Hi everyone. Let's keep this simple here in the beginning. For this post I would like you to write about whatever intrigues you about this book. I could write about any number of things here -- I find a lot of it very intriguing -- but I'll start by talking about the overlaps with The Catcher in the Rye and The Great Gatsby. As we discussed in class today, Karim has a Holden-like moral code that keeps him "safe." His reasons for not sleeping with an out-of-town woman in Doha sound very much like Holden's reasons for not sleeping with Sunny the Prostitute. Like Holden, Karim prefers to talk. I thought what Tony A. pointed out was interesting: both Holden and Karim have their own languages, and in some ways these language separate them from others. With respect to Gatsby, I like how Karim and Nick Carraway are both perched between worlds, one foot in and one foot back ("it don't pay to live like that" -- The Avett Brothers), simultaneously "enchanted and repelled" (I'm quoting Fitzgerald). Perhaps they are perched between different worlds, but one still gets the feeling that they are being pulled in different directions. I thought it was suspiciously interesting that Karim was given the "green light" to go ahead with his project. Hmmm. English Teacher Symbolism?
Remember the rules: 1. Write freely but don't swear; 2. Answer the question; 3. Refer to at least one other person's post.
this is where you add your comments :)
ReplyDeleteI like the way Karim analyses every single aspect of every event that happens in his life. He looks at them from different perspectives and predicts outcomes of what will happen if he says certain phrases. It makes him seem really smart at some parts, and then very goofy at other parts. When he is deciding whether to pay for dinner with Rebecca there were about three different cause and effect scenarios that went through his mind before he decided to give the waitress his credit card. This is related to the "safe" thing Mr. H talked about. His habit of analyzing things gives him strong morals and teaches him to make the right decisions like Holden. And as for the green light English Teacher Symbolism... We'll have to ask Mr. Wayne about that one because i give it a thumbs down.
ReplyDeleteLike Walker said above, it is very interesting and intriguing as to how Karim "analyses every single aspect of every event." I believe that the author portrays Karim as he does because his main focus is to show how different the linguistics and thought process of the average Middle Eastern born person is, in comparison to an American. Not only is the way Karim describes things very confusing and puzzling, but most of the time the way he goes about structuring his phrases it can be quite humorous.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, I am most attracted to what Karim thinks of the two other gentleman that share his office space. The two American men are not as proper as Karim. The men are constantly gossiping, whether it be about how many points Adrian Beltre got in Fantasy Baseball or the "adventures" of the previous evening. In contrast, Karim is focused on his programming, but does occasionally take a break to listen in. This example seems to mask a hidden idea, that foreigners work harder than Americans... But maybe I'm wrong. But so far this book is definitely an A+!
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Walker. I think that Karim does analyze everything in such detail. I believe that he does this because he is writing in a journal instead of telling us in real time. I feel that Karim is reflecting on his experiences in the United States.
ReplyDeleteI feel that this book shows a immigrants thoughts about America first hand. I like how the books setting is before the tragedy off 9/11. I like how it was a time period where there was less racism. I feel that Dan and Jefferson show the bad Americans that vocally talk about their "success from the previous night." I also like how they show Rebecca as a individual that doesn't judge Karim by the way he talks or his ethnicity. I feel Rebecca is one of those good Americans.
I agree with Walker, Karim analysis everything that happens around him for example when he is attempting to understand if their is a hidden meaning to when Rebecca asks him to have dinner or if she just invited him as two friends hanging out.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy how Karim makes a mental note of everything he does that he believes makes others feel uncomfortable. For example, when he corrects Amanda, the girl that he met at the bar with Jefferson and Dan, about her grammer. Amanda says, "I feel badly" and Karim tells her "is your tactile sense operating inefficiently?" He notices how Amanda just laughs and looks away and he says to himself "I certify that is the last time i will note anything about usage or grammar to an American." This literally made me laugh ad is probably the best part of the book as well as when he lists all the new words, slang, at the end of the chapter.
Good stuff! Nice to see you guys figured it out.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite clear that Karim functions analytically and organizes his thoughts unlike most people. Every aspect of his life he considers an opportunity to "program" himself to find the optimal production that he can create as a human being. Like Paola touched on, he really does love to pursue a never ending sense of education as evident by his list of American jargons following each of his diaries. Sometimes though I feel like Karim's strong passion for problem solving his way through life can be backwards. This seems comical to many people living in a society where being versed in a variety of activities, such as the arts, is so important and valued. Most Americans would see art for its visually pleasing qualities, as oppose to the analytical side where the author specifically had intentions of making social commentary about life's "randomness.
ReplyDeleteThis sense of alienation, Mr. H, I feel is a justifiable argument that Karim, like Gatsby, is between two worlds. He carries the culture of Qatar in the manner in which he interacts with Americans and this distance between the two worlds creates the sense of an immovable barrier. The difference between Karim and Gatsby, is that Karim seems to be slowly wearing down this wall of alienation, being pulled closer and closer to American Society.
Karim is very formulaic and analytical. I feel like he sees every aspect in life as if it were a part of a program. He treats everyday situations, such as buying Rebecca coffee, and tries to decipher them. It is almost as if he were over thinking them. However, Karim doesn't think anything is a coincidence, and feels like every thing can be predicted. I was intrigued to see how he reasoned through the things he saw everyday, and showed the importance of details that might seem meaningless to us. I find his way of thinking to be very unusual, yet still very intriguing. He has a very gifted mind. My favorite parts have been Karim's comparing of cultures.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Sam said, I too found that seen very intriguing. But I think Karim's analogy of Jefforson and Dan shows things that normal americans wouldn't notice. I think that it is because Karim is from a different culture and has different customs that he finds their work ethic so bizare. Karim seems to be used to working hard to obtain what he wants, and through out the story we have seen him as an honest and thriving young man. I also agree with the A+ for this book, I'm really loving it!
I agree with pretty much everybody above in the sense that Karim does analyze everything, and to a certain point its just becomes funny. As Alex said, he does keep his thoughts very organized and that's a very smart thing to do, especially in his situation (being thrown into the fast-paced life of NYC). Karim does seem weird to us, but i don't think it's because he's from the Middle East, but because of the culture shock he's going through. I'm sure that back in Qatar he was more normal than we think he is.
ReplyDeleteMr. H, I see how the green light can be symbolic, but it is a very common expression, so I guess we'll just have to ask T. Wayne about that one..
I think the way Karim over analyzes things is hysterical and it really keeps me interested in the book, like many of my classmates I see. A lot of really smart people often have a hard time relating to other people and so they come up with ways to try to relate. I think Karim's way of trying to relate and understand Americans is to analyze their every move and memorize it so that he can use it later if he needs to. Obviously Karim isn't used to the American ways because he is from Qatar (cutter), but I think he also has to over come another barrier of his intelligence. For example, one of my dads really good friends is like a genius. He is so beyond smart and so he often has a hard time talking to people and being "normal" when thrown into social situations. This is often the case of highly intelligent people, but Karim also has that added struggle of having to overcome cultural differences as well. I disagree with Alejandra a little bit because I think regardless of where Karim is, he will always be a little awkward and weird. I think thats how super smart people are. Whether they are in their own country or not. Yes the culture shock may affect his behavior in some ways because he isn't used to certain things like gossip, but I think even if he was in Qatar, he would still come off as a little strange to us.
ReplyDeleteI think that something very intriguing about the way Karim thinks is how he analyses every single aspect in life, even things that most people would find unimportant. I agree with what Carolina said about him relating life to a program. I not only think he relates it to a program but also to the stock market. Karim is always trying to predict the outcome in life, something that is essential in the stock market. There is one way of analyzing the stock market which is by seeing the charts and trying to predict the way it is going to go based on mathematical calculations and psychological analysis. This is practically what Karim is trying to do but with real life.
ReplyDeleteAlong with the constant agreement that Karmin analyzes every event, the thing that fascinates me the most is his language and word choice. He has such an extensive vocabulary, especially for English being his second language. The way he phrases things are so interesting and I cant help but laugh at some of his phrases. Page 29,Her face was highly symmetrical...her body had a pleasing shape... (end quote). I also love the way at the end of each chapter he writes down all the new phrases he learns.
ReplyDeleteIt is like there's ten thousand words that swarm around his head.
Everyone pretty much covered everything, and like Ryan, I find Karims language to be very interesting. His word choice is so odd that it makes the book much more fun to read and its really enjoyable to see not only what Karim thinks, but also how he thinks, just like in The Catcher in the Rye.
ReplyDeleteI hate to be that guy that makes this whole blog repetetive, but I also agree with everything everyone has said so far. I as well find Karim's thought process intriguiging. His thpought process is so intruiging because his analysis of seemingly simple things are quite extensive. Karim's mind functions much like a program, always predicting the outcomes of several scenarios. What keeps me so interested in Kapitoil is Karim's personality. Unfortunatley I did not read The Great Gatsby however, I am able to see the connection between the moral code of the two characters. Both Karim and Holden use their sense of morals to prevent them from making mistakes. I really don't know what to say on this blog that hasn't already been addressed.
ReplyDeleteuigig
ReplyDeleteThis is good! Good job Dan!
DeleteDani,
DeleteI couldn't agree more. It's exactly what I was thinking. Uigig. Indeed!
I DONT KNOW WHAT I AM DOING! I have tried posting in this blog four times! I agree with what everyone else is saying. Like Tony and Ryan have said I think Karim's language is very interesting. I think the whole book is intriguing because you never really know where the plot is going to go. Another thing I really enjoy about this book is the humor. The words karim uses and the way he deciphers situation i think is very humorous. I think that there are many places in the book that seem like references to the Great Gatsby. I am not 100% sure if they are real symbolism or if I am starting to find my own english teacher symbolism. Overall this blog is fantastic if I ever get my response up and this book is fantastic!
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