Summary
In these concluding pages of the book, a lot of dramatic things happen. Picking up where it was left, Louisa and Ray are going back home after the party, and back home, he seems to be too into his work to pay much attention to Louisa, who gets fustrated. Next, Louisa explains how she met Ray, and the secretive relationship they had. She mentions how she tried to break it off with him because she couldn't deal with the secretive relationship. but that Ray started crying, and so since neither of them wanted it to end, she stayed with him. Then, Louisa switches up the story she was telling and is all dressed up to go somewhere with Ray, her last day for something, although it is unknown what it could be. In the end of the chapter it is learned that Louisa and Ray are attending some sort of exhibition in a museum, and looking at some sort of object that was owned by a person named Esteban.
In the next chapter, Clem is now narrating. She starts off by talking about bears and the big controversy with them living so close to people. Then, she mentions how getting close to these bears makes it easier for them to feel closer to her. She noticed that in a family of three bears, the boy bear, which was named Danny, was smalled compared to the female cub, which is not normal because he is supposed to be much larger. Later in the chapter it is learned that he has a hole in his heart, and that if he is to live longer, he will need surgery, or otherwise he would die soon. Clem becomes in charge of getting the paperwork done, and a surgeon comes. There is a lot of publicity for this, and everyone is anxious for it to end well. Unfortunately, it doesn't end well, and Danny dies. This leaves Clem crushed. This chapter ends with Clem home alone at night before she goes to sleep.
In the last pages left, Louisa narrates. At first it seems confusing with what she is saying, but then readers learn that Clem has died. The reason becomes unknown, until one of Clem's colleagues tells Louisa it seems Clem killed herself due to the death of the cub. Louisa talks about how she went to Clem's house and went through what Clem owned, finding it hard to believe she really died. Louisa saw Clem one last time in the funeral, and her parents were crushed and upset that Clem had died.
Quote
"She holds her life tight, never letting it out of her sight for a minute. So how could she be marked?" (Glass 204).
Reaction
The ending of the book was really sad. The fact that Clem died really brought upon a depressing mood for the rest of the book. It also seems like when the end of the book was approaching, the author got more confusing in letting know who was narrating the story next. It also made clear that even though Clem was reckless, it was as if she kept the family together, and once her death came, it was as if her family fell apart. The story stopped meaning so much once her death came, and she became the tragic hero of the story.
I liked this quote because it shows the sympathy Clem has towards her sister Louisa. Louisa was going through hard times, getting chemotherapy because of the tumor she had, and Clem felt as if it wasn't fair that Louisa was experiencing this. She thought that with her recklessness, she would be the one to get this, and that she would be the one that would die. So when this happened to her sister, it's as if she was upset that it couldn't have happened to her. This quote could have foreshadowed the death that Clem was awaiting.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
I See You Everywhere (Pgs. 144-185)
Summary
In the following pages of the book, a lot has happened. Clem is still in the hospital from the accident she was in, but she still doesn't remember how it occurred. There was a new character that is brought up, who goes by the name of Larney, which Clem doesn't remember at all. She seems to still have amnesia, and that is why she doesn't remember much. Clem's dad also comes and visits her, although their encounter is very brief. He tells her how the accident occurred, which was through a boat accident. Larney seems to be convinced to win Clem over, although Clem only has her heart set for Jerry. He finally calls her, and they discuss why he hasn't come to visit her. It seems as if Clem forgot that her and Jerry were over because he was interested in someone else. She only slightly remembered when Jerry told her how they had to be put "on hold", and how she ran away from him, realizing later that the gypsy that they had consulted earlier stole her wallet. The chapter concludes by Larney picking up Clem from the hospial, and taking her home.
The next chapter begins in a confusing manner, talking about some machine. It then progresses to mention an interview with a character named Esteban. Through the mention of an interview is it learned that it is Louisa who is now narrating this chapter. She talks of going to visit this artist, and to learn of what he does and his inspirations. After this, Louisa goes to the hospital for some check- up procedure. After this, readers learn that she is no longer with Hugh, but is now living with a man named Ray. Through her, we learn that she is desperate to have children, but he doesn't seem to agree with the idea. We also learn that she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and that she tells Clem so Clem can try and help her. Then Louisa goes and tells her mom, who doesn't seem as worried as a mother should be. The end of the section concludes with Louisa and Ray attending a party hosted by Esteban and his pregnant wife. Here Louisa meets Esteban's mother, who is deaf. She asks her if she will have children, and they tell her it's okay to adopt a child. The section concludes with Esteban telling Louisa his mom had cancer too, telling Louisa that he knew, even if she never told him.
Quote
"Completely tuned in to our mother's words, she was staring me down, the look on her face triumphantly sour. She'd always said I was our mother's favorite, and I would deny what I knew to be true, because until then she never had proof. Here it is at last, said her look, what she'd been waiting for: justification she could bank against any future family injustice" (Glass 154).
Reaction
In these pages, the usage of the switching of narration is rarely used. It seems as if Clem and Louisa each tell their story in seperate chapters. Confusion as to who is narrating still occurs, because the reader doesn't know who is talking to who until a name is mentioned, or when one of the sisters is speaking to the other. The change in time gets somewhat confusing as well, because the beginning of the chapters don't pick up where the previous chapter had ended. It seems as if the book is picking up some pace now. In this section, although readers don't learn of Clem's age, we do learn the year difference between her and Louisa, which is four years.
I chose this quote because it shows some sibling rivalry. This quote was said by Clem, and she was referring to when her mother had publicly stated that she was her favorite. Here, it shows another reason why the relationship between Clem and Louisa was strained back when they were younger. Also, we learn of the jealousy Louisa felt towards her sister, her being the favorite. Readers learn through Clem that Louisa was awaiting this moment, to prove to her sister she was right about what she had suspected, and in the future, she couldn't be blamed for anything unjust. It shows Louisa was upset that their mother had openly declared that, and in the future, if anything unjust was done against her, she now had a legitimate excuse as to why nothing was ever done to Clem.
In the following pages of the book, a lot has happened. Clem is still in the hospital from the accident she was in, but she still doesn't remember how it occurred. There was a new character that is brought up, who goes by the name of Larney, which Clem doesn't remember at all. She seems to still have amnesia, and that is why she doesn't remember much. Clem's dad also comes and visits her, although their encounter is very brief. He tells her how the accident occurred, which was through a boat accident. Larney seems to be convinced to win Clem over, although Clem only has her heart set for Jerry. He finally calls her, and they discuss why he hasn't come to visit her. It seems as if Clem forgot that her and Jerry were over because he was interested in someone else. She only slightly remembered when Jerry told her how they had to be put "on hold", and how she ran away from him, realizing later that the gypsy that they had consulted earlier stole her wallet. The chapter concludes by Larney picking up Clem from the hospial, and taking her home.
The next chapter begins in a confusing manner, talking about some machine. It then progresses to mention an interview with a character named Esteban. Through the mention of an interview is it learned that it is Louisa who is now narrating this chapter. She talks of going to visit this artist, and to learn of what he does and his inspirations. After this, Louisa goes to the hospital for some check- up procedure. After this, readers learn that she is no longer with Hugh, but is now living with a man named Ray. Through her, we learn that she is desperate to have children, but he doesn't seem to agree with the idea. We also learn that she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and that she tells Clem so Clem can try and help her. Then Louisa goes and tells her mom, who doesn't seem as worried as a mother should be. The end of the section concludes with Louisa and Ray attending a party hosted by Esteban and his pregnant wife. Here Louisa meets Esteban's mother, who is deaf. She asks her if she will have children, and they tell her it's okay to adopt a child. The section concludes with Esteban telling Louisa his mom had cancer too, telling Louisa that he knew, even if she never told him.
Quote
"Completely tuned in to our mother's words, she was staring me down, the look on her face triumphantly sour. She'd always said I was our mother's favorite, and I would deny what I knew to be true, because until then she never had proof. Here it is at last, said her look, what she'd been waiting for: justification she could bank against any future family injustice" (Glass 154).
Reaction
In these pages, the usage of the switching of narration is rarely used. It seems as if Clem and Louisa each tell their story in seperate chapters. Confusion as to who is narrating still occurs, because the reader doesn't know who is talking to who until a name is mentioned, or when one of the sisters is speaking to the other. The change in time gets somewhat confusing as well, because the beginning of the chapters don't pick up where the previous chapter had ended. It seems as if the book is picking up some pace now. In this section, although readers don't learn of Clem's age, we do learn the year difference between her and Louisa, which is four years.
I chose this quote because it shows some sibling rivalry. This quote was said by Clem, and she was referring to when her mother had publicly stated that she was her favorite. Here, it shows another reason why the relationship between Clem and Louisa was strained back when they were younger. Also, we learn of the jealousy Louisa felt towards her sister, her being the favorite. Readers learn through Clem that Louisa was awaiting this moment, to prove to her sister she was right about what she had suspected, and in the future, she couldn't be blamed for anything unjust. It shows Louisa was upset that their mother had openly declared that, and in the future, if anything unjust was done against her, she now had a legitimate excuse as to why nothing was ever done to Clem.
Monday, December 6, 2010
I See You Everywhere (Pgs. 85-144)
Summary
In this new section of the book, at least two new chapters began. Picking up where it was left off, Louisa and Clem are bonding over lunch. They are discussing things in their lives, mainly about Louisa and her marriage. Clem is trying to cheer her up and give her good advice, but that backfired. Zip was the one that mainly helped Louisa as best as he could so she wouldn't be as depressed, and through this they bonded a lot while she was with Clem. Clem also started questioning her relationship with Zip because she felt the spark seemed to be disappearing, but after one night together the sparks came back. Then, in that same chapter, Clem and Louisa found Tighty, the guy that worked for her mom who ran away with her dogs. They talked and caught up, and one of the dogs gave birth. The chapter concludes with Zip keeping a puppy and him and Clem trying to name it.
In the next chapter, the years are passing by, and it is now 1989. Hugh and Louisa are still married, and it has now been four years since they have been together, and yet they still haven't been able to rekindle a spark. At lunch, even Louisa's mother questions why they haven't had children. In this chapter, Louisa reminisces on her childhood, and found a lot of things while cleaning out the barn her parents had bought. At the end of this chapter, Louisa is still questioning what she should do with Hugh. Following this chapter, Clem is now speaking, and she is just waking up in the hospital and she has found out she was asleep for almost an entire month, yet she doesn't recall the accident. She does recall, though, other accidents that have put her in the hospital, and she brings up how she still speaks to Luke, but now her new infatuation is this guy named Jerry, who is a vet. The section concludes with Clem asking Louisa to get in contact with Jerry to tell him where she is, and it seems they appear to visit her while she is in the ICU.
Quote
"Louisa looks both apalled and demoralized, and it's all my fault. How can I laugh at Zip? At least he knows how to console"(Glass 89).
Reaction
In these chapters, it feels like time is being pushed back yet brought forward, and the reader can't really tell why something that happened in one chapter is different from how it is in the next chapter. The only indication that the reader knows that time is moving forward is through the beginning of new chapters, and if the characters slightly mention it as well. The narration still switches from Clem to Louisa, but now they seem to switch through a new chapter. They both also continue to reminisce, and they get so caught up in it it gets hard to tell how it forms part of the past. The difference in what they reminisce on is that Louisa goes through objects that remind her of what had happened in that time, and it can usually be associated with good memories. With Clem, her being stuck in the hospital makes her remember reasons why she has been there before, and these memories contain scars and pain.
The reason I chose this quote was because it shows Clem's helplessness in helping her sister not be so down, and yet she can't seem to do anything about it. This seems to bother Clem, and in my opinion, this is a moving quote because even though they hurt each other and argue, they still love each other, and they help each other out when needed. Even if Louisa didn't treat Clem very well when they were little, Clem still wants to help her big sister. It also seems to bother her that even Zip seems to know how to console Louisa better than Clem, and it makes her feel useless that she can try but won't succeed. She even said it herself that it's her fault, which means she doesn't know what to do, and it has her fustrated. It shows how caring she is, even if she acts like she doesn't care.
In this new section of the book, at least two new chapters began. Picking up where it was left off, Louisa and Clem are bonding over lunch. They are discussing things in their lives, mainly about Louisa and her marriage. Clem is trying to cheer her up and give her good advice, but that backfired. Zip was the one that mainly helped Louisa as best as he could so she wouldn't be as depressed, and through this they bonded a lot while she was with Clem. Clem also started questioning her relationship with Zip because she felt the spark seemed to be disappearing, but after one night together the sparks came back. Then, in that same chapter, Clem and Louisa found Tighty, the guy that worked for her mom who ran away with her dogs. They talked and caught up, and one of the dogs gave birth. The chapter concludes with Zip keeping a puppy and him and Clem trying to name it.
In the next chapter, the years are passing by, and it is now 1989. Hugh and Louisa are still married, and it has now been four years since they have been together, and yet they still haven't been able to rekindle a spark. At lunch, even Louisa's mother questions why they haven't had children. In this chapter, Louisa reminisces on her childhood, and found a lot of things while cleaning out the barn her parents had bought. At the end of this chapter, Louisa is still questioning what she should do with Hugh. Following this chapter, Clem is now speaking, and she is just waking up in the hospital and she has found out she was asleep for almost an entire month, yet she doesn't recall the accident. She does recall, though, other accidents that have put her in the hospital, and she brings up how she still speaks to Luke, but now her new infatuation is this guy named Jerry, who is a vet. The section concludes with Clem asking Louisa to get in contact with Jerry to tell him where she is, and it seems they appear to visit her while she is in the ICU.
Quote
"Louisa looks both apalled and demoralized, and it's all my fault. How can I laugh at Zip? At least he knows how to console"(Glass 89).
Reaction
In these chapters, it feels like time is being pushed back yet brought forward, and the reader can't really tell why something that happened in one chapter is different from how it is in the next chapter. The only indication that the reader knows that time is moving forward is through the beginning of new chapters, and if the characters slightly mention it as well. The narration still switches from Clem to Louisa, but now they seem to switch through a new chapter. They both also continue to reminisce, and they get so caught up in it it gets hard to tell how it forms part of the past. The difference in what they reminisce on is that Louisa goes through objects that remind her of what had happened in that time, and it can usually be associated with good memories. With Clem, her being stuck in the hospital makes her remember reasons why she has been there before, and these memories contain scars and pain.
The reason I chose this quote was because it shows Clem's helplessness in helping her sister not be so down, and yet she can't seem to do anything about it. This seems to bother Clem, and in my opinion, this is a moving quote because even though they hurt each other and argue, they still love each other, and they help each other out when needed. Even if Louisa didn't treat Clem very well when they were little, Clem still wants to help her big sister. It also seems to bother her that even Zip seems to know how to console Louisa better than Clem, and it makes her feel useless that she can try but won't succeed. She even said it herself that it's her fault, which means she doesn't know what to do, and it has her fustrated. It shows how caring she is, even if she acts like she doesn't care.
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