How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
The Chalfens had no friends. They interacted mainly with the Chalfen extended family (the good genes that were so often referred to: two scientists, one mathematician, three psychiatrists, and a young cousin working for the Labour Party). Under sufferance and on public holidays, they visited Joyce's long-rejected lineage, the Connor clan, Daily Mail letter-writers who even now could not disguise their distaste for Joyce's Israelite love-match. Bottom line: the Chalfens didn't need other people. (12.8)
What does it say about the Chalfens that they have no need for friends? Is this a positive or a negative thing, do you think?
Quote #8
John Donne said more than kisses, letters mingle souls and so they do; Irie was alarmed to find such a commingling as this, such a successful merging of two people from ink and paper despite the distance between them. No love letters could have been more ardent. No passion more fully returned, right from the very start. The first few letters were filled with the boundless joy of mutual recognition: tedious for the sneaky mailroom boys of Dhaka, bewildering to Irie, fascinating to the writers themselves:
It is as if I had always known you; if I were a Hindu I would suspect we met in some former life. —Magid.
You think like me. You're precise. I like that. —Marcus (14.3-5)
Now this is a very different kind of relationship than that between Archie and Samad, for example. Though Marcus and Magid might not call their relationship a friendship, we think the fact that they have the same interests and think in the same ways qualifies them for one.
Quote #9
"Dat is Mr. Topps," said Hortense, hurrying across the kitchen in a dark maroon dress, the eyes and hooks undone, and a hat in her hand with plastic flowers askew. "He has been such a help to me since Darcus died. He soothes away my vexation and calms my mind."
She waved to him and he straightened up and waved back. Irie watched him pick up two plastic bags filled with tomatoes and walk in his strange pigeon-footed manner up the garden toward the back kitchen door.
"An' he de only man who made a solitary ting grow out dere. Such a crop of tomatoes as you never did see! Irie Ambrosia, stop starin' and come an' do up dis dress. Quick before your goggle-eye fall out."
"Does he live here?" whispered Irie in amazement, struggling to join the two sides of Hortense's dress over her substantial flank. "I mean, with you?"
"Not in de sense you meaning," sniffed Hortense. "He is jus' a great help to me in my ol' age. He bin wid me deez six years, God bless 'im and keep 'is soul. Now, pass me dat pin." (15.39-41)
This is yet another strange relationship that works something like friendship. It's clear what Hortense is getting out of it, but why does Ryan agree to their arrangement?