Chapter Summary
Although we had been told about Luling's memory loss, we have yet to see situations her memory loss has gotten her into therefore, in this chapter, more of Luling's memory loss is shown.
One such incident is with Francine, Luling's tenant. Francine had already paid her rent, 'i [francine] always pay on time, the first of the month' while Luling keeps accusing her of not paying her rent. This is clearly an event that proves Luling's deteriorating memory loss.
Also, another incident was about the doctor's appointment. Ruth had told Luling that it was scheduled at 4 but Luling remembered it as 1 oclock so she accused Ruth of being late. Another sign of memory loss.
Also in the chapter, we are introduced to Ruth's career. She is a ghostwriter or as Art refers to in the previous chapter, a book doctor. 'You know those books that say 'as told to' on the cover? That's what Ruth does-people tell her stories and she writes them down, word for word, exactly as told' .
More about Luling is told to us in this chapter as well. Things about Luling like how she used to tend her yard and make sure every plant was healthy and fine and how Luling used to threaten suicide whenever Ruth made her angry.
Furthermore, in the chapter, there is a brief look into Ruth's childhood years and how she spent it with Luling.'When Ruth was growing up, her mother supplemented her income as a teacher's aide with side businesses, one of which was bilingual calligraphy, English and Chinese.' When Ruth was little, Luling had often tried to teach her Chinese. 'Writing Chinese characters is entirely different from writing english words. You think differently. You feel differently.'
Themes
1) Mother-daughter relationship<- Luling and Ruth (Luling threatening suicide, Ruth's childhood, Luling's dementia)
<-Luling and Precious Auntie
2) Sister relationship<- Luling and Gaoling (Gaoling being jealous of Luling)
3) Luling's dementia<- signs of Luling's failing memory, how it affects Ruth and the people around Luling eg: Francine
Character Analysis
Ruth
accomadating:
'Face it sweetheart, you're accomodating. Willing to bend over backward. And you have this knack for making even the dickheads believe that they're best at what they do' -Gideon
thrifty:
' Ruth decided to splurge and buy a small orchid plant with small ivory blooms'.this basically implies how thrify Ruth is because even a small orchid plant was seen as a splurge to her.
thoughtful:
When Ruth was at the supermarket, all she thought of buying were the foods that either Art, Fia or Dory liked, while on the other hand, she did not buy the foods she liked. 'She[Ruth] longed for prawns in the shell, always her first choice. Art wouldnt eat them however.' and so she 'settled on Chilean sea bass'
Ruth also 'hurried grabbing Fuji apple for Fia, Granny Smiths for Dory, Braeburns for Art', obviously not getting anything for herself.
Humble:
Ruth gets angry when people dont take her job seriously but it is partly her fault that they do so because she 'preferred to make it look easy' Although her job involved being sensitive to other's feelings and being diplomatic about situations, she always preferred to keep her job low-key. Also, she was always putting off her job to do more 'important' things like household errands so much so that Art had little respect for her job. But still, Ruth had always liked to keep her job looking at simple as possible.
Practical:
Ruth would not buy flowers for no apparent reason, because to her, the died after awhile. When Wendy said that Ruth should see a doctor with regards to her compulsive number counting, Ruth simply thought that 'the counting was practical'. To Ruth, everything is about practicality. She would not buy flowers for herself for no reason. Therefore, when she saw Auntie Gal buying flowers when nobody had died or was having a birthday, it baffled her because the things she did was about reason.
Luling:
felt neglected:
Ruth was always busy and procrastinating visiting Luling. Luling's feeling of neglect are shown when she told Ruth 'Not free [to visit her] because every minute must charge money. What should i pay you, five dollar, ten dollar, then you come see me?'
loving:
When Luling thought that she had won 10 million dollar, she immediately said that all the money was for Ruth. Who would be so generous as to give away all their money without keeping some for themselves. 'Luling beamd, then added,'i win all for you'
independent:
When Ruth's father had died, he left behind a sum of money in which Luling used to buy a two unit building where she and Ruth shared the top floor while Gaoling and Edmund shared the bottom floor and sometimes they would offer Luling their old funiture because they were going to get new pieces and to Luling this was an insult because she saw this as a way of them pitying her. 'Why should i take? So they can pity for me? Feel so good for temself, give me things they don't want?' Luling did not need other people's unwanted things because she could self-suffice and was independent and neednt rely on anyone to bring Ruth up. She worked two jobs in order to bring Luling up and never once complained.
Art:
irresponsible:
In the previous chapter, Art had persuaded Ruth to call the plumber to fix the hot water heater on his behalf and he would call or try to go home once he was done with his work but by the time Ruth had finished paying the plumber, 'Art had never came home, nor had he called'.
Favourite Quotes
1)'Luling's threats to die were like earthquakes.Ruth knew that the potential was there, that beneath the surface, the tremblors could occue at any time'<-Luling's threats on suicide, and how it Ruth managed to keep her balance but yet she knew that Luling could easily attempt suicide.
2)'Orchids looked delicate but thrived on neglect'<- reflects on Ruth's personality.
3)'The walls were painted red with flecks of metallic gold, Wendy's idea'<- it is quite obvious that the bold painting could not have been Ruth's idea because she was such a conservative person who preferred practicality to creativity. This shows the two friend's contrasting ideas and how some of the bolder ones have worked for Ruth's conservative self.
Most memorable moments
Questions
1)Orchids looked delicate but thrived on neglect' was this statement trying to compare orchids to Ruth's personality?
2) 'Was it a craving for salt or a craving for pain?' Why would Ruth crave for pain? Could it be that pain made her feel alive, made her feel existant?
