Summary Ronnie is unable to talk about her father’s death less than a week later, but she is able to share details about her recital. Steve’s body is cremated, and the sparsely-attended funeral takes place at Pastor Harris’ recently reopened church. After the service ends, Ronnie waits in the pew […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 37 – RonnieSummary and Analysis Chapter 36 – Steve
Summary Steve listens to the composition that he and his daughter created together and is at peace. He compares life to a song and finally feels God’s presence in the world. Analysis Steve’s last chapter is the realization of what he has been searching for: the nature of God, who […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 36 – SteveSummary and Analysis Chapter 35 – Ronnie
Summary Ronnie sees her mother and her brother off and then returns to the hospital. When Steve falls asleep, Ronnie takes a walk and runs into Pastor Harris, who asks Ronnie to pray with him. Ronnie begins to pray often, asking for the strength to care for her father. When […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 35 – RonnieSummary and Analysis Chapter 34 – Steve
Summary This chapter opens in the past with Steve making an unannounced visit home during a tour to surprise Kim. By chance, he passed by a restaurant where Kim and Brian were having lunch. Steve observed the casual comfort that his wife shared with this stranger, but the touches and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 34 – SteveSummary and Analysis Chapter 33 – Ronnie
Summary This chapters opens in the hospital, right after Jonah and Ronnie have told their father about completing the window. After sending Jonah to the soda machine, Steve tells Ronnie that her trial has been postponed until October. Steve then asks how Jonah is really holding up. He also asks […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 33 – RonnieSummary and Analysis Chapter 32 – Will
Summary The narrative again shifts to Will, who can relate to what Ronnie is going through as he remembers his brother’s death — he remembers feeling guilt and numbness and anger and disbelief, as well as wanting to be left alone but also needing to know that he was not […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 32 – WillSummary and Analysis Chapter 31 – Ronnie
Summary Ronnie lashes out at her father for not telling her about the illness. She accuses him of bringing her to North Carolina for the summer in order to watch him die, but Steve explains that he wanted to watch her live, and he asks for and receives Ronnie’s forgiveness. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 31 – RonnieSummary and Analysis Chapter 30 – Steve
Summary The chapter opens back in February with Steve finding out he has stomach cancer, which has spread to his lungs and pancreas. Although the doctor will not give Steve a set amount of time, Steve ascertains that he has less than a year to live. The realization of his […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 30 – SteveSummary and Analysis Chapter 29 – Ronnie
Summary The next week is stressful for both Will and Ronnie; Ronnie is uncomfortable with Will’s actions, while he is concerned that Marcus might contact the authorities. In addition, Susan is particularly cold toward Ronnie the two times they see each other. Ronnie is also concerned about the end of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 29 – RonnieSummary and Analysis Chapter 28 – Will
Summary Scott and Will are advancing pretty easily through the tournament. During his quarterfinal match, Will mentally revisits the events of the previous day. He imagines what would happen if he told his mother about Marcus and convinces himself that the resulting chain of events would adversely affect Scott’s chances […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 28 – Will