The Memory of Things

The elapsed time of the plotline is short, considering the gravity and impacts of events: from Tuesday morning to late Friday night. What is the impact of this limited time frame on the tone and atmosphere of the novel? How would the novel be different if readers witnessed events (particularly Kyle and Hannah’s relationship) over two weeks or a month?

With a first-person narrative, characterization details about the protagonist often come from indirect means. Kyle does not frequently talk about himself in terms of his own traits, but the reader can glean information about his attributes from his interior monologue, his decisions, and others’ words about him. List the three strongest traits that apply to Kyle and explain your rationale for each through support from the text.

Despite his own fears and worries, Kyle feels an intuitive desire to help and protect the girl on the bridge; this inciting incident is a direct effect of the terrorist attacks. How does the “real history” of the ensuing days impact the plotline and conflicts for the rest of the novel? How does the author refer to or align historical events with the events of Kyle’s and the girl’s time together? Select at least three incidents or scenes in the novel’s rising action, climax, and/or falling action that show a defined connection to real events, figures, or outcomes of September 11th.