3A Independent Reading discussion

In this goodreads response, I will be writing about various well-written passages in my book. As I have started the second book in the series, it is only in the point of view of Willem, who was the lover of the girl, Lulu, mentioned in my last post. I chose these passages because of the impact I felt of guilt when reading them, like I was cheating on Lulu because of reading Willem’s words. ‘’But then you didn’t call me,’’ she says.
‘’Oh, you know. Something came up.’’
‘’I’m sure something did.’’ Her hand drifts between my legs. ‘’ I saw you with that girl. In Paris. She was pretty.’’ She says it offhandedly, dismissively even, but something skitters to life in my gut. A kind of warning. Ana Lucia’s hand is still between my legs and it’s having the intended effect, but now Lulu’s somewhere in the room, too.
‘’ She was pretty, but you’re beautiful.’’ I say it, trying to steer the conversation away….
Her grip tightens. ‘’What was her name?’’ she asks. I don’t want to say her name. But Ana Lucia has me firmly in hand and if I don’t say it, I’ll arouse suspicion.
‘’Lulu,’’ I say in my pillow.’’ (page 64)
I feel so deeply about this conversation because I know how depression had swept over Lulu, hundreds of miles away, at this point in her life. This angers me to the point I feel no sympathy for Willem. Deep down I know he is hurting, but he is cheating on himself by being with Ana Lucia.
This next well-written passage shows the effects that Willem’s heart are enduring, it is almost like a form of PTSD on his heart. ‘’I’ll take care of you,’’ Ana Lucia says, and I jump in the bed hearing Lulu’s words come out of Ana Lucia’s mouth. But as Ana Lucia’s head dips under the covers, I realize it’s a different kind of taking care she’s talking about. It’s not the kind I really need. But I don’t refuse it.’’ (page 66) Reading this makes me full of anger, wanting to scream at Willem that he is playing too much attention to pleasure, and not enough to what his heart is craving. Although these passages hurt me as a reader, and a lover of Lulu, I appreciate them and the effect that they have on me.

Just reading this makes me so upset, like you. I can tell he feels guilty, but at the same time it's like he doesn't even care about Lulu. I also love how poetic the author's writing is. Just from reading these passages, it feels like I am involved and want to read more.