Chapter 17--
I began to wonder here if Ginny even really had a passion for lepidoptery that would match, or even come close to, Clive's. A few chapters ago, I noticed that she wouldn't mention the study or that she was even studying to begin with. Her admission on p.188 really made me wonder when she said "In the end it was easier to just say I had. I pretend to apply for the grants and then, naturally, I had to say I'd won some and was getting along with the research." Did Clive's absence extinquish her passion for the study and the motivation to get the studies completed?
She knows it's what he wants to hear from her. The study's going fine, the grants are rolling in, her papers are getting recognition, etc. But is she really doing any studies? I doubt it. Why does she stay away so long? I think it is because he has been diagnosed with acute dementia, so she probably figures he's not going to remember her visits anyway.
My grandmother had passing thoughts about extending the duration of time between her visits with my grandfather after he had been in the nursing home for a while and was starting to develop dementia even worse than the parkinson's could ever have done to him. The difference between Ginny and my grandmother is that my grandmother still visited every week. She knew that there were times he was sharper than others, but, because she loved him and he was still her husband, she visited him just as frequently as he had come to expect in the past.
Chapter 18--
I found the story of the bobble hat woman completely hilarious. Now that Vivi is there to (finally) answer the door, she finds out who this woman is more than the leaflets she leaves are able to do. I couldn't stop laughing as Vivi gives her attitude for stopping by on a Sunday to "check in". Then, when Vivi slams the door in the lady's face. I wanted to applaud Vivi for her brass. For Ginny, that will mean that the bobble hat woman will visit less/if at all.
I find it interesting the turn of discussion that leads to them talking about Clive. (From being "barmy"/eccentric to more like an, oh, by the way, didn't our father turn barmy?) And, the whole time, Ginny thinks that Vivi is talking in riddles. Maybe if Ginny listened to what Vivi had to say and asked provoking questions to help understand the situation more, then maybe Vivi wouldn't get as visibly upset as she does on pp. 216 & 217.
She goes on to say "I'm not listening to her rant because I don't want to. I'm trying to work out what might have happened in Clive's head...to lead to his dementia."
You can tell she's shutting Vivi off from further discussion, but I wonder if Ginny ever thought to herself that if Clive developed dementia, could she? And did she have dementia? Or worse, was it in the family to murder?
Chapter 19--
I like that the mound for the shallow grave Ginny and Arthur dug that was left after burying Samuel still exists to this day. This seems an everlasting tribute to Samuel, more so than the lovingly-made headstone could ever do justice.
I refer to my above mention (for Chapter 17) of wondering if Ginny had abandoned studies when Clive checked himself into the senior center. It's just sad to see it's heartwrenching state of disrepair. It seems to me that, when Clive left, Ginny locked up the room as if to preserve the times/memories spent studying this field with her father.
I find it creepy that she is going through her poisons one at a time, remarking on the killing capacity of each one. Makes me wonder if Ginny has any future plans for the remaining poison or if it will be at all effective for whatever she plans to do with it?
Maybe Ginny will take up her studies as her passion for the study seems to be renewed, or is it just the "threat" of having members of the society show up and her being sorely unprepared that causes the renewal of interest?
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