Balzac And The Little Seamstress

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Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Quotations Though the book isn’t divided into chapters, I’ve give the sections in each of the three parts a chapter number for ease of reference, as your page numbers and mine don’t match! Chronology: though the story is told by an adult Ma years later, the span of the story is about a year, from early 1971 until some time in February 1972. Four-Eyes’ departure is planned for September 4th; this is the day that the rest of the books are stolen (Part 2, Chapter 7). Narrator: Though the narrator is given the name “Ma” in the film, he has no name in the book. However, we can call him Ma because of what he says in Part 3, Chapter 1 (see notes below). Part One, Chapter 1 “I noticed three blood spots in his left eye, one large and two small, all the same shade of bright red.” Lots of colour imagery in this book, especially black and red! “ ‘Mozart is thinking of Chairman Mao,’ Luo broke in.” – Quick-witted and spontaneous. “I played for some time. Luo lit a cigarette and smoked quietly, like a man.” “This was our first taste of re-education.” “It was in early 1971 that we arrived at that village in a lost corner of the mountains…” “It was hard to see how the two of us could possibly qualify as intellectuals.” “I am not exaggerating when I say that Luo was the best friend I ever had.” “ ‘We’ll note down everyone who denounced my father, or beats him,’ he said. ‘That way we can take our revenge when we’re older.’ ” “A great slab of cement hung round his neck from a wire so deeply embedded in his skin as to be invisible. Written on the slab were his name and crime: REACTIONARY.” – Luo’s dad – brutality and injustice. “…. without saying a word, Luo punched me. I was so taken aback that I nearly lost my balance.” Lots of things in this book take Ma by surprise! Part One, Chapter 2 “There was no road
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