Paper Polly: Brought to you by the Bookaneer Review: Trash (by Andy Mulligan) (Post III)

Suspense

One way that authors create suspense are people or characters working against a deadline. When characters or people work against deadlines, they have a limited amount of time to do their actions.

The novel Trash (by Andy Mulligan), includes lots of characters revolving around situations and problems. In the story, this author’s technique is apparent in most chapters. For example, Raphael (the main protagonist) lied to the police about Jose Angelico (one of the suspects revolving around this mysterious case) and the black bag (which he found in the dumpsite in Part 1). In Evita Police station (the name of the police station), Raphael has limited time to tell the police the ‘truth or lie’ behind Jose Angelico and the bag that he found, before he gets in trouble with the police. The reader, at this point in time, feels questioned about what’s going to happen. They feel the suspense of the story and feel as if something was going to happen to Raphael. And what’s going to happen? Lie or DIE? This is suspense.

Another way that authors create suspense is through conflict. This happens through arguments, which later evolve into fights. This creates suspense as we, the readers don't know what will happen next.

Throughout the orientation of the story of Trash, we read that Raphael found a black bag. When questioned by police regarding the bag, he was in a predicament. Should he tell them what he found or should the secret remain intact?

As we get to the complication of the story, we find more conflicts between the characters. We find that Sister Olivia felt sorry for the 'boys' and wanted to help Gardo. Gardo wanted to see his grandpa (Gardo is really lying). He told her that he was in prison and was going to die very soon. This piece of information caused Sister Olivia conflict from within. She, on the one hand, wanted to help the boys to get their answers, but on the other hand, felt the need to help, somehow.

At the time when Raphael was arrested by the police, he was sent to the police station and was faced with a serious conflict. Rat had the ID of Jose Angelico, so this gave the boys more information about the mystery. They didn't want to give out the information to the police. But, on the other hand, Raphael didn't want to get in trouble with them. This is suspense.

Authors also use sensory details in their stories to show suspense. This often involves the main parts of the sen

One sensory detail used frequently is noise. This makes the reader feel that there is lots of action going on in the story that it's unstoppable and goes on for a while. For example, when the boys were trying to hide from the police, there was lots of gore going on. There was banging and hammering on doors, that made the boys think that the police is going to get them. They also heard pedestrian feet, kicking and screaming, dogs were barking madly and the police's car engine was revvvv-revvvv-revvvvvvved up!

Another sensory detail used is smell. In Trash, because the story is centered around dumpsite characters, they usually have to endure stinky smells and scents, which, at a dumpsite, smell of trash, toxic waste and sometimes, stray dog poop. Pee-yew! And sometimes, when these characters go into different settings (such as police stations), they usually smell horrible (i.e. smoke)!

One other sensory detail used by authors is sight and visual judgement. When Sister Olivia passed by the people who were in jail, she was horrified. Some of them were sweaty and very hot, others were naked and limited in clothes. They were stretching out their hands, asking for help and support. Sister Olivia remarked that they looked like "animals in cages (page 93)". This is suspense.

 A final technique that authors use as suspense in their stories is the element of SURPRISE! This technique is apparent in almost all stories that authors write, to give the reader some emotional shock. From a laughing shock to a scary shock, this technique gives the reader some appeal to the story.

For example, in Trash, when the boys were trying to hide from the cops' running and shooting, everything went silent. The boys were curious for a moment - "what's happening now?". The boys were quiet for a moment, until... BANG! Guns erupted and a policeman was climbing up the ladder, towards the boys. Are the boys going to be safe? Or are they going to finally get revenge from the police? THIS is suspense.

In summary, authors always try to find ways to entertain and engage their readers, and they simply try to do that with various elements of... SUSPENSE!