This book was a puzzling yet celebratory experience for me. The first half of it just did not reach me, because it forced me to face again my father's death about a year ago. I just did not want to read on at that point. But Cynthia Rylant is true to her down-to-earth way of touching readers in that part of the soul that says, "Yeah, I've experience that, too." The last half of the book came around to giving me a huge hug to affirm that my circle of grief had been completed much in the same way as Summer's had. There was a tremendous healing effect of that good long cry and allowing a living loved one to feel needed and to be healed by feeling needed. A couple of full circles of grief interlocking and becoming strengthened by them.
I could only wonder if May and Ob were the aunt and uncle that Rylant grew up with after losing her mother and father. Summer was always cautiously looking on and worrying about Ob, yet she always shared thoughts that let me believe she was ready to be the caretaker of him and their trailer home. Cletus was the nonconformist who turned out to be the character who enabled Summer and Ob to process through losing May. He was have been a comfort to Ob as an optomistic conversationalist who knew how to draw out a person's thoughts in conversation. Though Summer found Cletus annoying in his propensity for being overly observant and collecting things he must have earned her respect by the end of the novel. Perhaps when she became acquainted with Cletus's parents she was able to see him in a different light. The climax was clearly when Ob decided to turn the car around to follow through with the original plan to visit the capitol building. That must have been the point when Ob realized that his sole purpose in life was to be needed by Cletus and Summer. At the end of the book Summer must have finally realized how much Ob had wanted to "fill May's shoes" in caring for Summer. The italicized narrative of May speaking to Summer's conscience was touching and seemed to mirror the feelings Ob must have conveyed to Summer through his embrace to comfort her and to wipe away her tears. I wonder if the book were to continue if Cletus would eventually become an adopted member of Ob's home.
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3 comments:
I am sorry to hear the first part of the book touched in such a way, but was glad to hear the entire book comforted you. I agree, Rylant does rope you in and help you make those meaningful connections to her books. As I read, I felt connected to Summer. My Grandmother died when I was 13, and I remember facing death for the first time alongside my Grandfather. My heart just ached for Ob, I felt so sorry for him especially when the Bat Lady did not prove successful. But, I felt proud and cheered when Ob turned the car around, and hugged Summer to comfort her. I also thought Ob planting the whirligigs was a powerful scene as well! I enjoyed the book, but found myself experiencing many emotions as I read as I am sure you did as well - I laughed at Cletus, cried during those most touching moments, and cheered at the end!
I, too, had a hard time getting through the first part of the book. I eventually finished, thinking "if I don't put it down, then I don't have to pick it up again". Well, I felt much better once I was about halfway through. As for Cletus, I think he was an adopted member of Ob's home already. As much as I love Summer's strength and her resolve to help Ob through this time, Cletus made all the difference - for both of them. He was someone new, but also someone who quietly understood. I imagine the story does continue, with Cletus coming over every day.
I hadn't really thought about Cletus as a person in his own right. I was so caught up in him helping Ob and Summer. Your comment about him opened a whole new set of questions and ideas for me. Would Ob befriend Cletus's family? Would they become one extended family unit? What about Cletus's parents' health? Now I want a follow up - a book about him and his life.
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