Reading the Chunksters discussion

I found the personal stories just so-so in these chapters, although it was good for the two young men to get to know each other and, as Lorna identified, everyone wants and expects Dina to loosen up.

I'm more interested in the book's political and social details concerning Gandhi's 'state of emergency' of 1975 - 1977. I really don't recall it, probably because it came during my first 2 years of law school and I was micro-focused on my studies and breaks from my studies. World affairs were not my breaks. I am enjoying that this book makes me more aware of such important events and matters that I overlooked back then.

Chapter 6 - We see more of the bonding that Maneck brings to the group. He allows a release for Om, someone near his age that he can relate to. For Dina he helps her lower her barriers and live more freely with a little less caution. Also side effect of Maneck and Om becoming close allows for Ishvar and Dina to become closer.
I like this part, it illustrate keeping the Balance/Surviving and creation of bonds:
Dina-
“I only hope he is not a poor influence on Maneck.” “No no, don’t worry. Om is not a bad boy. If sometimes he is disobedient or bad-tempered, it’s only because he is frustrated and unhappy. He has had a very unfortunate life.”

“Mine has not been easy either. But we must make the best of what we have.”
Ishvar -
“There is no other way,” he agreed.

So apparently my audiobook doesn’t follow the same chapter format and I just realized this. I am way far ahead and will have to bite my tongue a little bit.

I think Dina’s character is the most challenging for me to absorb during this section because she is so tough, but I think when I put myself in her shoes. I can understand where she is coming from. There is no way to know whether the tailors will take advantage of her at this point. So I think it is wise for her to keep boundaries because she has a lot to lose as a woman if the tailors end up having poor character.

Although, refusing to help the cats was more difficult to understand at first because they don’t need much to live. But maybe in her situation, she is just overwhelmed by the number of animals there are with no one to take care of them and Maneck hasn’t reached the same point of saturation.

It is one thing to try to help one cat when you have never encountered the same situation before. It is another thing to try to help a hundred cats and realize that you will never have enough to help every cat. Maybe Dina tried to help some of the cats before and doesn’t want to anymore because the reality of the situation is too heartbreaking for her. Maybe this is why she struggles to open up to the tailors too.

Honestly, I have a hard time with Om’s personality too, but I think his personality is also affected by disappointment too. So I’m glad he has Ishvar to guide him. Ishvar is probably my favorite character right now. I love his patience and the way he perseveres through the challenges he faces.

Politically, there is so much that I never learned. I have only thought of China as having a population-control policy. Very interesting. And the way the government got rid of the shacks. It also reminded me very much of Communist China, how they would try to hide poverty from the international scene. I find it all very fascinating and heartwrenching at the same time.