VLVL2 (15): The Last Sentence

[Ghetta Life]

Desmond's return, both in location and generation, with a mouthfull of 
bluejay feathers is a pretty simple and obvious "happy ending."  The 
bluejays are an obvious reference to the messengers at the start of the 
book, and can be easily read as police.  That they have been devoured is 
clearly their defeat, and the triumph of the family.   Cute, simple and 
obvious.

Ghetta

>From: <isread at ukonline.co.uk>
>
>From Tim S:
>
> >>The last sentence:  "It was Desmond, none other, the spit and image of
>his grandmother Chloe, roughened by the miles, face full of blue-jay
>feathers, smiling out of his eyes, wagging his tail, thinking he must be
>home."<<
>
>The novel might well end where it begins, but doesn't. Desmond's journey
>is apparent, which means at this point that he stands in for other
>characters, also "roughened by the miles". Hence a possible alternative
>reading of the epigraph: the second day elevates the dog's status (as
>opposed to being, more simply, a second chance). The second day isn't
>simply repetitive.

_________________________________________________________________
Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online 
http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963