Nini is forced to return to the United States before she can witness the naming ceremony for an infant. She later learns the child died before the rite could be held. What did you think of her reaction? What lasting impact do you think this had on her?
That experience and the fact that her colleagues did not keep her informed changed the way Nini saw her field of study, colleagues, and what she wanted for her life. She was really heartbroken to know that the baby did not survive, and she gained insight into the work she was doing in new, overarching ways. She reexamined the value of the work to the world as a whole.
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Unfortunately, I saw this as a “normal” yet very sad thing to happen. I could understand why it hit her so hard though and I do think this experience stayed with her. So often deeply touching experiences can color our lives forever. Hopefully we remember to treasure people who deeply touch our lives, even briefly.
This death offered so many insights to Nini. Her relationship with her colleagues, the role her chosen profession played in studying populations, and perhaps her feeling of complicity in the death of the child. It caused he to view her field of study, her relationships and herself in a different light.
I think Nini is my favorite character. She had some good qualities. She was genuinely interested in preserving the culture of the Mien people and began to realize that researchers poking into their private lives may not be the best method of discovery of different peoples. Having become so intimate with the family and infant it was a hard thing for her to overcome.
I have no idea why this was even added to the story. Another option to write about remorse maybe? I did no think Nini’s section gave much to the overall book.
Nini realized that her study of people could not be abstract because she connected with them and saw them as individuals. The death of the child made her grow up.
Nina is one of the most important characters, in my mind, because she is the one who discovers “there was only so much mercy in the world.” She didn’t receive that mercy, nor did the infant. I could feel her pain.
I think the realization that the world is not a merciful place was very hard for Nini. Even though I am sure these things happen in different cultures, it is still hard for us , as Americans, to wrap our heads around it, and it still can make us sad. I know she was disappointed that no one shared the news with her when it happened. She was truly and empathetic character in this novel.