A Fine Balance - Chapter 8 & Chapter 9

[Brian E]

Lorna wrote: "I did not post last Sunday because it seemed some needed time to catch up. I just finished, Chapter 8 which is kind of on a short side but lots of activity. ."

I don't understand how delaying opening the section thread makes sense. I try to finish chapters on the day the section thread opens so I have a place to comment when my memory is fresh. When you delay opening the thread, I have no place to post a comment. Those who need to catch up on reading merely have to wait to open and post on the open thread until they finish.
Since threads are not being opened when scheduled, I've put reading the book aside and will wait and read the chapters when I confirm that the section thread is open

[Brian E]

While there are some events in these Chapters, as the tailors are turned into slave labor, I at first thought their absence meant there was no development in a key aspect of the novel, their relations with Dina. On rethink, though, I realize their absence does give Dina an opportunity to feel the loss in their absence and both value and miss them. It also gives more time for Maneck to work on softening Dina's shell.

We do learn more about the Emergency events. The scene with Dina's brother Nusswan gives some clarity to who might support the Emergency measures which, as he claims, are to "fight fascism and other evil forces threatening our country" including the censorship which is "necessary to preserve the democratic structure.

As to some of Lorna's questions:
First, the slave labor is the Emergency's solution to 2 problems. It supplies cheap labor for public beautification projects while removing the unsightly huts and street people. As Nusswan says, "people sleeping on pavements gives industry a bad name." Its only a little less drastic than Nusswan's poisoned free meal project, which actually only provides a solution to one problem.
Second, while it is not Dina's 'duty' to protect her employees outside the workplace, Maneck is correct that she could have helped prevent their capture. As Dina is learning, helping the tailors more would have been both more kind and responsible, and in her self-interest.

[Tammy Dayton]

I enjoyed reading how Maneck helped Dina sew and became a little bossy toward her. I think Dina needed that guidance at a time when she may have been feeling lost and flustered. Dina is learning empathy, finally. "Stupid woman, thought Dina. If she only knew how hard poor Ishvar and Om worked, and how hard they had suffered" (410).

I don't think the Beautification is the "right' solution. The government is only hiding the problem which is extreme poverty. I am not a politically minded person so I cannot begin to imagine a solution, but not the slavery that is forced on the homeless. Not the abuse that they receive. It is only making it worse because the paid workers are making them pay. It is extremely sad.