So I wrote this on the plane a couple weeks ago and just edited it. It's by no means a complete analysis of the book, just things that jumped out at me. Enjoy....
I finished the book a few weeks ago - so it’s not as ripe in my head
as it could have been, but as I think about it, it is beginning to come back to
me. It was an interesting story and it was a great juxtaposition of the
characters and issues in the book.
It was an interesting story that also brought about a lot of issues
that are current in today’s world. PTSD, immigration and assimilation, over use
of force by police departments and the classic ignorance is bliss solution to
so many problems we have here at home. I’m not sure how I felt about the book
to be perfectly honest.
The author did a wonderful job at portraying the balance between the
two worlds in which Bashkim lived in. His resentment and need to want to fit in
at school and the greater world he was a part of, while at the same time was
torn between the way he lived at home with his parents and the stark
differences between these two worlds. It was heart wrenching to read his story,
your already so frustrated for him and then his mother is killed and that by a
cop that shouldn’t have en been on the force in the first place - an event that
was entirely preventable. I really appreciated how his relationship with Luis
evolved and changed, I can only imagine how horrible the first letter he received
from Luis made him feel.
Bashkim as the author portrayed just seems to have a beautiful heart
that is wiling to give everyone a second chance regardless of what happened to
him in his short life. Regardless, of the heartache in the book, I feel it
couldn’t have ended in a better way - except for the fact that again like most
cops across the country, they walk away without any consequences regarding
their use of deadly force (sorry, I can’t help but be frustrated with the
current system and current social conversation).
In the beginning I felt almost sorry for Avis, her life was falling
apart around her and it seemed as she had no control over it, but as the story
went on - the smoke signals were there all around her. She refused to do
something about it and continued with her suburban life she worked so hard to
maintain and be a party of, her fear of going back to life on the streets won
out to her fear of the fact that her son could actually do something to harm
someone. It was frustrating to see her continue to witness Nate beat and abuse
his wife and her turn the other cheek. She tried to do something, but at the
same time her own internal monologue confirmed her worst fears/suspicious. When
Avis found out that Nate had shot Bashkim’s mother, she had the desire and the
impulse to set things right, but as her husband or ex- husband said we’ll get
him out of this. We have the means and the connections to make sure he isn’t
head acceptable, but what happens afterwards. He continues on the force and his
PTSD continues. It was interesting how the author juxtaposed two veterans in
the story, one that was being haunted by the loss of his partner Sam and the
innocent killing of a little boy and the other someone who was more careless,
bold and angry as the days progressed. They were both angry and broken, but one
was able to channel his anger in a more productive and less threatening way. I
obviously have no sympathy for Nate and his family.
Roberta reminded me of a guardian angel to those that she works
with. She believe in humanity and tried to help everyone that crosses her path.
The fact that she thought outside of the box to find a solution for Bashkim,
his sister and his father was pretty amazing.
I could go on, but in a way this book is ripe for book club
discussion - which I’m sure some of you saw the book club questions at the end
of the book, but I really want to know what the rest of you thought. Especially
since some of the book is relevant to today’s social dialogue - and the fear
that there are veterans that are coming back from war with issues and PTSD and
doing into careers and jobs that they probably shouldn’t be doing. Sad
consequence of war abroad is the militarization of our police force with all
the equipment that is decommissioned or no longer needed. And our anti immigration
mindset, which I believe creates situations where newly immigrated families don’t
know that they can ask for help or even where to ask for help and become
isolated as Bashkim’s family had.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments on the book.
