To answer questions about
Absolution,
please sign up.
Susanna
Alice McDermott is the queen of subtlety and I agree that it can be frustrating. I think the she wants the reader to name the source of Charlene's motivation. That's actually good writing (in my opinion): creating a character and allowing readers to interact with the persona, drawing their own conclusions based on their own life experiences and knowledge.
Patricia Burgess
I was disappointed I couldn't find the motivation or inspiration for Charlene, one of the failings of the book, in my opinion. She was such a central character and her actions had influence, whether to the Vietnamese orphans and lepers, to Patricia, to her children, especially Rainey.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more