Everything I Never Told You discussion

Okay Chapter One.. First of all. She refrigerates peanut butter? Idk about that. Not sure how I’m supposed to feel about Marilyn as a character yet but uhh. Refrigerated peanut butter isn’t helping her case. I get a vague sense of resentment/envy towards Lydia coming from Marilyn. Mixed in with some type of love and pride in her daughter. Very muddy combination. Like the joy that comes from your daughter having better things than you had as a kid but muddied by jealousy of those same things. Inner conflict of the proof that she’s been good enough of a mother to allow Lydia to be smart and independent (secretive) but maybe she’s been Too good of a mom. Only read the first 8-10 pages though so let’s see.

Okay done with the chapter now. One of the major themes seems to be the idea of living up to expectations. Marilyn needing to be a good mother, a loving mother, to be better than her daughter, to raise her daughter better than herself. James’ need to marry a Chinese woman, to live up to Chinese stereotypes, to live a life central to his Chinese heritage above all else. Nath’s need to protect Lydia’s secrets before protecting Lydia herself. Hannah’s (and everyone’s) need to live up to Lydia, the favorite. It’s interesting to see how each persons personal insecurity just ties the knot tighter and tighter, and if they would just communicate without fear of shame they’d be closer to figuring it out.

Anyway it’s really good. I like the writing style and the characterization is really effective