tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761784460667108854.post8198992778654922493..comments2023-11-09T03:33:41.728-05:00Comments on Jenny and Kelly Read Books: Completed: Matterhornkellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07832228313612518377noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761784460667108854.post-65312899572129826772012-07-24T23:40:15.796-04:002012-07-24T23:40:15.796-04:00I think one of the things that was perhaps implied...I think one of the things that was perhaps implied by the rest of the book for that passage, was that it has a sneaky and subtle way of reminding you of just *how young* these men are when they were in Vietnam. And so the metaphor about the woman being fearful struck me as being more about innocence and virginity---about what it's like to spread your legs that first time---then about a general statement about all women. For most of these guys, their experience with women was limited, and so these imperfect metaphors were another way to show how green they were. It's such a *male* book---about war and fighting and death and weapons---that the image also struck out for being about what the men were missing. Taken out of context, I could see how it feels a little stickier.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205737257301534685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761784460667108854.post-88861168189906667412012-07-23T21:58:25.461-04:002012-07-23T21:58:25.461-04:00I don't think I could handle this book... as y...I don't think I could handle this book... as you know, my mother's brother was killed in Vietnam and that has really shaped my family's story. And not in a good way. Reading about the nihilism of war would just make me angry for my family's loss and, you know... I just don't need that shit.<br /><br />As for the quoted passage, while evocative, I take issue with word "some" in the phrase "unlike some women" -- only *some* women spread their legs for a man without fear? The term "some" to me means... a minority, right? (vs. "most") I don't like the idea that only a *minority* of women spread their legs for men without fear. A majority of women have fear when spreading their legs for a man? Jesus. I hope that's not true. *Is* that true?! I mean, I understand statistics, but are *most* of us fearful when spreading our legs for a man? I know I'm nitpicking, but it really stuck in my craw.<br /><br />However, the one about the concentration camps? Nailed it. Really powerful stuff.kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07832228313612518377noreply@blogger.com