"'You'll live with it, Nikki. I'll help you.' I waited for Strabane to say more. I knew him now: my lover. I waited for him to reason with me, to argue with me. I waited for him to say those words we say to one another at such times. But he remained silent. He gripped my hand in such a way that his fingers pushed through my fingers and held them tight. I understood that this was the reasoning, this was his argument. In this way ended my first full year of missing Mom" (434).
This is the final quote in the book, and one of my favorites of the entire novel. In honor of Mother's Day and the anniversary of her mom's death, Nikki and her new boyfriend, Detective Strabane, are vacationing in Key West at the same resort her parents stayed at on their honeymoon. As Nikki and Strabane take a walk on the beach, Nikki breaks down from the grief and memories that still haunt her from that terrible day one year ago. But, unlike the rest of the traumatic year, this time she has someone there for her. Strabane takes her hand and shows her that he will be strong for her, that he will be her rock, her light through the storm. He silently promises this by simply holding her hand-grasping it tightly and showing that he will never let her go. In the past weeks, he has had to reason and argue with Nikki to prove that none of what happened was her fault, that she will make it through this. But now, instead of words, his hand holding hers is reason and argument enough to keep going.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Quarter 3: Week 7, Post A
VOCAB:
dun-colored (350): having a dull, gloomy, grayish-brown color
duplicity (363): deliberate deceptiveness in behavior or speech
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:
1. "Wanting to fire back You're the one who left, do you miss us?" (322). This is an example of figurative language because Nikki refers to "firing" a question back at Clare, when literally questions aren't "fired". Her word choice is used to show the accusatory nature of the question.
2. "...with rice-paper skin..." (323). This is an example of figurative language too. A metaphor is used to compare Aunt Tabitha's skin to rice paper because it is so thin and translucent.
3. "Mom's cheery teapot and matching mugs..." (348). This is an example of personification because a teapot can not have feelings. It can not be "cheery", this is a human characteristic.
QUOTE:
"I was stunned to see him: the man who, long ago when he'd been a boy, my mother had loved. The man who'd impregnated my mother. Might have married her, if he'd wished to" (371). This quote is interesting because it shows the new information Nikki has gathered about her mother's life from people after her death. Her mom's best girlhood friend, Alyce Proxmire, told Nikki the story of her mother's first serious boyfriend who got her pregnant, but she had a miscarriage only a month into the unexpected pregnancy. This is just one of the stories she hears, and all of them give her new perspective on her mother. Nikki wishes she would've gotten to know her mother's past better when she was still alive.
THEME:
The overall theme of the novel was definitely the struggles along the journey of grief in the aftermath of the death of a loved one.
dun-colored (350): having a dull, gloomy, grayish-brown color
duplicity (363): deliberate deceptiveness in behavior or speech
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:
1. "Wanting to fire back You're the one who left, do you miss us?" (322). This is an example of figurative language because Nikki refers to "firing" a question back at Clare, when literally questions aren't "fired". Her word choice is used to show the accusatory nature of the question.
2. "...with rice-paper skin..." (323). This is an example of figurative language too. A metaphor is used to compare Aunt Tabitha's skin to rice paper because it is so thin and translucent.
3. "Mom's cheery teapot and matching mugs..." (348). This is an example of personification because a teapot can not have feelings. It can not be "cheery", this is a human characteristic.
QUOTE:
"I was stunned to see him: the man who, long ago when he'd been a boy, my mother had loved. The man who'd impregnated my mother. Might have married her, if he'd wished to" (371). This quote is interesting because it shows the new information Nikki has gathered about her mother's life from people after her death. Her mom's best girlhood friend, Alyce Proxmire, told Nikki the story of her mother's first serious boyfriend who got her pregnant, but she had a miscarriage only a month into the unexpected pregnancy. This is just one of the stories she hears, and all of them give her new perspective on her mother. Nikki wishes she would've gotten to know her mother's past better when she was still alive.
THEME:
The overall theme of the novel was definitely the struggles along the journey of grief in the aftermath of the death of a loved one.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Quarter 3: Week 6, Post B
Dear Joyce Carol Oates,
Nikki's storyline continues to be very sad and I must say it's starting to be a sort of depressing read. I like your writing syle a lot; it's very different from anything else I've read. However, I hope the plot gets more optimistic soon because right now it's too sad! It's hard to get through such a downer of a book, even though I like it overall.
Some parts of the storyline are much more interesting to read about than others. For instance, I'm enjoying reading about Nikki's relationship with Wally Szalla. The experience of being "the other woman" adds a certain drama to the book. Nikki's her relationship with Clare is intriguing as well. I have two sisters of my own, but my relationships with both of them are very different from Clare and Nikki's interaction. It's interesting to see such a switch from what I'm used to within my own family. It's upsetting to see them draw further away from each other during this time when they could most use the support. I hope they can make up and help each other through their time of grief and sadness.
I have yet to understand the significance of Smokey the cat. He is constantly referred to--by Nikki, Clare, Wally Szalla, and others--but I still don't really understand why he's so important to the story. Maybe some special symbolism will be revealed later on, but as of now I'm confused. Also, I'm wondering what's up with the letters between Detective Strabane and Nikki. Strabane continues to talk to Nikki and seems to feel a very personal connection to her mother's murder case. Even though Nikki keeps declining his offers to talk, it still seems pretty random that he keeps emailing her and giving her is cell phone number. I can't help but wonder after his motives.
Even though some of your story has been depressing, overall I'm enjoying it.
Thanks,
A-Rod
Nikki's storyline continues to be very sad and I must say it's starting to be a sort of depressing read. I like your writing syle a lot; it's very different from anything else I've read. However, I hope the plot gets more optimistic soon because right now it's too sad! It's hard to get through such a downer of a book, even though I like it overall.
Some parts of the storyline are much more interesting to read about than others. For instance, I'm enjoying reading about Nikki's relationship with Wally Szalla. The experience of being "the other woman" adds a certain drama to the book. Nikki's her relationship with Clare is intriguing as well. I have two sisters of my own, but my relationships with both of them are very different from Clare and Nikki's interaction. It's interesting to see such a switch from what I'm used to within my own family. It's upsetting to see them draw further away from each other during this time when they could most use the support. I hope they can make up and help each other through their time of grief and sadness.
I have yet to understand the significance of Smokey the cat. He is constantly referred to--by Nikki, Clare, Wally Szalla, and others--but I still don't really understand why he's so important to the story. Maybe some special symbolism will be revealed later on, but as of now I'm confused. Also, I'm wondering what's up with the letters between Detective Strabane and Nikki. Strabane continues to talk to Nikki and seems to feel a very personal connection to her mother's murder case. Even though Nikki keeps declining his offers to talk, it still seems pretty random that he keeps emailing her and giving her is cell phone number. I can't help but wonder after his motives.
Even though some of your story has been depressing, overall I'm enjoying it.
Thanks,
A-Rod
Quarter 3: Week 6, Post A
VOCAB:
insipid (203): lacking interest, significance, or impact
serendipity (240): good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:
1. "...and my head swathed with white gauze and adhesive like the head of a mummy..." (237). This is an example of a simile. On the ride home from a trip to the emergency room because of a disasterous biking accident, Nikki compares her bandages to the wrappings of a mummy.
2. "The dream shimmering around us careened in and out of focus. I'd been hearing words but couldn't seem to process them" (202). This is an example of figurative language because Nikki and Detective Strabane are not literally in a dream-it only feels that way to Nikki because she is so shocked and upset about what she is hearing. Because of this shock, she feels like she cannot comprehend what Strabane is saying, which makes her feel like she's in a dream.
3. "This was the season, people said, that Nikki Eaton broke into pieces. To me, it felt like the season I put myself together, stronger than I'd been" (212). This is another example of figurative language because people obviously do not actually break into pieces. People said this about Nikki because her grief after her mom's death affected her and changed her so much--her life fell apart.
QUOTE:
"If they tease me, if they laugh at me they love me. For I am only just Gwen, to be teased" (239). This quote is one of many in the book that are written as if they are in the first person from Gwen Eaton. However, the comments are written as Nikki imagines her mother's thoughts, so they aren't actually in the first person from Gwen. Here, Nikki reflects on her mother's role as the one to be teased. As she thinks back, she realizes that teasing her all the time may have lowered her mom's self-esteem more than she thought.
THEME:
The theme of the novel remains to be the struggles of dealing with the death of a loved one. It especially focused on how hard it is to watch the rest of the world move on when the people who suffered the loss are still grieving.
insipid (203): lacking interest, significance, or impact
serendipity (240): good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:
1. "...and my head swathed with white gauze and adhesive like the head of a mummy..." (237). This is an example of a simile. On the ride home from a trip to the emergency room because of a disasterous biking accident, Nikki compares her bandages to the wrappings of a mummy.
2. "The dream shimmering around us careened in and out of focus. I'd been hearing words but couldn't seem to process them" (202). This is an example of figurative language because Nikki and Detective Strabane are not literally in a dream-it only feels that way to Nikki because she is so shocked and upset about what she is hearing. Because of this shock, she feels like she cannot comprehend what Strabane is saying, which makes her feel like she's in a dream.
3. "This was the season, people said, that Nikki Eaton broke into pieces. To me, it felt like the season I put myself together, stronger than I'd been" (212). This is another example of figurative language because people obviously do not actually break into pieces. People said this about Nikki because her grief after her mom's death affected her and changed her so much--her life fell apart.
QUOTE:
"If they tease me, if they laugh at me they love me. For I am only just Gwen, to be teased" (239). This quote is one of many in the book that are written as if they are in the first person from Gwen Eaton. However, the comments are written as Nikki imagines her mother's thoughts, so they aren't actually in the first person from Gwen. Here, Nikki reflects on her mother's role as the one to be teased. As she thinks back, she realizes that teasing her all the time may have lowered her mom's self-esteem more than she thought.
THEME:
The theme of the novel remains to be the struggles of dealing with the death of a loved one. It especially focused on how hard it is to watch the rest of the world move on when the people who suffered the loss are still grieving.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Quarter 3: Week 5, Post B
"why Mom? why Mom? why did you Mom? tell us why Mom? why are you not to blame Mom? because you are to blame! you are! YOU ARE TO BLAME! no one but you Mom! you brought him here! you trusted him! how can we forgive you? Mom, why? WHY MOM? WHY MOM? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?..." (207).
This quote comes from Nikki about a month after her mother's murder. It's interesting to see her go through different stages of the grieving process. In this stage, she is clearly turning the blame for what happened on her mother. Even though Nikki knows deep down that her mother was not to blame for her own murder, she has to take her frustrations out somehow. So, she blames the easiest target: her mother. Her anger at Ward Lynch coupled with her regret that she couldn't prevent her mom's death boil up inside her and she eventually explodes. In this stage her sadness is overshadowed by her anger and frustration. Nikki's reactions to these feelings were intriguing in their intensity and ferocity. An entire page is devoted to expressing this anger, filled with "WHY?"'s. This is the most frustrating question for Nikki as she wonders why this terrible thing has happened to her, why she was the one to find her mother's body, and countless other "what if" questions. I hope Nikki can work through her anger at her mother and redirect it towards the true holder of the blame: Ward Lynch. I think she will only be able to pull herself together after she realizes that neither she nor her mother were to blame for the tragedy.
Quarter 3: Week 5, Post A
VOCAB:
belligerent (144): of warlike character, aggressively hostile
effusive (163): lacking reserve, pouring out, overflowing
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:
1. "Her mouth was a moist red wound" (163). This is an example of a metaphor. Clare's mouth is directly compared to a wound because of their redness and shape.
2. "I saw that Clare was glaring at me with hot acid eyes" (173). This is another example of figurative language in the book. Obviously Clare's eyes are not actually hot or made of acid, but this comparison shows the extreme anger Clare is feeling.
3. "Smoky glanced up nervously hearing the D.J.'s familiar voice: low throaty sexy as an alto saxophone" (190). This is an example of a simile in the novel. Nikki compares Wally's D.J. voice to the sounds of a soulful saxophone.
QUOTE:
"In the Saab, Clare began crying. I had never heard my sister cry so helplessly. She was saying she couldn't make it without Mom. She was saying she didn't love anyone anymore. It was too much effort, she wasn't strong enough" (186). This quote demonstrates a more vulnerable side of Clare that the reader has not gotten to see thus far in the novel. Clare is thought to be the responsible, "put together" one of the two sisters, but here we are shown how insecure and unhappy she truly is. In this rare moment of grief and anger, we learn that Clare is just as shocked and unsure as Nikki in this situation, even if she doesn't always show it.
THEME:
The theme of the novel continues to be the grieving process. Also, it seems to be focusing more on relationships: Clare and Nikki's sisterly relationship, the girls' relationships with their parents, Clare's relationship with Rob, and Nikki's relationship with Wally Szalla.
belligerent (144): of warlike character, aggressively hostile
effusive (163): lacking reserve, pouring out, overflowing
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:
1. "Her mouth was a moist red wound" (163). This is an example of a metaphor. Clare's mouth is directly compared to a wound because of their redness and shape.
2. "I saw that Clare was glaring at me with hot acid eyes" (173). This is another example of figurative language in the book. Obviously Clare's eyes are not actually hot or made of acid, but this comparison shows the extreme anger Clare is feeling.
3. "Smoky glanced up nervously hearing the D.J.'s familiar voice: low throaty sexy as an alto saxophone" (190). This is an example of a simile in the novel. Nikki compares Wally's D.J. voice to the sounds of a soulful saxophone.
QUOTE:
"In the Saab, Clare began crying. I had never heard my sister cry so helplessly. She was saying she couldn't make it without Mom. She was saying she didn't love anyone anymore. It was too much effort, she wasn't strong enough" (186). This quote demonstrates a more vulnerable side of Clare that the reader has not gotten to see thus far in the novel. Clare is thought to be the responsible, "put together" one of the two sisters, but here we are shown how insecure and unhappy she truly is. In this rare moment of grief and anger, we learn that Clare is just as shocked and unsure as Nikki in this situation, even if she doesn't always show it.
THEME:
The theme of the novel continues to be the grieving process. Also, it seems to be focusing more on relationships: Clare and Nikki's sisterly relationship, the girls' relationships with their parents, Clare's relationship with Rob, and Nikki's relationship with Wally Szalla.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Quarter 3: Week 4, Post B
Dear Joyce Carol Oates,
Well I must say, so far this book has been a little depressing. First, Nikki's mother is brutally murdered and Nikki is the one to find her. Obviously this is very disturbing and traumatic for Nikki and she struggles to deal with her shock and grief. While she is working through this tragedy, her relationship with her sister suffers. They argue constantly and can't agree on anything. Instead of drawing together to help each other through such a rough time, they grow apart and shut each other out. Finally, and through all of this, Nikki must face more ups and downs regarding her rollercoaster of a relationship with Wally Szcalla. She and her on again-off again lover, who just so happens to be married with two children, are going through a "rough patch".
With all of this on her plate, Nikki definitely does not seem to be in a good place in her life. It will certainly be interesting to see how she works through her grief for her mother, while dealing with her sister and Wally. I feel so horrible for her--the only consolation is that things can only go up from here. Hopefully this happens sooner rather than later!
I do have some questions about your book too. For instance, does Smokey, Gwen's old cat, have any special significance? Nikki seems very attached to him, but I'm not sure why. Also, why does Nikki continue to let Wally back into her life after he's hurt her time and time again? It's painful to watch her in this self-destructive cycle--will it ever end? For her sake, I hope so!
I can't wait to keep reading!
Sincerely,
A-Rod
Well I must say, so far this book has been a little depressing. First, Nikki's mother is brutally murdered and Nikki is the one to find her. Obviously this is very disturbing and traumatic for Nikki and she struggles to deal with her shock and grief. While she is working through this tragedy, her relationship with her sister suffers. They argue constantly and can't agree on anything. Instead of drawing together to help each other through such a rough time, they grow apart and shut each other out. Finally, and through all of this, Nikki must face more ups and downs regarding her rollercoaster of a relationship with Wally Szcalla. She and her on again-off again lover, who just so happens to be married with two children, are going through a "rough patch".
With all of this on her plate, Nikki definitely does not seem to be in a good place in her life. It will certainly be interesting to see how she works through her grief for her mother, while dealing with her sister and Wally. I feel so horrible for her--the only consolation is that things can only go up from here. Hopefully this happens sooner rather than later!
I do have some questions about your book too. For instance, does Smokey, Gwen's old cat, have any special significance? Nikki seems very attached to him, but I'm not sure why. Also, why does Nikki continue to let Wally back into her life after he's hurt her time and time again? It's painful to watch her in this self-destructive cycle--will it ever end? For her sake, I hope so!
I can't wait to keep reading!
Sincerely,
A-Rod
Quarter 3: Week 4, Post A
VOCAB:
surreptitious (129): acting with or marked by stealth
sallow (126): of a sickly, yellowish color
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:
1. "He was purring loudly, like a noisy air conditioner" (135). This is an example of a simile in the book. Nikki compares the loud howling of her Mom's old cat, Smokey, to the annoying sounds of an air conditioner.
2. "For I was falling, breaking into pieces" (131). This is figurative language because Nikki is not literally falling or breaking into pieces. She uses these images to describe how broken-heartened and full of grief she is feeling after her mother's murder.
3. "...I felt a sensation like a knife going in, through my ribs--not a sharp knife but something crude and dull" (130). This is another example of a simile. After Wally tells Nikki that he is going back to his wife, she compares her hurt feelings to the feeling of a knife cutting through her gut.
QUOTE:
"I'd prepared myself for today but it seemed we were going to begin on Monday. Clare was one to change your mind for you without your consent and then to chide you for it.
'Monday you'll be prepared Nikki? Promise.'
'Maybe six? I'll try to get here by six.'
'Six! That's impossible for me.'
'But--'
'Nikki, I have a family. I have responsibilities'" (139).
I think this quote shows the high tensions in the relationship between Nikki and Clare as they both struggle to deal with their mother's death. Even the smallest thing can set them off into argument--for example, as they arrange to clean out their mother's house. Clearly, the stress of this tragic loss is getting to both of them.
THEME:
I think the theme is still centered around dealing with grief, with a strong focus on the regrets and "would've, should've, could've" feelings that one experiences after losing a loved one.
surreptitious (129): acting with or marked by stealth
sallow (126): of a sickly, yellowish color
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:
1. "He was purring loudly, like a noisy air conditioner" (135). This is an example of a simile in the book. Nikki compares the loud howling of her Mom's old cat, Smokey, to the annoying sounds of an air conditioner.
2. "For I was falling, breaking into pieces" (131). This is figurative language because Nikki is not literally falling or breaking into pieces. She uses these images to describe how broken-heartened and full of grief she is feeling after her mother's murder.
3. "...I felt a sensation like a knife going in, through my ribs--not a sharp knife but something crude and dull" (130). This is another example of a simile. After Wally tells Nikki that he is going back to his wife, she compares her hurt feelings to the feeling of a knife cutting through her gut.
QUOTE:
"I'd prepared myself for today but it seemed we were going to begin on Monday. Clare was one to change your mind for you without your consent and then to chide you for it.
'Monday you'll be prepared Nikki? Promise.'
'Maybe six? I'll try to get here by six.'
'Six! That's impossible for me.'
'But--'
'Nikki, I have a family. I have responsibilities'" (139).
I think this quote shows the high tensions in the relationship between Nikki and Clare as they both struggle to deal with their mother's death. Even the smallest thing can set them off into argument--for example, as they arrange to clean out their mother's house. Clearly, the stress of this tragic loss is getting to both of them.
THEME:
I think the theme is still centered around dealing with grief, with a strong focus on the regrets and "would've, should've, could've" feelings that one experiences after losing a loved one.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)