Exaggerating the real world is a useful way to point out political issues such as immigration. This book is in the "science fiction" section at bookstores yet seems to close to reality to ignore. It reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut short story in which he creates a world of perfect equality. The dancers wear ankle weights and the intelligent are shocked every time a thought is forming. The price of equality is to weigh down any strength until everyone is on the same level. In this novel, so far it seems to be a point on immigration. Furthermore, it seems to be commentary on how Israel and Palestine were divided with undertones of the Great Schism in relation to religion. The derogatory word painted above one murdered man read "ebru" which I believe when spoken resembles "Hebrew". The idea of countries and borders is a construction of government, but more integrally man. It's fascinating how these two, potentially three, countries can all exist within the same geographical location. This story also reminds me of the divided Cypress. The people agree on an imaginary border and its taboo to cross or acknowledge anyone on the other side. It's a shared living rights on the same island divided by, from my understanding, Greeks and Turks. My mom said that there was a restaurant situated right on the border in Cypress and patrons were limited to sit in seats according to where the border fell. She never did go into how the waiting staff got around this obstacle, but it still echoes concepts seen in The City, The City shows.
Looking forward to seeing where this novel goes, but I anticipate its main points will be the role of the government, immigration, but most importantly a complex representation of "the will of the people" - why is it that people go along with "unseeing"? Out of Fear? I think this country will show a society that does not function democratically.
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