What role does money – the pursuit of it, the lack of it, the loss of it – play in each character’s life?
We all need money to live. Living on a fixed income is not easy but I’ve been lucky so my point is money can either be felt with gratitude and shared - I loved Robin Kimmerer’s book, The Serviceberry She shows a way in that book to have a sustainable economy through the principles of abundance, reciprocity and gratitude. Think what that would have done to this book. Except for two characters, all had money and somewhat control of their lives. Those without money had the hardest times.
Some characters pursued money for greed, some for financing businesses, some for family security and then the one merely found money on a dead body. That funded the final actions in the bank. The authors presented several reasons why their characters pursued money. I suspect that most of us needed money for different reasons as we entered different stages in our lives. Pay monthly bills and college debts, auto loans, house mortgages, and if we’re lucky and a bit wise, save for the elder stages. Long term care is expensive!!
Ray was very frustrated about all that happened to him starting with losing his job. One of the scenes (p277) is one that keeps running thought my mind. He says to Ryan who seemed absolutely clueless about what happens when jobs go to China. Ray says something very telling and hard for me to forget: “That by moving al the jobs to China all we ever do is watch F*&^# flat screen tvs.” Wow, what a statement!
Money is integral to all facets of life and determines so much more about the path a life will take than so many other factors. I think what I found most intriguing is how the plentitude or lack of money affects women. I was especially amazed by Tomolk and Aki’s relationship and his anger when she spent money on him for his birthday. Yet, she was in charge of the family’s finances! What do they say about money being the root of all evil?