Welcome to this conversation about the first 9 chapters of Goodbye Days. I can't imagine I'm the only one who experienced some gut-wrenching moments and more than one lump in my throat. I look forward to the varying perspectives each of you will represent. Mine is that of a mom, grandmother and high school reading specialist. I've raised a couple teenagers to adulthood and survived the anxiety those years were wrought with. I also work with young adults everyday and have a sensitive heart to the struggles they endure as they navigate the daily struggles and excitement of high school.
Those young people who are joining us in the conversation will, no doubt, view Carver through a different lens and it'll be great to hear from them. So let's get started. As I began Zentner's novel, I was immediately struck with the mature, sophisticated voice he gave Carver. Wow, this teenager can really articulate his feelings! One criticism of the book was that the teenage characters' ability to communicate their thoughts were not believable. But I considered the fact that Carver, for example, is an aspiring writer in the novel, attending a school for the arts because of his talent. After reaching that awareness, I could appreciate and be repeatedly moved by the phrasing Carver uses to help us understand the hell he is living in since the fateful accident that claimed The Sauce Crew. One of the things I'd like to hear from you all is particular examples of Carver's words that just stuck you in the heart or gut or wherever you felt Carver's pain, the depth of his friendship with these 3 other guys, his trust in his sister, etc. On page 5, while sitting at the third funeral, Blake's, with his forehead resting on the pew in front of him, he describes to us the carpet. Then, "I mull over this stuff because the world's reliable absurdity is one of the few things that can distract me, and I welcome distractions right now." There are times when life is so stinking hard that we need just tiny windows through which to escape it before the pain completely consumes us. Which words did you stop and read a second or third time because of their power?
18 Comments
Katie Wilhelm
11/18/2018 04:10:25 pm
Hello! Upon receiving my copy of "Goodbye Days" in the mail, I could immediately sense that it would be a good book. It might sound strange but there are some books that just have that undefinable "feel" to them that leaves you in joyful anticipation to begin reading. I was drawn to Zenter's writing style from the very first paragraph.Having just finished a writing unit for my first graders on narrative writing, one of my first thoughts was on the remarkable "hook" that the author begins with as it immediately captures the reader's interest and encourages us to continue reading.
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anne k hartzfeld
11/18/2018 07:01:39 pm
Welcome, Katie! Thanks for dropping by! I too, stopped myself from referencing more of his thoughts and descriptions of his feelings so that others could share theirs. Zentner's writing is just riveting, My margins are filled with reactions. Happily, I have some students reading it and it will serve as a powerful mentor text to show how to bring a character to life.
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Christine Renee Danielewicz
11/23/2018 12:59:37 pm
I agree with your comment about how this has impacted Carver's identity. Just the thought of being the only survivor among a group of friends is chilling. The unbearable loneliness that seems to loom ahead for the future seems crushing. It's hard to imagine how life can go on, but even in these early chapters there are hints of life and hope.
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Renee Tobias
11/20/2018 12:53:58 pm
So, I can see by the previous comments I need to pay closer attention to the text in order to comment on writing style. I tend to go with emotions. As I began the book my mind kept going to the two students who were killed recently in a car crash at Warwick High School. I was comparing the two scenarios. I experienced so much anger as I read the first nine chapters. First, I was angry at Carver’s parents for not being there to support him during the funerals. I found it frustrating that they couldn’t get back from Italy before the end of their trip due to a lost passport. Couldn’t the parent with the passport make it home? He needed support of family. A friend of mine has a granddaughter at Warwick. She had been friends with one of the students since their daycare days. There was so much support from all her family members and friends to help her through her grief. If Carver’s parents or other relatives had been there to support him he would not have had to sit by himself or deal with the terrible reporter after the funeral.
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Christine Renee Danielewicz
11/23/2018 12:55:49 pm
Renee, I'm sorry that this book has such a close connection to you and hope that the story and discussion will be comforting to you.
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Lynette Smith
11/25/2018 04:17:37 pm
Betsy, I agree with you in many ways. My thoughts too were in regard to how Carter's parents were not as supportive as I felt they should be. This scenario explained why Carter was unwilling to tell them any of his feelings or concerns. As a mother, this made me sad. I was touched by the close relationship Carter had with his sister. At the beginning I was searching for reasons why the blame was on Carter. Yes, he texted his friends, but he did not make them answer the phone.
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Kathleen Wilhelm
11/20/2018 02:25:42 pm
I appreciate what you said about the emotional aspect of the book. I am also very confused by the premise that Carver should be charged for texting his friends. How is it any different than sending an email or posting to social media and having someone check it while driving? One benefit of texting over a phone call is that it can wait for a response that suits the recipient. I am curious to see how that theme of personal responsibility will be handled later in the book.
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anne k hartzfeld
11/20/2018 03:13:07 pm
Hi Renee! You jumped right into the emotions, because, let's face it- Zentner dropped us right there!
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Christine Renee Danielewicz
11/23/2018 12:53:09 pm
I appreciate the comments that have been shared so far, and I can identify with many of them. Each page of the book stirs up multiple feelings, what ifs, and what nexts.
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Michael Williams
11/23/2018 04:31:04 pm
After reading the first 9 chapters I closed the book and had to take a deep breath. That's when I noticed, really noticed, the front cover. The title and author's name are in text message bubbles, followed by a text that is being written. Immediately I though of despair, but then I realized that the last bubble is a message that IS being composed. That means that there is hope, always have hope. What message will Carver receive?
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Gretchen Vogle
11/23/2018 07:03:35 pm
I just looked at the cover again after reading your post, Mike! I didn’t realize it at first. I like how you mentioned the last line is still being written. At first, I thought it meant how Carver’s friends were texting him back when the accident happened; however, I like your idea of it representing hope a lot more! Thanks for the insight!
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Virginia Williams
11/23/2018 05:49:33 pm
I really didn't pay attention to the cover of the book until Michael mentioned it, and then I noticed the crack that looks like a cracked windshield.
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Gretchen Vogle
11/23/2018 07:16:59 pm
This book is definitely emotional. I agree that it makes sense for Carver to think as maturely as he does since he is a gifted writer. When I look closely at his interactions with his parents and others, I think he has more teenager tendencies.
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Lisa Foran
11/26/2018 06:07:14 am
I am playing a little bit of catch up right now, but I actually ended up reading and reading straight through chapter 9 and forgot to post! Without knowing too much about this book, I dove in and really become engulfed in this emotional rollercoaster. I appreciated how Zentner introduced the conflict (one of them - the accident) early in the book - this conflict, of course snowballing into Carver's internal conflict of grief and emotions. I, personally, enjoy getting right to the point in a text so that I can really enjoy the solution and the journey of the story.
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Ann Carbon
11/26/2018 07:24:30 am
This section of chapter 9 about how much of a family Carver and his friends were really struck me as well. It's so important for people to have close friendships and I can only imagine the loss of having that all taken away.
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anne k hartzfeld
11/26/2018 04:36:16 pm
Hi Ann! Isn't is true that all the people in our lives are privy to different glimpses of us and our impact on the world is probably scattered across all the lives we touch? I really never considered that before.
anne k hartzfeld
11/26/2018 04:33:24 pm
Welcome to the conversation, Lisa. I also marked the feeling Carver expressed, "Even then I knew what I had." It spoke so clearly of the depth of their friendship, but also of his maturity. How many 17 year olds realize and can appreciate their friends. In the same vein, how many are fortunate to have such deep love for their friends at that age. I know who I thought were my "good" friends but those relationships never stood the test of time. Appreciating what you have is often a learned blessing.
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Chelsi Bauer
1/4/2019 07:36:33 pm
I did not notice the text bubbles on the cover and had to take a second look! I was hooked with the first page. My emotions were running wild. I, for one, strongly disagree with texting and driving. I lost my grandparents in an accident because someone was on their phone texting and other substances.. I never once thought to blame the person who text him, I just blamed his stupidity for answering and wanted him held accountable. I don’t think Blade should be charged with anything and I do believe, like others said, there is hope. As a mother, I CAN NOT believe his parents did not come to be by his side. Come hell or high water, I’d make it home. I’m interested in his relationship with jesmyn and what it has to hold.
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