Fabee’s Comments (group member since Jan 19, 2016)

Fabee’s comments from the MidCoast Libraries Better Reading Bookclub group.

Thanks Chris - sorry for the typo's too
(I write in a hurry on my phone and predictive text/ and small keyboards are the bane of me)
Out of 5 - I give relativity a 3.5
After initially reading the book I wasn't really left in awe but re-reading and answering the book club questions let me delve deeper into the story and its meanings.
I just found parts of the book a bit of a slog to get through, but all in all quite good for its own merits in tackling some raw issues.
I can't wait for the next book title. Enjoy your leave time.

I was also thinking about how the doctors "speaker test" was a well placed metaphor for Ethan's deeply immersed life into science. Ethan lives his life so deeply embedded in science that he fails to use his other senses to live his life too.
Ethan didn't "see" the bass sounds, but surely he would have heard them?

For me the bass is like the deep resonating male sound. That Ethan fails to perceive - perhaps like a male father figure in his life?
It's sad that Ethan not only was denied his father figure through Mark, but also his grandfather - and perhaps that is why Ethan fails to recognise the bass.

I think through the friendship Ethan makes with Alison, it is his first real relationship besides his mother. *spoiler alert* which ultimately saves him from himself and his science assured experiment.
Without her Ethan would have died, and this is the ultimate turning point I think for all the characters when Ethan's experiment goes wrong. It's a wake up call. A realisation that the safety net of science does not suffice to answer all Ethan's needs.
Science had become Ethan's baby blanket - a way to calm him and divert his attention from all the other things in life he was beginning to crave.
Claire used Ethan's love of science to placate him, keep him safe, but it was the ultimate disservice - a killing with kindness is you will - because it ostracised him from others (although giving him a middle ground with his father).

* subconscious not unconscious

Sorry for late addition - I had to find my notebook (buried under a myriad of fallen book piles)
I must agree, although I love science, my understanding is still limited. The terminology did get a bit beyond me and kind of weighed down the flow of the narrative in parts for me.
The relationship between Claire and Mark was understandably tense and difficult which I think Hayes builds quite well, but Claire's indifference to Ethan's grandfathers wishes left me a bit baffled... An unconscious transfer of hurt? A sense of pay pack?

2) I agree also on not identifying the story with "heart wrenching" - frustrating more so for me. (Also I have three children aged 4 and under, so the basis of this story does strike a raw nerve for me) and as a sleep deprived parent I understood Marks desperation - but the aftermath of his reaction left me needed to put the book down and walk away for a bit (super sensitive mummy protection kicked in).

3) I think this links well with the clean slate comment.
Mark cannot start afresh, he talks of not being able to disclose his past etc with the people around him in his "new life" which creates a sense of no existence for him. No close friends/ relationships.

Also we see the effects of secrets kept from Ethan. He misses out on knowing marks family (ie. His cousins, uncle and grandfather) which is sad that (through no fault of his own) he isn't given the option to know these people.

The breakdown of relationships basically breaks down to lack of communication and fear. Claire's fear of hurting Ethan, and marks fear of facing his guilt.

I did pass this book on to my mother, she's into quantum physics and science more so than I. I will be interested to fishes her reaction to this story too.

No rush on my part Chris, I'm still waiting for my copy of the book to arrive ha
I look forward to diving in and will definitely have your questions on hand when I'm reading. (Hopefully it will arrive this week).
I am really excited. I love read-a-longs and having people to discuss books with.

I think that's a good starting place, thanks Chris. I find t easier to have some questions to work with after reading a book.

I think that's a good starting place, thanks Chris. I find t easier to have some questions to work with after reading a book.