Why do you think the author chose to take Belle from Meridian? How does Belle's death alter Meridian's life, teach her, or challenge her?

Why do you think the author chose to take Belle from Meridian? How does Belle's death alter Meridian's life, teach her, or challenge her?

I was surprised by this turn in the story as I really enjoyed Belle and Meridian's friendship. I think Belle's death forced Meridian to handle things more on her own and she became more isolated. It did leave plenty of room for Clay in her life.

I think that this was a turning point for Meri. It left her without a true friend and confidant to rely on and forced her to find other people and things to occupy her time. I was so hopeful for her as she became more confident about making herself happy and pursuing her own way with out Alden's approval. It was probably the event that caused her to finally develop a backbone and start pursuing what was good for her.

I think Belle's death served as a catalyst for change & an eye opener for Meridian. It pushed her towards independence.

I agree with the previous answers, but I also think that Belle's death prevents us from having to deal with the inevitable change in the relationship that would come with the birth of the baby.

I was disappointed that Belle died and was surprised that the author did that. I felt like the author decided to do that because she didn't intend to have children play a part in Meridian's life at that point. The birth of the baby also would have changed their friendship. My heart broke for Meri when she lost her only real friend. But I agree it also opened room for Clay in her life. Although I do think that Belle wouldn't have had a problem with her friendship with Clay and probably would have encouraged it.

Meridian was forced to change when Belle died. She, as, others have said,had more room for clay

Belles death made meridian think a bit outside of her comfort zone, ie what would Belle say/do. Not sure if the relationship would have stayed the same after the birth of the baby, as others have mentioned.

I agree with others that Belle's death opened the way for Clay to come into Meridian's life, she might not have been as bold. I was also wondering how their friendship would change with a new baby.

I think the author took Belle away to make Meridian get out there for herself. She couldnt use Belle as her crutch. It also help mend the relationship of Alden and Meridian, at least for awhile. Losing Belle, made Meridian step out of her own shadow a bit amd try things she wasnt yet doing for herself regardless of what Alden thought.

I think Belle's death was the catalyst for Meri's development for the second half of the book. Belle embodied self awareness and adventure for Meri, and once she had enjoyed those aspects of life, she had to go out and find them for herself. After Belle's death, Meri became more independent and less willing to live in the shadows.

I agree Belle's death was a catalyst. I also think it allowed the Belle Figure to become larger than life, a guiding light for Meridian. Isn't that true, when a beloved passes, the memory becomes even more influential than the real person?

Belle was such a good thing in Meridian's life. Her death was a shock. There was friction between Belle and her husband and Alden which I worried would erupt. I wondered how that part of it would play out. The accident, losing all three lives at once, was so terrible. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger and it did in Meridian's case. She always held Belle's memory close and always wondered what her advice would be through the years.

Yes, this did cause a change in Meri's life but I also wonder if she did not have many girl friends growing up and thus this opened her to other views of marriage and love, and in a way let to Clay.

Belle opened up Meridian to a new way of thinking about life, she and her husband, Butch, were also such a contrast to Alden. They gave Meridian a balance in her life. When Belle was taken, especially the loss of the baby, Meridian was sent adrift. She tried different things but that ten years between Belle and Clay didn't even make the book. She was ripe to finding a n ew balance when Clay game around. If Belle and the Baby had lived, Meridian would probably have been wrapped up in her godchild's life and that would have given her balanced so she wouldn't have needed Clay.