#507 Phoenix- Chuck Palahniuk
Rachel is away from home for the first time in her
three-year old daughters life. April feels betrayed and she is giving her
mother the silent treatment. Each night when she calls up to speak with April,
there is nothing but silence on the end of the line. She begins to suspect that
either April is hurt or her husband, Ted is purposely holding a grudge and
punishing her.
We learn of two tragedies. Despite Rachel asking to get rid
of the filthy cat during her pregnancy, it was too late. Toxoplasma from the
cat’s dander and feces caused their daughter to be born blind. One year later,
the cat is set on fire when the fireplace is turned on causing the house to
burn down and the cat to perish. Blame is everywhere, but kept silent.
Over the course of the story we see exactly how Rachel feels
about her husband:
-Rachel feels a respect for her daughter that she’s never
felt for her husband-
-Rachel is used to explaining things to Ted. She knew he’d
never be brilliant. That was his chief charm…She’d married him for all the
reasons she might hire a long-term employee-
-She explains to her daughter how the only problem with
marrying a spineless, lazy, stupid man is that you could be stuck with him the
rest of your life-
-I only chose your father because he is weak. I married him
because I could push him around-
Yes, yes—such a touching modern love story.
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