The Book of Laura 7
by Link, KellyDaniel and Laura set out to visit Mo’s house, a large residence on a quiet street marked by expansive lawns and proximity to a notable cliff fall. Passing the ominously dark Cliff Hangar, they sense the lingering unease from recent events. Their arrival at Mo’s home introduces Rosamel Walker, a striking figure whose shaved head captivates Laura. The conversation shifts to local news: a tiger sighting near the hiking trails and the disappearance of the Cliff Hangar’s owner and cook. Rosamel mentions a community event to support the cook’s family, hinting at the town’s intertwined personal and communal struggles.
Inside Mo’s house, Laura is enveloped by a warm atmosphere filled with comforting scents and rich symbolism. The foyer’s intricate wood inlay and the walls adorned with images of Black men and women create a space that is both beautiful and meaningful. A mysterious sign above a doorway reads “EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE HAD THE FOLLOWING EVENTS NOT OCCURRED,” suggesting a deeper narrative or inside reference. Jenny, Mo’s assistant, guides them through the home, revealing a library, bedrooms, and a music studio, underscoring the creative and intellectual environment Mo inhabits.
The stained-glass window above the staircase is a focal point, depicting Black Adam and Eve with a serpent as a golden coin of light, surrounded by other Black faces. This artwork, crafted by a student of Alma Thomas, reflects cultural pride and artistic depth within the home. Jenny’s casual offer of food and her familiarity with Mo’s life in Ireland add layers to the story, highlighting connections that extend beyond the physical space. The mention of Cara, Mo’s mother, ties personal history to the present, enriching the narrative with family legacy.
Laura’s memories of reading the first Lavender Glass book at age twelve surface, revealing her early fascination with Mo’s work despite skipping the more adult content. The chapter captures Laura’s admiration and emotional connection to Mo’s literary world, blending youthful discovery with the complexity of adult relationships and community ties. This blend of personal history, local mystery, and cultural significance sets the tone for a story deeply rooted in place, identity, and the intertwining of past and present.
FAQs
1. How do Daniel and Laura’s perceptions of Mo’s house and neighborhood reflect their understanding of Mo’s life and character?
Answer:
Daniel and Laura notice that Mo’s house is the largest on the street with the longest lawn, indicating Mo’s relative wealth or status. The neighborhood’s progression to bigger houses and longer lawns as they approach Mo’s street suggests a more affluent area. Despite this, neither has been inside Mo’s house, showing a distance or unfamiliarity with his private life. Laura’s detailed observations—the beauty of the house, the smell of cinnamon and pine, and the carefully decorated interior—highlight her admiration and idealization of Mo, the author of her favorite books. These perceptions reveal their respect for Mo but also their outsider status in his personal world.2. What is the significance of the stained glass window depicting Adam and Eve as Black figures with a golden serpent, and how does it contribute to the chapter’s themes?
Answer:
The stained glass window showing Adam and Eve as Black figures with a golden serpent symbolizes a reclamation and reinterpretation of traditional biblical imagery, centering Black identity and experience. The golden coin-like serpent’s head adds a mystical or valuable dimension to the story of temptation and knowledge. This artwork, designed by a student of Alma Thomas (a notable Black artist), emphasizes themes of heritage, cultural pride, and the blending of art with personal and collective history. It enriches the chapter by connecting Mo’s home to deeper cultural narratives and highlighting the importance of representation and legacy in the characters’ lives.3. How does the introduction of the tiger sighting and the missing Cliff Hangar owner and cook build tension or foreshadow events in the story?
Answer:
The mention of a tiger sighting on a hiking trail near the Cliff Road introduces an element of mystery and danger, suggesting something unusual and possibly threatening has entered the community. The fact that the tiger might have been an escaped pet adds to the sense of unpredictability and chaos. Coupled with the news that the owner and cook of the Cliff Hangar are missing, these details foreshadow potential conflict or crisis that could impact the characters. This builds tension by raising questions about safety, the cause of these incidents, and how they might relate to the characters’ lives or the unfolding plot.4. In what ways does Laura’s memory of reading the first Lavender Glass book at age twelve contribute to her character development and understanding of her relationship with Mo’s work?
Answer:
Laura’s recollection of finding the first Lavender Glass book at a young age shows a long-standing personal connection to Mo’s writing. Her decision to skip the sexual content and focus on the adventurous and imaginative elements like pirates, castles, and clothing reveals her youthful innocence and selective engagement with literature. This memory highlights her admiration for Mo as an author and the impact his work has had on her imagination and identity. It also underscores a theme of growth and change, as Laura’s understanding of the books and their themes likely deepens with age, mirroring her evolving relationship with Mo and his world.5. Analyze the interactions between Laura, Daniel, and Rosamel Walker. What do these exchanges reveal about their relationships and social dynamics?
Answer:
The interactions between Laura, Daniel, and Rosamel Walker are marked by casual familiarity mixed with subtle tensions. Rosamel’s shaved head and confident presence command attention, and Laura feels a physical warmth upon seeing her, indicating admiration or attraction. Their conversation about Ohio, cows, and the tiger sighting shows a friendly, if somewhat guarded, social rapport. Rosamel’s teasing about Laura’s hair and the knowing smile suggest inside knowledge or unspoken understanding, hinting at deeper connections or histories. Daniel’s awkwardness and Rosamel’s dismissive “Ignore him” reflect social dynamics where Rosamel holds a certain authority or confidence, while Laura navigates between admiration and self-consciousness. These exchanges reveal layered relationships shaped by respect, curiosity, and unspoken emotions.
Quotes
1. “He lives here all by himself?” Daniel said.
“Well, he lived here with his grandmother,” Laura said. “But she’s dead now.”
“You really liked her books,” Daniel said.
“I really fucking did,” Laura said.This exchange highlights Laura’s deep personal connection to the author whose home they are visiting, establishing the emotional stakes and reverence Laura holds for the literary figure and her legacy.
2. “Someone got a picture of a tiger on one of the hiking trails this afternoon. Off the Cliff Road. It’s kind of blurry but definitely a tiger. They think maybe somebody was keeping one as a pet and it escaped. There was a news crew in town earlier.”
This quote introduces an element of mystery and surrealism to the setting, signaling that unexpected and possibly dangerous events are unfolding in the community, creating tension and intrigue.
3. “Just down the hall in front of them was a doorway with a legend painted in gold above the door: EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE HAD THE FOLLOWING EVENTS NOT OCCURRED.”
This striking inscription serves as a thematic focal point of the chapter, encapsulating a sense of foreboding and the impact of past events on the present, inviting reflection on causality and consequence.
4. “Up in a high place, looking out at the sea through a window. Up in a high place, dreaming of Rosamel Walker.”
This lyrical passage conveys Laura’s imaginative and emotional connection to the author and her world, blending physical space with inner longing and symbolizing aspiration and reverence.
5. “It was designed by one of Alma Thomas’s students. Library on the first floor, bedrooms on the second, and music on the third. Maryanne thought that was ideal, falling asleep suspended halfway between her books and music.”
This quote offers insight into Maryanne’s character and values, emphasizing the harmony between literature and music in her life and providing a glimpse into the intimate, thoughtful design of the house that reflects her personality.
Quotes
1. “He lives here all by himself?” Daniel said.
“Well, he lived here with his grandmother,” Laura said. “But she’s dead now.”
“You really liked her books,” Daniel said.
“I really fucking did,” Laura said.This exchange highlights Laura’s deep personal connection to the author whose home they are visiting, establishing the emotional stakes and reverence Laura holds for the literary figure and her legacy.
2. “Someone got a picture of a tiger on one of the hiking trails this afternoon. Off the Cliff Road. It’s kind of blurry but definitely a tiger. They think maybe somebody was keeping one as a pet and it escaped. There was a news crew in town earlier.”
This quote introduces an element of mystery and surrealism to the setting, signaling that unexpected and possibly dangerous events are unfolding in the community, creating tension and intrigue.
3. “Just down the hall in front of them was a doorway with a legend painted in gold above the door: EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE HAD THE FOLLOWING EVENTS NOT OCCURRED.”
This striking inscription serves as a thematic focal point of the chapter, encapsulating a sense of foreboding and the impact of past events on the present, inviting reflection on causality and consequence.
4. “Up in a high place, looking out at the sea through a window. Up in a high place, dreaming of Rosamel Walker.”
This lyrical passage conveys Laura’s imaginative and emotional connection to the author and her world, blending physical space with inner longing and symbolizing aspiration and reverence.
5. “It was designed by one of Alma Thomas’s students. Library on the first floor, bedrooms on the second, and music on the third. Maryanne thought that was ideal, falling asleep suspended halfway between her books and music.”
This quote offers insight into Maryanne’s character and values, emphasizing the harmony between literature and music in her life and providing a glimpse into the intimate, thoughtful design of the house that reflects her personality.
— Unknown
FAQs
1. How do Daniel and Laura’s perceptions of Mo’s house and neighborhood reflect their understanding of Mo’s life and character?
Answer:
Daniel and Laura notice that Mo’s house is the largest on the street with the longest lawn, indicating Mo’s relative wealth or status. The neighborhood’s progression to bigger houses and longer lawns as they approach Mo’s street suggests a more affluent area. Despite this, neither has been inside Mo’s house, showing a distance or unfamiliarity with his private life. Laura’s detailed observations—the beauty of the house, the smell of cinnamon and pine, and the carefully decorated interior—highlight her admiration and idealization of Mo, the author of her favorite books. These perceptions reveal their respect for Mo but also their outsider status in his personal world.
2. What is the significance of the stained glass window depicting Adam and Eve as Black figures with a golden serpent, and how does it contribute to the chapter’s themes?
Answer:
The stained glass window showing Adam and Eve as Black figures with a golden serpent symbolizes a reclamation and reinterpretation of traditional biblical imagery, centering Black identity and experience. The golden coin-like serpent’s head adds a mystical or valuable dimension to the story of temptation and knowledge. This artwork, designed by a student of Alma Thomas (a notable Black artist), emphasizes themes of heritage, cultural pride, and the blending of art with personal and collective history. It enriches the chapter by connecting Mo’s home to deeper cultural narratives and highlighting the importance of representation and legacy in the characters’ lives.
3. How does the introduction of the tiger sighting and the missing Cliff Hangar owner and cook build tension or foreshadow events in the story?
Answer:
The mention of a tiger sighting on a hiking trail near the Cliff Road introduces an element of mystery and danger, suggesting something unusual and possibly threatening has entered the community. The fact that the tiger might have been an escaped pet adds to the sense of unpredictability and chaos. Coupled with the news that the owner and cook of the Cliff Hangar are missing, these details foreshadow potential conflict or crisis that could impact the characters. This builds tension by raising questions about safety, the cause of these incidents, and how they might relate to the characters’ lives or the unfolding plot.
4. In what ways does Laura’s memory of reading the first Lavender Glass book at age twelve contribute to her character development and understanding of her relationship with Mo’s work?
Answer:
Laura’s recollection of finding the first Lavender Glass book at a young age shows a long-standing personal connection to Mo’s writing. Her decision to skip the sexual content and focus on the adventurous and imaginative elements like pirates, castles, and clothing reveals her youthful innocence and selective engagement with literature. This memory highlights her admiration for Mo as an author and the impact his work has had on her imagination and identity. It also underscores a theme of growth and change, as Laura’s understanding of the books and their themes likely deepens with age, mirroring her evolving relationship with Mo and his world.
5. Analyze the interactions between Laura, Daniel, and Rosamel Walker. What do these exchanges reveal about their relationships and social dynamics?
Answer:
The interactions between Laura, Daniel, and Rosamel Walker are marked by casual familiarity mixed with subtle tensions. Rosamel’s shaved head and confident presence command attention, and Laura feels a physical warmth upon seeing her, indicating admiration or attraction. Their conversation about Ohio, cows, and the tiger sighting shows a friendly, if somewhat guarded, social rapport. Rosamel’s teasing about Laura’s hair and the knowing smile suggest inside knowledge or unspoken understanding, hinting at deeper connections or histories. Daniel’s awkwardness and Rosamel’s dismissive “Ignore him” reflect social dynamics where Rosamel holds a certain authority or confidence, while Laura navigates between admiration and self-consciousness. These exchanges reveal layered relationships shaped by respect, curiosity, and unspoken emotions.
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