Why?

In my comment on the last post I said that I thought the most important event was Hollis saying she never wanted to see the Regan's again after hearing about Steven's injuries. Why does she not want to see them? How could other's interpret her feelings?

Sweater

(p125-137) What is the whole story of the sweater? (It does not first appear in Chapter 13.) What does Hollis think it means? What do you think it means?

The Twelfth picture fills in the details of the accident. List the important events from the time that Steen yelled “Jump Hollis” until the time that Hollis ran from the Stucco lady.

A clearer picture....

( 101-125) I think Kris’ first question was answered early in Chapter 12. What did we learn about Steven?

Hollis has been busily drawing since arriving. She pondered leaving the pictures hanging on the walls in the spring, but decided “I’d never leave the pictures”? Why did she consider leaving them, and why did she decide not to so strongly?

Early in the book Josie talks about Ocean People (her) versus Fresh Water people (like Hollis). In Chapter 12 she talks about watching the snow land on the ocean. Why do you think the author is bring this up again?

The 11th ‘picture’ is the first one that does not exist on paper. The memories of that day keeping coming into her mind but she has not drawn them. Why? Does she wish that they would go away? Is that working for her? In learning about this non-picture we finally find out what happened on the mountain, though we cannot clearly say what the outcome was – a cliff hanger. Based on what you know so far, do you think she is justified in being so hard on herself about this accident? What could change your mind?

Hold your breath.....

I thought all day on Wednesday about the quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald that we saw on the Writers Almanac: "All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath." What do you think he meant? Was he referring to the writer or the reader? Are we going to need to make a trip to the pool to figure it out?

Seriously - what was his point?

In the last post, Kris addressed one of the Essential Questions. What do you think about what she said?

Breaking In

(88-109) I was thinking about what Hollis must have been feeling as she walked into the Regan’s summer home that cold winter night. ‘Weird’ would be an understatement. I thought it was interesting that she was willing to break into the home but would not go in the Old Man & Izzy’s room. What was the difference in the line being crossed?

Sandwiched between the chapters of arriving and settling into the house was the picture of the ‘welcome to the family’ party – a family she no longer had hopes of being part of. True?

In chapter 10 she recounts leaving the Regans. She talks about walking out the door and then as far as the town, waiting for the bus. The tone of the paragraph did not make it clear to me if she left on her own (‘ran’) or was asked to leave. It lacked the urgency of running yet did not seem like the way they would have sent her away if they wanted her gone.

Do we have enough clues yet to know if she ran or was asked to leave?

In Chapter 11 I think she is starting to realize the difficult spot she is in. Josie seems to be getting worse and Josie gets very afraid when she thinks someone might have seen her. Where do you think this story is going?

(Reread the essential questions.)

Not Moving On

(p68-96) For a variety of reasons it has been over a week since we last spent time with Hollis Woods. One nice thing about books is that they have great patience and simply sit and wait until you are ready to pick them up again and move on. Evidently Hollis is not ready to move on.

In today’s chapters Hollis forms a plan for dealing with her likely move away from Josie. When she arrived at Josie’s she was not willing to commit to staying. Now she does not want to leave. We know that she feels a responsibility to take care of Josie. What other reasons does she have for wanting to stay?

What is her plan? Does she seem to have thought it through? What possible problems could she encounter?

Extra: Can you find on a map the route that she describe taking in chapter 10?

A New Family!

(NOTE: Pages 55 to 67.) Kris commented earlier that Hollis seems to be trying to forget something that happened when she was with the Regans.

Before reading: List the evidence we have that would indicate what Hollis is trying to forget.

After reading: Does todays reading add any specific EVIDENCE as to what happened? Does it provide any information that could be used to shape our OPINION about what might have happened?

In Chapter 7, the Mustard Lady tells Hollis and Josie that she has found a new place for Hollis. It seems like what Hollis is looking for – a family with young boy and a dog. Yet, Hollis is not happy. Why?

(Other issues aside: Do you think that Hollis believes the Mustard Lady?)

Characters

Before moving on to the next chapters - when we watched the first 8 minutes of the movie yesterday, I was surprised by how the characters looked. They were different then the image that had formed in my mind. (Could that be a reason that the Author did not include any pictures in a book about pictures? She recognized that your mind could create more meaningful images then she could ‘give’ you?)

Write a brief description of each of the main characters (Hollis, Josie, Steven, Old Man, Izzy.) Use evidence from the text to support your description when possible.

Movie Vrs Book

Ben and I watched the first 8 minutes of the “Pictures of Hollis Woods” movie on Youtube. We noticed some significant differences (listed in comments)

Colored World

I noticed today that most of the things that Hollis does not like she refers to either by a color (i.e. the White House, Yellow House, Green House) or a something that evokes a color (the Lemon Lady, Stucco Lady or Mustard Lady). I would think that traditionally a writer would have used colder colors (blues, browns) for negative things rather than the warmer Greens, and Yellows that the Author uses here. Interesting.

At the end of Chapter 5, Hollis acknowledges that she has to go to school (as in ‘be good’) if she is going to be able to stay at Josie’s house. With all of the pictures so far (including today’s of the Old Man) seeming to be related to Hollis’ wish for a family, and with Josie not representing a family, why do you think Hollis is determined to stay there?

What is she saying?

In Chapter 2 Hollis says that she does not want people to look into her eyes because she does not want them to see her soul. In Chapter 4 Beatrice tells Hollis that as an artist she is really placing her soul on the paper for all to see. It seems like consciously Hollis is hiding but subconsciously she is putting herself out in the open.

What do you think that the four pictures we have seen so far tell us about Hollis’ soul?

Drawing

Ben and I are both going to draw a portrait of Hollis Woods. Since neither of us are accomplished artist were a getting a bit of guidance on face drawing from the Drawing Coach (.com). We will post our pictures on the blog next week. (We would be happy to recieve anyone elses as well.)

Strange Feeling

As I was reading "Third Picture" (P3), three words came to mind for describing Hollis : "Proud", "Contrary", "Fragile". Can you find specific references in the text that would support or contradict using those words to characterize her?

In Chapter 3 (C3), Hollis twice references having a 'strange feeling'. Can you more specifically describe what you think she is feeling?

List items in P3 & C3 (specific text references) that:
a) clarify why Hollis finds herself at Josies House
b) introduce character traits, conflicts, or other plot elements that you feel are significant to the future chapters.

What was the green stuff they put on the popcorn?