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The plane vibrated violently and the floor began to buckle. Bill could feel everything shifting beneath him.
This book is not going to help my plane anxiety
He gasped for air as his body shot upright.
don't "it was all a dream" me in the first few pages of your book
Cream-colored curtains and a warm Illinois summer breeze flirted through the open window, making wavy shadows dance on the wall.
Jo was right. Jo was always right.
Black women in literature usually are there’s a trope idk the word
“My name is Saman Khani.
of course it is
“All I want is to see what a good man—a good American man—does when he’s in a no-win situation. What does a man like you do when he has to choose. A plane full of strangers? Or your family? See, Bill, it really is about the choice. You. Choosing who will survive. That is what I want.”
I mean sure I guess
“The crash of Flight four-one-six and the chaos and death it will bring are the tiniest glimpse of the pain and suffering the Kurdish people have unfairly endured because of me.
This suddenly feels like just plain america propaganda 😭😭😭 was this released soon after 9/11
THIS CAME OUT IN 2021????????? Jesus
And in your last horror-filled moments, you will remember that thousands of innocent Kurdish men, women, and children have gone before you, dying the same tortured deaths—and all because of you.
After finishing the book:
I think my problem with the "choice" narrative device here is the way that it's used. They continuously use phrases like "because of you" and "you did this," but I feel like their actual problem is the average American's lack of knowledge and action. Like Bill. It would've made a lot more sense if they were saying "you get to go through life without caring about anything, so we're going to force you care now" rather than continuing to talk as if Bill gets a say in foreign affairs.
How could they not give these innocent people every advantage they could to protect themselves from their own peril?
I think that telling them actually makes it worse? Because nothing they do would make them safer, and you’re alerting The Extra?
“Karen, I swear to god,” he said. “My name is Janice.” Daddy wrinkled his nose. “But is it?”
Yeah this writing is corny
And every single one of them is someone’s family too. You don’t get to say their lives aren’t as important as Bill’s family.”
Im confused how no one gets the fact that they need to keep this quiet? Because the whole POINT is that we’re trying to save both? And why are we totally like “screw those kids” like???? You're still prioritizing one or the other?? Idk all of y’all seem a little dumb
If they told the passengers the truth, it felt as though she was making the choice for Bill. Like she was choosing the plane over his family.
Yeah babe that’s exactly it actually
Bill’s shoulders released with his exhale. He couldn’t care less what his neighbor wanted. He ignored it.
Dude why is everyone here so dumb?? Your neighbor who is next door to your family being held hostage??? What if he DID know something??
“Really?” Sam said to her. “You’ve been so strong. Surprisingly strong. You’re going to fall apart now because of a house and maybe a few people?”
What a weird way to talk
“Sorry, boss,” Ben said, extending the barrel of the gun.
Oh yeah I totally saw that coming sorry
He felt a whole new level of alpha male protection,
Jesus
You ask me how I could betray this profession—well, how could you betray millions of people who only want a decent life of their own?”
Okay I’m sorry but did BILL do that?? I'm just very confused about the point we're making here
I get that real terrorism and violence is not all tied up with a nice and neat bow but this is a fake story it can have a clear narrative
“Neither is inaction. Nothing will change if nothing changes.” “But nothing will change if you do this either. America won’t bow to a vigilante terrorist.” “We never wanted you to bow! We just wanted to be seen!”
So you’re doing all this just so america pays attention to your country?? Baby do you know what happens when America is paying attention to you???? ESPECIALLY when you're in the middle east???
According to the manifest, his name was Josip Guruli, and Kellie’s online search of the name had come up empty. They had no reason to distrust him besides a gut feeling.
It feels racist
Like quick is the gut feeling related to his skin color
“Put it on French toast?” Ben said. “It’s powdered sugar.”
You’re acting real smug about not dying for someone whose plan is to die in a plane crash lmao
“This has nothing to do with religion,” he said.
1) it’s not more progressive because they’re not Muslim
2) did anyone mention religion? No. We’re talking about being martyrs for a political cause
“What do you mean the first officer was in on it the whole time?” she demanded.
It is kinda crazy that in all his Morse coding bill didn’t think to be like “oh and also”
I’m asking you to choose to trust in a good man, a man of duty. I know, sir, that your faith will be rewarded.”
Imagine she did all this and the plane still crashed, killing all the civilians on board and in surrounding areas
Like, trusting in bill is great! What if Ben kills him and crashes the plane anyway
He had known it would come to this when they found out about Ben’s involvement. It was exactly why he hadn’t sent a Morse message to tell them.
Oh okay sure
Actually no this doesn't make sense. If they think you're going to crash into, say, the White House, I think they'd shoot you down regardless.
You know this country. You know what we’ll do in response. You know who will suffer.”
Yeah America love a scapegoat and terrorism gives us such a good out
“It was never about the crash, Bill. It was never about you or the passengers or your family. It wasn’t really even about the choice.” He shook his head. “It was about waking people up. Doing something dramatic enough to get their attention. Something they couldn’t ignore. It wasn’t personal.”
You keep saying that but post 9/11 why did you think anyone would see hijacking a plane in a remotely positive way
No one's gonna be like "you know maybe I should care about the Kurds" when you just triggered half the country's biggest trauma
“C’mon,” Bobby said. “Top of the ninth, game seven of the World Series? At Yankee Stadium? A terrorist attack? That’s not a coincidence. That’s a message.” He looked around at the bedlam. “You’re telling me you want this to be our message?” The players looked at each other, at the stadium. Bobby smiled. “I don’t know about you boys, but I always prefer to go out swinging.”
Girl what
“I appreciate the four months of paid time off more.”
Four months doesn’t seem appropriate. A year at least.
“And how President Reagan did nothing.”
ALL THE HOMIES HATE REAGAN
You promised him you’d do everything you could to help. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do. We’re going to keep learning and keep listening and when we think we know enough—which we won’t—we’re going to look for the people who do know how to fix it. And we’ll help them in whatever way we can.”
we love white saviors
