Read-A-Long of Norma by Sofi Oksanen
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Re: Read-A-Long of Norma by Sofi Oksanen
Yeah. I'm enjoying it, but it's not what I expected it to be. I have to wonder if it's at least partially due to the translation.
I haven't been able to read, so I haven't gotten any farther. I hope to get some read sometime soon.
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The story is rather bland, but I am enjoying it as well. The magical realism aspect is rather weak. The emphasize seems to be on hair and use of women. It seems like the author wrote the story to promote her agenda.
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I just started chapter 6. I agree about the blandness, but like you said, Gravy, it could be because of the translation. Though I do like the magical hair as being part of the story, I agree, the magical realism is fairly weak. I wonder if it'll improve as the story go on?gali wrote: ↑20 Oct 2018, 22:54The story is rather bland, but I am enjoying it as well. The magical realism aspect is rather weak. The emphasize seems to be on hair and use of women. It seems like the author wrote the story to promote her agenda.
That's an interesting point about the author having an agenda and writing the story to tell a point rather than to entertainment. I can see that and agree with it, too. For the most part, I'm enjoying the story, but I don't tend to be as excited as I am with other books whenever I pick it up to continue reading.
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I also just finished chapter 6.
Spoilers: up to chapter 6
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I think I'm confused. What was the secret? Was it that she was the one to tell Anita about Helena's health that led to drugs made from Norma's hair? That Helena had schizophrenia? If it's either one, I also don't see the big deal that Marion has to be afraid of her father hurting/murdering her.
Yet again here's Anita using Norma's hair without Norma's consent.
Out of curiosity, what do you think of how the story is being told? There's a present storyline, then there's the video files that Anita left for Norma.
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I'm not a fan of the way the story is being told. It seems to almost bounce around, and like we're supposed to know things before it comes to light in the story. I really think, or maybe want it to be, due to a bad translation.
Emmi Itäranta translated her own books and they're done beautifully.
What is grief, if not love persevering?
Grief is just love with no place to go.
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The secret was that they wanted to open their own hair salon. At least, Marion wanted to. Anita had other plans, but I don't want to spoil it for you.hsimone wrote: ↑21 Oct 2018, 20:21I also just finished chapter 6.
Spoilers: up to chapter 6
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I think I'm confused. What was the secret? Was it that she was the one to tell Anita about Helena's health that led to drugs made from Norma's hair? That Helena had schizophrenia? If it's either one, I also don't see the big deal that Marion has to be afraid of her father hurting/murdering her.
Yet again here's Anita using Norma's hair without Norma's consent.
Out of curiosity, what do you think of how the story is being told? There's a present storyline, then there's the video files that Anita left for Norma.
I like the way the story is being told, but the video files were confusing at times.
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- gali
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I also found it confusing. It may as well be due to the bad translation.Gravy wrote: ↑21 Oct 2018, 21:04 I'm into chapter 8 (I believe), so I won't be posting anything spoilery.
I'm not a fan of the way the story is being told. It seems to almost bounce around, and like we're supposed to know things before it comes to light in the story. I really think, or maybe want it to be, due to a bad translation.
Emmi Itäranta translated her own books and they're done beautifully.
Pronouns: She/Her
"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you." (Mortimer J. Adler)
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Oh, man. See? I missed that completely, but I also had some distractions while I tried to read. Next time, I'll have to seclude myself somewhere, so I won't be distracted.
Yes, I agree, the video files were confusing at times.
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I'll catch up today!Gravy wrote: ↑21 Oct 2018, 21:04 I'm into chapter 8 (I believe), so I won't be posting anything spoilery.
I'm not a fan of the way the story is being told. It seems to almost bounce around, and like we're supposed to know things before it comes to light in the story. I really think, or maybe want it to be, due to a bad translation.
Emmi Itäranta translated her own books and they're done beautifully.
I find it to be bouncy, too. I'm also hoping it's because of a bad translation and that the original story was told more smoothly.
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Sounds good!
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Oh!! I just got to this part. It was in Chapter 7 for me. Glad I'm not that thick that I didn't even realize the thing that has been frightening Marion from her father was her using the loan Anita got to open up their own hair salon. It was pretty obvious when I read that part
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Good! I hope I didn't spoil it for you.hsimone wrote: ↑22 Oct 2018, 14:32Oh!! I just got to this part. It was in Chapter 7 for me. Glad I'm not that thick that I didn't even realize the thing that has been frightening Marion from her father was her using the loan Anita got to open up their own hair salon. It was pretty obvious when I read that part
I finished the book, and write about it tomorrow.
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No worries, you're good.gali wrote: ↑22 Oct 2018, 14:37Good! I hope I didn't spoil it for you.hsimone wrote: ↑22 Oct 2018, 14:32Oh!! I just got to this part. It was in Chapter 7 for me. Glad I'm not that thick that I didn't even realize the thing that has been frightening Marion from her father was her using the loan Anita got to open up their own hair salon. It was pretty obvious when I read that part
I finished the book, and write about it tomorrow.
Nice! I'm about 100 pages away from finishing, but I'll keep chugging along and will write my thoughts once I'm done (maybe in another couple of days?).
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No rush.hsimone wrote: ↑22 Oct 2018, 18:45No worries, you're good.gali wrote: ↑22 Oct 2018, 14:37Good! I hope I didn't spoil it for you.hsimone wrote: ↑22 Oct 2018, 14:32
Oh!! I just got to this part. It was in Chapter 7 for me. Glad I'm not that thick that I didn't even realize the thing that has been frightening Marion from her father was her using the loan Anita got to open up their own hair salon. It was pretty obvious when I read that part
I finished the book, and write about it tomorrow.
Nice! I'm about 100 pages away from finishing, but I'll keep chugging along and will write my thoughts once I'm done (maybe in another couple of days?).
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