A Prayer for the Dying - Response
Post to this website with your comments about the novel A Prayer for the Dying by Stewart O'Nan. To help you comment, consider the following questions (you may answer as many as you like, or choose your own topics to comment on):
a. What was your reaction as a reader to the character you "played"? How were you manipulated by the author, the story, or the prose style?
b. Why do you think O'Nan chose 2nd person for this novel? What does the novel gain/lose by being written in 2nd person; what might it lose if it was written in 1st or 3rd person?
c. What was your reaction to the violence in the novel? How does O'Nan use tone effectively to support the actions and events of the novel?
d. What was your reaction as a reader to the novel? What pop cultural references did you think of, or did this story remind you of...and how did that alter your reading experience?
e. In your opinion, which character (besides Jake) is most interesting and well developed in the novel? Why is this character interesting to you?
a. What was your reaction as a reader to the character you "played"? How were you manipulated by the author, the story, or the prose style?
b. Why do you think O'Nan chose 2nd person for this novel? What does the novel gain/lose by being written in 2nd person; what might it lose if it was written in 1st or 3rd person?
c. What was your reaction to the violence in the novel? How does O'Nan use tone effectively to support the actions and events of the novel?
d. What was your reaction as a reader to the novel? What pop cultural references did you think of, or did this story remind you of...and how did that alter your reading experience?
e. In your opinion, which character (besides Jake) is most interesting and well developed in the novel? Why is this character interesting to you?
Comments
I didn’t feel there was that much violence in the novel, as there was just disease and death. The tone that O’Nan uses, however, gives the novel a creepy feeling that leaves your thoughts empty of life but filled with death.
In my opinion, the most interesting character was Doc because of the fact that it seemed like he was invincible to the disease. When it was discovered in the book that he had it, he seemed so calm about it, like he knew it would happen and was waiting. I never thought he would be the one to kill himself. I thought he would find a way out, a cure. What was also interesting about him was how he handled the news of the disease. I still can’t figure out why he didn’t want to start the quarantine earlier. His reason of potentially making the situation worse with panic, didn’t seem right to me.
~tiffany
-Cassie Pavone
a. My reaction as a reader to the character I "played" changed throughout the novel. At first, I felt confident in Jacob's judgement and actions. He seemed like a level-minded character who had me on his side through his struggles. However, as the book continued, my opinions changed. He changed as a character as he seemed to be going insane. As this happened, I felt as though he went from being the protagonist to the antagonist in my mind. As he changed, I was manipulated by his character variations and I gained a new level of interest and both fear, as I felt as though I was the main character.
b. I Think O'Nan chose 2nd person for this novel for several reasons. First, to be different. It seperates this novel from almost all other in the english language. Second, because it gives readers a new perspective of the chain of events in the book. By using second person, this book gains a deeper meaning behind Jacob's character and his personal story and take of the events. It allows his thought process and opinions to be voiced without having to soley depend on dialogue. However, the downside of this point of view is that it focuses enormously on the events through the main character's point of view, leaving out most other characters and their voices. If written in third person or first, there would be less stress on Jacob's story, but more inclusive with other character's point of view.
c.The voilence in this novel seemed both disturbing and intriguing. O'Nan implies much of the voilence mentioned, as opposed to simply stating it. This leaves questioning in reader's mind and a push to keep reading. The violence used is a heavy part of the theme of this book, and the way O'Nan uses it interests readers tremendously.
d.In pop culture, several movies seem to have a similar theme. In the movie, I Am Legend, there is one character (Will Smith) who is the only survivor left in a city who hasn't been killed or infected by a plague that turns people into zombie-like creatures. Also in the movie recently released, The Happening, there is another town featured where mostly everyone in it is affected by a disease that makes one kill themselves.
e. The character Doc was very interesting to me. He was, for most of the novel, working with Jacob to fight this plague, and, being a doctor, was attempting to also treat those who were infected by it. His character is rather professional and frank- very doctor-like. However, as the book continues more of his sympathetic and down-to-earth side comes out as he treats patients, especially Jacob's baby. Tragically, he dies, making his character even more heroic.