We are all different



We Are All Different

Marina Yashina

2nd year student Vologda State University

Every nation has some unique features, and there is nothing which can reflect the mentality brighter than art and especially literature. I think that The Taxi Driver's Daughter presents us a good example of it. While reading this book, I've got the same thought as while reading many other books by foreign writers: how our views on life and literature differ! First of all, it's the plot which gives us a chance to say it. When things are getting worse and worse (everything is even exaggeratedly bad), with Louise in prison, Mac helpless and not knowing how to cope with the situation, with Stella close to neurosis, and Caris hanging out with George, it seems that the ending can't be happy. But being aware of the fact that this book is an English one, you can guess that it will end well. However, if it was a book by a Russian author, it would probably be vice versa. In Russian books, despite the fact that the end is very often not a happy one, there is always a hope. When you close some book being on the verge of tears, you soul is not depressed. It does hope for the lighter future and for the fact that humanity wins, sooner or later. In English-speaking literature it's often more than a hope. Authors usually show us the happy reality and make the readers not only hope but be certain it ends like this.     This book proves my thoughts. But is this ending true to life? I don't believe that in reality everything can be solved like that. When the conflicts are so deep and there seem to be no way-out, mother's release from prison and happy emotions because of it can hardly help to sort out anything. Yes, it seems that this family might need this shock. Enduring the hardships makes them united, makes them understand who they are and how they, even being not aware of it, love each other and need each other. So the hard times teach them a lot but they are not over yet. Although the book tells us the opposite, I am sure they will never become a tight-knit family. It's impossible.

We see that it ends well, but can you say, in your heart of hearts, that you really believe in it?

Besides, when I read English literature I feel that the position of the author is very hidden. He or she practically doesn't express emotions about the events or behaviour of some characters. In Russian literature you can feel the author's attitude behind the lines. It's impossible not to notice it. So in English-speaking books the reader is more free in some way to choose how to treat the character. This book is not an exception. The author is rather detached from what's happening. The only situation where she seems to show her real attitude is when she's describing Stella and her excessive love to keeping everything in order. You can clearly feel how Julia Darling hates such people and that she's probably the opposite. In all the other episodes she is just telling the story, giving us some symbols to guess what they mean. We are free to judge everything by ourselves. Reading books in other languages is always exciting by getting to understand the mentality of the country better. Regardless of what nationality you belong to, first of all we are all human. We feel similar emotions, face similar problems, overcome similar difficulties in life, though according to our culture we often express everything in different ways, and behave differently.

That's why some situations may seem unrealistic to us, and the behaviour of some characters is difficult to understand, as our, Russian, attitude to everything is a bit different. For example, I reckon the family usually plays a more important role for people in Russia than in other countries, and that we are more willing to share our troubles and sad thoughts (not only our joys) with others. It seems that we just appreciate a bit different traits of character in people.

Anyway, reading a book written by a foreigner gives you an excellent chance to look at certain things from the point of view of a different nation, and it widens you world. Obviously, it's impossible to say that some literature is better and some is worse. It's boring to live in a world where everything is similar. It's all different and it's great, isn't it?