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.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
[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.
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.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
[Post B Week 6]
Dear Esau,
I cannot believe that your mother and father would send you away to be taken care of. Clearly, you were doing fine and school was not a problem, after all, you had Kate there looking out for you. If only you knew the things that have occured while you have been gone. First of all, your mother and father got into very significant arguments. They both would drink themselves silly and then argue. Your poor sister had a very difficult time listening to them argue, that sometimes she'd have nightmares. What you won't know for a long time, is that your father comitted suicide. He just couldn't take it anymore, and your mother found him. She is very hurt, with everything reminding her of him. The smell of his clothing made her dizzy with loneliness. Your house was crowded with many visitors, bearing gifts in rememberance of your father. Soon your mother will come to your care facility and take you home. Although it is against the will of your facility and thier pyschologists, her isntinct is telling her to bring you home. Hopefully then, she will tell you about where your father really is.
-:-caitlin-:-
I cannot believe that your mother and father would send you away to be taken care of. Clearly, you were doing fine and school was not a problem, after all, you had Kate there looking out for you. If only you knew the things that have occured while you have been gone. First of all, your mother and father got into very significant arguments. They both would drink themselves silly and then argue. Your poor sister had a very difficult time listening to them argue, that sometimes she'd have nightmares. What you won't know for a long time, is that your father comitted suicide. He just couldn't take it anymore, and your mother found him. She is very hurt, with everything reminding her of him. The smell of his clothing made her dizzy with loneliness. Your house was crowded with many visitors, bearing gifts in rememberance of your father. Soon your mother will come to your care facility and take you home. Although it is against the will of your facility and thier pyschologists, her isntinct is telling her to bring you home. Hopefully then, she will tell you about where your father really is.
-:-caitlin-:-
[Post A Week 6]
bewildered (123): completely puzzled or confused; perplexed.
highboy (121): a tall chest of drawers on legs
EMOTIONAL APPEALS:
"She returned, holding her hands as if they were covered in something dity."(116)
Kate's hand are not acutally dirty, but her mother is describing the way she carried them when she walked in the room.
"We visited him on Sundays, as faithful as churchgoers." (121)
They didn't go to church, but often the churchgoers go ever faithfully. Instead of going to church faithfully, they visited their the husband/father's gravesight.
"So we swam through the ark, in the car, with his voice like his hands, giding me, keeping me afloat." (129)
Esau and his father aren't in a swimming pool or a lake or even by water. They are driving to Esau's treatment center in the dark and Esau describes it as he feels like he's swimming and his father's lovingness is keeping him afloat.
PROBABLE THEME:
The way one death has a complte ripple effect, as well as the way ecach individual grieves. Death can bring both togetherness and solitude from those who loved the desceased one.
highboy (121): a tall chest of drawers on legs
EMOTIONAL APPEALS:
"She returned, holding her hands as if they were covered in something dity."(116)
Kate's hand are not acutally dirty, but her mother is describing the way she carried them when she walked in the room.
"We visited him on Sundays, as faithful as churchgoers." (121)
They didn't go to church, but often the churchgoers go ever faithfully. Instead of going to church faithfully, they visited their the husband/father's gravesight.
"So we swam through the ark, in the car, with his voice like his hands, giding me, keeping me afloat." (129)
Esau and his father aren't in a swimming pool or a lake or even by water. They are driving to Esau's treatment center in the dark and Esau describes it as he feels like he's swimming and his father's lovingness is keeping him afloat.
PROBABLE THEME:
The way one death has a complte ripple effect, as well as the way ecach individual grieves. Death can bring both togetherness and solitude from those who loved the desceased one.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
[Post B Week 5]
Sometimes I wonder if the timing of a death can have different effects on the period of grieving and moving on.
If a death ocurs in the spring, I would think that healing time would be a decent period of time, but not extensively, because it is much more difficult to be sad when there are flowers blooming and the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. It's natural to be happier with more exposure to light--especially sunlight
If a death occurs in the summer, I think that grieving would be the shortest. The temperatures are nice and high, and the days are so long! It's hard not to spend time outside, and the Vitamin D would naturally raise your mood.
If a death occurs in the fall, it would be a more difficult grieving time. The leaves are falling off the tress and it gets kind of windy. The temperatures are getting crispy, and the days get shorter. Almost as if the light is closing in on you.
If a death occurs in the winter, the grieving time would be the most difficult. The snow puts a blanket of silence, and there is essentially very few daylight hours. The cold, sub-zero temperatures Minnesota so kindly drops in our laps make it hard to find joy. In winter, the light does close in on you...if you let it, I guess.
That is why, in the book The Center of Winter, I think that the grieving is so much more difficult. Claire and Kate are nearly suffocated underneath the dead of winter. I'm curious to the degree of how much different the grieving behaviors would have been.
If a death ocurs in the spring, I would think that healing time would be a decent period of time, but not extensively, because it is much more difficult to be sad when there are flowers blooming and the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. It's natural to be happier with more exposure to light--especially sunlight
If a death occurs in the summer, I think that grieving would be the shortest. The temperatures are nice and high, and the days are so long! It's hard not to spend time outside, and the Vitamin D would naturally raise your mood.
If a death occurs in the fall, it would be a more difficult grieving time. The leaves are falling off the tress and it gets kind of windy. The temperatures are getting crispy, and the days get shorter. Almost as if the light is closing in on you.
If a death occurs in the winter, the grieving time would be the most difficult. The snow puts a blanket of silence, and there is essentially very few daylight hours. The cold, sub-zero temperatures Minnesota so kindly drops in our laps make it hard to find joy. In winter, the light does close in on you...if you let it, I guess.
That is why, in the book The Center of Winter, I think that the grieving is so much more difficult. Claire and Kate are nearly suffocated underneath the dead of winter. I'm curious to the degree of how much different the grieving behaviors would have been.
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