The Fam
The protagonist who struggles with depression due to the death of his brother.
Who is Conrad?
Readers are introduced to the challenging dynamics of the protagonist's parents' relationship through an argument about _______________ in chapter four.
What is London/traveling for Christmas?
The protagonist's psychiatrist whom he meets with after returning home from the hospital.
Who is Dr. Berger?
What is express/feel/show?
The protagonist blames ________ and ________for his brother's death.
His brother, himself
The protagonist's father who:
- was an orphan
- likes to communicate to resolve problems
- has a drinking problem
- reconnects with the protagonist at the end of the novel
Who is Calvin?
A major argument breaks out between the protagonist and his mother when she finds out that he __________, because she only heard about it through a friend's mother.
What is quit the swim team?
The protagonist's best friend.
Who is (Joe) Lazenby?
The protagonist is told by a stranger that he is attractive, which leads to a conversation about his increased interest in ___________.
What are girls?
The protagonist says ___________ to his father at the end of the novel.
What is "I love you"?
The protagonist's brother who died in a boating accident.
Who is Buck?
The protagonist's parents argue during ________ about how to treat/parent him.
What is Christmas?
The protagonist's girlfriend
Jeannine Pratt
The protagonist is encouraged to _________ when he has a breakdown after his friend's suicide.
What is "be himself"/"let it all out"?
The protagonist describes hiding his emotions as ____________.
What is control?
The protagonist's mother who:
- prefers to "move on" from issues rather than talk about them
- leaves for Europe indefinitely at the end of the novel for Europe
Who is Beth?
The protagonist's parents have a HUGE fight in ____________ that ultimately foreshadows the end of their marriage.
Where is Houston/their in-laws house/the golf tournament trip?
The protagonist's friend from the hospital whom he meets for a Coke and later commits suicide.
Who is Karen Aldrich?
The protagonist discovers that he must forgive _______ rather than hope for the forgiveness of his mother for the death of his brother.
Who is himself?
The author uses ______ when revealing the protagonist's inner thoughts to the reader (stream of consciousness).
What are italics?
The protagonist's grandparents that he stays with while his parents are in Houston.
Who are Howard and Ellen?
Conrad snaps and fights this member of the swim team.
Who is Stillman?
The protagonist's doctor from the hospital.
Who is Dr. Crawford?
In their second meeting, the protagonist admits that he wants to quit the swim team but is scared to because _________.
What is he thinks it/he will look bad?
The story is also partially told from ________'s point of view, revealing their thoughts and emotions about ________ and ______________.
What/who are Calvin, and two of the following:
- his wife/marriage
- his childhood/past
- his son