War stories for me are genuinely the hardest stories to read, mostly because I can’t even in the slightest have relations to what they’re going through and I don’t understand what some of their slang means but I usually just use common sense. The beginning was so frustrating to try and get into but eventually I just bit the bullet and read the rest, without stop! I’m not going to lie and say that reading this was painless because it wasn’t my one of my favorite books to read, but it also wasn’t the worst thing I could’ve read
Frazier was very descriptive and and I was so appreciative of that, he almost described every nook and cranny you could possibly want in a novel. It helped me see things through the books eyes and the flashbacks helped me understand the book MUCH better. At times, Frazier was almost TOO descriptive.
The character I admired most of all was Ada. She displayed strength in the rawest form. Her father had just died, she didn’t have very much food, and she felt completely and utterly alone. I couldn’t even imagine going through what she did. In my opinion, she didn’t even get to properly mourn. She was so isolated and alone.
The gypsies where my favorite part of the journey. They were so free and kindhearted! I loved this part because, honestly? That was the kind of people Inman needed to be around. After being in the war, I would think the best thing anyone could show you is kindness and compassion.
Ruby was such a kind person for helping Ada. What I liked most about Ruby is that she didn’t allow Ada to just sit there a wallow away, she put her to work but also had a sense of warmth to her that only a person with a true heart displays.
Inman’s journey was by FAR my favorite part of the novel. But it also upset me because some parts showed how much the war desensitized him. I believe going into the war and seeing what these men see, changes you. It changes you forever. He was so jaded by what he saw in the war. I think anyone would be. I think in many ways he can relate to how isolated and alone Ada felt. All he had were his thoughts, he did have Veasy to travel with for a bit but I’m sure you know how that turned out. Even when he was around people he felt alone because some couldn’t understand in the slightest what he went through and saw. It’s so sad, honestly.
Another part I loved was when the slave helped Inman by getting him fed and gave him clothes. It was a very minuscule part of the story but I appreciated it.
I did not like the way Inman died. Not one bit. It really annoyed me and left me with a sense of bitterness that he traveled all that way just to die in his lovers arms. Tragic.
Sometimes I wonder in these stories how these people must be feeling. These people who saw so many people die, amongst other grotesque things. I couldn’t even imagine how I would cope with seeing the things they see. I don’t even know if I would have the strength to move on. When a close family member dies it changes you. It makes you have regrets and it makes you think of what comes after death, etc. But I feel like after experiencing death of someone close to you or not, it changes your perspective on life. It messes you up. It was just so upsetting to see how alone Inman felt and desensitized he was from being in the war.
I liked the ending because it was left open for interpretation. I feel like all of the characters where given closure and after all of the bad things they faced, they grew from them. Strength I think, is the central theme of the book. Individually, all of these characters displayed strength. From Ada having to live on her own and provide for herself after her fathers passing or Inman standing up for what he believed was right. I feel that we can all learn from the strength these characters displayed.