The author of Sold, by Patrica McCormick, narrates in a truthful, candid tone. McCormick is not afraid to reveal the ugly side of sex trafficking. "I have been beaten here, locked away, violated a hundred times, and a hundred times more. I have been starved, and cheated, tricked and disgraced." (182) McCormick tells the truth, even if it might not be what you want to hear.
McCormick draws up strong imagry throughout the book, making you feel like you are there living the protagonists experiences with her. "I breathe in a cool Himalayan breeze, and the woodsy tang of a cooking fire, a smell that crackles with the promise of warm tea and fresh roti." (126) The author's strong imagery makes her writing become real, not just pages in a book.
McCormick's language in her writing in written in a poetic form. Her writing is smooth and it almost seems to flow. To me her language makes the protagonist's intense experiences stand out even more. "What she does not realize is that I already know hunger. I know how your stomach gnaws on itself searching for something to fill it. I know how your insides keep moving, unwilling to believe they're empty." (111)
I completely agree that sold presents a very candid tone and Patrica McCormick doesn't hold back from writing the gritty details that not everyone necessarily wants to hear about. However not only does she emote her candid tone through the details and facts she writes about but also with her very candid syntax. The way she doesn't try to dress up the sentences and just presents them in a very simplistic and blunt way is also a huge part of creating her candid tone. After she first starts working at the Happiness House she writes "I hurt. I am torn and bleeding where the men have been. I pray to the gods to make the hurting go away" (125). The way she uses those very sharp sentences for me even makes it more powerful and gives a very fresh and unseen view of the world.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that Patricia McCormick writes sold in a very canid tone. She want's people to know how evil the world can be, but I think she does it in a mature way. As well to these poor girls being raped and drugged out of their minds, she explains how Lakshmi dosent eat or drink for almost 6 days. Lakshmi says, " After five days of no food and water I don't even dream"(P.113). This shows how so many other things happen in places like that, we would just never expect that and clearly the author has no problem sharing it.
ReplyDeleteAs well as others, I comply (agree) with you. She has composed this book in such a way that you are not given "juicy yet unrealistic" facts. Her candid tone not only makes the story well written but believable and provides you with more knowledge about the world. "Thirty rupees. That is the price of a bottle of Coca-Cola. That is what he paid for me." (146) Not only does that give you a sense of money, but a sense of the lack of respect that are given to these poor sex-trafficed girls.
ReplyDelete