Questions About The House of Sleep

by Jonathan Coe (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (3)

So, I just finished reading House of Sleep, and I'm puzzling over the opening. Just who is it who shouts "Bitch" on the first page? I've gone over the book twice, remembering that it comes of/is hinted at later, but have come up empty. Would love any help answering this question.

Wiz I believe it's a simply a random stranger, although there is also the inference (made by Gregory soon after) that it may have been one of Sarah's vivi…moreI believe it's a simply a random stranger, although there is also the inference (made by Gregory soon after) that it may have been one of Sarah's vivid dreams that she mistook for reality. Personally, I go with the theory that it DID happen but that it also conveniently acts as a plot device to introduce the idea of Sarah's narcolepsy and the novel's subsequent themes of reality/interpretation/illusion. If you look at the author's note that prefaces the book, all the odd numbered chapters take place in one period of the novel's chronology and the even numbered ones at a later date. Thus, it would not have been possible for this to have been Sarah's husband who she did not meet until she left Ashdown,(less)

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What happend to Terry?

Chris Hannigan

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Johannes As in much of Coe's book everything is connected and you only get much of it (never the whole thing) only when it ends. Fermer was also the street whe…moreAs in much of Coe's book everything is connected and you only get much of it (never the whole thing) only when it ends. Fermer was also the street where Sarah lives, Ruby guides Robert/Cleo by that supposed dream. I think that they all leave in semistate, they all have their issues and weren't really in the actual world, always pinning about something else, Sarah about Veronica and Robert, Robert over Sarah, Terry about his beautiful dreams either in real life or in his sleep so they were all numb in some way, Robert came out of that when he finally "man up" (sorry) and knocks at Sarah's door, he comes out as a she, that's what he both dreamed and feared but he has to be honest and tell her, it was always about her, and he is told by Ruby that she is still in need of him, she finally found the somniloquy, Robert's timing is perfect so I really wish Sarah could tell now that what she dreamed as a possibility by Robert being a woman has finally happened, love has transformed him. And yes, I think Ortese's movie was another sign of the disconnection they all have from the real life.(less)

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