How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
That first night in it with Ob and May was as close to paradise as I may ever come in my life. Paradise because these two old people [...] started, from the minute we pulled up in Ob's old Valiant, to turn their rusty, falling-down place into a house just meant for a child. (1.7)
It's easy to marvel at big and fancy houses, but Summer reminds us about what really matters. Her little girl needs are modest—she just needs a family that can love her fully instead of pushing her away. Uncle Ob and Aunt May give her all the love that she needs, and more.
Quote #2
But that's where May and me always parted company. Because I never could count on another chance at happiness. When I got Ob and May after all those years of having nobody, that was my idea of dying and going to heaven. (3.30)
Summer doesn't have any grand life goals, even though everyone says that she's an excellent writer and a smart kid. She doesn't want to go into politics like Cletus or anything like that, and she's just glad that she's gotten this one shot at happiness.
Quote #3
I really didn't expect May to show up, but Ob's enthusiasm was so desperate, so sincere in its belief in miracles, that a part of me held out just a little hope that she might fly her soft spirit over us and come gently into our midst. (5.2)
The descriptions of Aunt May's spirit from beyond the grave make her seem like the nicest, friendliest ghost in the world. If all ghosts were like that, we wouldn't be so scared of dark closets and creepy girls crawling out from the television screen.
Quote #4
"There's nothing in this old head of mine to make a 'gig from, sweetheart. Seems all it's filled up with is talking to May and thinking about her dying on us." (6.54)
When May dies, it's as though all the creativity gets sucked right out of Ob's soul. He doesn't have anything left to let him daydream and create, and his head is all filled with morbid thoughts and grief. How are they ever going to get him back on track?
Quote #5
I saw that grin on his face, that glint in his eyes, and I knew that Ob had suddenly found himself a reason to get out of bed on time in the mornings, at least for a little while longer. (7.17)
Maybe it's foolish of them all to let Uncle Ob believe that they can just go on a road trip and they'll have a newfound link to the spirit world, but Uncle Ob has had so little to plan for and believe in lately that Summer just has to go along with it. It's her only hope for seeing him act alive.
Quote #6
"Maybe we can even stop in Charleston and look at the capitol on our way back. I've not ever been to the capitol. Never been anywhere, really, except the middle part of Raleigh County and the middle part of Fayette County." (7.20)
Cletus is the kind of kid who actually proclaims that he wants to be a Renaissance man, but his circumstances in life have kept him from really seeing much of the world. He needs this trip too, so that he can feel like he's a part of something bigger.
Quote #7
Pretty soon we'll all be in Ob's Valiant, traveling like wise men to Bethlehem, looking for that star in the sky that might point us to May. (7.31)
Once they're in that old car, it's like they're really setting out on a quest. Even skeptical and constantly worried Summer can't help but get into the spirit of the occasion. It's officially adventure time.
Quote #8
And for a second, right then, I had this strong image of Cletus someday doing that very thing. Of his being Fayette County's elected representative to the legislature and driving over to Charleston to put his head together with other important heads and enact profound laws. (9.21)
Once they get a glimpse of the capitol building, Summer understands that this is Cletus's dream in life—he wants to do big things and to be somewhere where big decisions are being made. And she hopes that he gets his dream.
Quote #9
My heart was aching for Cletus, for I knew there was little in life he really wanted this bad, this chance to see the West Virginia State Capitol. (10.35)
Oh no—Uncle Ob is so upset after the failed meeting with the spiritualist medium that he just turns around and decides to go home. Is he going to completely dash Cletus's dreams in the process?
Quote #10
And he did. He turned that buggy around and he drove it back the way we'd come. Back toward that shining castle. My heart began to lift. And Cletus leaned forward from the backseat. (10.36)
We should have known that Uncle Ob wouldn't disappoint. He may be sad and heartbroken, but he still loves these little kids, so he'll take them to the big shiny city even if it means going out of his way.