Blythes husband, Fox, abruptly dismisses her fears. As the arrive at an intersection, Violet takes both hands and yanks at Blythes elbow causing her to spill her coffee. document.getElementById( "ak_js_8" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); In this blog post, we will dive deep into the ending of The Push and explore some of the possible meanings and implications. The man had, in turn, responded that Sebs wife was is the cheater, and he said Seb was weak, which is why she left him. This passage suggests that Blythe is beginning to understand that her own failures as a mother have contributed to the distance between her and Violet. Over the years, Cecilia continues to notice Ettas nerves acting up, and Etta would occasionally lock Cecilia out of the house. She and her husband, Fox, were happy newlyweds, and she was so excited about becoming a mother. At seven months, Violet starts napping for longer periods of time, and Blythe lies to Fox about napping. Moreover, the fact that Blythe survived the incident with Violet suggests that she may have a chance to make things right. The book ends with Gemma hysterical, calling Blythe to say something has happened to her son Jet. Soon, Blythe is pregnant again, this time with a boy. I have 18 old months twins and suffer from postnatal depression. Blythe tries to convince herself she mistook what she saw. Violet lies to make Blythe look bad, and she runs away while Blythe is watching her. Caroline wrote: "That ending devastated me. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Blythe is initially excited and starts taking prenatal classes. As Blythe grieves, she stays in bed. Cecilia wears the dress at the next dance and then never again. Thanks for the answers Mary and NicoleW! Great exploration of nature vs nurture. Blythe continues to look for acknowledgement from others that there is something wrong with Violet, until she finally starts to doubt herself. Ishmeet Singh It is an ending that may leave you feeling anxious, to put it plainly. When Blythe is ten, she goes over to the Ellingtons one day after Mrs. Ellington has recently miscarried. 2 years ago. Blythe and Fox Connor are a couple who meet in college and get married at 25. Blythe ends up watching their house to catch glimpses of her. (It sounds like shes hoping Violet will come and be curious about her the way she was curious about their family. This passage suggests that Blythe is beginning to empathize with her mothers own difficult circumstances and is starting to understand that her mother did the best she could under the circumstances. Plus, some of the scenes and language are not kid-friendly. Audrain's debut is a stunning, devastating novel and, frankly, one hell of a way to start a year of reading. Do you think Gemma was always being truthful with Blythe about her feelings for Violet? 31 Best Character Driven Novels to Devour, 10 Best Harry Potter Boxed Sets of Books to Gift. Also, maybe how mothers birth babies. After Blythe and Fox divorce, he gets custody of Violet and moves in with his girlfriend, Gemma, with whom he has a son named Jet. 20 Best Book Club Books for 2022 (New & Anticipated), Best Mystery & Thriller Books for 2022 (New & Anticipated), 20 Best Books with Asian American Protagonists (for Adults), Persephone by Madeline Miller: What We Know, Books to Movies & TV in 2022: 25+ Adaptations Coming Soon, Your email address will not be published. Otherwise, I feel very comfortable giving this a strong recommendation. The book ends a year and a half after that point. Prior to Penguin, she worked at a global public relations agency in consumer . When she goes to tell Fox, he has a gift for her and she doesnt say anything to avoid upsetting him. Afterwards, Blythe recalls how Violet had inquired about how streetlights work the weekend before. Or Blythe imagined it. How did you think things were going to play out with Violet as the book went along? After Fox leaves, Blythe secretly uses a fake name to befriend Fox's girlfriend, Gemma, to learn about their life. The Push: Mother. And as always, I wish you happy reading! Do you think Foxs mother handled things well? I think the book shows how easily we raise evil people and how parents cannot see bad in their kids. She wonders if he could have done more to stop her from leaving. Soon, they have their first child, a girl named Violet. On Foxs birthday, Blythe purposely skips out on his breakfast plans. Even though they are not married, Gemma refers to Fox as her husband. She finds Violets bracelet on the ground. Blythe thinks Violet is violent and lacks empathy, but Fox thinks Blythe's insufficient love for Violet is the problem. Do you think Blythe is like the women who came before her? She falls down the stairs with that push. When Blythe goes home, her father doesnt ask any questions, but Blythe tells him that it wasnt him who had made Cecilia unhappy (since its clear Cecilia is bored/unhappy with Richard as well). General Hospital (GH) spoilers for Tuesday, May 2, tease that Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) will make some bold moves on The Haunted Star. 3. I dont want to give any spoilers by going into detail on specifics, but suffice to say that theres a lot of unfortunate events throughout the book. The arrival of a child also alters the relationship you have with your partner forever . In it, Blythe is a new mother. . He tells Blythe that hed actually caught Violet cutting them up. To think he let Krissy suffer like that for so long. Join 750,000+ monthly readers in this virtual reading corner! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You're awesome for doing it. document.getElementById( "ak_js_9" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello, and welcome to Wrote a Book! Sapphire is the pen name of author Ramona Lofton. I came here wondering if I can read this book. After the divorce, Fox has custody, but Blythe has visitation rights. It seems like you have a different understanding of the books ending. There, Blythe figures out that the invitation had come from Richard, not Cecilia. Violet lies to make Blythe look bad, and she runs away while Blythe is watching her. January 6, 2021. When confronted, Violet denies doing anything bad. If this summary was useful to you, please consider supporting this site by leaving a tip ($2, $3, or $5) or joining the Patreon! In present day, in her car outside their house, Violet comes up to her car and seems to mouth something, but Blythe cant make out what it is. There were periods of time when Etta managed to act the way others expected her to be. When she finally goes into labor, Blythe tells Fox she doesnt want the baby, but when Violet is born, she is filled with wonder by the baby. Why do you think he is reluctant to send Violet to day care initially? One of the messages she urgently conveys is, after all, that this reproduction business does not end simply, or easily - or, indeed, ever. When Blythe was in the third grade, Cecilia showed up to a class event, a Mothers Day tea party, to her surprise. After Fox leaves, Blythe secretly uses a fake name to befriend Fox's girlfriend, Gemma, to learn about their life. She then does it again. Mrs. Leda Ellington was kind and caring towards Blythe, but Cecilia disliked her. Gemma says that Jet ended up with a blade that mustve come from her house. Then their son Sam is bornand with him, Blythe has the blissful connection she'd always imagined with her child. It wasn't the content that bothered me but the writing style, a neverending, monotonous drawl although I appreciate the second-person pov style. Blythe recalls her parents arguing when she was 8. Do you think things could have turned out differently if Blythe had done things differently? The ending is sad and scary to me. Blythe enters, but quickly leaves. When Blythe talks to Fox about her preferring him, he insists its all in her head. Blythe and Violet both survive, and Blythe learns to be a better mother: A third possible interpretation of the ending is that Blythe and Violet both survive, and Blythe learns to be a better mother. by Ashley Audrain. The books ambiguous ending invites readers to grapple with difficult questions and to consider how our past experiences can shape our present actions. Violet then brings over a bucket of water, and Blythe is unsure whether Violet plans to dump water on the kid to make him choke while he is immobilized. Blythe's pain when she lost her son was absolutely heartbreaking. Blythe is concerned, noting that she has been cruel to other kids, while Fox brushes it off as a developmental phase where she is testing boundaries. The Quick Recap and Section-by-Section Summary for The Push by Ashley Audrain are below. Its now been over a year since the death of Sam. Fox also makes a comment about Blythe calling his mom about his job resignation, and Blythe knows that Foxs mother told him about their call. It made sense with all the signs left throughout the book. Cecilia later explains that its because her mother once did something very cruel to her because there was something wrong with Etta. Blythe's kind neighbor Mrs. Ellington instead acts as a maternal figure to her. She admits it in the end but only to Blythe. I loved it myself, the different generations of motherhood. Soon, they are a couple, he introduces her to his friends and he supports her financially. She searches all around but it finally turns out that a truck driver had picked her up at the side of the road Violet had tried to run away. After being caught by Fox, Blythe decides to stops writing and focus on Violet. However, once her daughter is born, she sees this as a lot less wonderful than what she had hoped for. Meanwhile, Blythe throws herself into activities for Sam. ), When the phone rings, Blythe is hopeful that it is Violet on the line. Blythe struggles with Violet, who cries all the time and doesnt latch well, and Blythe thinks the baby hates her. Posted on Last updated: February 15, 2023, Home Books Ashley Audrains The Push Book Review. Watch for it's arrival in 6-10 weeks, June, 2022. With Ettas death, Henry is too heartbroken to parent Cecilia properly. When Mrs. Ellington later tell her that you made him very happy to comfort her, Blythe thinks about how it is a kind lie. Meanwhile, Violet seems less happy and worse behaved than other toddlers. Ashley Audrains startling debut novel The Push is a provocative book that really made an impact on me, and I have been thinking about it for quite a few months now. The book ends by implying that Gemma suspects Violet has now harmed Jet. When Violet walks in on her parents having sex, she demands an explanation. She also tells Blythe not to learn to be like her, and sees to regret that I dont know how to teach you to be anyone different. She and Lenny continue on and she considers leaving Seb for Lenny, but then Cecilia learns she is pregnant. She tells Cecilia where to find it, then shuts Cecilia in the tiny space and then Etta gets distracted. Blythe is convinced she saw Violet push the stroller. I also ran a charitable campaign that collected 1,500 book donations for Philadelphia schools. It wasnt a book I was expecting to like, much less one that Id be eager to recommend to others. Blythe wants another baby, another chance at motherhood. Happy reading! Days of Our Lives (DOOL) spoilers tease that Talia Hunter (Aketra Sevillian) will become increasingly torn about the mess she's gotten herself stuck in. By the time Violet is six months old, Blythe still has hemorrhoids, and she talks to her doctor about she and Fox have not had sex in a long time. As Blythe grieves, Blythe and Fox's marriage disintegrates, ending with Fox's infidelity. WARNING: THIS SECTION CONTAINS BOOK SPOILERS! Foxs mother hires them a night nurse, and for that time things are better. She often feels overwhelmed and frustrated by Violets defiance and resistance. Blythe becomes pregnant after theyve been trying for a few months. Before graduation, she stops off at home and asks him about her mother. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Blythe tries to discourage her, but finds a clump of Noahs hair in Violets pocket the next day. Afterwards, she talks to another parent who insists her child just make a mistake. I was really impressed by The Push by Ashley Audrain. The divorce has happened, and Fox has custody of Violet. Throughout the book, Blythe grapples with the legacy of her own difficult childhood and the impact it has on her relationship with Violet. The Graveyard Book: Your family is made of ghosts. Reader Q&A, When Blythe insists it was Violet, Fox shushes Blythe, even when Blythe insists the stroller wouldnt roll over the sidewalk groove even if let go. I cried all night. She published her first novel, Push, in 1996; in 2009 it was adapted into the Academy Award-winning film Precious. American Gods: Gods are made of stories. These actions demonstrate a willingness to change and to take responsibility for her own actions. What if motherhood is not what a woman anticipated it to be? She was someone else entirely, someone who felt like she was fading away into nothingness. (Chapter 22). The Sandman . When Cecilia is five, Etta is trying to wash Cecilias hair and Cecilia is being difficult. Push is narrated by Precious, a Black teenager whose school expels her at . After that weekend, Blythe gets the idea to drive over to Foxs house to watch them at night. Blythe instinctively calls out the name Sam, and when Violet catches her fathers attention, she stops what shes doing. Refresh and try again. Meanwhile, the narration is interspersed with information about the women in Blythe's family and her childhood. Hope it will find a home on Goodread's bookshelves. Do you think the portrayal is fair and/or plausible? With her, the woman has a stack of papers, a manuscript explaining her side of the story. In The Push, Blythe Connor is a woman who is trying desperately to be the perfect mother that everyone else seems to be, but she's struggling. In addition to being a book about being a mother, Audrains novel also looks at the ways behaviors and the effects of those various behaviors get passed down through the generations. So just what happened at the end of The Push? Author: Ashley Audrain. Blythe continues to pursue a friendship with Gemma to get information about the goings-on in her household, and in turn Gemma often would turn to Blythe for advice on things. Blythe and Fox both pretend not to recognize each other, but Gemma clearly senses something is off. Fox has a son, Jet, with his new wife, Gemma. At one point, Blythes expensive clothes had gone missing after they tried out a new cleaning company. As Blythe grieves, Blythe and Fox's marriage disintegrates, ending with Fox's infidelity. But when their second child, Sam, is later born, Blythe connects deeply with him and they share a beautiful love, until another questionable moment with Violet changes everything in their lives forever. She tells Violet that shes happy that Violet has someone to talk to that she trusts, even if it isnt her. Do you think he was a good husband and/or a good father? Later, Violet finds a book Blythe had been reading about how to move a marriage past an affair. Blythe lets go of the stroller, and Violet pushes it into the road. The ending of The Push confuses me. My essay was published in the bookBut I'm a Gilmore! Blythe ends up looking for photos online to find ones of a four-year-old that can serve as a stand-in for Sam. March 12, 2023. Blythe continues seeing the literary agent casually, though unenthusiastically. Then, Gemma asks about what happened with Sam, saying that Fox doesnt like to talk about it. Henrys sister suggests boarding school for Cecilia to get her away from Etta, but Henry disagrees. Sapphire continued the story with a 2011 sequel called The Kid, which focuses on Abdul, Precious's son. Later, they have sex for the first time in a long while, no stopping even when Violet starts crying. Its a psychological thriller that makes social commentary and really makes you think about motherhood, including its darkest sides. Blythe wants to send Violet to day care, but Fox is against the idea because his own mother had never needed to do so. Her own mother and grandmother were not role models; each harbored . When Cecilia is 15, Etta seems to be slipping away. Paperback: 336 pages. Two weeks before she is to leave, the grounds people find Blythe in the stream, talking about wanting to take Sam home. ', Your email address will not be published. Meanwhile, Violet makes constant remarks reminding her mother that her father is with the other woman now. Great review! Fox claims hes not seeing the other woman anymore. Fox has a son, Jet, with his new wife, Gemma. Blythe is a good baby who rarely cries, and each day Seb comments on how lucky they are. He suggests joint custody over Violet, and Blythe agrees. One day, she asks Violet about Gemma, but Violet just says shes fine. The Push manages the difficult feat of being genuinely satisfying in terms of substance and telling a compelling (and multi-generational) story, all while maintaining a thriller-type atmosphere without feeling like genre fiction. I think you missed the actual ending. This passage suggests that Blythe recognizes the impact of her own trauma on her parenting and is struggling to break the cycle of abuse. It has been a year and a half since shed spoken to Fox. There, Blythe meets a woman named Iris, who she likes immediately. Etta eventually hangs herself. In the final chapters, Blythe has a moment of clarity and realizes that Violet has been trying to communicate with her in her own way: I think shes been trying to tell me something all alongI just didnt know how to listen. (Chapter 28). Throughout the book, Blythe struggles to connect with Violet and to understand her daughters behavior.

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