| Elaine Risley is an artist who has returned to Toronto for a retrospective of her art. Upon returning to the city she is flooded with memories of her past, specifically centeredd around one girl named Cordelia. Cordelia is one of a trio of girls who basically tormented Elaine, inexperienced in the ways of little girls, until high school. Once in high school the tables turn and Elaine becomes the strong one. Cordelia fails out of high school and Elaine loses touch with her, going onto university where she studies art history. The novel describes Elaine's relationships, her first marriage, and her rediscovery of Cordelia who is now in a mental institution after having tried to commit suicide. Elaine makes many conclusions about herself, her art, and her life at various stages in the novel which are somewhat summed up in the end. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 1980's-1999 Life of a profession: Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Job/Profession/Status story Yes Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes Woman's story? Yes Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - a kid Profession/status: Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes Eccentric: How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - below average Setting The Americas (not US): Yes The Americas: - Canada City? Yes City: - dirty, grimy (like New York) Writing Style Sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - actual description of hetero sex - Weiner talk! Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
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