Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The Last
For this entry, kindly answer the following: What did you think of the ending? Before you answer, think hard about what you wanted to happen, about what made the most sense in the context of the story, about how you felt when you put the book down, about how you would have felt about a different ending, about how you feel about endings of books in general, about the difference between the endings of novels vs. the endings of movies. After you've thought about all that, tell us what you think.
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I really enjoyed the ending. I liked how it had both happy and sad elements in it, unlike many other stories that are either one or the other. I was sad that Schrub screwed over Karim, because he seemed like a cool guy (because he likes birds), though I was definitely expecting it. I'm also sad that Karim couldn't stay with Rebecca, but I don't think it could have resolved in another way and remain realistic, however when Karim gave Barron his home phone number and his nice suits I smiled. My favorite part about the ending was getting to see Karim as a radically different character from what he was earlier. In the beginning, his brain almost worked more like a computer, though now, after living in America for a while, he learned to "loosen up". It was nice how Teddy showed that Karim learned something useful from American culture that he could use to improve himself.
ReplyDeleteI also liked how it was open ended without being too ambiguous, since most of the books we read this year don't resolve as much as some people would like them to, unlike movies, 'cause in the movies they make it look so perfect, and in the background they're always playing the right song, and in the ending there's always a resolution(SUCK IT RYAN!!).
Ryan,
DeleteTony called you out and you haven't responded. Perfectly contextualized Avett Brothers lyrics. Beat you at your own game (that's a slight figure of speech).
I feel the ending was better than most novels because it ends the progression of the story that we were familiar with. The American adventure that Karim endures starts on his flight to New York and ends when he is at the New York airport going home. Even though Karim had given us details of his life in Qatar, this style of an ending completes the chapter of America without leaving the reader wondering about his previous lifestyle or what he will find at home. I wanted to believe that Mr. Schrub was as genuine as he first appeared, but I knew it was most likely false because of the zero-sum business strategist that Karim described him as. When Rebecca suggested that they get married in an attempt to keep Karim in the United States, I got the emotion, "YEAH KARIM! GOOD WORK!" I felt that was where his heart was really going, and that he would ultimately find success in America that was not dependent on his investments of Mr. Schrub's company. Putting the book down I was a little sad because I got the feeling that although he was reluctant to accept the contract, he was very remorse about having to return to Qatar. I feel he was acclimating to life in the United States and was growing as a human being as well. Like Tony referred to, his lifestyle improvements can be seen as a positive when he takes them back to Qatar, and although he seemed to deviating from his morals, he finally found the motivation to return on behalf on Zahira.
ReplyDeleteI find endings of books to lack the emotion of a movie. Movies give the viewer the ability to take in the human emotions that they see and relate accordingly. WIth books, it is more difficult to create emotion by inferring the feelings. However, overall, due to Karim's analytical expression of his feelings, he does a great job of simplifying how he's feeling into something we can relate to.
Seems like what Karim learned about love -- not a binary operation -- would have prevented him from marrying Rebecca to solve the problem. Maybe at some other time, but not prematurely to solve a problem. Nice entry.
DeleteThe ending of Kapitoil was not what I expected. I honestly thought that Karim would succeed in America and become one of the heads of Schrub Equities, but I guess that's too much of a fairy-tale ending for a novel. I liked how it was spontaneous and something I didn't see coming at all. Especially because of all the fights and arguments Karim had with his father all throughout the novel, I never thought that he would end up going back to work for him. On the Rebecca side, like Alex, I was also really excited when she said that they should get married. That is also something that would would happen in the movie rather than the novel, considering movies are always a bit more unrealistic. In a way, I also kind of like how Karim turns down Rebecca's offer to get married, like he said, it wouldn't have worked out and I think it would have driven them apart and left them in bad terms. With denying her offer to get married we see the old version of Karim, completely un-Americanized and I like that.
ReplyDeleteLike I said before, the movie ending, I think, would be like a happy-ever-after just so it can get more views and I'm really glad it wasn't like that in the book.
The awkward moment when the first time that i finish it erases... Anyways here we go, try number TWO. I really liked how the book ends because it shows how strong Karim is in his beliefs and his true self. As the book began Karim gives the reader the idea that he will do anything to gain enough money to get his sister through school and to succeed in Schrubs equity. He slowly begins to climb the social latter of New York which brings a lot of bad influence, that for some time, Karim looses himself. He begins to get caught up in trying to impress mr. Schrub's and staying as his second hand man. But, Karim notices that he is being used and denies the transfer of Kapitoil to Mr.Schrub's and slowly finds his way back to what is really important in life, and in the end that is family and helping others. I really liked that the ending teaches the reader that nothing is more important that your true self, believing in your self, and sticking to ones moral standard. Anyways, if the book what have been a movie it probably would have ended differently. Like Alejandra said, most movies that have romance or love in them end in the happily ever after scene were the boy stays with the girl, they get married, and live for ever and ever in love. Those movie endings are usually made to give the audience something to hope for in the future and leave them with a sense of happiness after the movie is done, but a book doesn't have to leave the audience with a sense of peace. A book's ending can leave you wondering, angered, sad, and any other emotion that the author would like to portray at the end of his novel. But, honestly, i wouldn't have enjoyed a false happily ever after ending. I liked how Karim lets go of the few american traditions which he learned throughout his stay in New York when he denies Mr. Schub's and threatens him back not wavering from his idea and when he denies Rebecca's marriage offer. I wouldn't have preferred a different ending because that would mean that Karim would have lost an essence of who he is and that would have been a shame.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like the ending. When i read the last word I thought " wow Teddy, not cool... you can do better than that." It seemed like it was strewn together last second and compressed into two pages. It bothered me because it didn't seem to fit into the rest of the book. Karim had gone through his whole progression as a person, but it was all for nothing: he just decided to go back home to his old job and his old life. I didn't think it was bad because it ended unhappily. I think books with a sad ending make them more impactful. I thought it was bad because it simply didn't flow with the rest of the story.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tony's point about how Karim's relationship with Rebecca could not have ended well realistically. But, at least they ended on a high point. If I were to end the book I would have had Zahira die, making Karim more motivated to make his program help others. The actual words would be sad, but the overall theme of the story would be positive: Karim will help the world.
Although i didn't like the ending, I still loved the book as a whole. I really hope it becomes a movie so more people will be encouraged to read the book. Everyone knows Aziz Ansari would be a perfect Karim!
Why use Aziz Ansari when we could use Vishnu Pokala?
DeleteC'mon Teddy, you couldn't have thought of a "happier" way to end your book? Overall, I must say I was quite disappointed with the way Kapitoil ended. After everything Karim has gone through in America I was hoping a happy and successful ending might occur. However, I guess I see the point that Theo was trying to make by ending his novel this way.It was important for Karim to go back to his homeland of Qatar and take care of business. In my honest opinion marrying Rebecca would have been the perfect ending to this story. Can you imagine these two together? How cute! And in regards to general movie endings I agree with Tony,things can never go wrong. And it might just be me, but I love when movies have fantastic endings. And lastly, like all the "critics" above me have said, book endings and movie endings are totally different. -- S.B.
ReplyDeleteI would like to agree with Paola, with how frustrating it is when it deletes on you(: But about the ending I hated it. I was very disappointed! I think I would have been okay if the whole Scrubs, still went down but he shouldn't have had to leave New York. It made it seem unrealistic to me because all that we had learned is that Rebecca and Karim were really starting to care for each other. I think one of them would have made a little bit more of an effort to make the other stay. I also was very disappointed that we never really learned what the heck was going on with Rebecca. To me she was one of the most intruigigng characters and I was really hoping for some more information. Other then that like Walker said I really enjoyed this book, at the begging I wasnt really feeling it but it really grew on me.
ReplyDeleteI had a really tough time dealing with this ending, it's like a ballad of love and hate. The ending was very Gatsby-esque in the way that Nick and Karim were at the peak of success but traded it all away. I was rooting for Karim the whole time but I felt as if I was asking him, will you return home? I really wanted Karim to sort through the paranoia in NYC, become succesful in a way that would help people, and find his love in the pretty girl from NYC.
ReplyDeleteI feel of Karim or nick were to look back at their experiences, they would both have been grateful for the lessons the had learned and would have though, Don't Think Twice, It's all Right. All in all, one of my favorite books
*thought
DeleteAt first, I really hated the ending of the book because a reader always wants the main character to succeed and achieve his goals. When I first put the book down, I wanted to throw it against a wall. But, I definitely saw it coming. In the back of my mind I wanted something to happen to Shrub and Karim find a will of some sorts leaving the company in Karim's hands. I also wanted a happy ending with Rebecca. Another ending I wanted to see was the name of the song being revealed but instead, it was revealed earlier.
ReplyDeleteI actually ended up liking the ending after giving it a second thought. I liked how after all Karim had been through with Barron, he gave him some of his nicest possessions. Karim knew that he would not need them in Qatar and Barron could use them in New York. I also like how Karim stood up for himself by saying that he was going to sue Shrub. This is a great book. Thanks Teddy (T-WAYNE)for the awesome book