Towner Whitney

For my second quarter blogging I have decided to read a novel titled “The Lace Reader” by Brunonia Barry. My mom had just finished reading it and loved it so much I decided I had to give it a try. I wasn’t completely sure if I would enjoy it when I started, but as soon as I read the first word I was hooked. So far I have read to Chapter 3, but the quote I would like to discuss for today comes from the first page. In fact, it was the very first line.

“My name is Towner Whitney. No, that’s not exactly true. My real first name is Sophya. Never believe me. I lie all the time.” Then this person (Towner? Sophya?) goes on to say, “I am a crazy woman… That last part is true.” (page 1)

As soon as I read this short passage I stopped, paused, and re-read it again. I was confused as to why the author would begin the book by confusing the reader as to what the main characters real first name is. It seemed odd to me, but as I continued to read I found that her given name is Sophya and that she legally changed it to Towner after her mother was arrested. I also learned a little bit about why she calls herself a crazy woman. Towner (as they mostly refer to her in the book, although they do go back and forth) believes that all the women in the past generations of her family have been crazy, and that she follows that “tradition” more than anyone before her had. Now that I comprehend what the first passage was conveying, I understand why Barry would start off his novel in such a way. I believe that he was introducing the main character in a way that would make you think deeper about her right away, rather than just listing off her physical appearance. Although it confused me at first, I like this opening line and I firmly believe it is what got me so intrigued in the novel in the first place. I am already enjoying the plot and cant wait to read more!