Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Anthony Doerr, "The River Nemunas"


from Tin House, #40

—I think when I die I’d like to be tied to ten thousand balloons, so I could go floating into the clouds...

This Story has a little of everything: an orphan, relocation to a strange country, a nice grandfather, a strange neighbor, a new school and new friends, a poodle and a fish and a white horse, considerations about life and death, bitter-sweet memories, some lovely language, and a little taste of something that is almost magic.

I can’t really begin to tell you what it’s about, but I can tell you that it’s good. Real good!
Posted by at 5:43 PM
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1 comments:

  1. Brian K. Schoonover missed two of the main themes in his comment when he wrote, “This Story has a little of everything.”

    Alley’s prayer life, her relationship with Jesus, and her pain from the loss of her parents are main themes. Early in the story, Grandpa Z’s granddaughter Alley makes the theme clear during her visit to the woman next door. As they watch mass on TV, Alley reflects on the priest’s comment, “Just because you cant see something doesn’t mean you shouldn’t believe in it. I can’t tell if he means Jesus or gravity.” By the end of the story it is clear, the reference was concerning Jesus.

    The River of Nemunas is a metaphor of our journey through life. The sturgeon might be a metaphor for Jesus. As I see it, the primary theme of this delightful story is about our relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus always seems to be distant at best and absent from most of our life, yet this is not a reason to disbelieve in our Father. The author Doerr knowingly or unwittingly gives a clear picture of Jesus working in our lives. Throughout the story, Jesus presents Himself in the joys and pain of life, in the form of people and events. Through nature, life between friends and family, and most of all in our pain. For individuals that want to find truth, we find Jesus in our questions in life and in our pain. (What is missing from the story is how we truly find our Lord. We find Him by reading and an understanding of scripture.)

    Michael A. McKay (509) 218-5525
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