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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 Susannah 3

    by Link, Kelly

    Susan­nah reflects on her sum­mer and fall spent work­ing at two very dif­fer­ent jobs, appre­ci­at­ing the free­dom of not being tied to a group or a schol­ar­ship pro­gram. She bal­ances shifts between the Sea­sick Blues, a dilap­i­dat­ed motel where the own­er Por­tia empha­sizes ambiance over clean­li­ness to ensure repeat busi­ness, and What Hast Thou Ground?, a delib­er­ate­ly unwel­com­ing café designed to dis­cour­age lin­ger­ing cus­tomers. The con­trast­ing atmos­pheres high­light Susannah’s adapt­abil­i­ty and the nuances of her work­ing life, with Sea­sick Blues rely­ing on super­fi­cial charm and What Hast Thou Ground? on effi­cien­cy and min­i­mal com­fort.

    At What Hast Thou Ground?, Susan­nah admires the own­er Billy’s prag­mat­ic approach to run­ning a café where atmos­phere is con­sid­ered a lia­bil­i­ty, not an asset. His strat­e­gy involves mak­ing the cof­fee strong but the envi­ron­ment uncom­fort­able, pre­vent­ing cus­tomers from over­stay­ing. Billy’s sup­port of Susan­nah, espe­cial­ly when deal­ing with dif­fi­cult cus­tomers, strength­ens her loy­al­ty to him. The café, despite its shab­by con­di­tion and poor music choic­es, attracts a loy­al clien­tele who use the space for writ­ing, secret meet­ings, or nos­tal­gic escapes, cre­at­ing a unique, if imper­fect, com­mu­ni­ty hub.

    Susannah’s rela­tion­ship with Mo, a reg­u­lar at the café, emerges as a qui­et­ly sig­nif­i­cant part of her life. Mo’s reserved nature and mutu­al respect for pri­va­cy res­onate with Susan­nah, who val­ues their low-pres­sure inter­ac­tions cen­tered around cre­ative col­lab­o­ra­tion. Their unspo­ken under­stand­ing about keep­ing per­son­al mat­ters pri­vate con­trasts with Susannah’s past mis­takes in shar­ing too much with oth­ers, under­scor­ing her guard­ed­ness and the sub­tle emo­tion­al con­nec­tions she main­tains.

    The chap­ter clos­es with Susan­nah con­tem­plat­ing Mo’s recent return to town amid the death of his grand­moth­er, a sit­u­a­tion that stirs deep, unspo­ken feel­ings in her. She strug­gles with how to express sym­pa­thy, reflect­ing her dif­fi­cul­ty in address­ing emo­tion­al mat­ters open­ly. Mean­while, she con­tin­ues her dai­ly work serv­ing elab­o­rate drinks and snacks, nav­i­gat­ing her com­plex emo­tions and rela­tion­ships in the back­drop of her rou­tine life. The chap­ter cap­tures a blend of mun­dane real­i­ties and inti­mate reflec­tions, illus­trat­ing Susannah’s inner world and exter­nal chal­lenges.

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    FAQs

    • 1. How does Susannah’s choice to not join a band or a scholarship program impact her summer and work life?

      Answer:
      Susannah’s decision to avoid joining a band or participating in a scholarship program in Ireland allows her to maintain flexibility and freedom in her summer schedule. This freedom enables her to pick up more shifts at her part-time job at the Seasick Blues motel. The chapter highlights that not being tied down to these commitments gives Susannah autonomy over her time, allowing her to work more and presumably earn more money. It also situates her in a working-class environment that contrasts with the more prestigious opportunities she declined, emphasizing themes of independence and practical choices over potentially glamorous but restrictive paths.

      2. Compare and contrast the atmospheres of the Seasick Blues motel and What Hast Thou Ground? café. How do these settings reflect different philosophies about ambience and customer experience?

      Answer:
      The Seasick Blues motel embraces a deliberately crafted ambience designed to encourage repeat business, despite being run-down. Portia, the owner, uses small touches like lavender water, vinegar sprays, and seashells on pillows to create a welcoming atmosphere, prioritizing “ambience” over strict cleanliness. In contrast, What Hast Thou Ground? café actively rejects ambience, viewing it as a detriment to business. Billy, the café owner, believes atmosphere encourages customers to linger unproductively, so the café offers uncomfortable chairs, unreliable bathroom locks, poor-quality toilet paper, and no WiFi to discourage long stays. These contrasting approaches reflect differing business philosophies: the motel uses ambience as “magic” to entice customers back, while the café prioritizes efficiency and turnover by minimizing comfort and distraction.

      3. What role does the character Mo play in Susannah’s life, and how does their relationship reflect Susannah’s attitude towards vulnerability and sharing personal matters?

      Answer:
      Mo is one of the few people with whom Susannah feels comfortable and genuinely enjoys spending time. Their relationship is characterized by mutual respect and a lack of expectation; Mo doesn’t want anything from Susannah, and she only seeks his input on creative tasks like improving her lyrics. Importantly, they never discuss deeply personal or important topics, reflecting Susannah’s guarded nature. She believes that sharing what truly matters can diminish its significance, a painful lesson learned from her past experience with Daniel. Thus, their relationship embodies Susannah’s preference for keeping emotional vulnerabilities private, maintaining connection through shared creativity rather than intimate disclosure.

      4. Analyze the significance of Billy’s reaction to the difficult customer incident. What does this reveal about his character and his management style?

      Answer:
      Billy’s response to the customer who repeatedly complained about her latte and then tried to steal her tip reveals a protective and pragmatic leadership style. Instead of reprimanding Susannah or ignoring the situation, he firmly tells the disruptive customer to leave “while you still have legs,” demonstrating his support for his staff and intolerance for disrespectful behavior. Furthermore, by giving Susannah permission to vent her frustration through breaking chipped plates, he shows empathy and an understanding of the emotional pressures his employees face. This incident highlights Billy’s intelligence, sense of humor, and his ability to create a work environment where employees feel valued and empowered, even in a setting that deliberately avoids “atmosphere.”

      5. Reflect on the thematic significance of ambience and atmosphere in the chapter. How do these concepts relate to human behavior and social interaction within the settings described?

      Answer:
      Ambience and atmosphere in the chapter are more than mere background details; they symbolize different approaches to human interaction and social dynamics. The Seasick Blues motel’s crafted ambience serves as a superficial charm that masks its run-down reality and aims to attract repeat visitors through sensory cues. This suggests a human desire for comfort and the illusion of care, even in imperfect circumstances. Conversely, What Hast Thou Ground? café’s intentional lack of atmosphere discourages prolonged socializing, emphasizing transience and efficiency over community. This reflects a more cynical or pragmatic view of social interaction, where space is controlled to limit emotional attachment or territorial behavior. Together, these settings explore how environment shapes behavior, either inviting connection and comfort or enforcing boundaries and fleeting encounters.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Forget cleanliness being next to godliness. Ambience, she informed Susannah, was next to repeat business. Ambience was magic.”

      This quote highlights the chapter’s exploration of the importance of atmosphere in business, contrasting superficial cleanliness with the intangible quality of ambience that drives customer loyalty. It sets the tone for the nuanced discussion of work environments Susannah experiences.

      2. “Atmosphere meant people wanted to nurse their flat whites or free coffee refills and hang out forever. Too much atmosphere and you might as well accept that you had declared you were a habitable planet and people should just come and live there and raise their families.”

      Here, the owner Billy’s philosophy about coffee shop atmosphere is distilled into a memorable metaphor, emphasizing that a business’s environment can either encourage ephemeral visits or prolonged stays, with economic consequences. This insight frames the character’s practical approach to running What Hast Thou Ground?.

      3. “It was the first time anyone had ever given Susannah permission to destroy anything, and she’d loved Billy ever since.”

      This poignant moment reveals Susannah’s emotional connection to Billy and symbolizes a rare outlet for her frustrations. It underscores themes of control, permission, and personal expression within the chapter’s narrative arc.

      4. “Susannah figured that Mo, like her, knew you had to keep the stuff that mattered to yourself. Because if you made the mistake of sharing it, you were just going to find out that it actually didn’t matter all that much after all.”

      This reflection captures a central emotional insight of the chapter—how vulnerability and the sharing of personal pain can lead to disillusionment. It deepens the reader’s understanding of Susannah’s guarded relationships and internal struggles.

      5. “Maybe it would be easier to say something in person. Or maybe Susannah just really sucked.”

      The closing line here conveys Susannah’s self-doubt and difficulty navigating grief and empathy, adding a humanizing and relatable touch to the chapter’s exploration of connection and communication.

    Quotes

    1. “Forget cleanliness being next to godliness. Ambience, she informed Susannah, was next to repeat business. Ambience was magic.”

    This quote highlights the chapter’s exploration of the importance of atmosphere in business, contrasting superficial cleanliness with the intangible quality of ambience that drives customer loyalty. It sets the tone for the nuanced discussion of work environments Susannah experiences.

    2. “Atmosphere meant people wanted to nurse their flat whites or free coffee refills and hang out forever. Too much atmosphere and you might as well accept that you had declared you were a habitable planet and people should just come and live there and raise their families.”

    Here, the owner Billy’s philosophy about coffee shop atmosphere is distilled into a memorable metaphor, emphasizing that a business’s environment can either encourage ephemeral visits or prolonged stays, with economic consequences. This insight frames the character’s practical approach to running What Hast Thou Ground?.

    3. “It was the first time anyone had ever given Susannah permission to destroy anything, and she’d loved Billy ever since.”

    This poignant moment reveals Susannah’s emotional connection to Billy and symbolizes a rare outlet for her frustrations. It underscores themes of control, permission, and personal expression within the chapter’s narrative arc.

    4. “Susannah figured that Mo, like her, knew you had to keep the stuff that mattered to yourself. Because if you made the mistake of sharing it, you were just going to find out that it actually didn’t matter all that much after all.”

    This reflection captures a central emotional insight of the chapter—how vulnerability and the sharing of personal pain can lead to disillusionment. It deepens the reader’s understanding of Susannah’s guarded relationships and internal struggles.

    5. “Maybe it would be easier to say something in person. Or maybe Susannah just really sucked.”

    The closing line here conveys Susannah’s self-doubt and difficulty navigating grief and empathy, adding a humanizing and relatable touch to the chapter’s exploration of connection and communication.

    FAQs

    1. How does Susannah’s choice to not join a band or a scholarship program impact her summer and work life?

    Answer:
    Susannah’s decision to avoid joining a band or participating in a scholarship program in Ireland allows her to maintain flexibility and freedom in her summer schedule. This freedom enables her to pick up more shifts at her part-time job at the Seasick Blues motel. The chapter highlights that not being tied down to these commitments gives Susannah autonomy over her time, allowing her to work more and presumably earn more money. It also situates her in a working-class environment that contrasts with the more prestigious opportunities she declined, emphasizing themes of independence and practical choices over potentially glamorous but restrictive paths.

    2. Compare and contrast the atmospheres of the Seasick Blues motel and What Hast Thou Ground? café. How do these settings reflect different philosophies about ambience and customer experience?

    Answer:
    The Seasick Blues motel embraces a deliberately crafted ambience designed to encourage repeat business, despite being run-down. Portia, the owner, uses small touches like lavender water, vinegar sprays, and seashells on pillows to create a welcoming atmosphere, prioritizing “ambience” over strict cleanliness. In contrast, What Hast Thou Ground? café actively rejects ambience, viewing it as a detriment to business. Billy, the café owner, believes atmosphere encourages customers to linger unproductively, so the café offers uncomfortable chairs, unreliable bathroom locks, poor-quality toilet paper, and no WiFi to discourage long stays. These contrasting approaches reflect differing business philosophies: the motel uses ambience as “magic” to entice customers back, while the café prioritizes efficiency and turnover by minimizing comfort and distraction.

    3. What role does the character Mo play in Susannah’s life, and how does their relationship reflect Susannah’s attitude towards vulnerability and sharing personal matters?

    Answer:
    Mo is one of the few people with whom Susannah feels comfortable and genuinely enjoys spending time. Their relationship is characterized by mutual respect and a lack of expectation; Mo doesn’t want anything from Susannah, and she only seeks his input on creative tasks like improving her lyrics. Importantly, they never discuss deeply personal or important topics, reflecting Susannah’s guarded nature. She believes that sharing what truly matters can diminish its significance, a painful lesson learned from her past experience with Daniel. Thus, their relationship embodies Susannah’s preference for keeping emotional vulnerabilities private, maintaining connection through shared creativity rather than intimate disclosure.

    4. Analyze the significance of Billy’s reaction to the difficult customer incident. What does this reveal about his character and his management style?

    Answer:
    Billy’s response to the customer who repeatedly complained about her latte and then tried to steal her tip reveals a protective and pragmatic leadership style. Instead of reprimanding Susannah or ignoring the situation, he firmly tells the disruptive customer to leave “while you still have legs,” demonstrating his support for his staff and intolerance for disrespectful behavior. Furthermore, by giving Susannah permission to vent her frustration through breaking chipped plates, he shows empathy and an understanding of the emotional pressures his employees face. This incident highlights Billy’s intelligence, sense of humor, and his ability to create a work environment where employees feel valued and empowered, even in a setting that deliberately avoids “atmosphere.”

    5. Reflect on the thematic significance of ambience and atmosphere in the chapter. How do these concepts relate to human behavior and social interaction within the settings described?

    Answer:
    Ambience and atmosphere in the chapter are more than mere background details; they symbolize different approaches to human interaction and social dynamics. The Seasick Blues motel’s crafted ambience serves as a superficial charm that masks its run-down reality and aims to attract repeat visitors through sensory cues. This suggests a human desire for comfort and the illusion of care, even in imperfect circumstances. Conversely, What Hast Thou Ground? café’s intentional lack of atmosphere discourages prolonged socializing, emphasizing transience and efficiency over community. This reflects a more cynical or pragmatic view of social interaction, where space is controlled to limit emotional attachment or territorial behavior. Together, these settings explore how environment shapes behavior, either inviting connection and comfort or enforcing boundaries and fleeting encounters.

    Note