It's my last week of classes for the quarter, so I wanted to get this out before the madness ensues. Message to all of you now silent feedbackers: Stop it, please. Thank you.
Hmm. This chapter has left me full of wonder. I really can't put my finger on any one conclusion regarding Spencer or Ashley, just more questions. I CAN say that I really LOVE Kat and that I wish I had a friend like her. She is the constant in this story--the weave to the web, so to speak. It's like she's singing the truth while Spencer and Ashley dance around it. Plus, she's blunt and funny and cuts through the crap.
I think Ashley already has Spencer confused for various reasons. She obviously likes Ashley as a person, but she may be feeling something else. She's not sure about her relationship with Robin, although she wants more than she had and she was lonely. Her holding her hand over her heart seemed like a subconscious protective mechanism. It was a physical barrier between herself and Robin, even though they were kissing. Clearly, Spencer is not 100% open to Robin.
I think that Spencer WILL see that yearbook and Ashley's full-page declaration of love, adoration and devotion. I think she'll internalize it and quietly ponder it. I think it'll freak her out a little bit (though not as much as it would have if she'd seen it before she got to know Ashley), but also put Ashley in perspective for her. I think her yearbook experience will be eye-opening for her- NOT to realize that she's living with her high-school stalker, but to realize why Ashley is the way she is. Rather than hurt Ashley, I think Spencer seeing/reading her yearbook will help Ashley.
Now, as for Ashley. Her world is upside down. She is not in the same place she was in back in high school, but Spencer DOES represent both time frames in her life. Spencer means something to her in the now, but there still is that old attraction. Spencer obviously has the same qualities that attracted Ashley in the first place. Now, Spencer is making Ashley realize that being grounded does not mean being falling off the face of the planet. Ashley was not grounded when she was finding herself and sleeping around after her physical changes. She was spreading her wings and flying, but maybe it's time to rest and find a home. It's perfectly normal how she reacted, but now she's practically in a been there-done that place in her life. She did not see that until Spencer came back into her life. Because of Spencer, she wants to try developing relationships instead of avoiding them. She's ready to be grounded. Actually, I think Tara will help her by becoming a friend.
I may be way off, but these are just my thoughts. There's just so much underlining this story. It's really terrific. I've had to come back and read it a few times before commenting in any detail.
I like characters in stories that sort of indulgently express the stuff that the reader can't say. Kat is that for me and this story. She's narrating it even if she's not constantly in the story.
I can't get into specifics, but I very much like your analysis of Spencer and her heart holding.
Jeez...also can't really get into specifics from your paragraph about the yearbook, but perhaps you're on the right track.
Definitely on the right track about Ashley. She's had to face a lot of closeted emotions by literally living with THE symbol of her past. And of course when you have to thrust yourself back into the past, you can't help but ponder the present. She's got to figure out the measuring stick she was using to assume she was "growing" or changing and wrestle with an incredible fear of hers--has she actually not changed at all? She's built an entirely "new life" out of a perceived self-change that for the most part, has only been visible physically. Everything else that changed has been a result of the initial physical change. That doesn't seem to matter with Spencer, so what now? We'll see...
I think Ashley already has Spencer confused for various reasons. She obviously likes Ashley as a person, but she may be feeling something else. She's not sure about her relationship with Robin, although she wants more than she had and she was lonely. Her holding her hand over her heart seemed like a subconscious protective mechanism. It was a physical barrier between herself and Robin, even though they were kissing. Clearly, Spencer is not 100% open to Robin.
I think that Spencer WILL see that yearbook and Ashley's full-page declaration of love, adoration and devotion. I think she'll internalize it and quietly ponder it. I think it'll freak her out a little bit (though not as much as it would have if she'd seen it before she got to know Ashley), but also put Ashley in perspective for her. I think her yearbook experience will be eye-opening for her- NOT to realize that she's living with her high-school stalker, but to realize why Ashley is the way she is. Rather than hurt Ashley, I think Spencer seeing/reading her yearbook will help Ashley.
Now, as for Ashley. Her world is upside down. She is not in the same place she was in back in high school, but Spencer DOES represent both time frames in her life. Spencer means something to her in the now, but there still is that old attraction. Spencer obviously has the same qualities that attracted Ashley in the first place. Now, Spencer is making Ashley realize that being grounded does not mean being falling off the face of the planet. Ashley was not grounded when she was finding herself and sleeping around after her physical changes. She was spreading her wings and flying, but maybe it's time to rest and find a home. It's perfectly normal how she reacted, but now she's practically in a been there-done that place in her life. She did not see that until Spencer came back into her life. Because of Spencer, she wants to try developing relationships instead of avoiding them. She's ready to be grounded. Actually, I think Tara will help her by becoming a friend.
I may be way off, but these are just my thoughts. There's just so much underlining this story. It's really terrific. I've had to come back and read it a few times before commenting in any detail.
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I can't get into specifics, but I very much like your analysis of Spencer and her heart holding.
Jeez...also can't really get into specifics from your paragraph about the yearbook, but perhaps you're on the right track.
Definitely on the right track about Ashley. She's had to face a lot of closeted emotions by literally living with THE symbol of her past. And of course when you have to thrust yourself back into the past, you can't help but ponder the present. She's got to figure out the measuring stick she was using to assume she was "growing" or changing and wrestle with an incredible fear of hers--has she actually not changed at all? She's built an entirely "new life" out of a perceived self-change that for the most part, has only been visible physically. Everything else that changed has been a result of the initial physical change. That doesn't seem to matter with Spencer, so what now? We'll see...
ADORED your feedback. Thanks a lot.
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