How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"At first, he just started out with Loritab. His neck used to kill him after he was in a car wreck. Now, he has this sock full of OxyContin in his dresser – like me and Mom don't know about it. It's not even about pain anymore." (7.34)
Tara is telling Sutter about her stepdad. This is one thing Sutter doesn't do – he doesn't hide his alcohol use. He's actually proud of it.
This one is actually kind of a bummer. Painkiller abuse is no joke, and it's not uncommon for legitimate prescriptions to lead to addiction.
Quote #8
Hangovers are tricky. They're kind of like practical jokers. You never quite know how they're going to hit you. I used to enjoy them. They didn't give me a headache or a sick stomach or anything like that. Instead, I'd feel cleansed. Redeemed. (33.1)
Ugh, Sutter, this is just weird. It's also a bad sign that one major deterrent against abusing alcohol—hangovers—turns into a positive.
Quote #9
Lately, though, my hangovers have started to take on a mean streak. It's the opposite of that fine redemption feeling – a vague, weird guilt instead. Maybe it's just a chemical thing, the old brain misfiring, the wiring short-circuiting. Or maybe it comes from not exactly being able to remember everything you did the night before. (33.2)
Hm. Maybe. Or maybe it's because hangovers get worse as you get older. Or maybe it's because drinking has stopped being a choice for Sutter and turned into a real, mean, ugly addiction.