Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of The Book of Love
    FantasyFictionLiterary

    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.
    PreviousNext
    The Book of Love

    The Book of Mary Kenner

    by Link, Kelly

    The chap­ter opens with Carousel, a mag­i­cal being who can trans­form between a uni­corn and human form, return­ing home after a cold encounter with ice. She reluc­tant­ly sheds her wings and size, embrac­ing her human iden­ti­ty to be with her new­found fam­i­ly, who are still rev­el­ing in their recent lot­tery win. Despite their brief acquain­tance, Carousel feels a deep con­nec­tion with them. The warmth of the kitchen and the play­ful antics of the chil­dren, includ­ing Dakota’s teas­ing and Lissy’s laugh­ter, high­light the bond they share. Carousel’s mag­i­cal nature allows her to con­tem­plate con­jur­ing marsh­mal­lows, sym­bol­iz­ing her desire to blend her mys­ti­cal world with every­day com­forts.

    Sud­den­ly, a cat­a­stroph­ic wave crash­es into the house, caus­ing chaos and destruc­tion. In a swift, instinc­tive act, Carousel trans­forms her fam­i­ly into six small red stones, safe­ly secur­ing them in her beak as the flood­wa­ters tear through the home. The vivid imagery of the water mixed with debris—ranging from house­hold items to lot­tery tickets—underscores the over­whelm­ing force of the dis­as­ter. Carousel her­self becomes a vul­ner­a­ble squid-like crea­ture, buf­fet­ed and torn by the relent­less cur­rent, empha­siz­ing her fragili­ty despite her mag­i­cal abil­i­ties.

    As the wave recedes, Carousel is swept far from shore, strug­gling to sur­vive in the tur­bu­lent, debris-filled water. Her mag­ic and recent trans­for­ma­tion have left her inex­pe­ri­enced and vul­ner­a­ble, espe­cial­ly with the respon­si­bil­i­ty of pro­tect­ing those she cares about. Just as she begins to suc­cumb to the over­whelm­ing force, strong arms grasp her, reveal­ing a woman stand­ing firm­ly on the ocean floor. This woman is Mary Ken­ner, a fig­ure immor­tal­ized through a con­tro­ver­sial stat­ue due to her prac­ti­cal inven­tion of the san­i­tary belt. Mary Kenner’s pres­ence intro­duces themes of prac­ti­cal­i­ty, prob­lem-solv­ing, and the reeval­u­a­tion of who soci­ety choos­es to cel­e­brate.

    Mary Ken­ner car­ries Carousel safe­ly to a new­ly formed shore, shaped by the wave’s dev­as­ta­tion, and ensures the child’s sur­vival before return­ing to the ocean. She press­es some­thing into Carousel’s hand, a ges­ture of sup­port and con­nec­tion. As Carousel regains warmth and strength, she releas­es the six red stones, sym­bol­iz­ing the safe­ty of her trans­formed fam­i­ly. The chap­ter clos­es on this note of sur­vival and resilience, blend­ing mag­i­cal real­ism with reflec­tions on lega­cy, fam­i­ly, and the pow­er of inven­tion amidst chaos.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • Answer:
      Carousel’s transformations and magical abilities symbolize her fluid identity and deep, albeit newly discovered, connection to her family. Initially described as a unicorn shedding her magical form to become human, Carousel’s willingness to give up her wings and tail shows her desire to belong to her family, even if they have only known her for a short time. When the wave strikes, Carousel instinctively turns her family members into small red stones and protects them, demonstrating her protective role and magical responsibility toward them. Despite her magical strength, Carousel’s vulnerability, especially during the flood, highlights the fragility of her new existence and the significance of her bond with her family, who depend on her care.

      2. What role does the wave and the flooding event play in the chapter, both literally and symbolically?

      Answer:
      Literally, the wave is a destructive force that devastates Carousel’s home, threatening the safety of her family and forcing Carousel to use her magic for protection and survival. The flood washes away physical structures, possessions, and even the natural landscape, signifying a radical upheaval in the story’s environment. Symbolically, the wave represents sudden change and the overwhelming challenges Carousel faces as she balances her magical identity with her human responsibilities. The flood’s destruction also acts as a cleansing force, wiping the slate clean and forcing Carousel to confront her new reality and the precariousness of her existence. The intervention of Mary Kenner at the shore introduces a theme of resilience and legacy amid chaos.

      Answer:
      Mary Kenner’s statue and her subsequent intervention carry thematic weight related to practicality, legacy, and recognition. Maryanne Gorch’s commissioning of the statue twice the size of life emphasizes a desire to honor problem-solving and useful invention—qualities embodied by Kenner, inventor of the sanitary belt. The statue’s presence and Kenner’s act of saving Carousel suggest that practical contributions to humanity, often overlooked or undervalued, hold profound power and meaning. This contrasts with societal tendencies to celebrate wealth or violence. By having Mary Kenner rescue Carousel, the chapter highlights themes of empowerment, the importance of overlooked histories, and the idea that legacy can take many forms, including acts of care and protection.

      4. How does the chapter explore the tension between magical fantasy and harsh reality? Provide examples.

      Answer:
      The chapter juxtaposes magical elements with stark, destructive reality to explore tension between fantasy and the real world. Carousel’s magical transformations and ability to summon marshmallows reflect whimsical, fantastical powers. Yet, these are sharply contrasted by the sudden, brutal arrival of the flood that tears apart her home and threatens her family’s lives. Carousel’s inability to fully control or survive the flood despite her magic underscores the limits of fantasy when confronted with natural disaster. Additionally, the detail of mundane objects such as Monopoly pieces, dirty laundry, and lottery tickets amidst the destruction grounds the scene in everyday reality. This tension illustrates the vulnerability inherent in magical escape and the necessity of resilience and practical help, as symbolized by Mary Kenner’s intervention.

      Answer:
      Carousel’s experience highlights the importance of adaptability, protection of loved ones, and reliance on both inner strength and external support when facing sudden change. Her transformations symbolize the need to shift identities or roles in response to new circumstances, much like people adjusting after crises such as natural disasters. The protective act of turning family into stones reflects prioritizing safety and preservation amid chaos. Furthermore, the arrival of Mary Kenner as a helper figure emphasizes the value of community, legacy, and practical assistance in recovery. In real-world terms, this chapter suggests that coping with upheaval involves a balance of personal resilience, care for others, and seeking or accepting help from sources that embody experience and practicality.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Her family still sat at the kitchen table, concocting fanciful schemes by which to spend their newfound lottery wealth.”

      This quote introduces the family dynamic and situates Carousel’s human experience in a moment of ordinary domesticity, highlighting the contrast between magical identity and everyday life. It sets the stage for Carousel’s protective instincts and the theme of family connection.

      This passage marks a pivotal moment of crisis and transformation, illustrating Carousel’s magic and her urgent protective action in the face of disaster. It captures the theme of sacrifice and the fragility of life amid chaos.

      3. “She had magic, but she had only been what she was for four days, and almost everyone who cared for her in this world was, instead, in her care.”

      This quote poignantly expresses Carousel’s new role and the responsibility thrust upon her, underscoring themes of maturity, guardianship, and the burdens of magic and identity.

      This moment symbolizes rescue, legacy, and perhaps the passing of wisdom or power. It ties Carousel’s survival to Mary Kenner’s symbolic presence, reinforcing the chapter’s blend of myth, history, and personal transformation.

      5. “There should be more celebrations of practicality and problem-solving had been her opinion. Fewer statues of murderers and the rich.”

      This reflection, voiced through Maryanne Gorch’s commissioning of Mary Kenner’s statue, offers a critical commentary on societal values and recognition. It encapsulates a key thematic argument about honoring meaningful, practical contributions over fame or wealth.

    Quotes

    1. “Her family still sat at the kitchen table, concocting fanciful schemes by which to spend their newfound lottery wealth.”

    This quote introduces the family dynamic and situates Carousel’s human experience in a moment of ordinary domesticity, highlighting the contrast between magical identity and everyday life. It sets the stage for Carousel’s protective instincts and the theme of family connection.

    This passage marks a pivotal moment of crisis and transformation, illustrating Carousel’s magic and her urgent protective action in the face of disaster. It captures the theme of sacrifice and the fragility of life amid chaos.

    3. “She had magic, but she had only been what she was for four days, and almost everyone who cared for her in this world was, instead, in her care.”

    This quote poignantly expresses Carousel’s new role and the responsibility thrust upon her, underscoring themes of maturity, guardianship, and the burdens of magic and identity.

    This moment symbolizes rescue, legacy, and perhaps the passing of wisdom or power. It ties Carousel’s survival to Mary Kenner’s symbolic presence, reinforcing the chapter’s blend of myth, history, and personal transformation.

    5. “There should be more celebrations of practicality and problem-solving had been her opinion. Fewer statues of murderers and the rich.”

    This reflection, voiced through Maryanne Gorch’s commissioning of Mary Kenner’s statue, offers a critical commentary on societal values and recognition. It encapsulates a key thematic argument about honoring meaningful, practical contributions over fame or wealth.

    FAQs

    Answer:
    Carousel’s transformations and magical abilities symbolize her fluid identity and deep, albeit newly discovered, connection to her family. Initially described as a unicorn shedding her magical form to become human, Carousel’s willingness to give up her wings and tail shows her desire to belong to her family, even if they have only known her for a short time. When the wave strikes, Carousel instinctively turns her family members into small red stones and protects them, demonstrating her protective role and magical responsibility toward them. Despite her magical strength, Carousel’s vulnerability, especially during the flood, highlights the fragility of her new existence and the significance of her bond with her family, who depend on her care.

    2. What role does the wave and the flooding event play in the chapter, both literally and symbolically?

    Answer:
    Literally, the wave is a destructive force that devastates Carousel’s home, threatening the safety of her family and forcing Carousel to use her magic for protection and survival. The flood washes away physical structures, possessions, and even the natural landscape, signifying a radical upheaval in the story’s environment. Symbolically, the wave represents sudden change and the overwhelming challenges Carousel faces as she balances her magical identity with her human responsibilities. The flood’s destruction also acts as a cleansing force, wiping the slate clean and forcing Carousel to confront her new reality and the precariousness of her existence. The intervention of Mary Kenner at the shore introduces a theme of resilience and legacy amid chaos.

    Answer:
    Mary Kenner’s statue and her subsequent intervention carry thematic weight related to practicality, legacy, and recognition. Maryanne Gorch’s commissioning of the statue twice the size of life emphasizes a desire to honor problem-solving and useful invention—qualities embodied by Kenner, inventor of the sanitary belt. The statue’s presence and Kenner’s act of saving Carousel suggest that practical contributions to humanity, often overlooked or undervalued, hold profound power and meaning. This contrasts with societal tendencies to celebrate wealth or violence. By having Mary Kenner rescue Carousel, the chapter highlights themes of empowerment, the importance of overlooked histories, and the idea that legacy can take many forms, including acts of care and protection.

    4. How does the chapter explore the tension between magical fantasy and harsh reality? Provide examples.

    Answer:
    The chapter juxtaposes magical elements with stark, destructive reality to explore tension between fantasy and the real world. Carousel’s magical transformations and ability to summon marshmallows reflect whimsical, fantastical powers. Yet, these are sharply contrasted by the sudden, brutal arrival of the flood that tears apart her home and threatens her family’s lives. Carousel’s inability to fully control or survive the flood despite her magic underscores the limits of fantasy when confronted with natural disaster. Additionally, the detail of mundane objects such as Monopoly pieces, dirty laundry, and lottery tickets amidst the destruction grounds the scene in everyday reality. This tension illustrates the vulnerability inherent in magical escape and the necessity of resilience and practical help, as symbolized by Mary Kenner’s intervention.

    Answer:
    Carousel’s experience highlights the importance of adaptability, protection of loved ones, and reliance on both inner strength and external support when facing sudden change. Her transformations symbolize the need to shift identities or roles in response to new circumstances, much like people adjusting after crises such as natural disasters. The protective act of turning family into stones reflects prioritizing safety and preservation amid chaos. Furthermore, the arrival of Mary Kenner as a helper figure emphasizes the value of community, legacy, and practical assistance in recovery. In real-world terms, this chapter suggests that coping with upheaval involves a balance of personal resilience, care for others, and seeking or accepting help from sources that embody experience and practicality.

    Note