Steve B.
asked:
Chapter 20 - When I first read it, I thought I had caught editorial errors as the same passages were repeated 2 or 3 times, word for word, only pages apart. Then realized this may be the writer symbolizing the circular thoughts that have been created in Hakan's solitude, with no longer a linear structure but simply a circular repeatable pattern. Which is it?
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Wes
My read was that it's the latter. That chapter marks the passage of a long stretch of time, and the repetition of passages was intended to give the reader a taste of the unstimulating, repetitious nature of Håkan's life during that interlude. I thought this technique was executed well because it's obvious enough that the reader can't miss it, but it's subtle enough to make the reader wonder (at least at first) whether it was an error. I sometimes feel that confusion about my own life's rhythms: "Did we eat there last month, or was it last year?" "How can these shoes be worn out already--they're only a year old . . . or are they two?"
Breeze
This was intentional. I asked the author about it. It's hypnotic. It's Hakan falling away from reality (my explanation) as he descends into his solitude.
Andrew Bryson
My take is that the repeated passages show how language goes stale in the absence of people to share it with.
Janice Mazur
When I first came across the repeated passage, I thought that my Kindle had glitched and brought me back a few pages. When I realized it was intentional, I found it to be an extremely effective technique to drive home the sameness of Hakan's life, day after day, year after year.
Rodrigo Prudencio
I had the same question and glad it wasn’t my version of the book! It’s an interesting technique but I wondered why he chose to do this word for word rather than more subtly.
S.B. Harrison
I love how everyone has the same reaction to this part of the book. I thought it was an error and was taken aback. Then it happened again and having more context it became clear what the author was doing. Then it happened one more time at the end of the chapter and I loved it.
Eric
I noticed this as well. It was slightly disorienting at first. I thought I had perhaps put the book down and started over at the wrong place. I think instead it's an original and effective way to show the nature of Håkan's life at one point.
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Aug 06, 2019 07:55AM · flag