How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Leggo you b****!"
Lenny stooped, and Doreen went flying up on to his shoulder [...] (2.26)
It sounds like assault, but it isn't – it's just the prelude to Lenny and Doreen's hookup. This episode looks ahead to Esther's sexual encounters, which often do not seem distinguishable from violence.
Quote #2
There I went again, building up a glamorous picture of the man who would love me passionately the minute he met me, and all out of a few prosy nothings. (5.26)
Esther's idea of romantic love contrasts with the prevailing view of love around her as something exclusively between husbands and wives, toward the goal of creating a family.
Quote #3
Then he just stood there in front of me and I kept on staring at him. The only thing I could think of was turkey neck and turkey gizzards and I felt very depressed. (6.49)
Ouch. Really, just ouch. Esther is not at all impressed with Buddy's, ahem, family jewels. So much for passionate love.