How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
May studied the dress for a moment, picturing her granddaughter. She hated to admit it, but Stan was right: Lily wasn't big, but she was stocky, square-shaped, like Stan—the dress wouldn't fit across her shoulders, for a start. A shadow of disappointment crossed May's face. She would have loved to pass this dress on within the family, to see it worn at another wedding. (5.34)
Not measuring up to the standards of beauty set by female family members can be devastating to girls Lily's age. There's a reason why so many teenage females struggle with body image problems. The fact that Lily is more stereotypically masculine in appearance only magnifies her difficulty fitting in with the other girls.
Quote #5
Beneath the pepper trees, the Year Ten girls were talking about asking boys out: walking up to a boy you fancied and asking him if he'd like to go to a movie with you, or a concert, or a party, or even a simple coffee at the mall. Men and women were equals now, weren't they? So why not? (16.1)
You go, girls. It's the 21st century, and young ladies are clearly redefining the standards of courtship for teenagers. While some of the book's older characters, like Rose and May, might balk at this idea, it's clear that girls today don't see things the way they did at their age.
Quote #6
"He goes over the forks," Clara said suddenly […] "When Mum does the washing up. He goes over them to see they're washed properly. And if they aren't, if there's the tiniest little speck left there, then he makes her do it again. And she shouldn't!" (22.7-9)
Whoa… treating your wife like a domestic slave where forks are concerned is totally not cool. It seems like a major problem in Rose and Charlie's marriage is that they have distinctly opposite personalities. Rose is extremely passive, while Charlie is used to taking control and asserting authority.