[Post B Week 7]

One of the greatest changes in the storyline so far has been Claire's active social life. She is now involved with the bartender. She has a lot of mixed feelings about being close to him, or even just spending time with him because of her deceased husband. When is it right to start seeing other people after the death of a spouse/significant other?
Claire's children also feel a need to be taken into consideration when it comes to their mother spending so much time with another man. They often ask her if she has kissed Frank or not, which causes Claire to question if persuing a new relationship is too soon. In fear of losing their mother, her kids (as well as a family friend's child--their family issues too are numerous)set up a back up plan, saving money and medication and making blueprints of the house that they are going to build in case their mother marries Frank and they have to be all on their own.
Claire's best friend, Donna, is also having marritial issues of her own, dealing with her drunk husband who is emotionally absent from the lives of both her and her children. Donna and Claire spend a lot of time at the local bar, where Claire's husband used to spend a large amount of his time, drinking his life away, and Claire would often come pay the tab and take him home. Arnold (Claire's now desceased husband) spent so much time at the bar, spilling all events that were happening at his home, with his wife, and with his children to the bartender, Frank.It seemed as if Frank already knew Claire, making it near impossible for her not to fall in love with someone who understood her so well with her putting little effort into the relationship.
I certainly hope that Claire does not give up on the relationship with Frank, despite the opinions of her children. I think that this is truly what Claire needs to help her move on and get the optimal closure from her husband's suicide.

[Post A Week 7]

VOCABULARY:

indignant(168): feeling or showing anger or annoyance

pointedly (189): expressing criticism in a direct

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:

(1) "Kate's tiny red head bobbed like a buoy." (208)
This is an example of figurative language because Hornbacher is comparing Kate's head to a buoy using like or as--making it a similie.

(2) "Kate, Esau and Davey dangled off the furniture like melted candy." (203)
This is an example of figurative language because Kate, Esau and Davey aren't acutally melted candy. Hornbacher is making a comparison to better help the reader a better picture of how they behaved during the summer when it was hot. It is a similie because of the use of 'like' or 'as'.

(3)"They shruged in unison. They were like a two-headed monster."(172)
This too is an example of figurative language because Kate and Davey is not the name of a two headed monster, rather this is just how they looked because they behaved in unison.

SIGNIFICANT QUOTE:

" 'Tell you one thing,' he said, shaking his head. 'We don't get along so good, but I sure did love your momma. Time was, I'll tell you.' He put his arm on the back of the couch and petted Davey's head. 'I sure did.' He looked at Davey to see how he took this. 'Easy to love a woman,' he said. 'Not so easy, getting her to love you. See how it is?' " (260)

PROBABLE THEME:

The passage of grief and moving on after a family tragedy, and how it affects each minute of every passing day.