{Post A Week 7}

VOCABULARY

anathema (227): a person or thing detested or loathed

glib (206): readily fluent, often thoughtlessly, superficially, or insincerely

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:

"In my mind, i can still see those lights--red and blue and yellow, blinking over and over on a tree as overdressed as an Eskimo in Bali."(192)

This is figurative language because a tree is being compared to an Eskimo through a simile (comparing two unlikely things using the word like or as). I liked this one because it is just kind of funny and odd to think about an Eskimo in Bali!!

"My parents and I are sitting together at a table in the hospital cafeteria, although I use the word together loosely. It's more like we're astronauts, each wearing a separate helmet, each sustained by our own private source of air." (179)

This is not only good figurative language, but it is also very significant as to the relationship that Anna has with her parents, especially while Kate is in the hospital, and Anna is in the middle of the lawsuit in suing her parents.

"I swirled my pinky in my martini. It was an optical illusion, making the finger look split and crooked." (157)

This is great imagery on Jodi Picoult's behalf. She makes it exceptionally easy to imagine Sara sitting in a hotel, trying to unwind.

SIGNIFICANT QUOTE:
"Neither do you," Zanne says. "You're not living, Sara. You're waiting for Kate to die." (175)

Zanne is always there, saving the day. Zanne offers Sara and Brian the money to get Kate more treatments when their insurance refuses to help cover the extreme costs. Zanne is also the voice of reason, who helps Sara come closer to term with what is going on with her family. Sara is constantly wondering if Kate will live long enough to go on her first date, prom, graduate from high school, etc. Zanne makes a good point by saying that Sara often behaves like once Kate dies, life can move on.

PROBABLE THEME:
The theme is family-centered and about the obligations--there or not.