My name is Sachin and today we are going to talk about Ava Dellaira's novel Love Letters to the Dead is an emotional thought-provoking story
that explores themes of grief and self-discovery. The novel revolves around a young girl, Laurel, who is struggling to understand her life after the death of her sister, May. In this excerpt, Laurel writes a letter to Kurt Cobain as part of an assignment given by her teacher. This letter serves as a way for Laurel to express her grief and confusion. It not only reveals Laurel’s emotional state but also touches on key themes such as loss, identity, and healing through writing.
The Impact of Grief and Loss
Laurel's letter expresses the deep sense of loss she feels after the death of her sister May. May was an important figure in Laurel’s life, and her absence leaves Laurel feeling lost. In this letter, Laurel uses Kurt Cobain as a way to process her grief, as he was someone important to May. The letter reveals how Laurel is trying to make sense of her emotions and find a way to express them. When she writes, "I need someone to talk to, I couldn’t talk to a president, I can talk to you," it highlights her emotional isolation and longing to connect with someone, even if it is someone who is no longer alive.
Identity Crisis and Self-Discovery
Laurel’s struggle with her identity is a central theme in this excerpt. On her first day at high school, she attempts to wear May's clothes in an effort to embody her sister's style and confidence. However, Laurel quickly realizes that she does not feel comfortable in May’s clothes. This moment reflects her internal struggle as she tries to fit into a world that feels unfamiliar and overwhelming. Instead, she chooses to wear her old middle school outfit, something that feels safer, but she still doesn’t feel right. Laurel’s inability to connect with her new environment highlights her identity crisis. She is caught between the person she once was and the person she needs to become, all while trying to understand who she is without May.
Loneliness and Isolation
Throughout the letter, Laurel’s sense of isolation is evident. She feels disconnected from everyone at her new school. In one scene, she talks about eating lunch alone in the girls' bathroom because she feels out of place. "The next thing I realized is that you weren’t supposed to bring your lunch... you’re supposed to buy pizza and nutter butters," she writes, emphasizing how different her life feels now. This moment of loneliness and withdrawal shows how difficult it is for her to integrate into the new world around her. Laurel’s isolation is further underscored when she describes watching a boy named Skye from a distance. Even though they are far apart, there is a strange comfort in knowing that they are both breathing the same air, as if this connection, no matter how small, gives her some sense of belonging.
The Healing Role of Writing and Music
Another important theme in this excerpt is the healing power of writing and music. Laurel writes to Kurt Cobain because his music, which was meaningful to her sister, seems to speak to her own emotions. She writes, "Maybe your music sounds like there’s too much inside of you, maybe even you couldn’t get it all out, maybe that’s why you died like you exploded from the inside." In this line, Laurel connects her own internal chaos to Cobain’s music, seeing it as a reflection of her own emotional turmoil. Writing this letter becomes a therapeutic way for Laurel to process her grief and begin understanding her feelings. Music, along with writing, serves as an outlet through which Laurel can express what she cannot yet articulate in real life.
Conclusion
In this letter to Kurt Cobain, Laurel begins her journey of processing the grief of losing her sister May. The letter explores her inner turmoil, her struggle with identity, and her sense of loneliness. However, it also highlights her attempt to heal by expressing her emotions through writing. Writing becomes a way for her to cope with the pain of her loss, as she finds comfort in the music of Kurt Cobain and the memories of her sister. Love Letters to the Dead shows that while grief can be overwhelming, there is a path forward, and that path begins with understanding and expressing one’s emotions. This novel beautifully portrays the power of writing and music in helping a person heal and discover who they are, even after experiencing immense loss.
What is true love read here
0 Comments