This week, I re-read Sold by Patricia McCormic (twice). Honestly I don't even know how to respond to this book. My first reaction would get my blog censored (For curses- don't get the wrong idea, becuase honestly, even though there was a LOT of sex in this book, it wasn't written in a vulgar or perverted manor). It got me so mad, even the "happy ending."
*Hi, there are spoilers there, so go away if you havn't read it- also I'm going to refer to characters by name, so you won't get it. I'm seriously doing border patrol right now, and if you don't follow my requirments GO HOME or go read Sold*
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How is it happy at all? Sure, she gets away after being scarred for life, and having to leave her only friend, the only person who means anything to her anymore. After a year of being a sexual slave, she goes to a maybe happy ending. It leaves me wondering, about so much. We're obviously supposed to assume that Mumtaz was lying about the Americans, and that they were truly nice people who were there to save anyone who was willing to leave. We're left to assume Lakshmi is okay, now that she has come for help from the Americans.
But how do we? How do we know what becomes of Lakshmi once she steps out of the brothel? This book was amazing, and ispiring, but the end is something of which I despise. Almost like a choose your own adventure ending. It leaves you wondering and wanting so much more. I want to know what happens to Lakshmi, and where she ends up after it's all said and done. Does she end up in a safe house, or perhaps on the streets, like Mumtaz promised would happen. When the americans come back, will anyone venture after her, inspired by her courage to leave? Will Mumtaz's brothel be shut down, or will she continue on, paying off anyone who needs to "look the other way." Will the policemen continue to be discusting spine less money-hungry savages who will let anything become of these girls for a few extra rupees?
I suppose you could have a different view of the ending though. You could be glad you're left to imagine, left with some hope that Lakshmi, and all the other girls will be a-okay - but come on, we know they won't- its realistic fiction, not fantasy.)
So I guess really as I'm sitting here writing this, I'm trying to figure out what comes next for Lakshmi. And also I find myself thinking, if this is Social Justice based book, what is it asking from me?
What can I do anyways?
I feel like this.
When they're like this.
I feel poweless.
While they have so much power they're nearly unstoppable.
What can I do? What can yo do? How can we stop this alone, when they're banded together- and even still, how can we stop it together?
I love this post! So much emotion. I agree with you when sometimes I really hate open endings, but I actaully like this one. I had faith that she was in good hands. I think the ending was more hope-filled than happy, in the set in stone kinda way. I mean, the whole book was about hope, even in the worst situations. I feel like ending was like, a giant tsunami of hope, and the whole rest of the book was like the ocean pulling back to create that wave of hope. That was a terrible metaphor. But you know what I mean. I thought the ending was satisfying.
ReplyDeleteI think Sold was an amazing book! And I agree with Hannah, this post had so much emotion! I found your post really funny in the beginning, I love your voice in your post. It was also really eye-catching because of all different sizes of the font.
ReplyDeleteActually i didn't think of it in that hopefull way, but when you say it like that, I guess you're right. She almost gave up at that last moment, but finally, she regained hope when the Americans came back, which Is sort of what this is about. "to indure is to triumph" isn't right. "To keep hope is to triumph" is more what this book says.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks Zarrin and hannah :)
I just finished reading this book too and it's interesting reading about other peoples thoughts. Good job!
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