Sunday, May 17, 2009

Best of Week: Unlikely Narrator

I don't remember exactly who said this, or when... but it was definitely one of the best things i heard this week. Michael K is not someone who should narrate a book. We have been discussing who has narrated in Michael K. There was the unknown 3rd person, from which we only saw a few little thoughts. Then there was the doctor, who did not know Michael, who thought he was MichalS, reported on the intriguing character. Part 3, back to the unknown 3rd person, reporting on Michael's actions. But once the action stopped, when Michael was left alone with his thoughts, we saw them, we heard K narrate what he wanted. He told his story of how he would want to live. He had his narrative, his emotional fulfillment. But why didn't he narrate the whole time? We heard he had holes in his story... that's why. He wasn't suited to narrate. He was unfulfilled and unsure, and he couldn't truly share his story himself, because he did not know what was important or why. But finally, once this nonstereotypical "hero" figured out what he wanted, we heard.

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