In a little town in France he runs into Anna Addison. He met her back when he was twenty and protesting the Vietnam War. The only problem is that she is supposed to be dead. Anna doesn't recognize him and he returns home focused on his past. Then one day Miles finds him. Miles is also from his past and recognizes Mike right away- only Miles knows him as Chris Carver. "My name's Michael. You've made a mistake. Come off it Chris. I know we've all changed, but not that much" (Kunzru 28). It once again flashes back to the protest where Mike aka Chris is arrested and put into jail where he meets Miles, a journalist. Back in the present Miles wants to talk about what happened, but Mike refuses. We don't know what happened between them, or with Anna, but all we know is that Mike is afraid of his past.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Q3 Outside Reading #1
I'm reading the book My Revolutions by Hari Kunzru. We start off the book with the main character, Mike, about to turn 50. Even though it should be a festive day, he is worried and preoccupied with something else. "It's already over. All this- the house, my family, this ridiculous party- no longer exists" (Kunzru 2). For awhile we don't know what he's talking about, but it instead focuses on the present. Mike is married to Miranda and a stepfather to Sam, Miranda's daughter. Miranda owns a business and Mike is unemployed. He keeps repeating that it's all over and he has to run for it. Then the flashbacks start. He's remembering the time not that long ago when he went on a trip with his wife and ran into someone from his past.
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7 comments:
This book seems like it will end with the common theme of one having to choose between their past experiences and life in the present. The main character has multiple flashbacks about the life they used to have and faces a chance to return to that life.
Hm... puzzling. I commend you for not getting frustrated! I'd pick up another book, personally, due to my lack of patience when plot streams aren't connecting. What type of book is this? If it's science fiction, I'd be awesome if Mike was a person who, I don't know, got mind-wiped (forced amnesia maybe?) by the government, and in fact he's a really important character who was deceived by the traitorous USA. And he's stuck in his past because he has an inkling of doubt as to how important he once was. Anyway, despite wild speculation, I bet the book will probably focus on the time shift you pointed out-- past vs present. My guess is that Mike won't even live in his current present after discovering a new past, instead developing a new present that has hope for the future. Anyway, have fun reading and sorry for rambling!
This book sounds very interesting, and yet sounds like it could be quite confusing. There are so many different characters already, and you know that there are going to be a lot more considering what the book is about; his past. I usually like flashback books however, because throughout reading it is like putting a puzzle together. However it sounded like in the beginning, they didn't give you very much to start with.
This book seems very confusion yet interesting. I'm a fan of books that use flash backs to reveal more about the characters past and pieces of history that completly change the story. You blog about this book as very full of information and told a lot about the story with out being long and boring. Great job!
I tend to enjoy books that use flashbacks to slowly disclose the past, but this book just sounds frustrating! The past must contain something awful in order for Mike to get freaked out just seeing a woman from his past who does not even recognize him. I wonder if Mike's wife and step-daughter know about his past. If not, this could be a huge strain on their relationships. Secrets never help with relationships and if this secret is so bad that Mike thinks everything is over, it could be disastrous to their family. I am curious to find out what Mike's secret is and how it will effect his family.
Shannon, this sounds like a very interesting book. I think it's interesting how the author chooses the view point of a man about to turn 50. I think that will give a different perspective to everything because when someone is turning 50, they start to feel different about everything because they feel like they are getting old. Why does Mike keep saying that it's all over and he has to run for it? Is it because he is turning 50?
The flashbacks remind me a bit of Jodi Piccoult. But this book sounds very interesting and, as Monica said, frustrating to read. You analyzed this well with the past vs. present and I hope that Mike is able to focus on the present and move on in his life to the future. I am wondering what the flashbacks will mean as you piece this puzzle together. Good Work!
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