Essay Questions

How ambiguous is the book ‘Love and Obstacles: Stories’?

The reader finds it difficult to categorize the book into a fictional or real-life story by the narrator. The narrator's identity is ambiguous because the reader does not understand if he is idealized or denigrating. More confusing, the author introduces Bogdan, who is a shady character. Bogdan's identity and descriptions are even more ambiguous because he appears in more than one story. Despite these complexities in the book, all the stories are exciting and worthy of reading.

How does the author depict the sense of sight to readers?

The narrator depicts the sense of sight to readers when saying, “When I woke up, they were gone, leaving the stench of sweaty mindlessness.” The narrator gives a vivid description of an encounter with Saravejo. Out of this description, the reader visualizes the events as they unfold in the rest of the story.

Is the book ‘Love and Obstacles: Stories’ entirely about writing?

Writing is a significant theme that runs throughout the book. The narrator mentions characters such Dick, Muhamed, and Bogdan, who are all famous writers. Muhamed focuses on writing poems, unlike the narrator, who has specialized in writing short stories. On the other hand, Dick Macalister reveals his writing prowess with the narrator when they first meet. The narrator learns the Dick is an award-winning writer, and he motivates him on how he can be more successful. Therefore, the book focuses more on writing as compared to other aspects.