Looking back on this book, it’s kind of hard to tell what the message is and if it was successful. I believe that the authors wrote this story to be uncomfortable and thought-provoking, and in that, it was successful. On the other hand, I’m not sure if this was a dystopian story with the purpose of warning the audience of power imbalances within our government or if it was a story to explain there is more than one version of the truth, and how that version can be detrimental.
Originally, I was going to talk about how I wasn’t sure if there was a point to trying to understand message since I had a hard time resonating with the characters. Then I realized that might be exactly what the authors are trying to accomplish. To challenge the audience (you) to remove you morals for the sake of connecting with another. I felt so detached from these characters because the way that the world was set up is not something I would easily conform to. On the other hand, I wouldn’t mind setting aside my beliefs to try to understand someone else’s. But that understanding wouldn’t change my beliefs, so I’m not sure how relevant my understanding would be.
Now that I have explained my mindset on the overall point of the book, I do believe that the authors were successful. But I do think that the message could’ve been explained a bit better. It takes a really long time to even get to the core of why the book was written, let alone of it’s the correct message to take from the words on the page. Alternatively, the authors do a great job at not making this too obvious. If they did, the book would lack the substance it needs to encourage this line of thoughts.
I do plan to reread this book at a later date, it’s still too fresh in my mind to not have the same effect. But I would like to actually read this book through a different perspective, as someone who has lived in this society where the Watercolor Quiet is a process that removes the emotional consequences of our actions. It will be hard since this really leaves room for a lack of accountability, but to read this story through a different lens might create a whole new meaning for this book. The message from the authors might completely change once I’ve fully asserted myself into the role that they’ve cast for me.