How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
He [Mr. Hosokawa] had never sought her [Roxane Coss] out or made himself to be anything more than any other member of the audience. He did not assume his appreciation for her talent exceeded anyone else's. He was more inclined to believe that only a fool would not feel about her exactly how he felt. There was nothing more to want than the privilege to sit and listen. (1.13)
Whether your Roxane Coss is Sting or Beyoncé or someone else, you might have some mixed feelings if you got to meet your musical idol. Some folks just want to worship from afar. Or put another way, sometimes all we want is the privilege to be in awe. That's how Mr. Hosokawa feels about Roxane Coss' voice—at least at this point in the story.
Quote #5
"I'll sing in the dark," Roxane Coss called out, "if someone will get me a candle." (1.20)
Oh yeah, Roxane Coss is a great performer. She knows how to fill the stage even when no one can see her (maybe because she's a singer, and music doesn't have to be seen to be enjoyed?). But also, symbolism alert! Singing in the dark sure looks like a metaphor for what everyone in the novel is about to be doing. Once our characters realize they're part of a terrorist takeover, they're going to feel like the lights have gone out permanently. And they'll have to decide between singing—making something beautiful out of the experience—or just being afraid of the dark.
Quote #6
The girl, Esmeralda, was coming down the stairs now with a square wicker box held under one arm. She would not have stood out among so many woman dressed in evening wear. She was a country girl in a uniform, a black skirt and blouse, a white collar and cuffs, her dark, long braid, as big around as a child's fist, sliding across her back with every step. But now everyone in the room looked at her, the way she moved so easily, the way she seemed completely comfortable, as if this was any other day in her life and she had a moment to finish some mending. (2.85)
Showy art like a flashy dance routine or a bold opera aria may be what gets most of the attention. But this passage might be telling us that there are other ways to be an artist. Esmeralda is about to stitch up Ruben Iglesias' face. Sewing is a kind of everyday art, and it also makes Ruben's life better. Do everyday arts like sewing and cooking do something a bit like opera, if not on quite as dramatic a scale?