Shift
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Who the hack is Miranda?
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Chanaka
(new)
Nov 16, 2012 02:03AM
My idea is that she`s just a manipulator who play with your mind. But by coming to that decision I have to ignore the things told and followed by Oona as she`s some mentally retarded person!
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Have you read the entire book?Because I don't want to spoil the ending for you.
Tina J wrote: "Have you read the entire book?Because I don't want to spoil the ending for you."
I have. And I`m just trying getting ideas from others!
Then you'll know that she was a shapeshifter. A supernatural being.
Tina J wrote: "Then you'll know that she was a shapeshifter. A supernatural being."As the author doesn`t take a straight forward approach to that, we can take it as we like. You can just make it another fantasy fiction or we can make this a book which talk about complex human ability to affect another persons weaknesses and turn it to our own use. That`s why I`m seeking how others feel about it!
It DOES, in fact, tell you she's a shapeshifter.It clearly states that Olive found a website, explaining what a shapeshifter IS.
And then (at the end), Miranda ADMITS it.
How does it not get any clearer than that???
pmsl
In the broad genre of Gothic Literature there is one sub-genre where it is not only appropriate, but entirely necessary for the supernatural to be explained away as being some actually quite natural phenomenon.Scooby Doo is one example of this style of Gothic fiction. The ghost the Scooby Gang is dealing with always turns out to be a sad faced old man in a deep sea diver's mask muttering about meddling kids, and never an actual ghost.
Reading Shift on an allegorical level, you could have an interesting discussion about what a shapeshifter would be in the real world. This is probably what Chanaka is after.
Is that right, Chanaka?
Tina J wrote: "It DOES, in fact, tell you she's a shapeshifter.It clearly states that Olive found a website, explaining what a shapeshifter IS.
And then (at the end), Miranda ADMITS it.
How does it not get any..."
We can agree with all that if We believe in every thing a web says [specifically a website found by her imaginary friend and not any recognized one] and Miranda says.
gwscrsc wrote: "In the broad genre of Gothic Literature there is one sub-genre where it is not only appropriate, but entirely necessary for the supernatural to be explained away as being some actually quite natura..."Exactly! You wrote that comment like you just read my mind. In my opinion, reading a book in an allegorical level will be much more interesting other than just reading a "sum of words". Don`t you think so, gwscrsc?
I understand what you're saying.....but I do believe the author was intending Miranda to be a supernatural being.Of course these things don't actually exist......but that's the beauty of FICTION!!!
The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that Miranda is just a disturbed girl. (perhaps a symbol of anorexia as well) Olive is not exactly mentally stable, and the "I'm a shapeshifter." line was just to tease her.
Bookworm wrote: "The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that Miranda is just a disturbed girl. (perhaps a symbol of anorexia as well) Olive is not exactly mentally stable, and the "I'm a shapeshifter." l..."*ThumbsIp* Exactly!!
I just find it next to impossible that she manages to look like EVERY person she wants to immitate.In fact, it IS impossible!!!
You can change your hair colour and maybe dress the same.....that doesn't make you look like every girl, with the same hairstyle/colour.
PMSL
Face structure would still be different....unless, she truly was a shapeshifter!
Does her bone structure and face ever change? She did change the way she dressed and acted, but does the book ever state that she has her victim's face? Whatever way you think, I think we can all agree that Miranda is a parasite.
Bookworm wrote: "Does her bone structure and face ever change? She did change the way she dressed and acted, but does the book ever state that she has her victim's face? Whatever way you think, I think we can all ..."
The book states that she becomes so like the person she's immitating.....that it's hard to tell the difference. No amount of hair dye can do that! PMSL
A big part of how a person is perceived is by how they carry themselves and how they speak and react. I dunno, I think that's how Miranda changes. I could be wrong, but that's how I read it.
Bookworm wrote: "A big part of how a person is perceived is by how they carry themselves and how they speak and react. I dunno, I think that's how Miranda changes. I could be wrong, but that's how I read it."I suppose it depends how you view the book upon reading it. I found this book in the paranormal section, so I WAS expecting something 'supernatural'......or something of the like.
So I took her to be some sort of supernatural being. I just think it makes the most sense, considering the contents of this particular book.
Example: I'm thinking of an actress off the top of my head......lets say, Dakota Fanning. I could dye my hair blonde, I could steal her sense of clothing and I could even immitate the way she carries herself/speaks/reacts.
NONE of this will make me look like/be Dakota Fanning!
Unless, of course - I was a shapeshifter.
Do you see the point I'm trying to make?
Yes, I do see the point your are making, but the novel never explicitly says that Miranda changes into the other girls, just that she takes their places.
Does Miranda really change the way she looks so that she looks EXACTLY like the characters, though? Olive was mentally unstable, and (Spoiler alert) we find out half-way through that her best friend doesn't even exist, so how do we know if half the things she says actually happen, or are just a figment of her imagine because she genuinely believes that Miranda is a Shapeshifter. Miranda could have been a girl with mental problems too, and Olive twisted things to make out that she is a Shapeshifter.
It's been a while since I read this, but from what I remember, I thought the new girl was just trying to fit in by copying her friends, whoever they were (like you haven't had a friend like that) but the narrator was completely off her nut.
