When Violet is four, Blythe and Fox meet with her teacher, who says she is bright, but has exhibited hurtful, aggressive behaviors toward other kids. Colleen Hoover's It Ends with Us: ending, explained - OkayBliss If Im being realistic, I imagine the readership will be largely women and especially women with children. The Push Reader Q&A - Goodreads I wasn't sure what to believe which was frustrating and fascinating all at the same time. Then, in the final lines, she learns from Gemma that something has happened to Jet (with the implication that it was Violet's fault.). Fox wants his parents to come help out, but Blythe says shes in no condition to have Foxs perfect mother there, since shes still bleeding, she hasnt showered and shes too sore to wear a shirt. Etta is also said to have suffered from nerves and occasionally needed sedatives. With the new baby, the connection is immediate, what shes been looking for. When they talk, Blythe pretends to still have a son named Sam and gets to pretend for a while that he is still alive. The Push. The Push: Recap & Book Summary - The Bibliofile The novella The Mist ends pretty similar to the movie, with a daring escape being made by David, his son, and two others. It was okay in the sense that I couldn't put it down. 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. Blythe is hopeful that motherhood will come naturally to her, like it seems to for most women. The man had, in turn, responded that Sebs wife was is the cheater, and he said Seb was weak, which is why she left him. Meanwhile, Violet seems less happy and worse behaved than other toddlers. Finally, at one point Blythe grabs Violet arm hard enough to hurt her, and Fox cuts off visitation. Im open to discussing and exploring different viewpoints. The ending of The Push confuses me. After that weekend, Blythe gets the idea to drive over to Foxs house to watch them at night. When the police make their standard inquiries, she denies seeing anything. Blythe thinks to herself about how she and Cecilia broke his heart (by leaving him behind). Rating: 4.5/5 stars. The Push manages the difficult feat of being genuinely satisfying in terms of substance and telling a compelling (and multi-generational) story, all while maintaining a thriller-type atmosphere without feeling like genre fiction. After a particularly grueling day of kicking and screaming, Fox agrees to three days of day care a week. Foxs parents send over boxes of his old baby things. Blythe sees that its actually Fox who dropped it off and thanks him for it, but he also says that Blythe needs to move on with her life and not call Gemma anymore. The one-paragraph summary of this book: Blythe and Fox have a daughter, Violet. Monster? ~Sheila. Her grandmother Etta's first husband died in a horrified farming accident. Throughout the book, it's not clear if Violet is innately bad, if Blythe is a bad mother (Blythe comes from a line of bad mothers) or if it's all in Blythe's head. For the next few months, Blythe is exhausted. The only demographic I probably wouldnt recommend this to is adolescents, since I do think it probably takes a higher level of maturity to understand and appreciate a lot of the concerns or issues that this book deals with. Thoughts on the 'The Push' by Ashley Audrain : r/books - Reddit Blythe recalls one day while her mother was brushing her hair, Blythe asked Cecilia if she wishes she werent a mother. She gets home to find that everything is fine. After dinner, she turns on the porch light in case her daughter decides its time to see her. She is taking steps to address her mental health and is seeking professional help. Blythe never sees her mother again. Do you think Violet could have turned out differently at all? She tells Violet that shes happy that Violet has someone to talk to that she trusts, even if it isnt her. This book presented mothers as strong, caring women who love their children deeply and can rise above gutteral turmoil when needed. At the next moms meet-up, Gemma brings Fox. Blythe is convinced she saw Violet push the stroller. The book ends with Blythe standing on a rooftop, looking down at the street below, and its unclear what her next move will be. 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. The Graveyard Book: Your family is made of ghosts. Blythe remembers her father telling Cecilia that Youll end up just like Etta before finally giving her a drink to calm her down. I still wonder if Gemma suspected she was more. Violet didnt care much for Sam, but Sam adores Violet. Foxs mother hires them a night nurse, and for that time things are better. They watch a movie and laugh together, and Blythe feels sad about how rare these moments were with Violet. Sorry for that. (The Detailed Plot Summary is also available, below). Meanwhile, Cecilia is disappearing as well. After the divorce, Fox has custody, but Blythe has visitation rights. The fact that "smells" were so important to her was very interesting in the story. Despite knowing it is bad advice, Blythe strongly advises Gemma to go to the hospital immediately and leave Violet. 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. 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. Blythe continues to pursue a friendship with Gemma to get information about the goings-on in her household, and in turn Gemma often would turn to Blythe for advice on things. When Blythe is 27, Fox is eager to have kids. Moreover, the fact that Blythe survived the incident with Violet suggests that she may have a chance to make things right. The book ends a year and a half after that point. She begins to see a therapist and takes medication, but she also feels disconnected from her own thoughts and feelings. Fox also makes a comment about Blythe calling his mom about his job resignation, and Blythe knows that Foxs mother told him about their call. Their marriage falls apart. The trip changes the way Blythe sees Violet, as a sad, powerless girl. Three months after the discovery of the affair, Blythe packs up Foxs things. When Mrs. Smith dies, Cecilia takes the money, $680, that the old woman had stored in a tin. Blythe realizes that Violet mustve gotten the blade (one of Foxs model-building tools) that was hidden in her dresser. The audiobook for The Push is good. The Push | Bookreporter.com It is an ending that may leave you feeling anxious, to put it plainly. Cecilia grows up and meets a man named Seb. Why do you think he is reluctant to send Violet to day care initially? 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. I enjoyed the book, but yes, kids die so it can be upsetting. Days of Our Lives Spoilers: Colin's Rooftop Tumble - Talia's Bold Push They talked frequently. Pamela Dorman Books/Viking, 2021. Instead, she has been working on a short story. Follow along on Goodreads, or keep in touch via the newsletter. Then, in the final lines, she learns from Gemma that something has happened to Jet (with the implication that it was Violet's fault.). Read it and you will not be disappointed. Do you think Foxs mother handled things well? When Cecilia is 15, Etta seems to be slipping away. Blythe and Gemma become close, but eventually Fox finds out Blythe has been pretending to be someone else to get close to Gemma. Welcome back. It has a thriller vibe in terms of a suspenseful and tense atmosphere, its relatively quickly paced, and there are even some shifts in perspective or new pieces of information introduced that feel something like twists, but to be clear, the book still doesnt read like genre fiction if you read lots of thrillers. When Cecilia left for good, Mrs. Ellington stepped up to provide Blythe with some stability in her life. Your email address will not be published. How did information about the generations of women preceding Blythe affect your perception of her? Be advised that there are spoilers ahead, obviously, so be entirely sure you want to continue reading. She later cheats on him and wants to leave him, but then they find out she is pregnant. Violet says to Blythe pointedly that the mother saves her son every time. Blythe knows Fox wouldnt like that, so she settles on taking long walks with Violet. I love to read and I enjoy exploring a range of genres including contemporary and historical fiction, mysteries, thrillers, nonfiction, and memoirs. When Cecilia is in the sixth grade, Etta decides to make Cecilia a dress for the school dance. She searches all around but it finally turns out that a truck driver had picked her up at the side of the road Violet had tried to run away. Blythe thinks Violet is violent and lacks empathy, but Fox thinks Blythe's insufficient love for Violet is the problem. The next morning is peaceful, and Blythe heads to the park with the kids. At 25, he proposes, and they are married. After Fox leaves, Blythe secretly uses a fake name to befriend Fox's girlfriend, Gemma, to learn about their life. The Push is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. Blythe goes to a museum exhibit about children who have been perpetrators of gun violence. The book ends by implying that Gemma suspects Violet has now harmed Jet. Blythe Connor is determined that she will be the warm, comforting mother to her new baby Violet that she herself never had. Try audio books or writing classes for free for 30 days.. Instead, it is Gemma. Genre: Adult Psychological Thriller. Posted on Last updated: February 15, 2023, Home Books Ashley Audrains The Push Book Review. Overall I did enjoy this and would definitely check out more from Audrain in . As someone without children, motherhood is not something I spend a lot of time thinking about, and to be totally honest, I generally avoid books that are focused on things like that because they dont tend to grab my attention. Blythe is convinced she saw Violet push the stroller. Join our community of book lovers and receive the best book recommendations straight to your inbox . There wasnt anything about it that stood out to me as being particularly good or particularly bad, but if you are interested in this book anyway, the audiobook presents a solid option. After Blythe is born, she thinks of how she looks like her doll from childhood. Cecilia runs off and by that night Etta has awkwardly sewn panels into the side. Violet throws a tantrum and ends up biting Blythe on the cheek. General Hospital Spoilers: Tuesday, May 2 - Curtis Shocks Trina She tells Cecilia where to find it, then shuts Cecilia in the tiny space and then Etta gets distracted. Allie (Halle Bush) is a South Carolina girl who runs away to a convent after she kills her abusive foster father. Book Review: The Push by Ashley Audrain - Criminal Element Violet hints to Blythe that theres a reason Fox has prevented this meeting from happening. As the girl looks out the window, she sees the woman parked on the street. by Ashley Audrain. Throughout the book, Blythe struggles to connect with Violet and to understand her daughters behavior. Afterwards, Foxs mother comforts Violet and comforts Blythe, telling her to hang in there. Seb had been playing poker with some friends when he referred to another man as a cheater. Blythe falls hard for him, and they are inseparable. Blythe realizes that she misses the friendship. What follows is a longer driving sequence that hits . The author captured it beautifully and so accurately in the beginning. Soon, they have their first child, a girl named Violet. I didn't think it was her. Help spread the word. Why do you think Audrain shifts POVs (from first person to third person) for the epilogue? Her grandmother Etta's first husband died in a horrified farming accident. After Fox leaves, Blythe secretly uses a fake name to befriend Fox's girlfriend, Gemma, to learn about their life. They take a family holiday photo. Then, for some reason Violet stops sleeping through the night. The Push Summary & Study Guide - www.BookRags.com One of the messages she urgently conveys is, after all, that this reproduction business does not end simply, or easily - or, indeed, ever. At night, when Blythe falls asleep on the couch, she hears Violet digging around her dresser, but its not clear why. 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. Blythe instinctively calls out the name Sam, and when Violet catches her fathers attention, she stops what shes doing. By now, Violet is around 13 years old. Blythe realizes that the baby must have been conceived the same month that Fox was fired from his job. Blythe thinks Violet is violent and lacks empathy, but Fox thinks Blythe's insufficient love for Violet is the problem. But when life as they know it is changed in an instant, the devastating fall-out forces Blythe to face the truth. However, once her daughter is born, she sees this as a lot less wonderful than what she had hoped for. Before graduation, she stops off at home and asks him about her mother. Fox claims hes not seeing the other woman anymore. Blythes relationship with Violet remains strained and eventually, Blythe loses visitation rights. As Blythe grieves, Blythe and Fox's marriage disintegrates, ending with Fox's infidelity. Without another word, Gemma rushes off. You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with But in the thick of motherhood's exhausting early days, Blythe becomes convinced that something is wrong with her daughtershe doesn't behave like most children do. Presumably Violet has killed, or attempted to kill him too. Do you think things could have turned out differently if Blythe had done things differently? Being snarky and ridiculing a person asking a sincere question is idiotic. is a thriller novel published in 2021 by the Canadian author Ashley Audrain. How The Book Ended. The Connors go to the zoo. Would you feel differently about this book or these characters if there was no epilogue (the a year and a half later part)? Blythe tries to discourage her, but finds a clump of Noahs hair in Violets pocket the next day. Did the ending change your assessment of her reliability as a narrator? 'The Power' Book Ending & Plot Summary - Bustle I don't love cliffhangers so Margot's ending bothered me a bit" Something in me felt for Krissy the entire time. Publisher: Penguin Books. Blythes grandmother, Etta, was born the day WWII began. Cecilia knows she is not meant for motherhood, but during her pregnancy wonders if her feelings are changing. When Blythe stops paying attention, Violet goes missing. [I don't feel like there was a good answer, so I'll throw in my 2 cents. She senses Violet prefers Fox, but Fox insists it's all in her head. For example, when Blythe grabs her arm, she narrates that Violet looks satisfied? . After all, Blythes own mother often told her this about her family history: the women in their family are different. Blythe ends up watching their house to catch glimpses of her. Finally, Gemma asks to meet up. 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. 31 Best Character Driven Novels to Devour, 10 Best Harry Potter Boxed Sets of Books to Gift. Cecilia knows she is beautiful and heads to the city and meets Seb, who is a doorman at a fancy hotel. Later, Violet mentions that shes going to hurt a boy she dislikes, Noah. Etta eventually hangs herself. She was someone else entirely, someone who felt like she was fading away into nothingness. (Chapter 22). Read my Disclaimer to learn more. After yelling, he storms off and when stopped, he pushes her. The next day, Cecilia leaves for good. Everything We Know About the 'The Push' Adaptation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Crime Junkie Fan's Bookclub - All Good People Here: Caution: Spoilers It was an interesting read. Its not a perfect book, and there are things you could nitpick about it if you were inclined to do so. But that didn't bother me. . Things improve with Fox. Soon, they are a couple, he introduces her to his friends and he supports her financially. thats awesome to hear! Cecilia wears the dress at the next dance and then never again. When Fox goes in, Violet perks up and asks him to stay. Do you think the portrayal is accurate, and do you think the way other mothers act toward each other has changed over the years? The one-paragraph summary of this book: Blythe and Fox have a daughter, Violet. She published her first novel, Push, in 1996; in 2009 it was adapted into the Academy Award-winning film Precious. 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. She wakes up wanting the Mother and Child painting back (which she thought Fox had taken with him), but Fox says he doesnt know where it is. For days she works on it and finally presents it to Cecilia. Fox chalks it up to the baby sensing her anxiety. When she is 18, Etta plans to marry Louis, the son of the town doctor. When Blythe finally saw Cecilia/Annie and Richard together, she wished her mother had died rather than become someone she no longer could recognize. It occurs to Blythe that Fox left her for a woman that he thought would be a better mother, the kind of woman you always wanted. She is hysterical. 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. Her husband, Fox, says she's imagining things. The Push by Ashley Audrain. I think the book shows how easily we raise evil people and how parents cannot see bad in their kids. Blythe learns they had another son, Jet. I get this. As the date nears, Blythe becomes more unsure what whats to come. Blythe is shocked, knowing that the baby mustve been born in June, considering how Fox only moved out in January of that year. That night, Blythe finds the painting of Mother and Child on Blythes doorstep with a note. Nothing comes of it, and Blythe is forced to move on, her husband left her for another woman, they have a child together, Violet continues to hate her own mother. Required fields are marked *. However, Talia has also gotten to know Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) and Paulina Price (Jacke Harry) on a personal level since she came . Meanwhile, Violet makes constant remarks reminding her mother that her father is with the other woman now. If you are expecting constant plot twists and a hundred miles per hour plot pacing, you might want to shift those expectations before getting into this book. See all 11 answers. I may change my mind about reading this. Cecilia instead takes money from Ettas purse and goes to the store to buy pads. After four weeks, Foxs mother insists that its time Blythe learn how to do it herself. Blythe still tells Gemma her suspicions about Violet anyway. How reliable of a narrator do you think Blythe was? What a bizarre way of approaching literature. Violet looks disappointed to see her and continues to sleep. When confronted, Violet denies doing anything bad. Blythe senses that Gemma is upset with her later. Is there a clear conclusion that can even be drawn? Happy reading! Error rating book. However, one day as Blythe crosses the street, Sam's stroller rolls into the intersection and he is killed. Before the ending, Blythe has a conversation with her own mother, during which she begins to understand the ways in which her mothers own trauma affected her parenting. I was really impressed by The Push by Ashley Audrain. I'm always impressed when an author can keep me on edge until the last sentence of the book. They talk about kids in their future. Blythe and Fox Connor are a couple who meet in college and get married at 25. Blythe recalls one night after her mother had left for good. When Blythe is ten, she goes over to the Ellingtons one day after Mrs. Ellington has recently miscarried. Spoilers. The Push by Ashley Audrain review - the dark side of motherhood ), When the phone rings, Blythe is hopeful that it is Violet on the line. Things are going well until Blythe needs to bathe Violet. The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Audrain, Ashley. All the women from her prenatal class merely talk about how rewarding motherhood is. She keeps screaming at Cecilia until Henry comes in. 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. 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). The more Fox dismisses her fears, the more Blythe begins to question her own sanity, and the more we begin to question what Blythe is telling us about her life as well. Near what would have been Sams birthday, Violet shows Blythe a viral video of a womans heroics preventing her son from harm multiple times. Blythe is tempted to talk to Foxs mother about Violet, but can see that Sams death has been weighing on her, too. Great exploration of nature vs nurture. 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). Cecilia is scared and shits herself. Another possible interpretation of the ending is that Blythe confronts her own trauma and finds a way to move forward. Blythe has started therapy to try to move on. What shes thinking and feeling is isolating, dark, and raw, and it shines a light on parts of motherhood not often talked about. I finished the book simply for the sake of Sam and Blythe. Push Summary and Study Guide | SuperSummary Book review and synopsis for The Push by Ashley Audrain, a tense domestic drama slash thriller about motherhood and a woman who is struggling under the pressure to be a "good 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. Blythe has started therapy to try to move on. I hope you enjoy it if you end up reading it :). Still, Blythe thinks about the things Seb never did to stop Cecilia from going out at night or how he never took away the pills she was using. As Blythes relationship with Violet becomes increasingly strained, she begins to question her own sanity and fears that she may be repeating the cycle of abuse. Blythe imagines what it would be like to leave all of it behind. But The Push was consistently engrossing nonetheless and made me reconsider in some ways my own relationship with my mother, who Ive not always had the smoothest relationship with (and who, in turn, had very difficult relationships with her own parents). Blythe was such a likeable character--proof that just because your own parents [emailprotected], doesn't mean you will too. Violet lies to make Blythe look bad, and she runs away while Blythe is watching her. The Push - Book Ending Explained He is supportive and thoughtful. In the final chapters, its suggested that Blythes mental state has worsened, and she may be at risk of harming herself. For all of these reasons, it also makes a great book for book clubs that want a really provocative discussion. Blythe takes a seat and the other woman, Gemma, happens to sit beside her. There were periods of time when Etta managed to act the way others expected her to be.
