How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
I knew he was up to something Mom wouldn't like, but he knew I could mostly keep a secret except for the times my nose would betray me. All Mom had to do to get the truth out of me was hold me by the chin, look me in the eye, and ask her question. If my nose stayed dry, I was telling the truth. If I leaked one drop of blood, then she knew I was lying. (4.53)
Here's the low-tech lie detector in action. And here's a thought: if Jack's nose doesn't bleed anymore, that should mean he's able to lie. Are we supposed to think that he's grown up enough to know that he shouldn't lie—or grown up enough to be able to lie when he needs to? Is lying just part of being a grown up?
Quote #5
And if I can't trust you then it makes me realize that you can't trust yourself to make good decisions. Remember, a person first lies to himself before he lies to others. (15.61)
What does Jack's mom mean by this? How do we lie to ourselves before we lie to others? (Actually, the best way to lie is to lie to yourself so convincingly that you don't even think you're lying. Now that's talent.)
Quote #6
Is it really true what you said about Adams and Jefferson having almost the same last words at almost the same time? […]
Most of what I say is true [...] But if you don't know your history you won't know the difference between the truth and wishful thinking. (16.20-21)
This is a classier, more literary example of something like the old tourists-getting-kidnapped-for-their-kidneys story. Miss Volker's story here is very much in the urban legend vein (wow…we just can't get away from the gore with this novel, can we?). How are these types of stories not really lies? What purposes do they serve?