For financial reasons, Cecilia and Seb move out of the city and into his parents house in the suburbs. Blythes mental health deteriorates, and she ends up harming or killing herself: Throughout the book, Blythe struggles with her mental health, and she experiences several episodes of dissociation and depression. Blythe recalls how after Cecilia left their home, she reinvented herself and met a new man, Richard, who referred to her as Annie because her middle name was Anne. As The Push unravels from here, it definitely keeps you guessing whos good and whos bad in this mother-daughter relationship, but more importantly, why. The ending of The Push confuses me. The Push is published by Michael Joseph (RRP 12.99 . It has been a year and a half since shed spoken to Fox. With the new baby, the connection is immediate, what shes been looking for. When Fox gets home, they both downplay the incident. Blythe imagines what it would be like to leave all of it behind. She admits it in the end but only to Blythe. The Future of Publishing: What Recent Changes Mean for Readers and Writers. Blythe wants another baby, another chance at motherhood. Their son, Thomas Ellington Jr., was Blythes best friend. This The Push book review gives you all the details you need to know about this haunting thriller with social commentary about motherhood from the Good Morning America book club. The next day, Henry drops her off at the train station. [Violet is at it again. Cecilia instead takes money from Ettas purse and goes to the store to buy pads. Even though they are not married, Gemma refers to Fox as her husband. Instead, Fox suggests that Blythe leave for a while to a wellness center. The note is from Gemma and it says that Fox had the painting up in Violets room, but Gemma thinks Blythe should have it since it clearly means so much to her. How did information about the generations of women preceding Blythe affect your perception of her? Blythe still tells Gemma her suspicions about Violet anyway. Blythe and Gemma become close, but eventually Fox finds out Blythe has been pretending to be someone else to get close to Gemma. Sounds a bit dark for me. Thank you! This book is so good. One night Violet asks if Blythe loves Sam more than her, and Blythe wonders if she has overheard Foxs comments. Then there's Tunde (Toheeb Jimoh), a Nigerian man who begins to document the . After Blythe is born, she thinks of how she looks like her doll from childhood. After dinner, she turns on the porch light in case her daughter decides its time to see her. Fox is out of town, and Gemma wonders whether she should take him to the hospital and if so whether to wake Violet (who is 11 now) in the middle of the night or just leave her there alone. She wasnt Blythe, the girl who had dreamed of a family, who had wanted so badly to be loved. The Sandman . For example, when she looks in the mirror, she sees a stranger looking back at her: I didnt recognize the woman in the mirrorI had seen her before, but she was a stranger to me now. When Fox goes in, Violet perks up and asks him to stay. The book ends by implying that Gemma suspects Violet has now harmed Jet. Cecilia flips out. As Violet gets older, Violet continues to be antagonistic and even violent towards Blythe. . Julie Clark | The Lies I Tell. The ending might be sad, or shocking, or some delicious blend of sad and shocking, but either way the end of the book has utterly ruined you and you are now a small pile of rubble lying in the . It wasnt a book I was expecting to like, much less one that Id be eager to recommend to others. 2 years ago. A tense, page-turning psychological drama about the making and breaking of a family--and a woman whose experience of motherhood is nothing at all what she hoped for--and everything she feared. When Blythe suggests couples therapy, Fox suggests that Blythe should see someone by herself instead. Soon, Louis dies in a farming accident when Etta is pregnant. Throughout the book, Blythe struggles to connect with Violet and to understand her daughters behavior. Blythe Connor is determined that she will be the warm, comforting mother to her new baby Violet that she herself never had. Meanwhile, the narration is interspersed with information about the women in Blythe's family and her childhood. I came here wondering if I can read this book. Her grandmother Etta's first husband died in a horrified farming accident. She goes to see a doctor too, but the doctor encourages her to do something for herself like writing. Be advised that there are spoilers ahead, obviously, so be entirely sure you want to continue reading. What do you think of the portrayals of the men and fathers in this novel in general? Read my Disclaimer to learn more. When she tells Blythe, Fox has already seen them together. Book Summary. Soon, they have their first child, a girl named Violet. Happy reading! As Violet gets older, Violet continues to be antagonistic and even violent towards Blythe. At Penguin, she worked with bestselling authors including Khaled Hosseini, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Meg Wolitzer. I get this. 2 years ago. Blythe and Fox Connor meet as students in college. Blythes grandmother, Etta, was born the day WWII began. Thanks for the answers Mary and NicoleW! At seven months, Violet starts napping for longer periods of time, and Blythe lies to Fox about napping. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Blythe realizes that she misses the friendship. Ashley Audrain began writing her first novel, The Push, after leaving her job as publicity director at Penguin Books Canada to raise her two young children. Meanwhile, Violet makes constant remarks reminding her mother that her father is with the other woman now. Do you think Foxs mother handled things well? The ending is sad and scary to me. The next time Blythe has Violet she takes her to see Mrs. Ellington, who now has some memory problems, but is loving as ever towards Blythe. Fox doesnt want a funeral, so there isnt one. Soon, she begins to wonder if there's something genuinely wrong with her daughter, Violet, though her husband insists it isn't true. 20 Best Book Club Books for 2022 (New & Anticipated), Best Mystery & Thriller Books for 2022 (New & Anticipated), 20 Best Books with Asian American Protagonists (for Adults), Persephone by Madeline Miller: What We Know, Books to Movies & TV in 2022: 25+ Adaptations Coming Soon, Your email address will not be published. When Fox inquires about whether Blythe has napped when Violet napped, Blythe sees it as him monitoring her alertness and him treating her as a service provider. Blythe and Fox Connor are a couple who meet in college and get married at 25. The early years of their marriage are dreamy, hopeful and carefree. At one point Gemma suggests getting their kids together, but then doesnt follows up on it. The books ending is open to interpretation, and there are several possible ways to read it. Afterwards, Blythe tells the police this, but Fox insists it was an accident. Blythe calls his mother, but she doesnt know anything about it (Blythe asks her not to say anything to Fox about their call). She pushed her real brother Sam's stroller killing him and now she has done something to her half-brother Jet. Cecilia grows up and meets a man named Seb. The divorce has happened, and Fox has custody of Violet. The Push WILL make you feel uncomfortable in exploring that question, in a very necessary kind of way. I didn't think it was her. When Blythe and Fox have their second child, a boy named Sam, Blythe's connection with him is immediate, and she adores him. 2023 The Literary Lifestyle. Blythe recalls her parents arguing when she was 8. But when their second child, Sam, is later born, Blythe connects deeply with him and they share a beautiful love, until another questionable moment with Violet changes everything in their lives forever. Blythe knows Fox wouldnt like that, so she settles on taking long walks with Violet. Two weeks before she is to leave, the grounds people find Blythe in the stream, talking about wanting to take Sam home. When Violet walks in on her parents having sex, she demands an explanation. Questions that even those in the book may not have gotten answers to. I so hope, whoever makes the movie or series, will focus on the "smells" that the protagonist talks about all the time. When Blythe insists it was Violet, Fox shushes Blythe, even when Blythe insists the stroller wouldnt roll over the sidewalk groove even if let go. As Blythe grieves, she stays in bed. When a boy falls off a playset and dies, Blythe suspects Violet tripped him on purpose. Sapphire is the pen name of author Ramona Lofton. Fox moves the Mother and Child painting into the bedroom. The stroller collides with a car and Sam is killed. Later in the book, Blythe has a moment of clarity where she realizes that she may be at risk of harming herself: The thought entered my mind that I could hurt myselfI pushed the thought away as quickly as it had come, but it left a residue of fear that made me feel like I was standing on the edge of a cliff. (Chapter 25). Allie (Halle Bush) is a South Carolina girl who runs away to a convent after she kills her abusive foster father. After the run-in, Blythe doesnt hear from Gemma at first, and Blythe doesnt attend anymore meetups. Were your initial assumptions correct or not? Im interested to hear more about your interpretation and what you believe the actual ending is. Blythe instinctively calls out the name Sam, and when Violet catches her fathers attention, she stops what shes doing. After yelling, he storms off and when stopped, he pushes her. When they talk, Blythe pretends to still have a son named Sam and gets to pretend for a while that he is still alive. Yeah the internet has gotten really weird. But when life as they know it is changed in an instant, the devastating fall-out forces Blythe to face the truth. As Blythe grieves, Blythe and Fox's marriage disintegrates, ending with Fox's infidelity. The Push by Ashley Audrain. Louis intends to go into medicine as well, but Ettas father insists that Louis help with farming so that Louis can later take over the hundreds of acres the family owns. Cecilia later explains that its because her mother once did something very cruel to her because there was something wrong with Etta. Learn more by clicking here. How did you think things were going to play out with Violet as the book went along? Violets teacher asks Blythe to help chaperone a school trip, and Blythe reluctantly agrees. By now, Violet is around 13 years old. For example, Audrain overuses a narrative structure of having kids say a certain loaded thing or question and then the very next day, X major event happens. A woman observes a house where a family of four lives. One day Cecilia is looking for the doll, but Etta has placed it in the back of the cellar. She was determined that when she had . Cecilia is determined to make some money and leave town after graduation. 11. It made sense with all the signs left throughout the book. Etta eventually hangs herself. She starts casually sleeping with a man, a not particularly successful literary agent, but she suspects hes also interested in having her write something that he could monetize. The trip changes the way Blythe sees Violet, as a sad, powerless girl. Soon, they have their first child, a girl named Violet. On one hand, you love this little person more than anything in the world, but on the other hand, he/she is ruining your life as you know it. When Blythe attributes their marriage falling apart to Sams death, Fox tells her that Sam is not the reason, implying that it had more to do with Violet (and presumably he thinks Blythe was deficient as a mother towards her). I hope you enjoyed this ending explanation for The Push by Ashley Audrain! The next morning, Blythe sees Noah who is clearly afraid of Violet. The book ends by implying that Gemma suspects Violet has now harmed Jet. Blythe is a good baby who rarely cries, and each day Seb comments on how lucky they are. She finds Violets bracelet on the ground. Blythe never sees her mother again. When Cecilia is five, Etta is trying to wash Cecilias hair and Cecilia is being difficult. Some readers may interpret this as a suggestion that Blythe will jump or fall from the rooftop, potentially ending her own life. If you would like me to review your book, feel free to reach out to me! Outside, snow is falling. 3. WARNING: THIS SECTION CONTAINS BOOK SPOILERS! How reliable of a narrator do you think Blythe was? Talia is secretly dating Colin (Jasper Newman), Sloan Petersen's (Jessica Serfaty) vengeful brother.. The Literary Lifestyle is written by: Julianne a/k/a Jules Buono. Required fields are marked *. Laughed out loud at how on a site dedicated to helping people assess whether they want to read a book someone would take a question about a book, make, Laughed out loud at how on a site dedicated to helping people assess whether they want to read a book someone would take a question about a book, make assumptions,and feel the need to provide acondenscending respond . Try audio books or writing classes for free for 30 days.. Then their son Sam is bornand with him, Blythe has the blissful connection she'd always imagined with her child. I need to know how it ends before I decide if I want to read it. I was really impressed by The Push by Ashley Audrain. One night, Gemma is worried that Jeb is sick. Blythe enters, but quickly leaves. What if motherhood is not what a woman anticipated it to be? I read this in one day, and it felt very effortless. Cecilia continues to hide these things from Henry, and Etta brightens up when Henry is around. Im open to discussing and exploring different viewpoints. As the girl looks out the window, she sees the woman parked on the street. Blythes deception gets increasingly complex when Gemma asks to see a photo of Sam. Thus, it appears Violet really may be a psychopath and Blythe, vindicated. The fact that "smells" were so important to her was very interesting in the story. Meanwhile, the narration is interspersed with information about the women in Blythe's family and her childhood. The Push explores the differences between nature and nurture, and how the effects of motherhood can affect generations of family, including the marriages at their cores. See all 11 answers. And as always, I wish you happy reading! Be advised that there are spoilers ahead, obviously, so be entirely sure you want to continue reading. She often feels overwhelmed and frustrated by Violets defiance and resistance. What did you think of the end of the book? The books ambiguous ending invites readers to grapple with difficult questions and to consider how our past experiences can shape our present actions. This passage suggests that Blythe is beginning to empathize with her mothers own difficult circumstances and is starting to understand that her mother did the best she could under the circumstances. At 25, he proposes, and they are married. Soon, she starts to resents Fox for seeing her solely as Violet's caregiver, and Fox thinks Blythe is deficient as a mother. How so and why do you think things turned out differently for her? My essay was published in the bookBut I'm a Gilmore! College sweethearts Blythe and Fox Connor have a charmed life and romance. Blythe and Violet's relationship is still fraught. Caroline wrote: "That ending devastated me. Do you think the portrayal is fair and/or plausible? Some readers may interpret this as a sign that Blythe is beginning to understand her daughters needs and to develop a better relationship with her. If Im being realistic, I imagine the readership will be largely women and especially women with children. Coraline: Your mother is made of buttons. The first time Violet smiles is with Fox, who continues to insist she just needs to relax with the baby. Blythe is hopeful that motherhood will come naturally to her, like it seems to for most women. Gemma says that Jet ended up with a blade that mustve come from her house. Moreover, Blythe didnt realize till now that it bothered Violet. Mrs. Leda Ellington was kind and caring towards Blythe, but Cecilia disliked her. In the final chapters, Blythe has a moment of clarity and realizes that Violet has been trying to communicate with her in her own way: I think shes been trying to tell me something all alongI just didnt know how to listen. (Chapter 28). Blythe and Fox Connor are a couple who meet in college and get married at 25. Blythes husband, Fox, abruptly dismisses her fears. Blythe's pain when she lost her son was absolutely heartbreaking. Blythe Conner grew up in a home where she was unnurtured and uncertain what her own mothers feelings were for her. American Gods: Gods are made of stories. Blythe wants Fox to go away with her, just the two of them, but Fox doesnt want to leave Violet. It wasn't the content that bothered me but the writing style, a neverending, monotonous drawl although I appreciate the second-person pov style. The ending is sad and scary to me. The audiobook for The Push is good. As the arrive at an intersection, Violet takes both hands and yanks at Blythes elbow causing her to spill her coffee. Blythe continues seeing the literary agent casually, though unenthusiastically. Blythe learns they had another son, Jet. Pamela Dorman Books/Viking, 2021. Blythe and Violet both survive, and Blythe learns to be a better mother: A third possible interpretation of the ending is that Blythe and Violet both survive, and Blythe learns to be a better mother. What did you think of Blythes relationship with Foxs mother? document.getElementById( "ak_js_8" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); In this blog post, we will dive deep into the ending of The Push and explore some of the possible meanings and implications. When Blythe was in the third grade, Cecilia showed up to a class event, a Mothers Day tea party, to her surprise. He is supportive and thoughtful. She falls down the stairs with that push. After the revelation of the betrayal, Blythe finds herself surprisingly numb to the pain given that she is still grieving over Sam. Plus, some of the scenes and language are not kid-friendly. Hope it will find a home on Goodread's bookshelves. Blythe is in that new mom state of confusion, fear, and anxiety, wondering if its all in her head. The Push by Ashley Audrain is a debut novel and a tense, page-turning psychological drama about the making and breaking of a family and a woman whose experience of motherhood is nothing at all what she hoped for but everything she feared. Fox is the only one who is unhappy, making comments about how Blythe makes more of an effort with Sam than she did wit Violet. When confronted, Violet denies doing anything bad. Published on February 6, 2021. However, Blythe is an unreliable narrator, and the . The novella The Mist ends pretty similar to the movie, with a daring escape being made by David, his son, and two others. January 2021 THE PUSH by Ashley Audrain is a debut novel that is both sharp and thought-provoking. The book ends with the line: Blythe, she finally whispers. It seems like you have a different understanding of the books ending. She asks Joe if he saw the accident, and he merely says that he was glad she had Violet to live for (indicating that if he did see it, then he thought it was Blythes fault). Rebecca Hall's Passing ends on a devastating yet ambiguous note here is what Passing's ending means, particularly the impact of Clare's death. When Cecilia (Blythe's mother) is born, Etta marries her second husband Henry, but Etta struggles with motherhood and is often intentionally cruel to Cecilia. like. At the next moms meet-up, Gemma brings Fox. I don't love cliffhangers so Margot's ending bothered me a bit" Something in me felt for Krissy the entire time. Finally, Gemma asks to meet up. The one-paragraph summary of this book: Blythe and Fox have a daughter, Violet. Blythe realizes that Violet mustve gotten the blade (one of Foxs model-building tools) that was hidden in her dresser. Shortly before Foxs 39ths birthday, Blythe suspects Fox is having an affair. Ashley Audrains startling debut novel The Push is a provocative book that really made an impact on me, and I have been thinking about it for quite a few months now. Warning: This post contains spoilers for Passing. She finally goes back to the intersection where it happened and sees Joe, who owns the coffee shop at that corner. Blythe is shocked, knowing that the baby mustve been born in June, considering how Fox only moved out in January of that year. Did this story make you reflect on your personal experiences, and if so how? Blythe learns they had another son, Jet. The book ends a year and a half after that point. However, one day as Blythe crosses the street, Sam's stroller rolls into the intersection and he is killed. After Blythe and Fox divorce, he gets custody of Violet and moves in with his girlfriend, Gemma, with whom he has a son named Jet. Great exploration of nature vs nurture. A month later, Violet returns to Blythes place, but things are cold between them again. In love with books? Cecilia dislikes being a mother, and she leaves permanently when Blythe is 12. I was actually relieved. Soon, Fox tells Blythe they need to rethink their visitation schedule. Afterwards, she talks to another parent who insists her child just make a mistake.

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