Originally Posted by Karen 7th October 2006


There are so many questions to ask about how Meek wrapped up the ending, so I am putting several together as we wrap up our formal discussion this weekend.

Please feel free to ask any questions you want at this time.

About Samarin, since Balashov wouldn't do it, do you think he castrated himself? Why? Why not?

What did you think of the ending of the book?

Why didn't Anna leave with Mutz?

Nurseanne8


I do not think that Samarin castrated himself-I think he recovered from his moment of weakness and anguish- escaped from the Reds and continued to make his way to St. Petersburg-to hook up with his cell to continue his "revolutionary" acts. After release from the Red army Mutz's main goal was to capture Matula and head home to Europe-Anna and her problems no longer seemed to fit in with his plans. Anna realized that there was no longer a relationship with Mutz after she recanted the events of her night with Samarin and the near death of her son. Anna had no reason to stay in Yazyk after the death of Balashov and after meeting the editor for the state newspaper-she brokered a deal so she and Aloysha could move to the city-her son would have a tutor for his education and she would be able to work as a photographer. Anna was a Russian and I feel that she wanted to remain in her homeland, attmept to put the events of her past behind her and build a new life for herself and her son. Question-would Anna be able to control her physical urges-or would she retrun to her old ways when she meet an attractive male? The ending of the book fits most of the pieces of the storyline together-except for Samarin-I wish Meek would have given us a hint of what the future held for him. I think the final battle with Matula and Balashov was realistic and possibly that illustrates the title of the book-it saved the villege, the Legion and the main characters of the book. But I still have the lingering question "what about Samarin". Anne r

Karen


Gotta agree with you about tying up most loose ends, BUT The ones that are still unfinished...

Anna....I don't know that she's learned anything...I wonder too about what will happen to her, she makes such physically driven choices..

Samarin...nope, I don't think he did either, however..he certainly was disappointed in himself and his "weakness" about caring.

Deppsdarling


I hope its OK to post now cuz all I've done is read and lurk? Anyways I liked the end and I didn't. I wanted Anna to leave with Mutz because he knew her faults and cared about her and her son anyways. And her son needs somebody to look up to. I didn't like the way it ended with Samarian. Whats gonna happen to him? Will there be a Peoples act of Love 2?

Nurseanne8


Welcome Deppsdarling and please post! all views are important to help understand this great but diffiicult book and I believe Karen included a question regarding a sequal to Mr. Meek. Anne r

Herestoyou


Yep, that question's still out there about Samarin, but I like that. I don't think he castrated himself, either. I think he would need someone else to do it as he is so conflicted at that point of the book between what he feels he must do and who he is as a man. Why would Meek not let us know? Well, it certainly adds to the mystery of Samarin, so I was comfortable in a way not knowing what happened to him.

We've discussed Anna before and I still think she's somewhat self-centered. I would have taken my son and left the country for his safety. Maybe seeing what Balashov did has now made her more aware of a bigger "cause" other than herself, one can only hope.