Q3 Post 6A

VOCABULARY
1. Nepotism (331)- favoritism shown to relatives mostly in business and politics (n)
2. Sequelae (336)- an abnormal condition resulting from a previous disease (n)

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "It is everything I can do not to punch these vultures, who want to rip apart the bleached bones of my family" (327). This is a metaphor where the vultures are the news reporters.
2. "As if the loss of a kid's hero worship can ache like a phantom limb"(332). This is a similie comparing the pain from a child who has lost their hero to a limb in pain.
3. "The sun washes over her milky skin, lights the line of her throat"(339). This is imagery because it gives a lot of detail and applies to visual senses.

QUOTE
"Its hard to be the one always waiting. I mean, there's something to be said for the hero who charges off to battle, but when you get right down to it, there's a whole story in who's left behind" (327). Brian's observations about his role in their family make me think of Penelope in the Odyssey. Both their spouses are out fighting while they struggle with their own issues at home.

THEME
A theme in this novel is indecision; Anna has had a hard time deciding whether or not to go through with the court case.