Wow, I spoil some stuff so don't read this if you're not to page 131.

Ok everyone. First Emily kicks butt for setting this up, thanks Emily!

I got the book in the mail a few days ago, read about ten pages before class yesterday and am now on page 130. Fast read, homies.

I just want to comment on a few things.
First I definitely compare myself to Annie's commitment, dedication and very unique style of work (and find myself lacking!). I do not relate at all to her diligence and fascination with Freud, although I admire the knowledge she describes acquiring, beginning in her adolescence, and how she seems to use it to order her world. I also think, however, that she uses it to buffer herself from whatever crazy reality she doesn't want to deal with that is her own.

Also, I've read through the part where Annie has a psychotic episode and am just at the point where she is starting to emerge on the other side while working with Dr. Blumenfeld. Interestingly I just had a class on psychosis yesterday and she hits on some themes of psychosis, as she abstractly is describing to the reader what her world was like when she was committed. She describes the sense that other people are putting words in her head (pg 103), and she is hallucinating not only seeing other people and hearing voices, but also the smell of burning seems to be a thematic hallucination.She also goes through the process called "clanging" where similar sounding words are strung together (pg 112), she talks about her "word salad" which apparently is an actual "psychosis" word, on page 126.

In terms of themes, Annie's seem to include:

Burning smells (maybe from Ben's story of the house burning as a baby in foster care?)
angels
black birds and weeping (118)
Any additions to this list?

I am fascinated by 1) her awareness that she has a hidden past and that she has been in this hospital with Dr. Michael Connelly before and
2) that she is alluding to some repressed or subconscious memories that are now what are surfacing.

Ok, now, to end my long post: I just got to the part where she tells her doctor she held Melanie hostage with a gun and knife! Or tried to kill her? Ack! I can't wait to find out what happens next!
Molly