Reviews of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

1
AMY

March 1975

My mother always started the story by saying, "Well, she was born in the backseat of a stranger's car," as though that explained why Wavy wasn't normal. It seemed to me that could happen to anybody. Maybe on the way to the hospital, your parents' respectable, middle-class car broke down. That was not what happened to Wavy. She was born in the backseat of a stranger's car, because Uncle Liam and Aunt Val were homeless, driving through Texas when their old beat-up van broke down. Nine months pregnant, Aunt Val hitchhiked to the next town for help. If you ever consider playing Good Samaritan to a pregnant woman, think about cleaning that up.

I learned all this from eavesdropping on Mom's Tuesday night book club. Sometimes they talked about books, but mostly they gossiped. That was where Mom first started polishing The Tragic and Edifying Story of Wavonna Quinn.

After Wavy was born, Mom didn't hear from Aunt Val for almost five years. The first ...

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. From the first moment we meet Wavy, her life is filled with rules. Most are her mother's rules, but some are hers. What rules are holding Wavy back and which ones does she use to construct a sense of safety? How do the rules change as she grows up?


2. Wavy's fears and her efforts to resist fear are major themes in the story. How does the refrain "nothing left to be afraid of" guide Wavy's life?


3. More than once, it's remarked that the kitchen door of the farmhouse is unlocked, and Wavy points out that there isn't even a key to that door. On a practical level, what does it say about Wavy and the people around her that this door is never locked? As a metaphor, what does it tell us?


4. Kellen is a murderer and Wavy knows this from an early ...

Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers!

Here are some of the comments posted about All the Ugly and Wonderful Things.
You can see the full discussion here.


As you were reading, did you find yourself wishing that Wavy and Kellen's relationship would remain platonic? What do you think would have ultimately happened to Wavy and Kellen if the relationship had remained platonic?
I was hoping their relationship would remain platonic until the threat of legal action ceased to be an issue. However, for Wavy, sex was a natural extension of male-female relationships. With the adults in her life, sex was always present, spoken ... - kdowney25

Considering their backgrounds, how likely are Wavy and Kellen to succeed in creating a healthy relationship and a "normal" family?
After everything they both have been through, both separately and together, I have no doubt that they will have a successful marriage. They took care of each other, relied upon each other, and made decisions that they thought would help the other. ... - kdowney25

Did you view Wavy as a child or an adult? How about Kellen?
Good question and good responses. Both were childlike but also acted as adults. They complimented and supported each other helping to heal the abused parts of their lives. - cm28015

Did your views change with regard to what constitutes the nature of consent and, in the author's words, "a child's right to "bodily sovereignty?"
Yes it did. I never thought before that a 13 year old should have the ABILITY to consent. I make the exception for Wavy. I have a friend who is angry over her 18 year old wanting bodily sovereignty. The 18 year old is a foster child and my friend... - celiap

Do you sympathize with Amy's point of view? Did you ever do something you considered risky because you were afraid of missing out?
I think Amy thought a fun bit of fresh air had come into her life. She was up for adventure and Wavy brought it to her. She enjoyed the thrill of sneaking out and seeing a different life. When I was her age I might have done the same thing. - Rosieglitter