I really enjoyed reading Tey's The Daughter of Time, and I can believe you when you said this is the first book you've read front to back. I felt very intrigued throughout the "investigation" process. What I felt was very interesting to me was how Alan Grant interacted with the people who were taking care of him in the hospital as he was recuperating from his broken leg. When I first started reading I felt like he was in a very bad mood and took it out on "the midget" he called, or one of the nurses that was taking care of him.
If I was a nurse in that hospital I wouldn't have wanted to hear him Complaining about his pains and boredom. I believe once Alan got into the investigation over Richard III he was more openly communicating with those he came into contact with. For instance asking a couple of people of what they thought about Richard III and what they knew about him. I think this new found interest promoted his relationship with the people he was coming into contact with each day as he couldn't move in the hospital. I found it interesting that he asked many of the nurses what they knew about Richard and didn't throw out any assumptions that were made, he kept his mind open to what others peoples opinions were in the beginning. I also feel like he was very Lucky to have those friends pick up books for him from the library and book store as he needed them. I have to give Alan a thumbs up for his effort being on his back like he was. He kept his interest and focus when it wasn't the best situation or environment to be doing an investigation.
Honestly, I wasn't thinking much about Grant's attitude or emotions while I was reading, I was more focused on Richard III, but now that you point it out, I see it too. Think about it though! If you were practically dying of boredom, you'd want to do the thing that interests you the most. For me, I'd want to play guitar or draw and I guess for Grant it was..sleuthing?
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. Not gonna lie, I was not looking forward to reading this at first. However, as Grant's attitude shifted, so did mine. I felt almost as if I was becoming more interested right along with him. It was enjoyable to see that he was gaining more and more interest, and through this was improving his relationships with nurses, visitors, etc.
ReplyDeleteTo continue on with your observation with his relationship with the nurses, the last chapter when he was finally able to walk and could leave, he realized how much his mood had shifted. He thought about how he treated and spoke to the nurses when he was stuck in bed versus when he was leaving. I agree that his interests definitely correlated with his mood.
ReplyDeleteTo continue on with your observation with his relationship with the nurses, the last chapter when he was finally able to walk and could leave, he realized how much his mood had shifted. He thought about how he treated and spoke to the nurses when he was stuck in bed versus when he was leaving. I agree that his interests definitely correlated with his mood.
ReplyDeleteI picked up on this also. I think its funny how he arrived and dubbed the nurses and gave them such awful names. It shows he was bias himself of their attitude just based on appearance. He even still uses them at the end of the book but you can tell it becomes more of a term of endearment. "He put the two books together tidily.. he handed them over with a neat little speech of gratitude. He really was very grateful to the Amazon." and later the Amazon says "we'll miss you, you know" pg 205.
ReplyDeleteI definitely caught onto this as well. This shows how a mutual interest can bring people of different backgrounds together. I guess if you put yourself in his shoes it's not entirely unimaginable to be irritable and frustrated about a lack of independence. God forbid I'm ever hospitalized for an extended length of time I'd surely take cues from Alan Grant to keep my mind off the hospital milieu.
ReplyDelete