Agnes's husband says of her that it is a joy and a curse to be married to 'Someone who knows everything about you, before you even know it yourself.' Can you relate to this feeling at all?

Agnes's husband says of her that it is a joy and a curse to be married to "'Someone who knows everything about you, before you even know it yourself. Someone who can just look at you and divine your deepest secrets, just with a glance. Someone who can tell what you are about to say—and what you might not—before you say it'" (268).

Can you relate to this feeling at all, regarding your spouse, other relatives, friends, or coworkers? What does it feel like when a secret part of you is laid bare to another without your knowing, and how does that manifest itself in pursuits such as writing and art?

Did reading this book, or any others you've read in the past, make you feel like the author knew something about you?

This passage rang so true. I can't even imagine what I would feel like if my husband read the future and knew how I was thinking and feeling. I was glad she didn't recognize what he wrote about in the play because that was truly a dramatic part in the story and I was glad the foreshadowing wasn't there in her mind.

I cannot relate to this having someone who knows everything about me before I even know, someone that would know my secrets by just looking at me. To me it would be a curse not a joy! Certainly there have been times when someone close to me might know what I am about to say, but nothing like Agnes having the power to know so much.

It is a joy to be understood so deeply by someone you love. It is a curse to have your mind read before you can think it through and say it aloud yourself because it feels invasive like a robbery or a rape.

That’s a two edge sword I think, knowing someone do well you think you know what they are thinking, and you often are thinking the same thing is completely different than someone reading your mind and knowing your every though even before you do! I have had the the first and wound dread if I had the second

I can relate to the joy of having someone know you so well. I feel that way with my husband, that he knows what I'm thinking or what I'll do before I do. He sees my gifts and my flaws much more clearly than I do. I don't recall ever thinking it was a curse, though. I think it feels wonderful to be so well understood.

nope, and I'm glad I've never had anyone able to do that. I'm also glad that I cannot do that with my husband--I'm content to wait for his revelations on his own--lol

No, I don’t think there is anyone in my circle of family or friends who knows me that well, and maybe that is a good thing, because I enjoy discovering things about people, and don’t really want to know things before they do. And don’t we all enjoy hiding our thoughts at times?!

I'm not sure I can relate to that idea of someone knowing everything about me. My husband and I have been married almost 50 years. I hope there are still parts of both of us to discover!

I understand his message, but I can't relate to it. My husband and I don't always know what the other is thinking.

I agree with Terrie, I don't have any family members that can tell what you're thinking -- I do believe in that, just haven't experienced it personally.

I think you can know someone quite well, but it's another thing when someone like Agnes can sense those things about you.