1984: Book I, Chapter I - IV

The first few chapters detail the society that Winston lives in. It seems that people's lives are controlled by Big Brother and the Party. Their contradicting slogan is "War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength." Everyone is being watched and if you look suspicious, you can be turned in to the Thought Police. This really highlights how dangerous it is for Winston to be writing down his thoughts and secretly opposing Big Brother. Everyone else seems to brainwashed and corrupt. They have Two Minutes Hate, which is basically a rally to project their hate on their enemies, such as Emmanuel Goldstein. It's even scarier how people are watched in their homes and even children will turn in their relatives.

What is the What: Chapter XXIII - XXVI

I have finally reached the end of the book. Just as with Kite Runner, I think the ending was bittersweet yet hopeful at the same time. When Valentino is able to speak to his father, his father tells him to get the What. I think what he meant by this is that he should go into the unknown of America so that he could find a better life there. While reading the novel, it felt as though every time something good happened, something unfortunate would happen next. For example, I really did not expect Noriyaki's death. But despite all the struggles and sufferings Valentino has endured, he still finds a way to go on and try to pursue his goals.

What is the What: Chapter VIX - XXII

What's kind of cool about this book is that there would be events talked about briefly at the beginning of the story and later would be revisited, such as the woman who shot Valentino's friends when they were on their way to Pochalla. I like how when you revisit it, you then understand its significance in the story. Anyway, Valentino goes temporarily blind as he walks to Kakuma. I think this could be foreshadowing to Tabitha's death, as both Tabitha and Valentino were blind to Duluma's serious rage and mental state. Also, Valentino wears a mask and thinks of it as a "new face, without marks, blemishes, a face that told no tales." Abraham, however, takes the mask from him and says it doesn't fit him. I think this shows how Valentino can't hide from who he is or forget what he has seen.

What is the What: Chapter XV - XVIII

I feel terrible for Valentino as trouble always seems to find him. Not only are the police not much help, but even at the hospital he has to wait hours just to treat his wounds from the robbery. In this section, Father Matong tells Valentino that he "will have the power to make people see." This could be referring to how Valentino later tells many people his story. It could also refer to how the novel itself allows people to see the struggles that Valentino and other Sudanese have faced. I liked the lighter, funnier tone in some parts of this section, such as Lino's comical blue zoot suit and Valentino's awkward meeting with the Royal Girls.

What is the What: Chapter X - XIV

A LOT happened during this section. The novel switches from Valentino's childhood to his life in America to the robbery. As the lost boys walk toward Ethiopia, their numbers dwindle. Although others join them, many die as they walk on. Some of them cannot go on and they give up, such as Monynhial, who just finds a hole and dies in it. A quote that stuck out was when William K and other boys would lay their head on a tree and "the life in him would fall away and his flesh would return to the earth." It's also interesting to note the symbol of rain. Rain can represent cleansing and restoration, such as when William K says he will go back home to family when the rain comes or when the rain does come and the boys are able to drink from the raindrops. It also can represent misery, such as when it rains heavily and the boys need to find dry land.

What is the What: Chapter VI - IX

In this section we find out how the war and violence eventually spread to Marial Bai. Valentino loses his childhood innocence and is forced to become an adult when the chaos arrives at his village. There is a scene where Valentino plays with hammers, pretending they're giraffes. This shows his innocence and how he is forced to grow up after the war begins. This is best summarized by the quote "It is the end of childhood, when your mother's face slacken, her eyes dead." Valentino now must fend for himself and fight for his survival.

What is the What: Chapter I - V

After reading "The Kite Runner," it was interesting to read a different story about life in another country and immigrating to America. (The author of "The Kite Runner," Khaled Hosseini, even praises "What is the What" on the back cover.) There were some similarities between the two books. Both of the main characters flee from their home country to America to escape war and violence. While Amir in "The Kite Runner" was able to build a life and live successfully in America, Valentino struggles in the U.S. It could possibly be the communities they live in. The Pakistani community in California was rather tight-knit, while the Sudanese community in Atlanta seems more fractured and divided. It was terrible to read about how Valentino would witness the gruesome deaths of others. I mean, it sounds so terrifying to have two boys in your group just suddenly taken by a lion, right there in front of you. Its sad that instead of finding peace in America, Valentino continues to face much more hardships.