Good point Anthony and this book doesn't really touch on it. It is a very American-centric story. A book I read earlier in the year, <a href="http://justwilliamsluck.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/watch-joydeep-roy-bhattacharya.html?m=0" rel="nofollow">The Watch by Joydeep Roy- Bhattacharya</a>, showed more of the other side although was looking at Afghanistan rather than Iraq.William Rycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-30556581375931963372012-09-10T13:40:42.206+01:002012-09-10T13:40:42.206+01:00I think the main story to be told about the Iraq W...I think the main story to be told about the Iraq War is not the soldiers thoughts and feelings but the US soldiers' and Officers' treatment of the Iraqi people. I've heard some good things about 'Yellow Bird'.Anoka Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04439036719357012798noreply@blogger.com