How we cite our quotes: The main text of the story is cited (Chapter.Paragraph). The date headers are not counted as paragraphs. The verses in the chapters with a single passage from the narrator's religious texts are cited (Chapter.Verse.Line#). In chapters with multiple passages, the verses are cited (Chapter.Verse#.Line#). The four section pages with the years and passages are cited (Year.Verse).
Quote #4
"We can get ready. That's what we've got to do now. Get ready for what's going to happen, get ready to survive it, get ready to make a life afterward. Get focused on arranging to survive so that we can do more than just get batted around by crazy people, desperate people, thugs, and leaders who don't know what they're doing!" (5.72)
Lauren is ready to work hard to improve the world herself, and she wants her friend Joanne to join in. Of course, Joanne thinks Lauren's ideas are pretty crazy. Nevertheless, Lauren perseveres and ends up starting Acorn, the new Earthseed community. TAKE THAT, JOANNE.
Quote #5
"Read this." I handed her one of the plant books. This one was about California Indians, the plants they used, and how they used them—an interesting, entertaining little book. She would be surprised. There was nothing in it to scare her or threaten her or push her. I thought I had already done enough of that.
"Take notes," I told her. "You'll remember better if you do." (5.130-131)
This passage is also from Lauren's conversation with Joanne. Lauren perseveres even in this single conversation by trying to get her friend to see the importance of studying survival techniques. Joanne doesn't get it, but that doesn't stop Lauren: she's able to keep her focus despite other people thinking she's nuts. Go Lauren.
Quote #6
All I do is observe and take notes, trying to put things down in ways that are as powerful, as simple, and as direct as I feel them. I can never do that. I keep trying, but I can't. I'm not good enough as a writer or poet or whatever it is I need to be. I don't know what to do about that. It drives me frantic sometimes. I'm getting better, but so slowly. (7.6)
Again, the view from the outside and the view from the inside may differ. From the outside, people are likely to look upon Lauren and say, well, she works hard, she's very smart, etc. Bankole says some of that to her, for example. But from Lauren's own internal point of view, she sees her failures: how she's not good enough yet or is improving only slowly. Whose scale is the better one, Lauren's or those from people who observe her from outside? Is she her own worst enemy, or does she know something that non-prodigies don't?