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    The Book of Love

    by Link, Kelly
    Set in the coastal town of Lovesend, Massachusetts, Kelly Link’s “The Book of Love” follows three teenagers who mysteriously return from the dead. They must navigate magical challenges to secure their continued existence. The novel explores themes of love in its many forms—romantic, familial, and platonic—alongside grief, identity, and resilience, blending magical realism with coming-of-age drama.
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    The Book of Love

    The Book of Laura 9

    by Link, Kelly

    In this chap­ter of *The Book of Lau­ra*, Lau­ra reflects on Susannah’s well­be­ing, relieved to find her hap­py and unaf­fect­ed by the com­pli­cat­ed past involv­ing Bogomil. Lau­ra reas­sures her­self that her deci­sion to make Susan­nah for­get about Bogomil was jus­ti­fied, as Susan­nah appears well and con­tent. Despite the ongo­ing mys­ter­ies sur­round­ing char­ac­ters like Thomas, Malo Mogge, Mr. Anabin, and the enig­mat­ic Bogomil, Lau­ra decides these mat­ters are bet­ter dis­cussed with Mo and Daniel, rather than Susan­nah. Mean­while, she con­tem­plates Bowie’s return to the liv­ing and the poten­tial ben­e­fits of Bowie hav­ing a new adver­sary.

    The chap­ter then shifts to a lighter moment as Susan­nah dis­cov­ers Laura’s new gui­tar, a Gretsch, spark­ing excite­ment and admi­ra­tion. Lau­ra fab­ri­cates a sto­ry about receiv­ing the gui­tar with Christ­mas mon­ey from her father, a tale she con­coct­ed on her way home. The inter­ac­tion between the two friends is warm and play­ful, high­light­ing their close bond and shared enthu­si­asm for music. Susannah’s curios­i­ty about the guitar’s sound and Laura’s pride in her acqui­si­tion pro­vide a wel­come break from the more seri­ous themes.

    Lau­ra sur­pris­es Susan­nah fur­ther by reveal­ing the con­tents of anoth­er gui­tar case: a unique item called a “Glo­ry,” craft­ed by Andy Beech, which once adorned a wall behind a counter. The item cap­ti­vates Susan­nah, who jok­ing­ly accus­es Lau­ra of steal­ing it. Lau­ra explains that she won it through a raf­fle, main­tain­ing the facade of luck rather than theft. The dis­cov­ery of the “Glo­ry” and the con­fir­ma­tion that the creator’s name is Ethan adds a lay­er of intrigue and sat­is­fac­tion to the chapter’s nar­ra­tive, tying back to ear­li­er hints and con­nec­tions.

    The chap­ter clos­es with a play­ful exchange about music and cre­ativ­i­ty. Lau­ra notices Susannah’s notepad filled with song notes, prompt­ing a teas­ing inquiry that Susan­nah quick­ly deflects. The friend­ly ban­ter cul­mi­nates in Susan­nah urg­ing Lau­ra to play one of her gui­tars, to which Lau­ra responds with a light-heart­ed, con­fi­dent remark. This end­ing under­scores the themes of friend­ship, artis­tic pas­sion, and the promise of future musi­cal endeav­ors, cap­tur­ing the chapter’s blend of per­son­al reflec­tion and joy­ful cama­raderie.

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    FAQs

    • 1. How does Laura interpret Susannah’s current well-being, and what does this reveal about Laura’s feelings regarding her past actions?

      Answer:
      Laura observes that Susannah appears happy and well-rested, which she takes as vindication that she did nothing wrong by making Susannah forget about Bogomil. This suggests Laura had concerns or doubts about her past decisions affecting Susannah negatively. Her relief and justification indicate an internal struggle with guilt or responsibility, but seeing Susannah well reassures her that her intervention was ultimately for the best.

      2. What is the significance of the “Glory” guitar piece, and how does it contribute to the dynamic between Laura and Susannah?

      Answer:
      The “Glory” is an artistic guitar piece made by Andy Beech, which used to hang behind a counter and now is physically in Laura’s possession after winning it in a raffle. Its significance lies not only in its artistic and material value but also in the shared history and recognition between Laura and Susannah. Susannah’s amazement and playful suspicion (“Did you steal it?”) highlight their close relationship and mutual excitement over meaningful objects, reinforcing their camaraderie and shared interests.

      3. Analyze how the conversation about the guitars reflects Laura’s aspirations and personality.

      Answer:
      Laura’s excitement about the Gretsch guitar and her imaginative projection of owning many guitars and even needing another house to store them reveals her passion for music and ambition. Her playful and confident tone, especially when she jokes about the “best day of your life” and the future “harbinger of things to come,” shows a hopeful and somewhat lighthearted personality. It also reflects her tendency to create stories and narratives, as seen in her invented explanation about the Christmas cash, highlighting creativity and a desire to impress or connect.

      4. How does the chapter hint at larger plot elements or conflicts beyond this scene, particularly involving other characters like Thomas, Malo Mogge, Mr. Anabin, and Bowie?

      Answer:
      The chapter briefly references unresolved or mysterious elements: Thomas, Malo Mogge being “the moon,” and Mr. Anabin and Bogomil being under some form of thrall to Laura. These mentions suggest deeper supernatural or magical conflicts that Laura plans to discuss with Mo and Daniel, indicating ongoing intrigue and alliances. The mention of Bowie as a powerful magic user with a mortal enemy adds tension and foreshadows potential confrontations. These hints serve to build a broader narrative context and underscore the complexity of Laura’s world.

      5. In what ways does the interaction between Laura and Susannah illustrate themes of trust and secrecy in their relationship?

      Answer:
      Susannah’s protective reaction when Laura tries to see her songwriting notes (“None of your beeswax”) shows boundaries and a degree of secrecy, while their playful banter about the guitars and the raffle story reflects trust and openness. This balance between sharing excitement and guarding personal creative work highlights the nuanced dynamics in their friendship. It suggests that while they are close and supportive, each respects the other’s need for privacy, illustrating mature and layered interpersonal connection.

    Quotes

    • 1. “As far as Laura could tell, there was nothing wrong with Susannah. She looked happy and well rested. Here was vindication. Laura had done nothing wrong when she’d made Susannah forget about Bogomil.”

      This quote reveals Laura’s internal justification and relief regarding her actions affecting Susannah, highlighting a key emotional and moral checkpoint in the chapter. It sets the tone for Laura’s reflections on the consequences of her interventions.

      2. “If Bowie had a mortal enemy now that she was back in the world of the living, wasn’t that a good thing? So far Bowie appeared to be much better at magic than anyone else; it wouldn’t be the worst thing if someone did something about her.”

      This insight captures the complex dynamics of power and rivalry among characters, reflecting Laura’s pragmatic if somewhat ironic view of conflict as a means to balance or challenge dominance in magical ability.

      3. “It was like the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark when the Ark of the Covenant was opened and all the angels started flying around and smiling at people.”

      This vivid simile expresses Susannah’s awe upon seeing the “Glory,” emphasizing the significance and almost mystical value of the object within the story, and illustrating the emotional resonance of this moment.

      4. “I prefer to think of it as a harbinger of things to come. One day I’ll look back and I won’t even remember I once owned this Gretsch because I’ll have bought so many excellent guitars. I’ll have so many guitars I’ll have to buy another house to keep them in.”

      Here, Laura expresses hopeful ambition and a forward-looking mindset, using the guitar as a symbol of future success and abundance, which adds an optimistic layer to her character’s development and aspirations.

      5. “None of your beeswax,” Susannah said, snatching it away from her. “Play me something on your new guitar.”

      This brief exchange conveys the playful, teasing relationship between Laura and Susannah, grounding the chapter’s magical and mysterious elements in authentic, relatable friendship dynamics.

    Quotes

    1. “As far as Laura could tell, there was nothing wrong with Susannah. She looked happy and well rested. Here was vindication. Laura had done nothing wrong when she’d made Susannah forget about Bogomil.”

    This quote reveals Laura’s internal justification and relief regarding her actions affecting Susannah, highlighting a key emotional and moral checkpoint in the chapter. It sets the tone for Laura’s reflections on the consequences of her interventions.

    2. “If Bowie had a mortal enemy now that she was back in the world of the living, wasn’t that a good thing? So far Bowie appeared to be much better at magic than anyone else; it wouldn’t be the worst thing if someone did something about her.”

    This insight captures the complex dynamics of power and rivalry among characters, reflecting Laura’s pragmatic if somewhat ironic view of conflict as a means to balance or challenge dominance in magical ability.

    3. “It was like the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark when the Ark of the Covenant was opened and all the angels started flying around and smiling at people.”

    This vivid simile expresses Susannah’s awe upon seeing the “Glory,” emphasizing the significance and almost mystical value of the object within the story, and illustrating the emotional resonance of this moment.

    4. “I prefer to think of it as a harbinger of things to come. One day I’ll look back and I won’t even remember I once owned this Gretsch because I’ll have bought so many excellent guitars. I’ll have so many guitars I’ll have to buy another house to keep them in.”

    Here, Laura expresses hopeful ambition and a forward-looking mindset, using the guitar as a symbol of future success and abundance, which adds an optimistic layer to her character’s development and aspirations.

    5. “None of your beeswax,” Susannah said, snatching it away from her. “Play me something on your new guitar.”

    This brief exchange conveys the playful, teasing relationship between Laura and Susannah, grounding the chapter’s magical and mysterious elements in authentic, relatable friendship dynamics.

    FAQs

    1. How does Laura interpret Susannah’s current well-being, and what does this reveal about Laura’s feelings regarding her past actions?

    Answer:
    Laura observes that Susannah appears happy and well-rested, which she takes as vindication that she did nothing wrong by making Susannah forget about Bogomil. This suggests Laura had concerns or doubts about her past decisions affecting Susannah negatively. Her relief and justification indicate an internal struggle with guilt or responsibility, but seeing Susannah well reassures her that her intervention was ultimately for the best.

    2. What is the significance of the “Glory” guitar piece, and how does it contribute to the dynamic between Laura and Susannah?

    Answer:
    The “Glory” is an artistic guitar piece made by Andy Beech, which used to hang behind a counter and now is physically in Laura’s possession after winning it in a raffle. Its significance lies not only in its artistic and material value but also in the shared history and recognition between Laura and Susannah. Susannah’s amazement and playful suspicion (“Did you steal it?”) highlight their close relationship and mutual excitement over meaningful objects, reinforcing their camaraderie and shared interests.

    3. Analyze how the conversation about the guitars reflects Laura’s aspirations and personality.

    Answer:
    Laura’s excitement about the Gretsch guitar and her imaginative projection of owning many guitars and even needing another house to store them reveals her passion for music and ambition. Her playful and confident tone, especially when she jokes about the “best day of your life” and the future “harbinger of things to come,” shows a hopeful and somewhat lighthearted personality. It also reflects her tendency to create stories and narratives, as seen in her invented explanation about the Christmas cash, highlighting creativity and a desire to impress or connect.

    4. How does the chapter hint at larger plot elements or conflicts beyond this scene, particularly involving other characters like Thomas, Malo Mogge, Mr. Anabin, and Bowie?

    Answer:
    The chapter briefly references unresolved or mysterious elements: Thomas, Malo Mogge being “the moon,” and Mr. Anabin and Bogomil being under some form of thrall to Laura. These mentions suggest deeper supernatural or magical conflicts that Laura plans to discuss with Mo and Daniel, indicating ongoing intrigue and alliances. The mention of Bowie as a powerful magic user with a mortal enemy adds tension and foreshadows potential confrontations. These hints serve to build a broader narrative context and underscore the complexity of Laura’s world.

    5. In what ways does the interaction between Laura and Susannah illustrate themes of trust and secrecy in their relationship?

    Answer:
    Susannah’s protective reaction when Laura tries to see her songwriting notes (“None of your beeswax”) shows boundaries and a degree of secrecy, while their playful banter about the guitars and the raffle story reflects trust and openness. This balance between sharing excitement and guarding personal creative work highlights the nuanced dynamics in their friendship. It suggests that while they are close and supportive, each respects the other’s need for privacy, illustrating mature and layered interpersonal connection.

    Note