Rachel > Recent Status Updates

"In the end you always crashed against the barricades of their love like the walls of a padded cell." I like this phrase because of the way it was worded but also because it is true. Parents naturally create this box of love and safety they intend to keep their children in; children tend to do their best to escape. One way or another, we find ourselves protected by their box, irritated by it nonetheless.

The last stanza where Susan gives the reader a bit of insight on the relationship with her mother sounds all too familiar to me. The entire page really, from her being overly cautious to the hot and cold interactions with one another. I can relate to this, and it is nice reading about it because in my opinion it is an overlooked topic despite it being a common experience.

"It proves little, except that perhaps in America, even a pig can aspire to immortality." This sentence was very interesting to me. I think it was meant in a sense that the pig is immortal through this story. Since the pig Jerusalem is the origin for the town's name, Jerusalem's lot, the pig "lives on" each time this story gets told even though it is physically dead (or at least I would hope so).

( previous three comments marked as page 19 were for page 28 !! )

chocolate soda??

Though the in-depth descriptions can come off as sudden to me at times, I do appreciate the casualty of conversation that tends to follow after. It is as if he is sucking our intention in, and then slowly releasing us only to grasp twice as firm the next time. (pause??)

I am pleased with the journey it took me to get there. He is describing some of the smallest scenarios in ways I have never heard or pictured them.

I am a new reader of Stephen King so I am just now getting a taste of his writing. What I can say so far is that he has some of the best descriptive writing I have read in a while. It takes me a few rereads to understand, (which I do hate because it disturbs the flow of the story) but when the message finally translates in my brain-

Is Ben the tall man with black hair?

What did the tall man do that he needs to fix??

"a gain of exactly 67 souls" instead of "a gain of exactly 67 people...very interesting.

"...so that the email is as dead and gone as Eleanor." I can't imagine how it feels to lose a best friend let alone a sister who happens to be that. It's not something I want to experience, and I hope I never do.

"...have I made the most of life? " This is what my 20's has felt like so far (21 right now). When school is in, exams are being taken, shifts are being picked up to pay the school bill; a voice in the back of your mind begs for fun, and constantly wonders if you are living up 20's the way

"To talk was to..." I like how this was worded. My first thought was a failed talking staged you really wanted to work out, asking to settle for friendship after so many feelings were already involved. I never agree to those circumstances because it almost never works & you end up more hurt than if you never heard from them again. Talking will just remind you of what you almost had.

She may not have been speaking in such vague regard, but it applies, nonetheless.

Her statement about human progress is how I have felt about the world in recent months. Something about 2025 has me feeling hyperaware and the direction America is headed has me worried in more ways than one. A lot of the issues our country is having today are issues that should have been solved and closed decades ago. We continue to repeat history and then scream about how nothing changes.

The first paragraph already has me screaming "I feel you sis!" inside my head and I love that. I want a book that feels like venting with homegirls and working out our life issues one day at a time. Super excited for this read and take valuable lessons from each perspective told.

-ime period we can only read about but I felt connected to Nate. This story was one of self discovery as much as it was one of injustice, and as a female in her 20s that is my entire life right now. A good read overall with good lessons to take from it!

I’m indifferent about the ending. Sad that Nate genuinely wanted to do better but lost so much up until the end but also happy, because him losing it all inspired much needed character development. Even so, I’m not sure what type of ending I was expecting but it did feel slightly lackluster to me. Overall this story has such a unique perspective on an important topic. Not only did I gain a new perspective on a t

"I choose to be shaped, polished by my past."
This is a word! As an individual that has made more than a handful of decisions she could have went her life without, I wouldn't change any of it. Whenever I think back to something and I cringe or get the urge to cry of embarrassment, I focus on the present. I redirect my mind, my energy. I'm grateful I no longer make certain choices & that's enough to keep me going.

"Another notch on my gruesome belt" is a great way to describe the pressure from the guilt Nate is feeling in his stomach.

Not everyone who claims to be an ally is one. There are racists, too cowardly to be bold about such, so they pretend. It's a real thing and it's scary. They have not loved us, and they do not love us, this is something we as a people must know

Nate is in distress and almost flabbergasted that The Fort managed to frame him once again. This part just reminds me of how easily and often African Americans deal with wrongful accusations/arrests. Throughout the story, I've noticed that the author places Nate in situations similar to this- enlightening him on the extent of injustice minorities face by making him to experience it

Racism is a hive of hibernating hornets."
It is, it always was and as time goes by, I begin to believe that it always will be. The hatred for people of color is rooted so deep in the blood of these people, you start to think that it would be a waste if they were to stop now. What a time to be alive.

& the damage has already multiplied. (289>) This part reminds me of that golden rule they drill into our heads pretty much every day until high school graduation. "Treat people how you want to be treated." B/c if not, you'll end up like Nate - in the same position as your victims. I think placing Nate in a position to be judged based only off of what people think they know about him, was needed & well done.

Nate becomes aware of his privilege and to me, this revelation is comforting yet tragic all at once. Comforting b/c as a minority, nothing is worse than a privileged individual that refuses to recognize themselves as such. It almost feels like they are begging to be in our position, like it is some game they were left out of. The tragedy weighs more. Realizing that his regret changes nothing-

Waitttt this ending makes me want to cryyyy. I am so so happy to hear how she has healed and how she is still healing, because honestly it is a lifelong process. She is so strong and has survived more than an average person would have been able to. I pray she continues to find the peace she is searching for. 10/10/10!!!

This is something I’ve learned along the way. Embarrassment is a huge part of growth and as annoying as it can be to feel when those memories pop in your head, it is what encourages you not to go back to your old ways

The grandmother is where Debra gets her lack of empathy and greed from, and the grandfather is just useless because he enabled the both of them.

I know my sis is doing good now but as I am reading this, I just want her to finally find peace, my goodness. This is all too much for just one person