I learned streetcars used to be the main form of public transit. I guess this book taught me what streetcars were. I didn't even know what they were until I read this, or that they were used before buses. When I think of public transit I think of buses, taxis's, and the subway. Electric streetcars were once a chief mode of public transit, they are starting to get dismantled in this book, and also buses are beginning to take over. It is sad and practically kills Cals dad. His dad loved the streetcars. The disappearing streetcars, and emerging buses, represent a shift from a post-war era into a technology filled future. It almost seem like the the streetcars represent peace and innocence, while the buses represent corruption and chaos.
I rediscovered my faith in an everyday hero, who doesn't take credit. Cal is a hero because he is helping Gretchen in the best way he knows how, even though he does not have to. He does not have a job that requires him to help the less fortunate, and his own father tells him to let other people's problems be their own. Don't get involved. He could fall into that belief, that has been pounded into him, but he transcends that. He decides to help out of the inherent compassion of man. Also while he is helping he never once takes credit for being the one to help. He helps her "not go crazy" and also helps her have fun. He buys her things even though she can't have them, but he does it because she SHOULD have them. He eventually helps her father be put in prison, the best help of all. The whole time he never takes credit. He does this partly because he dosen't want to become less popular, but also because he is a hero.
I was surprised by Cals reaction when he finds out about the dead baby in the freezer. It just seemed unrealistic. Maybe I'm just speaking for myself, but it does not seem like a very normal teenage thing to do, break into someones house to steal a frozen baby that may or may not be there. Ive never been in a situation like that, but as a teenager, that is not how I would respond. It is very heroic and all, but scary as hell. It just took me by surprise how quickly he decided he was going to go grab the baby.
I am beginning to wonder what made Mr. Luttermann so crazy,and how he ended up with his wife. I'm also wondering why she stayed with him if she sensed the evil within. He is very good at disguise, but also I feel like you would have to be blind to marry someone who is evil. Maybe he wasn't always evil. Maybe something snapped in him randomly, after they were married. Im not sure but I'm super curious. Also when the evil first started to appear, like the first abusive episode, wouldn't you get out? I mean I understand thats a lot hard said than done, but if your children are being destroyed by someone, wouldn't you try to protect them?
I was disturbed when I found out about the incest between Mr. Luttermann and his daughters. I was also disturbed by Mrs. Luttermann's reactions to this abuse. Mr. Lutterman rapes his daughters including Gretchen, and he even has a child with Gretchen ( even though she starts out claiming her sister had the child). I was most disturbed after Cal hears a very horrifying tale from Gretchen that her sister had a child through her father and that he forced her to drown the child. Cal then break into the Lutterman house to get evidence. She said the dead baby was kept in the freezer, worse yet. The baby’s body is in the freezer and Cal steals it, only to have Gretchen’s father chase him with a knife and snatch it back. It is just sick. Her father wasn't just a physical abuser, he was also a rapist, and a murderer. All of these things being true I was terrified by how his wife seemed to be brainwashed. She knows all of this is happening, but she is so scared of him that she denies it. She denies it to everyone even herself. She is so brainwashed she says and does exactly what he wants her to say. It makes me wonder what he's done to her. Something really bad, either that or she is just a bad person herself. She is either mentally maimed or she dosent care about her children very much. The last thing I was disturbed by was the justification of his acts through religion. He epitomizes a religious nut. He is the type of person that gives religion a bad rep. Justification of heinous acts through religion. He also uses religion to confine his family rather than to empower them. When Gretchen tell her mom about whats been happening her mother replies by saying that he is a " Holy Man". Mr. Luttermann also makes sure his daughters are ugly because religion says its a sin to be seductive looking. It makes me so mad!
I was confused why Cals dad didn't want to help McClusky's dog, especially when its suffering became his own. The howls of the dog caused by chronic abuse, kept his dad up at night. I was confused about his reasoning. I mean its a simple call and you have a sleeping issue solved and a miserable life saved. Eventually he does but I don't understand why it takes him so long.
I was interested in why Gretchen Lutterman chose Cal to be the person she confides in. I mean before Cal is thrown into the hurricane that is her life, its important to note that he is popular, happy, and a highly regarded athlete in his community. Its the very opposite of herself. Maybe this is why she chooses him. He has very little to gain from getting involved with her and everything to lose by trying to solve her problems. I think she knows this but then again maybe she senses his kindness. She didn't have to tell him, he seems like the last person I would tell. I guess I'm a bit of an outcast but the last person I would tell my problems to is a happy go lucky jock. Maybe I'm stereotypical. It just is curious why she decided Cal is the person to tell. Also though, maybe she got to such a point of desperation, to tell anyone, that she told the first person who talked to her.
I rediscovered my faith in an everyday hero, who doesn't take credit. Cal is a hero because he is helping Gretchen in the best way he knows how, even though he does not have to. He does not have a job that requires him to help the less fortunate, and his own father tells him to let other people's problems be their own. Don't get involved. He could fall into that belief, that has been pounded into him, but he transcends that. He decides to help out of the inherent compassion of man. Also while he is helping he never once takes credit for being the one to help. He helps her "not go crazy" and also helps her have fun. He buys her things even though she can't have them, but he does it because she SHOULD have them. He eventually helps her father be put in prison, the best help of all. The whole time he never takes credit. He does this partly because he dosen't want to become less popular, but also because he is a hero.
I was surprised by Cals reaction when he finds out about the dead baby in the freezer. It just seemed unrealistic. Maybe I'm just speaking for myself, but it does not seem like a very normal teenage thing to do, break into someones house to steal a frozen baby that may or may not be there. Ive never been in a situation like that, but as a teenager, that is not how I would respond. It is very heroic and all, but scary as hell. It just took me by surprise how quickly he decided he was going to go grab the baby.
I am beginning to wonder what made Mr. Luttermann so crazy,and how he ended up with his wife. I'm also wondering why she stayed with him if she sensed the evil within. He is very good at disguise, but also I feel like you would have to be blind to marry someone who is evil. Maybe he wasn't always evil. Maybe something snapped in him randomly, after they were married. Im not sure but I'm super curious. Also when the evil first started to appear, like the first abusive episode, wouldn't you get out? I mean I understand thats a lot hard said than done, but if your children are being destroyed by someone, wouldn't you try to protect them?
I was disturbed when I found out about the incest between Mr. Luttermann and his daughters. I was also disturbed by Mrs. Luttermann's reactions to this abuse. Mr. Lutterman rapes his daughters including Gretchen, and he even has a child with Gretchen ( even though she starts out claiming her sister had the child). I was most disturbed after Cal hears a very horrifying tale from Gretchen that her sister had a child through her father and that he forced her to drown the child. Cal then break into the Lutterman house to get evidence. She said the dead baby was kept in the freezer, worse yet. The baby’s body is in the freezer and Cal steals it, only to have Gretchen’s father chase him with a knife and snatch it back. It is just sick. Her father wasn't just a physical abuser, he was also a rapist, and a murderer. All of these things being true I was terrified by how his wife seemed to be brainwashed. She knows all of this is happening, but she is so scared of him that she denies it. She denies it to everyone even herself. She is so brainwashed she says and does exactly what he wants her to say. It makes me wonder what he's done to her. Something really bad, either that or she is just a bad person herself. She is either mentally maimed or she dosent care about her children very much. The last thing I was disturbed by was the justification of his acts through religion. He epitomizes a religious nut. He is the type of person that gives religion a bad rep. Justification of heinous acts through religion. He also uses religion to confine his family rather than to empower them. When Gretchen tell her mom about whats been happening her mother replies by saying that he is a " Holy Man". Mr. Luttermann also makes sure his daughters are ugly because religion says its a sin to be seductive looking. It makes me so mad!
I was confused why Cals dad didn't want to help McClusky's dog, especially when its suffering became his own. The howls of the dog caused by chronic abuse, kept his dad up at night. I was confused about his reasoning. I mean its a simple call and you have a sleeping issue solved and a miserable life saved. Eventually he does but I don't understand why it takes him so long.
I was interested in why Gretchen Lutterman chose Cal to be the person she confides in. I mean before Cal is thrown into the hurricane that is her life, its important to note that he is popular, happy, and a highly regarded athlete in his community. Its the very opposite of herself. Maybe this is why she chooses him. He has very little to gain from getting involved with her and everything to lose by trying to solve her problems. I think she knows this but then again maybe she senses his kindness. She didn't have to tell him, he seems like the last person I would tell. I guess I'm a bit of an outcast but the last person I would tell my problems to is a happy go lucky jock. Maybe I'm stereotypical. It just is curious why she decided Cal is the person to tell. Also though, maybe she got to such a point of desperation, to tell anyone, that she told the first person who talked to her.