Never Let Me Go 14

"But I kept a certain distance from her, just as I did from Tommy. We didn't really talk properly again at the Cottages, and before I knew it, I was saying my goodbyes." pg. 203

I am very disappointed in how Kathy left things with Tommy and Ruth. After every thing they went through together, I would think Kathy would try to patch things up with them before she left. I really don't understand why she wouldn't talk to Tommy. I know Ruth's comment to her about Tommy basically not dating whores must have hurt, but she needed to realize where this information was coming from. As soon as Ruth found out that Tommy told Kathy his theory before her, she instantly became jealous and set out to sabotage their friendship. It clearly worked. Kathy needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and attempt to explain what happened in the churchyard. I know most of the readers were probably mad at Ruth for stirring all this up, but that was to be expected. It's just how she is. I, on the other hand, am mad at Kathy. She was so stupid in not trying to patch things up with Tommy and Ruth and leaving so abruptly. Hopefully when they meet again, all three of them will have matured, and they are able to straighten out the issues from the past without any barriers between them.

Brave New World 16

"The nurse stood irresolute, looking now at the kneeling figure by the bed (the scandalous exhibition!) and now (poor children!)..." pg. 206

I understand why John became so angry during this chapter. No one could comprehend why John would be grieving over a death. It is so odd because John's reaction would be fairly typical in our world; however, everyone in the World State found it very strange that John felt the need to mourn. None of the people at the hospital had ever been so emotionally connected to another person before, so they found John's remorse to be disrespectful and inappropriate. I think that is kind of ironic because today when someone close dies, it is often disrespectful and inappropriate not to mourn. I think that this death will be very hard on John, one because he has just lost the only person he has been truly close to, and two because he has no one to share in his grief. I know (at least for me personally) it is much easier to deal with tragedy when you are surrounded by loved ones. I could not even imagine dealing with a death so close to me, let alone being isolated and without comfort and support from others. I would not be surprised if John's violence becomes a more prominent issue as a result of Linda's death.