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"Dad didn't like us spending time there. Before he retired Grandpa has been a mailman, and dad said no one worth out respect would have worked for the government" (page 49). The quote shows just how far the father is willing to go in terms of isolating his children from the outside world. He doesn't even enjoy the fact his kids are seeing their grandfather because his job was involved in the government. He's that paranoid that something will happen that he dislikes the idea of his children spending time with their grandfather.  "While his brothers wrestled, Tyler listened to music" (page 44). It shows how Tyler has an appreciation for finer things rather than savagery. It also shows how he is open-minded, seeing as he doesn't follow what his father had taught him. It shows how he wasn't brainwashed by his paranoid father while his other siblings were. I also believed the CD's resembled hope. How the house and its rules represent a prison to the outside world and the CD's represent something new and fascinating and a way to escape his life where he is told what is right and what is wrong against his better judgement.

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"Dad's mouth flew open and a gust of air rushed out. ''You don't think the Illuminati have infiltrated the church?" ( Page 43). The quote demonstrates the characteristics of her father and portrays how crazy he is. The father is very paranoid and doesn't believe in any modern ways. The belief in the Illuminati and how they infiltrated schools and the government sums up his craziness and paranoia.

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The teacher laughed in his face. "You can't teach yourself calculus," he said. "It's impossible." Tyler pushed back. "Give me a book, I think I can." (page 47). This quotation is significant as it adds to the characterization of Tyler. Tyler is represented as a very shy, quiet, and smart individual who is very independent. This quote and action by Tyler shows these qualities of his, but it also shows that Tyler doesn't conform to what is deemed as "impossible," and he sets his own limits. This quotation definitely struck a cord with me because I feel that Tyler's character traits of being shy allow for people to simply look over him, and not think anything of him. However, Tyler was incredibly defiant and stood right up to the teacher, showing that Tyler believed in himself when others did not.

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"You may as well take a broom and start sweeping dirt off the mountain," she said. (Page 42) The mother tries to switch the topic of the conversation and support Tyler's decision in going to college but is unable to stop the father from lecturing Tyler because of her migraine. This shows the characterization of the father, which is closed-minded and authoritative. Nobody is able to stand up to him and he continues to belittle Tyler and tells him that a man should be the head of the family but that cannot be done if he goes to college.

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"I looked nothing like myself, and I wondered for a moment if this was what Tyler wanted, a  pretty house with a pretty bathroom and a pretty sister to visit him. Maybe this is what he'd left for. I hated him for that." (page 52) This line stood out to me. I think this quote has many levels to it. I think that Tara doesn't completely understand why Tyler wants to go to college. but it is mostly because of the teachings and lectures from her father. I think that Tara is upset that Tyler left her and didn't choose family over college, but she thinks that he chose college primarily for the reason that he wants to be a rich man. I believe that Tara was just upset from the nostagia of the moment and  as her mind wondered she created a false truth about the reason Tyler left.

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"the same secret melody he’d been humming when he bought that trigonometry book, or saved all those pencil shavings" (51). This line of text stood out as it embodied the whole dialoue about tyler. It wrapped up nicely about how he was different and his thirst for the finer things in life had to be quenched yet couldn't in his current home.

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¨There's no such thing as magic" (Page 60), this quote spoken by Faye before the car accident characterizes her switch from a strong

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"She used to say that we were kept at home so we could get a better education than other kids. But it was only mother saying that, as Dad thought we should learn more practical skills. When I was very young, that was the battle between the two of them: Mother trying to hold school every morning, and Dad herding the boys into the junkyard the moment her back was turned." (45) This quote reveals the differences in views between Tara's mother and father. While they both believe in the importance of education in some way, Tara's mother believes more in "book-smarts", while Tara's father believes more in practical smarts and "street-smarts". It is explained that her parents argue everyday because of this, which highlights the uneasy situation in Tara's household, and that constant arguments and fights occur every morning.

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"Grandma led me into the bathroom and watched as I washed my hands, then directed me to dry them on the rose-colored towel. My ears burned, my throat felt hot." (Page 53, Ch 5). This line, along with the scene taking place helps display the extreme restrictions to which Tara was forced to live by. Her grandmother is shocked by the fact that her grandchildren were taught not to wash their hands after using the restroom, especially since she always taught their mother to be hygienic. This also reveals how much Faye has been changed by Gene, and how the father's own paranoia and possible bipolar disorder has impacted their whole family.

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"I had a pair of leather gloves, but when Dad saw them he said they'd slow me down. '''You'll get calluses real quick"'...I found a hard hat at the shop, but Dad took that too. "'You'll move slower trying to balance this silly thing on your head"' (55). I think this quote is revealing of the father's character as well as the time period. This excerpt demonstrates that the father was not very cautious in regards to his child's safety. One example being making his 7 year old daughter work for hours and secondly refusing to let her wear any sort of protective equipment claiming it would slow her down. Pertaining to the time period, this is an important quote because readers learn that there was a much looser safety laws and seemingly much more popular for children to be working jobs.

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"He cant explain where the conviction came from, or how it burned brightly enough to shine through the black uncertainty .But I've always supposed it was the music in his head, some hopeful tune the rest of us couldn't hear" (51) This quote further develops Tyler's character. We have already learned he is different from the rest of his family and siblings, but this explains just how unique his mind is in comparison to theirs. He had the courage and strength to leave his family and follow his own path. I also like how this quote was worded and related back to his music which he and Tara cherished together.

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"The gash below my knee had formed a scab - dark and shiny, a black river flowing through pink flesh – when I came to a decision. I chose a Sunday evening, when Dad was resting on the couch, his Bible propped open in his lap. I stood in front of him for what felt like hours, but he didn't look up, so I blurted out what I'd come to say: “I want to go to school.” (Page 66)

I found this interesting because it seemed like the youngest children are having a "turning" point in their lives where they make the decision to go to school and receive an education.

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"The seed of curiosity has been planted; it needed nothing more than time and boredom to grow" (page 60). This quote demonstrates how Tara's repetitive life can lead to major curiosity of new ideas. When she strips copper from a radiator all day, her mind trails off into a different life she could be living. Suddenly, she wants to enroll in public school. This was a major turning point in her life because she was finally thinking for herself and not letting her father's rules crush her imagination. She started to keep up her schooling in between scrapping and helping her mother. She studied different books such as history and science. This quotation is important because her curiosity and boredom led her to wanting to go to school and have a real education.

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"The memory of Tyler had faded, and with it had faded his music, drowned out by the crack of metal crashing into metal." (Page 63) This quote was important to me as I read because it is clear that Tyler's leaving left her with a completely different life and longed for the past. This is also symbolic, even though this truly occurred, of the reality of Tyler slipping away and her siblings slowly giving up this lifestyle. When she first heard the music Tyler had, she was infatuated by it. After Tyler had left and was helping her father out in place of Tyler, she had lost the amazing feeling she got while listening to this music along with her growing relationship with Tyler.

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“I ate quickly, then went to his room and looked at his shelves, now empty except for a single CD, the black one with the image of the people dressed in white, which I know recognized as the a Mormon Tabernacle Choir.” (50-51). This adds to Tyler’s characterization as he remembers the times he spent with Tara. We also learn from this that he is aware of what their time together had meant to her, and how it has changed her attitude in the house. Tara has slowly stated to go from rough housing with the rest of the boys, to being calm with Tyler.

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"Dad lived in fear of time. He felt it stalking him. I could see it in the worried glances he gave the sun as it moved across the sky, in the anxious way he appraised every length of pipe or cut of steel" (Westover, 54). This quote added to the characterisation of Tara's father. Along with his undiagnosed bipolar disorder, he is extremely anxiety ridden. The anxiety of her father, moreover, had characterised the way the Westover family lived. Everything was always being rushed and there never seemed to be enough time. All hours were dedicated to yard work, or activities "approved" by the father such as midwifing or making medicinal remedies. There was no time for school, breaks, or laughter because of the father's fear of time. The inevitability of time passing built such an anxiety within him that reflected on the rest of the family.

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“extra school for people too dumb to learn the first time around.” (Page 41). I chose this quote because it leads to the development of both Tyler and Gene. When Tyler tells his parents that he would like to attend college Gene has a negative reaction as he clearly values his own opinions and it is very clear that he has no little respect for anyones desires.This also leaves to the development of Tyler because it shows his urge for freedom and his urge to be independent.

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"I was as rowdy as all of my brothers but when I was with Tyler I was transformed. Maybe it was the music. the grace of it, or maybe it was his grace." (page 45). This quotation shows how you cannot fully judge someone, because you may be unaware of their true personality. Everyone has those few extra special people in their life, who truly understand you. It is a shame that two of those people for Tara are not there anymore, between Tyler leaving, and her mom being unwell. I wonder how Tara will do on her own and hope she can continue to become an independent thinker.

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“But I’ve always supposed it was the music in his head, some hopeful tune the rest of us couldn’t hear, the same secret melody he’d been humming when he bought that trigonometry book, or saved all those pencil shavings”(51). This quote from the memoir highlights the hope Tyler had for the future, even if it was unknown as he was stepping out of the comfort of his family. Unlike the other brothers that left, Tyler had left the mountain into unfamiliar and uncertain territory. This moment adds to Tyler’s characterization as it highlights how he did not conform to his dad’s beliefs, and instead chose to create his own path for a brighter future, one where he did not work for his father. His hope for the future burned more brightly than the darkness in the feared unknown.

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"Leave it to Grandma to think getting yourself brainwashed is something to celebrate" ( page 49). I thought this quote was very interesting because as we discussed in class it shows that she did align with her dad at this point of time. I think this was interesting for the overall theme of the book because at this point she really doesn't know differently. I thought this was quite an impact  on me since I value school. I think it is important to have the ability to think critically and be able to debate a topic freely and factually. Of course Tara wouldn't be able to think otherwise, but i'm curious when she will change her viewpoint.

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"He waltzing while the rest of us hopped a jig; he was deaf to the raucous music of our lives,and we were deaf to the serene polyphony of his." (43) I love this line and it really stuck with me. I think this line is significant because it conveys rebellion. It illustrates that within the family eventually they can possible realize how messed up the family dynamic is. This gives me hope for Tara in the future.

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“Don’t you teach your children to wash after they use the toilet?” Grandma said. Dad shifted the truck into gear. As it rolled forward he waved and said, “I teach them not to piss on their hands” (Page 53). This except at the end of chapter 5 provides great insight into who Gene is as a character. As the novel progresses, we become more familiar with his line of thinking and overall reasoning. He is teaching his children how to function in the small world that he has created due to his personal oppositions in regard to mainstream society. Thus, neglecting to teach Tara proper hygiene exemplifies Gene's rebellious parenting style. He believes that functioning in his own world is far more important than learning basic societal concepts. This was precisely highlighted by his witty remark.

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"The memory of Tyler had faded, and with it had faded his music, drowned out by the crack of metal crashing into metal" (Page 63). This moment in the memoir illustrates a significant shift in Tara's behavior and attitude. After Tyler left she was upset, confused, and constantly searching for some semblance of him in her life. With this quote we see Tara slipping away into the life her father wants her to live, and fading away from the curiosity and "music" of the life Tyler had lived. With his music and rhythm fading, she begins to work in the scrap metal field with her father, giving up her wanting for a life like Tyler's and conforming to the status quo. This quote characterizes Tara as young and naive, influenced by anyone in authority at that moment. When Tyler was around she was listening to his music, sitting by his feet, and inspired to study. Now that Tyler is gone, Tara is working for her father Gene, sorting metals and scrap, and later taking on some of his habits like reading the Book of Mormon, and New Testament.

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¨i awoke one morning in August to find Tyler packing his clothes, books and CDs into boxes¨ (pg. 50). I chose this quotation because it illustrates that there is a distinct change in Tara's family. Tyler is leaving for college and her family is going to have to adjust to him not being home to help out. This is a big deal for her father because he is extremely against an education and believes his sons should be outside helping. Tyler leaves Tara with one CD, only saying goodbye to Tara. It shows that the father cannot support his children no matter what or where this could lead them in life.

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"Music became our language" (page 44). In this scene when Tara walks into Tyler's room, she sees his stack of CD's. She believed Tyler would be mad at her for looking through his stuff, however, he seemed excited but hesitant. This represents and adds to the characterization of Tyler and Tara because this demonstrates the rebellion of Tyler against his father and marks the beginning of Tara's. It seems the father would be against them enjoying music, and I think music will be an important element throughout the story as it may serve as an escape for them.