On the Rainy River By Tim O'Brien and The Setting Sun and the Rolling World By Charles Mungoshi

"On the Rainy River"
By Tim O'Brien

The author have expressed interesting story. I enjoy reading this story because this can applied to anyone who felt they have to suffered to do something in order for other to accept them. That considered oppression. I did felt similar way with the narrator and expressing myself was hard for me especially when I was young. Wow, oppression is definitely a big issues all over the world but unfortunately we can not make oppression disappear.

Tim O'Brien hate war but he was drafted to fight for his country and does not want to look bad for his family.

He felt war is immortal and/or killing living things are immortal.
He hate boy scout.
He hate camping.

He hate seeing blood which make him queasy.

He does not like authority.

He does not want to risk his life for being dead for his people.
He do not like declottering the pig in the slaughterhouse.

He does not like when he smell like a pig because he had a hard time making the pig smell fade away.
He basically does not like dealing with dead living things as he stated, "You can't fix your mistakes. Once people are dead, you can' make them undead." LIFE IS LIKE A GAME.
He cannot bear for being responsible for people's death which he does not intend to. This is like if someone told you have choice either for me to kill your family or you have to use suicide bomb in New York City what would you have choose? No matter what you pick you are stuck. Maybe not that kind of extreme example but hopefully you will understand what I mean.

He was not happy and felt ashamed for what he did but nobody know this until he wrote this book.

He does not know where to go.

He afraid of being exile.

He want to be release and be himself so he went to Canada nearby the Rainy River at the Tip Top Lodge. I did not realize that Rainy River is the actual name for the river till I look at the Internet.

The old man at the Tip Top Lodge save his life just by being there him, provide him what he need, for letting him cry all he want, and mostly for understanding his struggle. The man is his hero. The man had stated that is Jesus is with Tim which the man know he need it.

He have giving out all he had on the Rainy River where he can be himself and not to pretend to be someone else. I think the man have the purpose of why he took Tim to the Rainy River for him to reflect his life.

The man taught Tim a lesson that he have to face the reality instead of avoiding the problems that he had in his life.

He know who he is.

He is liberal.

He agree with God to be against war. God possibly will condemn people who is at war.
He want a life that he aim for.

He want a choice for him to make decision not someone make decision for him. This is why it important for people to begin with the end in mind. This can applied for those people who follow what their parents decided for their career and they ended up unhappy and realized they want a different career.

He still went to war.

He is still afraid; therefore, he is a coward.

So then, of course he is still unhappy.

Make your life worthwhile before you regret it although it never too late.

The Setting Sun and the Rolling World
By Charles Mungoshi

I had to read this story more than one time. When I first read this story I was confused what the story about. The author sure use lots of figure of speech.

Old Musoni faced the difficulities of letting his son, Nhamo, go since Nhamo seem to be first person to be educated in his family. Old Musoni seem to be afraid of what future will hold in store for Nhamo as he stated if his son are aware of the danger in the world when he start his journey. Nhamo lived on the farm and his family is poor. Nhamo believe the only way he can do is to move on with his life as to grab the opportunities to start his journey out there instead of staying home with his family working on the farm. His father at first disagree that there is no other way but to stay with the family. Old Musoni probably is proud of his son that he received education but he probably have a hard time to let his son go. For this, I think it possible because Nhamo told his father:

"You have sent me to school and told me the importance of education, and now you ask me to throw it on the rubbish heap and scrape for a living on this tired cold shell of the moon. You ask me to forget it and muck around in this slow dance of death with you. I have this one chance of making my own life, once in eternity, and now you are jealous. You are afraid of your own death."

(page 161)

Rubbish is used in this story. I think rubbish mean like a leftover or trash for this story. Before I forget to add, the father probably is afraid of his own death but I think there is a meaning there of why the father is afraid of his death. Nhamo's father was not able to receive the same the opportunities like his son. Old Musoni was worried lots for his son future as he kept asking his son if he know what is like to lost hope, in despair, or any other danger that can cause him to get in trouble.

When the father accept Nhamo, even though the father is stubborn, to start on his journey he et his son go then Nhamo was able to be free from the chain. Nhamo begin a new journey as he become successful while his family including his ancestor have never be able to succeed due to fear of the world or opportunity. Nhamo break the chain that his family had repeated history of making the same mistake which I think it why the title is call "The Setting Sun and the Rolling World".

I think the purpose of the story is to not be afraid to try new things. You will never know what will happen unless you try. Everyday is the new beginning as the sun will rise and fall similar applied to life.

This remind me of the song from Lion King called "Circle of Life".