Well, how do we think the ending went.... Poor Oskar.. He has been through a lot. You just wonder how often that actually happens, the bullying... we hear about it all the time, but I don't see it at all at the high school level... did/do you guys see a lot of bullying at the elementary level.
The brothers got carried away with Oskar in the pool, but I did like how Eli came back and rescued him. However Oskar has to learn how to protect himself on his own. What do we think actually happened at the very end? I am curious to hear your guys's thoughts.
Aunt Joyce, any of the books will work. You let me and mom know which one, and we will go with that!
Well, here is my opinion. I am always upset by bullies. Did you notice that they always have more than one when they pick on somebody? They are such cowards really! I find it disgusting but yet sadly it happens all the time. You hear about it on tv. I didn't see much at the elementary level. When it did happen (in my special ed room) it was usually verbal with physical threat but rarely carried out.
ReplyDeleteI felt so bad when the bullies got Oskar cornered in the pool (and the poor instructor - he never had a chance). Was glad that Eli saved him and loved the description of the witnesses saying it was an "angel". Little do they know.
I did not care for the ending, though. Does Oskar end up with Eli as another Hakan? Does she eventually turn him or "honor" her word that she wouldn't harm him? Does he return home cause his mom really cares about Oskar and it would be hard on her to have him disappear? Would he like that existence? In the end,he did seem to accept the violence of having to keep her alive like what happened with Lacke). However, we know Oskar wasn't happy with his life. So does that make it easier for him to follow Eli? Eli clearly has to move on and I don't think Oskar, on his own, can change his life for the better. So, I just didn't want the book to end this way where you have to figure out for yourself the ending. I like everything tied up neatly.
I will check on Amazon to see what books I recommended we can get for our Kindle or your Ipad.
Aunt Joyce... I agree with you 100%... There are many a movie where I leave saying, ugh, that was horrible, cuz I like it all the way through, but then they just leave you hanging... It sounds to me like Oskar did not want to become what Eli was, however, I do think he left with her/him. However, I do not think Oskar's mom would let that slide... she would end up finding Oskar and taking him back....
ReplyDeleteOK Jen, your mom and I went to our Amazon.com to load a book on Kindle for the next good read. The book we ordered is called The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Your mom says that everyone she talked with that has read the book really, really liked it. So am anxious to get started. You let us know how to divide it up. The cost on our Kindle is $12.99. Also, did you get a chance to read Sarah's Keys yet? Just curious to see if you liked it. See you soon.
ReplyDeleteWe're supposed to get 10 to 12 " of snow starting Tuesday night so Uncle Mark is hoping for a snow day, maybe two. The roads will be cleared for you guys when you get in.
I agree with the two of you that when it is the end of a book, I'd like a definitive ending, not one that leaves you guessing. BUT, maybe it is setting up for a sequel. I felt sick when I saw that Jonny AND his brother plus the others were ganging up on Oskar. It was my hope that Oskar had taught Jonny a lesson and then would leave him alone and gravitate to some other poor victim. I was great that Eli came to the "rescue" as I had hoped she would have done that before.
ReplyDeleteNot sure whether I like the idea of Oskar leaving his mom and going off with Eli. Again, my question is: did Eli choose to be friends with Oskar because he was being bullied, not have many friends to back him up with only a mother to try to watch out for him? She chose Hakan because he was down and out, so "helped" him somewhat so that he could pay back with getting Eli her blood fix? Hope not for Oskar's sake because he truly needs to have someone on his side and not to be used by another person. Does he become a killer for her/him or does he decide to become like her/him so that he could feel more control as to people making him a victim. I feel for Oskar's mom if he truly does leave with Eli and not tell his mom that he's going away. What does he have in that town though...no father (not that he was the fatherly type to Oskar), being bullied at school, school adults 'knowing' he committed arson, his mom who loves him but doesn't know anymore what to think of him. Will Oskar ever start being the victim - by going with Eli, he's kind of the victim by following her/him where ever they might go and whatever his role might be.
The Help, I've heard from many different types of people, is supposed to be a great book. Friends of different personalities and not agreeing about it all together at one time...Mrs. Carter and Mrs Welter told me tonight it was an excellent read. Mrs. Springer told me about the book when I was with her in Petoskey this summer. Mrs. Annett, Mrs. Maki and Mrs. Pursley also recommended it. Hope it will be great and that it just wasn't hyped up to be a disappointment. It is definitely a different genre then what we've read. :) Happy reading.
Me again. Just wanted you to know that the movie Let Me In is now on DVD. I just came across it at our video store. So I am going to rent it. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire, and the Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is also on DVD. I saw those and they were good. :)
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