Key events
Why did James come home after having an affair with Louisa?
He wanted to resolve his relationships with his family as he began to understand Marilyns true feelings.
What's Jack's secret?
He's in love with Nath.
what is the POV of the book
Third person omniscient
"She had a habit of stealing 'treasures' that belong to members of her family and hiding them around the house."
Hannah
Why doesn't Jack fight back against Nath?
While Nath punches Jack, Jack realizes that Nath needs someone to blame for Lydia's death in order to grieve and begin to move on.
What important secret did Hannah keep in the beginning of the book?
She never told anyone about the day Lydia snuck out.
Name a key theme throughout the chapter.
impact of grief, search for closure, re-evaluation of family dynamics
"she seems sweet and docile, and that she would make a nice little wife"
Louisa
What occurred between James and Hannah that reminded him of Lydia?
James played a game with Hannah that reminded him of the game he used to play with Lydia.
At the end of the chapter what does Jack not tell Nath at the lake?
He never admitted that he was innocent in the case of Lydias death.
Why is the event between Hannah and James so important?
It shows the pain of Lydias absence and highlights his need to reconnect with his other children.
"Coming to her made him feel perfectly welcomed, perfectly at home, as he had never in his life felt before."
James
Where does Marilyn go after her and James make up?
What did Lydia lie about regarding her social life?
She lied to her parents about having friends/the people she hung out with.
What is the point of Marilyn visiting Lydias room after being with James, and what does she see?
Marilyn sees a vision of Lydia lying on her bed and treasures that sight, showing a step she takes in grieving and acceptance of Lydias death.
"She had already begun to feel it: how hard it would be to inherit their parents' dreams. How suffocating to be so loved"
Lydia
Why did Hannah push Nath into the lake?
She didn't want Nath to beat up Jack because she knew that Jack had nothing to do with Lydia's death.
what did Louisa lie to Marilyn about, when visiting her apartment?
James was in her apartment all along.
Overall, how does Lydia's death impact the characters throughout this entire book?
allows them to address their pasts, strengthening the relationships with each other.
"She is very frustrated by the fact that Doris is successful in her career"
Marilyn