How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Denise was eleven, a hard-nosed kid. She led a more or less daily protest against those of her mother's habits that struck her as wasteful or dangerous. (2.29)
Denise doesn't mess around. If she's got a problem with her mom, she's going to say so. Denise is actually the one who takes charge when Jack finds Babette's secret bottle of Dylar pills. Denise takes the pills without telling Jack and throws them into the garbage disposal. Another great example of kids taking on the role of parents in this crazy modern world. Kids these days, eh?
Quote #5
That night, a Friday, we ordered Chinese Food and watched television together, the six of us. Babette had made it a rule. She seemed to think that if kids watched television one night a week with parents or stepparents, the effect would be to de-glamorize the medium in their eyes, make it wholesome domestic sport. (4.18)
Old-school families gathered by the fireplace. Modern ones gather around the TV. Babette actually makes this a rule because she figures her kids won't like TV so much if she forces them to watch it as a family activity. Hmm. How well would this logic would work if she gave them alcohol and asked them to drink with her?
Quote #6
[Heinrich] is fourteen, often evasive and moody, at other times disturbingly compliant. I have a sense that his ready yielding to our wishes and demands is a private weapon of reproach. (6.2)
Jack doesn't really know the inner thoughts of his fourteen-year-old son. What father does? Heinrich is an interesting cat, and Jack knows it. But Jack just can't seem to get a handle on what Heinrich's whole deal is. Jack can't even talk to Heinrich that long without becoming frustrated. But on the other hand, Jack badly wants to connect with his son.