Why Change Perspective?
While books that change perspective several times are not uncommon, it seems as if every one does so for a different reason. Sometimes it's to provide more insight as to what a character is thinking, and sometimes it's to hide certain information from the reader. In this case, I believe that Shamsie changes perspective in order to allow for better characterization and so that the reader can better understand each main character's personality.
When Shamsie changes perspective, her writing shifts to better capture each character's individual voice. For Isma, every other sentence was worrying about or reflecting on her siblings, and occasionally she slipped and referred to herself as their mother. Isma's section was much more straightforward and practical than the other two. Eamonn's section was a bit more meandering than Isma's, which fits his personality. He was less insightful and on more than one occasion failed to understand subtle hints given by Aneeka. As for Parvaiz's section, a majority of the description was auditory imagery, sometimes direct and sometimes more abstract. As a reader, I could feel him slowly being convinced by what Farooq said as his thoughts and beliefs changed. It will be interesting to read Aneeka's section and learn more about her as a character, as everything we've learned thus far has been from others' persepctives.
Why This Order?
I believe that the order that Shamsie chose is the ideal order, as it flows very well. At the end of each section, the next narrator is on the current narrator's mind. Isma was mourning her relationship with Eamonn, Eamonn was trying to negotiate Parvaiz's return, and Parvaiz was messaging and thinking of reuniting with Aneeka. This allows for a more smooth transition from one narrator to another, as the new narrator is already on the reader's mind
What is interesting is that Shamsie chose to start with Isma. It would have worked if the story had started with either Isma or Eamonn, seeing as their meeting is central to the plot, but Shamsie chose Isma. This could be so that she could save Eamonn for later and describe his relationship with Aneeka through his perspective, but I believe that it is because Isma is more removed from the main plot than the other three. Since the end of her section, Isma has been brought up only in passing. The other three main characters are a part of the central conflict (Parvaiz's return) and she likely doesn't even know of it. Shamsie may have put her part first to allow her to kick off the plot and then focus more on the other three characters' stories.
Your observations are very insightful! I didn't notice that each chapter ends with the main character of that section thinking of the next. I now realize that that is what makes the flow of perspective in the book so natural.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your observation that Isma feels more removed from the meat of the plot, and therefore starting the novel with her perspective is a good way to set the foundation for the rest of the novel.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the Shamsie's order is ideal, but I did not recognize that the next narrator is on the current narrators mind. Thats is very crucial to the different perspectives and I find that fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI really like the point you made about Isma being further removed from the plot. Because her perspective was first, I have always thought of her as the main character, but you make a really interesting point about how she is not as much a part of the central conflict as the other characters. You make really great points!
ReplyDeleteI think your observation on the transitions between the perspectives was very insightful. I think it made more sense for Isma as the first perspective though rather than Eamonn, because I think that does a better job of introducing the family and their rough dynamic from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteThe note that each section follows the previous section's character thinking about the next's is one that I hadn't thought of, and is definitely a natural progression of the plot. I think that although the sections were mostly limited to their respective characters, the latter chapters will need to have some sort of overarching conclusion, or else we have a lot of questions concerning Isma and, to a lesser extent, Eamann, and how their character arcs will come full circle.
ReplyDeleteWow, I love your observations! Some of them I genuinely never picked up on myself. I think you’re right about how each new section begins with the last section’s perspective having the following on their mind. That is such an important detail that I think a lot of people, including myself, missed.
ReplyDeleteGreat observations!
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