How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
I was surprised that I knew this all by myself, without my mother there. And that night in bed, I did not cry. I said to myself, "Salamanca Tree Hiddle, you can be happy without her." It seemed like a mean thought and I was sorry for it, but it felt true. (7.14)
Sal learns how to live without her mother which makes her happy and sad at the same time. Do you agree that it's mean of Sal to think she can be happy without her mother? Why or why not?
Quote #2
"Because a lunatic is – it means – it sounds like – oh, never mind." He would not explain, and he seemed embarrassed to have mentioned this in the first place. Then he said to me, "Don't people touch each other at your house?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I just wondered," he said. "You flinch every time someone touches you." (11.39-41)
Ben plays a big part in helping Sal figure out who she is and how her grief over her mother's leaving is getting in the way of her ability to live life. Also, Ben is way more reasonable and grounded than Phoebe and Sal: he knows Mike is not a lunatic, and that calling him one is actually pretty rude.
Quote #3
"Everybody is just walking along concerned with his own problems, his own life, his own worries. And we're all expecting other people to tune into our own agenda. 'Look at my worry. Worry with me. Step into my life. Care about my problems. Care about me.'" Gram sighed. (12.4)
Do you agree with Gram that everyone is just concerned about his or her own self? Do you think this is the way most of us live our lives? Do Gram and Gramps live this way? What other ways can human beings live?