The Bookshelf discussion

What do you think of the book so far? I personally love the imagery in this book. I like on page 19 where it says, "Caroline Walker, like Minna, walks into the kitchen as though expecting a party and seems bewildered to instead encounter an empty room...". To me, that speaks of Caroline and Minna's attitude and how similar they are even if Minna likes to think she is better than her mother. An on page 73, I made a personal connection when Minna talks about seeing snow for the first time. I grew up in a desert and it did occasionally "snow", but it wasn't until I got into college that I got to experience a real snowstorm and it was a lot like being a part of a movie. Even though I've read this book before, I can't remember what happens! I wonder why Trenton got left the house and who Adrienne is.

Haha! I used to be a beautiful child and now I have adult acne and frizzy hair. You can't count on looks for anything.
I like how you compared the Walker home to a murderer's house because there's a lot of truth to that. It will always be "that" house.
The emotions I attached to their return to the house was akin to returning to my own home after being gone for a long time. Nothing traumatic happened to me or at my house. Because I had changed it felt like my house had, too. Of course, nothing really did change physically about the house, but I was seeing things through a different lens. In some cases a sharper lens, but mostly just a different one.
Trenton, I think, is different, not just cosmetically, but mentally. He's lost his innocence and he realizes that the adults in his life are untruthful, except for his dad. And Minna seems full of rage to me due to her environment. I can see hints of things, such as Amy's father only having a financial connection to Amy and Minna. I'm not completely certain about Minna's dynamic with her father just yet; I think part of Minna's anger is due to abandonment issues.
I enjoy Alice and Sandra's input throughout the story. Sandra is quirky and Alice appears wise. The imagery I enjoy the most is given by Alice and Sandra when they describe being a part of the house. That's why I enjoy this book so much because it contains two spirits that have become the house and don't haunt the house in a traditional way. In a way, the house haunts them.

Thanks Sam! I think you’re very articulate for a 19 year old. I’m impressed.
I guess now we should decide how far to read for this coming week. I don’t have my book in front of me right now but I’m always open to suggestions. I will leave this discussion open for anyone that wants to continue commenting on parts I and II. I am also looking for reading suggestions for March. I have a few ideas but I thought it would be more enjoyable to get more input.

Page 144 sound good?