Karol -Mukherjee -04/13

Richard Rodriguez in his book Brown makes reference to the fact that only in the U.S. (and maybe Canada) do otherwise unconnected ethnographic groups connect by calling themselves Asians or Pacific Islanders or maybe East Asians. I believe in Baby steps, unfortunately, with every step closer to people considering themselves earthlings something is lost. This story made me sad. The interruption of hope by duty and duty by hope is a terrifyingly tautologous. It folds over and over itself like ripples in certain body of water in Ireland where our protagonist finds herself looking into the beyond. The interruption of individual hope by Judith Templeton, who groups the suffering of those she is trying to help with a repetitive use of the word "some," is "partially" from the "multiculturalism" wing of the provincial government. (94-95) As a South Asian story there is a strong emphasis on presenting the characters as educated middle class elite and a strong preference to Europeans over North Americans (not that there's anything wrong with that). Literature does in many ways teach the middle class how to brush their teeth (So says Updike). In a story about grief it would be too obvious to mention the piece has tones of escapism but hope is not an illusion without utility. Mukherjee's poetic styling turns several scenes into absolute works of art. The image of Kusum's 'sari ballooning in the wind' is especially vivid and indicative of the writers affiliation.