Moo: A Novel

“The truth is, she was ornery and stubborn, wouldn’t listen to a n y b o d y, and selfish beyond selfish, and filthy, caked with mud and dust, and moody.”

Reena’s casual and friendly narrative voice is established immediately in the book’s opening sentence. She begins “The truth is,” as if she is continuing a pre-existing conversation, creating a feeling of intimacy and directness. The typographical extension and italicization of the word “anybody” create an amusing emphasis, as does the piling up of details about Zora’s negative qualities.

“[W]hen they spoke of Maine/ their voices had the glint of sea and sky.”

The synesthesia asserting that Reena’s parents’ voices sounded like something visual—the “glint of sea and sky” creates a beautiful, lyrical tone. This tone depicts the setting of Maine positively and supports the book’s arguments regarding The Rewards of Rural Life.

“One of them said, You’re going to get all Maine-y.”

Reena struggles to understand her friends’ defensive negativity. The importance of their reactions demonstrates The Value of Companionship to Reena. Reena worries about her identity changing, and a taunt like “You’re going to get all Maine-y” lands particularly hard. Reena’s confusion and concerns about her own identity support the book’s thematic interest in Growing Into a New Life.