How we cite our quotes: (Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"They have always rented, and the house they live in is small and nondescript. It does not even feel like a home, Leroy realizes now." (1.8)
This expresses more than Leroy's dissatisfaction with the condition of the house he and his wife share. Their house doesn't feel like a home for reasons that have nothing to do with the house itself and everything to do with the quality of their marriage. Admittedly, it'spretty weird that it took Leroy sixteen years to realize this, but hey, that gives us some valuable insight into one of Leroy's most defining traits—this dude is slow to catch on.
Quote #2
"[H]e wishes she would celebrate his permanent homecoming more happily." (1.9)
Imagine coming home after recovering from a serious and traumatic accident only to be greeted by a cold and unexcited spouse. We imagine it'd be pretty cruddy. Poor Leroy wants Norma Jean to be happy to have him at home, but it's apparent that she's surprised and disappointed to keep seeing him in the house. Clearly, they're both dissatisfied, though they don't express it openly.
Quote #3
"All the houses look grand and complicated. They depress him." (3.2)
Not only is Leroy's relationship with his wife strange and complicated—so is the world he sees outside his window. Now that he's home all the time, Leroy has been noticing how much his town has changed during the years he was on the road. He doesn't fit in with the new, wealthy residents. He can't afford to build a house that will meet the requirements of the new subdivisions. Leroy feels cut off from others and dissatisfied with himself.