60 pages • 2 hours read
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Book Club Questions
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Content Warning: This section contains descriptions of violence against women, rape, abortion, and suicidal ideation.
Emily explains that her husband, Mike, has been helping relocate Frederick from Orton Hall to the nursing home. Mike found some books that belonged to Violet and packed them for Kate. Many are old children’s classics. In Grimms’ Fairy Tales, Kate finds a yellowed note written by Violet. Back at home that night, she reads through it and discovers it to be Violet’s suicide note.
Kate also finds a yellowed news clipping about the bug infestation at Orton Hall. She sees a picture of Frederick as a young man and realizes that he is the person she met at Orton Hall. He inherited Violet’s birthright. Despite this wrong, Kate admires Violet’s determination to create a satisfying life for herself and resolves to do the same.
Altha recounts the night that Grace came to her cottage. They hadn’t spoken in the seven years since the death of Grace’s mother. Altha learned that Grace’s husband was abusive. He beat her and was angry every time she had a miscarriage. She was now pregnant and fearful that he would kill her if she miscarried again. As a result, Grace wanted Altha to give her an abortifacient.
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