Decisions
“and the shadows took him”
Daniel Chancon’s, “and the shadow took him,” delved deep into the soul and weights in with the reality of reconciling one’s dreams to the reality of one’s life. I found the book to be very moving and a bracing anthology of the human psyche.
I feel that the book was not meant to encourage the reader to “love or hate” the characters, but in fact, to encourage the readers to question and find understanding in the motives and reasoning each character uses when making their decisions. Furthermore, to take these insights into their own lives to have better understanding of what has been the true motivation for their own decisions and/or perhaps some of the decisions others around them have made and why.
This book was not meant to entertain or educate the reader only about what it means to be Mexican-American. I feel that it was written to inspire the reader to analyze the decision processes and coping mechanisms that each character utilized throughout. What forces drove the characters to the decisions they made; what impact did the decisions make in their lives and the lives of those around them? I feel that Daniel Chancon did not intend for the reader to hate the characters for their failings as human beings, but rather to questions and find understanding in the reasons behind the decisions. Personal experiences distort how we see reality and how we interact with society. Mr. Chancon in giving the world this book provides the readers a safe place to build skills needed to find truth and understanding in each of our own realities, perhaps for the betterment of society.
If I were able to ask Mr. Chancon a couple of questions they would focus on this subject. Did I interpret the book correctly? What was his motivation for writing it? It is easy to hate the characters, for instance William having raped Amy. However, was that meant to instill hate and anger or inspire me into questioning William’s motives: such as: his despair and depression over losing his wife in a moment of bad decision-making or was it fueled by his fundamental need for control and power? Have I totally missed the mark, nonetheless the target, and read more into the novel than was there?
After reading the other blogs why an I not reading this insight from other people? How can so many students be focused on the ending, (which I thought was great) when I felt it was about the journey. I understand that many of the students feel the need for closure, however if I am correct this book is not about right and wrong, but the shades of gray that are used to create reality and there are no absolutes or closure. I loved the book! I am finding myself analyzing my own motives, coping methods and decisions. Wondering, how are my past dramas impacting my decision making today, and what impact will they have on me and those around me. Hopefully this is what Chancon intended, more awareness. Was anyone moved like me, by the truths this book revealed about the human psyche? Do you feel this is what the author intended? Val
Daniel Chancon’s, “and the shadow took him,” delved deep into the soul and weights in with the reality of reconciling one’s dreams to the reality of one’s life. I found the book to be very moving and a bracing anthology of the human psyche.
I feel that the book was not meant to encourage the reader to “love or hate” the characters, but in fact, to encourage the readers to question and find understanding in the motives and reasoning each character uses when making their decisions. Furthermore, to take these insights into their own lives to have better understanding of what has been the true motivation for their own decisions and/or perhaps some of the decisions others around them have made and why.
This book was not meant to entertain or educate the reader only about what it means to be Mexican-American. I feel that it was written to inspire the reader to analyze the decision processes and coping mechanisms that each character utilized throughout. What forces drove the characters to the decisions they made; what impact did the decisions make in their lives and the lives of those around them? I feel that Daniel Chancon did not intend for the reader to hate the characters for their failings as human beings, but rather to questions and find understanding in the reasons behind the decisions. Personal experiences distort how we see reality and how we interact with society. Mr. Chancon in giving the world this book provides the readers a safe place to build skills needed to find truth and understanding in each of our own realities, perhaps for the betterment of society.
If I were able to ask Mr. Chancon a couple of questions they would focus on this subject. Did I interpret the book correctly? What was his motivation for writing it? It is easy to hate the characters, for instance William having raped Amy. However, was that meant to instill hate and anger or inspire me into questioning William’s motives: such as: his despair and depression over losing his wife in a moment of bad decision-making or was it fueled by his fundamental need for control and power? Have I totally missed the mark, nonetheless the target, and read more into the novel than was there?
After reading the other blogs why an I not reading this insight from other people? How can so many students be focused on the ending, (which I thought was great) when I felt it was about the journey. I understand that many of the students feel the need for closure, however if I am correct this book is not about right and wrong, but the shades of gray that are used to create reality and there are no absolutes or closure. I loved the book! I am finding myself analyzing my own motives, coping methods and decisions. Wondering, how are my past dramas impacting my decision making today, and what impact will they have on me and those around me. Hopefully this is what Chancon intended, more awareness. Was anyone moved like me, by the truths this book revealed about the human psyche? Do you feel this is what the author intended? Val
posted by valarie at 2:07 PM
3 Comments:
You have a lot of great thoughts here, Valarie. Were you able to make it to the "big event" the other night?
There was quite a crowd, and Chacon read some of his new short stories (on the verge of being published). He talked about the concept of "commodity" fiction...how, this book is not meant to be "tied up" nicely, bow and all. Rather, his ending was meant to stir our emotions for the character and keep us thinking.
It sounds like he's done that pretty well, in your opinion. I'm glad to hear that!!
Yes, I was able to make it for a about an hour and a half; what an interesting man. I think this book was meant to be different for each person. He was very successful at making the book memorable and keeping the reader wondering -what happens next. It really sparked my imgination; maybe I'll take a literary fiction English class in the future to explore this style more.
Yes! That's wonderful to hear, and really the whole point of listening and interacting with literature is to better understand our worlds, our lives, our experiences, etc.
Glad to hear a positive review!
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