So far what I have read in Winter's Bone has been giving many different responses and reactions. For the first 26 pages I read out loud to my cat. When I did that I noticed that the narrator used many run on sentences that mostly set up the setting/feel of the moment. To me it was tiring to string out a breath to a sentence. Finding out the accent was also an interesting discovery, and also entertaining to my cat for me to give each character a different voice tone.
The story was something that really had to get my attention, being someone who is a fan of small drama detective books and series, the fact that her father is mysteriously gone and has a sketchy story going made things very interesting. Break out them Deerstalkers and your magnifying glass, its time to figure out what this man has been up too. In the beginning I too also thought Jessup had just been out about doing his drugs and drinking off somewhere like Ree thought. But as this went on and everyone she asked started to act shifty and down right secretive we can see that perhaps something is a miss. Not to mention when they really get into things such as Ree spotting the family car and trying to get to it only to have the person inside turn and drive the other way. How other family members try to make her think that he died in a explosion and the car being found burnt away with no one inside. Its all very suspicious and made me extremely curious. Now I'm at the point of suspecting every character within the book of being part of this unknown scheme. Such as the so called officer with the long hair and the white car. Maybe this man was actually a drug dealer who poses as a cop and tries to follow her dad in hopes of some pay back because he's in dept? Then later they met in the lake and some fighting goes down and they burn the car because they felt like it! Who knows. Guess I have to keep reading.
Other side dramas connected to the father's disappearance also made me a bit emotional. Such as when Teardrop tries to take away Sonny from the rest of the family. I don't really feel fond of children but when it comes down to them being taken away by someone else (family or not) I find it offensive. So that brought up some emotional feed back and 'booing' on my part. Other scenes such as Ree's mother looking off into the sunset were just written so beautiful and simple that I couldn't help but appreciate it. Overall I have been finding this book a entertaining read.
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Emma,
ReplyDeleteWow! You have quite a bit to say about what you have read thus far. How exciting for your cat that you got to read to it. I bet the book was much more interesting when you read it out loud and was able to accentuate the southern drawls. At times, I had to really concentrate and figure out what was actually being said. I'm excited to finish the book and see what actually happens. Good job!
Emma,
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience when reading. I believe the author devoted an unnecessary amount of time describing settings and feelings. It causes the reader to lose sight of the storyline. I interpreted the accent, accompanied by use of improper English, as a display of culture and deficient education in the Ozark backwoods. Your theory about the officer being a drug dealer seeking a debt collection is an interesting one. At this point, I suppose everyone is suspect. I agree it is wrong to try to take Ree’s younger brothers away from her. She has basically been a mother to them since the cognitive decline of their actual mother. Ree compensates for a lack in material wealth with sincere compassion for her family. Good post.
-Aaron
Good job Emma I think you should create a short video of yourself reading out loud to your cat and using your accents! I also thought there was some shady business going on with Jessup and drugs but we'll just have to wait and see whats up with all the secretiveness. Keep up the detective work!
ReplyDeleteI agree the descriptions can get tiring but that in the end they do pay off in terms of setting the mood for the story. I feel it takes away from the story but at the same time adds to the mental picture in my head.
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