Please Ignore Vera Dietz chronicles the story of Vera Dietz now that she's a senior in high school, but it also includes plenty of chapters that take the reader back to Vera, Charlie, and Ken Dietz's pasts. In doing so, we are able to glean a great deal of context and insight into the characters' current lives (or lack thereof), and why they behave in the ways that they do. We also get to see how relationships have progressed over time. What's happened in the past will never go away; it's always relevant to the characters as they live out their lives, especially for Vera.
Questions About Memory and the Past
- What memories does Vera still harbor of her mother? Are they good or bad memories?
- What is the significance of Vera's memories at the pagoda?
- How do Vera's memories of Charlie's behavior toward her, both in childhood and closer to when he died, influence the way that she remembers him?
Chew on This
Seeing the history of Vera's relationship with Charlie allows the reader to feel more sympathy toward him instead of judging him by his most recent actions before death.
Ken Dietz's parenting methods are largely informed by his own personal experiences and trying to keep Vera from recreating history—even if Vera doesn't see it that way.