Ava Bailey-Klugh

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

What is the significance of “Nicholas” returning June’s book from Sylvie? Is it a way for her life to end with a small piece of how her life began? #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

Why did Nicholas end up being already dead? Could it be a way of allowing June to pass away in peace? Could it be a way of offering June a small piece of comfort and mercy on her deathbed? #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

It seems like the closer Hector and June got to finding Nicholas, the worse June’s condition became. Could there be a connection between Nicholas and June’s illness? #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

@poling_colin I think I’m some ways the letters gave June the strength to die in peace, it was extremely unethical but it gave June the motivation and closer she needed on her deathbed. #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

@isamadath I think it was further proof of the sexualization of women, but I agree it felt very out of place like the scene between June and Sylvie. #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

@JamesC82826182 I think it might be to show Hectors self inflicted isolation. No matter if Dora was going to stay or not I think internally Hector knew he was bound to hurt Dora and end up alone again. #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

@AlkireIngrid I think that’s so interesting consider throughout most of the book Hector has aimed to be alone and live in isolation. That leads me to wonder what changed? Why does Hector suddenly not want to be alone? #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

Why doesn't Hector want Dora to know about June? Is he ashamed of his past with her? Does he want the memory of her to fade away? #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

"If it was poison, let it be." (pg. 326). There's an ongoing comparison of drugs and alcohol being compared to poise and mortality, what is the significance of this? #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

"that led to his bringing her over, as is legal bride, though once landed they had just as quickly separated," (pg. 285). So interesting that to finally learn about the relationship Hector had with June. #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

@aredenoebok06 I think it might have to do with surrendering to memory and the unescapable past. Maybe throughout the story we watch different characters surrender to their memories of the war and how those memories continue to follow them. #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

@AlkireIngrid I never thought of that! I agree, maybe throughout the novel we are seeing how the characters are surrendering without showing us directly. #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

"live with his feet and legs more than his head and hands." (pg. 147) Is June suggesting that living with your hands is a bad thing, is this what the greatest sin of all is? Why are hands brought up so many times in this reading? #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

"with unintended poetry, Like fingers in a jar." (pg. 241) We've seen how hands have played a big part of this book, what part does June's tumor looking like fingers play in this section? #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

"drink in the potion and transmogrify, be anything but her mortal self." (pg. 225). What is the significance of Sylvie referring to her sober self as her mortal self? Are drugs her escape from her reality? #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

@IsabellaWynn13 I feel like we’ve seen a lot of the positive sides of religion and how religion is almost portrayed as the solution, but I feel like in this chapter we realize that there’s 2 sides to the religious take over and that maybe religion is part of the problem. #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

@IsabellaWynn13 @NicolasCassman I agree I feel like this book is kind of the opposite of Human Acts in the sense that we learn how all of the characters are connected at the end rather than at beginning like in Human Acts. #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

What is the significances of the books perspective now changing to Sylvie's perspective? Is the author trying to show us how everyone in the book had a different experience with violence and each chose different ways to heal from the trauma of it all? #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

"the greatest sin was to be only half used." (pg. 185). This reminds me of the talk Tanner had with Hector when he was explaining that living in misery was the greatest sin of all. What is the significance of sin being used to refers to not living life to its fullest? #smce118

[Ava Bailey-Klugh @avabaileyklugh]

"educating children, feeding the poor, ameliorating suffering." (pg. 181). This feels like a hero complex, it feels like her parents see themselves as hero's that are going to save the people. #smce118