When I mentioned that I had a hard time following the first chapters, someone mentioned that I should keep reading because the book would get much better. I would have to say now that I agree 100% with the person who told me this. (Please forgive me for forgetting your name, but you know who you are.) The first chapters had me a bit confused because I was trying to figure out the whole thing with the mists and other things that were confusing me. Now that I have read further, I have been able to really get into the story. I am enjoying it now and having a hard time stopping at the end of this section. Since I'm a little late posting, I am happy that I will be able to keep reading a bit longer for next week's discussion.
My first impression of Meridia's new family was that it was very dysfuncitonal. As I read more about this family (especially Eva), I think the family is even more dysfuncitonal. I would never be able to live in a home with someone like Eva, no matter how much I love my husband.
Meridia has grown up by learning to stand up for herself and by becoming a mother. I personally had to do a lot of growing up when my daughter was born, so I would think that having a child would force just about any woman into growing up. I was proud of Meridia when she finally started standing up to Eva, even though she did this in a sly way most of the time.
My feelings for Ravenna and Gabriel have changed. I did not like them very much in the earlier chapters, especially Gabriel. They let Meridia come back home when she needed a place to go, even though I had actually thought Gabriel might turn her away. Ravenna was so cold and distant toward Meridia when she was at home, but now it seems that she is missing Meridia and that she does care very much for her daughter.
The scent of Verbena represents Ravenna and the scent of Roses represents Eva. I don't know if these 2 particular scents actually have any significance to each other in "real life," however. I have not yet read everyone else's responses to these questions. There are a couple of perfumes that remind me of my mother and grandmother. The scent of the perfume that my grandmother used to wear is a pleasant scent for me. The scent of my mother's perfume is unpleasant to me, but not because I have problems with my mother. I just never did like the smell of her perfume.
I don't really understand the question about characteristics that make up the Willow Street House. I will have to respond to this one as I read other people's responses.
If Hannah is an imaginary friend as I first guessed, I would say she returned because Meridia once again felt helpless and alone. She needed a friend, so she brought Hannah back. I am still certain that Hannah is either an imaginary friend or ghost because Daniel was unable to see her.
So far we have had the birth stories of Meridia and of Meridia's baby. Neither birth seems to have been very pleasant. Her baby's birth shows how strong Meridia is and that she and her son are both fighters. I do think the story of a person's own birth is a very big part of who they are.
