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Lost Memory of Skin, Prt. 4; chapters 8-10

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 5:45 pm
by Suzanne
LOST MEMORY OF SKIN

Russell Banks

Part four, chapters; eight, nine and ten

Re: Lost Memory of Skin, Prt. 4; chapters 8-10

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:44 pm
by lindad_amato
So, is the old adage true, that perception is reality?

Re: Lost Memory of Skin, Prt. 4; chapters 8-10

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 2:53 pm
by Tigerlily22
I think that's a huge point of this book. Both Kid and the professor seem to live dual lives. It seems that there is one way they present to the world, but they act "real" (as Kid says) to each other. Even Cat's partner can see that Kids seems to act like a lost child.

As Kid is falling in love with the swamp, I feel sorry for him because I fear that once Cat finds his past online, it will be the end of a positive start for Kid. This is the chance for Kid to be independent and responsible (with his animals) and having to go back to the Causeway may lead to a greater depression.

Re: Lost Memory of Skin, Prt. 4; chapters 8-10

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:47 am
by lindad_amato
I'm convinced that the author's goal in this book is to show that things aren't always what they appear to be. He's chosen a controversial topic to do this, but it works because it's so out of the ordinary.

Re: Lost Memory of Skin, Prt. 4; chapters 8-10

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 3:12 am
by Tigerlily22
I think you're right. Even with the Professor it seems things aren't always what they appear. The secretive eating, the lying about the map, and even the Kid's doubt that the Professor may be a spy all seem to make up think and rethink about who these characters really are.

Re: Lost Memory of Skin, Prt. 4; chapters 8-10

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:13 pm
by giselle
lindad_amato wrote:I'm convinced that the author's goal in this book is to show that things aren't always what they appear to be. He's chosen a controversial topic to do this, but it works because it's so out of the ordinary.
Yes good point. The author has used a controversial topic as a vehicle to make a point and I think that point is about life narratives and that he is posing some interesting questions like ... who gets to 'write' our narrative, who gets to 'read' or interpret them and, ultimately, who is in control of our life narrative?

Re: Lost Memory of Skin, Prt. 4; chapters 8-10

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:22 am
by Tigerlily22
I also find it interesting that there seems to be a consistant reminder that things are not what they seem. We are constantly questioning all the characters and their motives. Don't we all do this in real life?