Royela Joyce
asked
Bryn Greenwood:
Ugh. My heart. My brain. You really packed this with punch! And the different perspectives offer such depth - especially to the theme of the power (whether destructive or restorative) of love. Only questions I really felt left with at the end, however, was regarding Donal. Why did he enter foster care? Brenda never moved and even after all that time he forgot his address, he couldn't say he had family in OK?
Bryn Greenwood
The real question is why would he say he had family in OK? After years of being told he was protecting Wavy by staying away from her, he came to believe it. The way you believe things that are told to you over and over when you're a child. He went into foster care, because the alternative was to go against all that indoctrination, and in his mind, endanger Wavy. Also, why would he expect to be welcomed by his aunt, who hated Kellen, someone Donal aspired to be like? If you want to know what exactly happened to him in those seven years, you can sign up for my newsletter and get deleted scenes. http://eepurl.com/bNx2Rz
More Answered Questions
St. Martin's Literary Fiction
asked
Bryn Greenwood:
Did you always envision the novel told from multiple points of view? How did you channel those voices for each chapter? Did you have a favorite perspective to write from, and was there a character it was more difficult to find empathy for at certain points?
nicolle jennelle
asked
Bryn Greenwood:
I love your book!! I had my best friend read it and she loved it too but critiqued the one-dimensional nature of the aunt that tries so hard to control Wavy (Iv forget her name offhand). What is she about? Is she just a middle class white lady trope or is the predictability of her character an intentional writer's choice? I suggested the the latter to my friend but i'd love to really know why.
Xu Yuanxi
asked
Bryn Greenwood:
Hi! I come from China and I am very touched by all the wonderful and ugly things in AtUaWT. Basically I can read all of the story but there are a few words that I tried hard yet failed to understand. In the Acknowledgments you mentioned "Purgatorians, Lurkers, Pitizens, and the indomitable YNots." Are these the names of some people? It would be greatly appreciated if you explain them to me, one by one, if possible.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more