How did you think things were going to play out with Violet as the book went along? She wonders if Violet goes in to watch him sleep. Blythe tries to convince herself she mistook what she saw. Etta suffered from moods and needed sedatives to calm her down. 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. Your email address will not be published. As the days pass, Blythe sees that Violets emptiness is back. Instead, she has been working on a short story. I finished the book simply for the sake of Sam and Blythe. Blythe had watched as Violet tripped Elijah on the playset, ad Elijah had consequently fallen off the top slide and died. With the new baby, the connection is immediate, what shes been looking for. So just what happened at the end of The Push? Her grandmother Etta's first husband died in a horrified farming accident. Genres: Fiction, Psychological Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Thriller, Women's Fiction. She and Lenny continue on and she considers leaving Seb for Lenny, but then Cecilia learns she is pregnant. After that weekend, Blythe gets the idea to drive over to Foxs house to watch them at night. For financial reasons, Cecilia and Seb move out of the city and into his parents house in the suburbs. Blythe suspects something is wrong with Violet, but Fox clearly thinks Blythe is the problem. Moreover, Violet claimed that Blythe just left these things lying open in the house. What did you think of Blythes relationship with Foxs mother? When a boy falls off a playset and dies, Blythe suspects Violet tripped him on purpose. Bookends - How did that book end? Book spoilers to jog your memory. The one-paragraph summary of this book: Blythe and Fox have a daughter, Violet. 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. 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. Its not a perfect book, and there are things you could nitpick about it if you were inclined to do so. At Penguin, she worked with bestselling authors including Khaled Hosseini, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Meg Wolitzer. The books ending is open to interpretation, and there are several possible ways to read it. A month later, Violet returns to Blythes place, but things are cold between them again. After the divorce, Fox has custody, but Blythe has visitation rights. Then, Gemma asks about what happened with Sam, saying that Fox doesnt like to talk about it. Blythe is a good baby who rarely cries, and each day Seb comments on how lucky they are. like. One day, she asks Violet about Gemma, but Violet just says shes fine. As they chat, Gemma mentions that she has a son, Jet, who is going to be five months old soon. Fox, meanwhile, comes from a loving and stable family. Etta eventually hangs herself. As the arrive at an intersection, Violet takes both hands and yanks at Blythes elbow causing her to spill her coffee. Blythe and Violet's relationship is still fraught. Its not the most unpredictable ending, but whats so haunting about it is the chilling truth that Violet is the culmination of generations of parental trauma. And why do you think he brushes off Blythes suggestion to send Violet to a child psychologist? Or anything. So, lets unravel the mystery and try to make sense of what really happened in The Push. Before graduation, she stops off at home and asks him about her mother. The Mist Ending: What Happened, And How It Differs From The Book Then, for some reason Violet stops sleeping through the night. Is there a clear conclusion that can even be drawn? I need to know how it ends before I decide if I want to read it. Blythe notices the other things that are now missing from her relationship now that Violet is getting Foxs time and attention, like how they no longer do crosswords together. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I keep going back and forth about whether I want to read this one because it has such mixed reviews, but after this, I think I will give it a try. Whether you're a newbie or an avid reader, here you've found an authentic community dedicated to helping you relax, learn, and embrace a very cozy way of life. Discover new authors, explore different genres, and join us on a literary journey through book reviews, discussion guides, and author interviews. What do you make of that statement? Do you think Blythe is like the women who came before her? They talk about kids in their future. The book tells the story of Blythe, a woman who struggles to connect with her daughter Violet and who is haunted by the memory of her own mothers neglect. Meanwhile, Blythe throws herself into activities for Sam. But for the big things, I think Audrain does a good job with aspects of the book that really matter like the plotting of it or the substance in digging deep into the difficulties and uncertainties of motherhood. This passage suggests that Blythe is aware of the potential danger she poses to herself but is also struggling to control her thoughts and impulses. Scary because I think that the antagonist persists and may never be held responsible for the mistakes that it did. Error rating book. When Blythe is ten, she goes over to the Ellingtons one day after Mrs. Ellington has recently miscarried. This isnt the way the book ends. Would you feel differently about this book or these characters if there was no epilogue (the a year and a half later part)? Another possible interpretation of the ending is that Blythe confronts her own trauma and finds a way to move forward. Blythe still tells Gemma her suspicions about Violet anyway. In terms of the thriller aspects of it, be forewarned that The Push is not genre fiction, if thats what youre looking for. document.getElementById( "ak_js_9" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello, and welcome to Wrote a Book! I agree! Meanwhile, Blythe is lonely at home. (The Detailed Plot Summary is also available, below). Cecilia runs off and by that night Etta has awkwardly sewn panels into the side. Watch for it's arrival in 6-10 weeks, June, 2022. 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. Violet never goes to see her. He is supportive and thoughtful. Soon, she starts to resents Fox for seeing her solely as Violet's caregiver, and Fox thinks Blythe is deficient as a mother. What if motherhood is not what a woman anticipated it to be? 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. She often feels overwhelmed and frustrated by Violets defiance and resistance. It wasn't the content that bothered me but the writing style, a neverending, monotonous drawl although I appreciate the second-person pov style. But Gemma tells Blythe that Violet didnt push Sam. When Blythe stops paying attention, Violet goes missing. She attends, but refuses therapy. Violet looks disappointed to see her and continues to sleep. The novella The Mist ends pretty similar to the movie, with a daring escape being made by David, his son, and two others. Blythe and Gemma become close, but eventually Fox finds out Blythe has been pretending to be someone else to get close to Gemma. Up until the last few lines of the book. Blythe becomes pregnant after theyve been trying for a few months. Like, not every comment from a child needs to have a 24-hour reaction time. Without another word, Gemma rushes off. 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. Meanwhile, the narration is interspersed with information about the women in Blythe's family and her childhood. The Sandman . It seems like you have a different understanding of the books ending. Yes, only on the internet and to answer where the internet would be without people asking question about books, the obvious answer is without Goodreads :-). Refresh and try again. When Violet is 5, there is a funeral for a boy named Elijah. Their son, Thomas Ellington Jr., was Blythes best friend. That night, Blythe finds the painting of Mother and Child on Blythes doorstep with a note. She is haunted by memories of her mothers abusive behavior and struggles to connect with Violet because she fears repeating the same patterns of abuse: I couldnt shake the feeling that I was repeating the same patternsthat I was becoming the monster that I had always fearedI didnt know how to love Violet the way that she needed to be loved. (Chapter 13). Blythe recalls how growing up, the Ellingtons, a black family, lived three doors down. The author captured it beautifully and so accurately in the beginning. by Ashley Audrain. Etta insists that Cecilia wear the dress anyway. 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. . In present day, in her car outside their house, Violet comes up to her car and seems to mouth something, but Blythe cant make out what it is. But one fateful night Ryle finds Atlas's number and goes in a rage. After Fox leaves, Blythe secretly uses a fake name to befriend Fox's girlfriend, Gemma, to learn about their life. When the police make their standard inquiries, she denies seeing anything. When they talk, Blythe pretends to still have a son named Sam and gets to pretend for a while that he is still alive. Before he leaves, Fox also admits to something from a long time ago. But when life as they know it is changed in an instant, the devastating fall-out forces Blythe to face the truth. Blythe ends up looking for photos online to find ones of a four-year-old that can serve as a stand-in for Sam. So, perhaps Violet really isnt a bad child after all, and its Blythe who is an unreliable narrator of this story. Blythe knows Fox wouldnt like that, so she settles on taking long walks with Violet. When the baby is born, Blythe feels euphoric. Instinctively, Cecilia hides the truth of what happened from her father. For a non-spoiler version of the plot synopsis, see The Bibliofile's review of The Push by Ashley Audrain. The Push by Ashley Audrain - Book Journey By delving into these themes, Ashley Audrain has created a novel that is both gripping and thought-provoking. She senses Violet prefers Fox, but Fox insists it's all in her head. Blythes relationship with Violet remains strained and eventually, Blythe loses visitation rights. 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. Blythe starts thinking that perhaps its time for her to let it go. I still wonder if Gemma suspected she was more. Im also surprised that this is Audrains debut novel, because the pacing, structure and voice of the book feel so confident and intentional. Fox has a son, Jet, with his new wife, Gemma. Yes but still kind of right or left, so great to get a validation :). 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. Later, they have sex for the first time in a long while, no stopping even when Violet starts crying. Cecilia grows up and meets a man named Seb. As we have seen, the ending is open to interpretation and can be understood in various ways, depending on our own perspectives and experiences. WARNING: THIS SECTION CONTAINS BOOK SPOILERS! One random day, Violet asks Blythe to stay with her one weekend. Allie (Halle Bush) is a South Carolina girl who runs away to a convent after she kills her abusive foster father. General Hospital Spoilers: Tuesday, May 2 - Curtis Shocks Trina Blythe has started therapy to try to move on. Blythe is in that new mom state of confusion, fear, and anxiety, wondering if its all in her head. Your email address will not be published. I thought, Im not really interested in this, but its relatively short so whatever. Blythe is hopeful that motherhood will come naturally to her, like it seems to for most women. It was clear Cecilia preferred to stay in the city and not here in this house half an hour away. Cecilia dislikes being a mother, and she leaves permanently when Blythe is 12. When Blythe finally saw Cecilia/Annie and Richard together, she wished her mother had died rather than become someone she no longer could recognize. Blythe calls his mother, but she doesnt know anything about it (Blythe asks her not to say anything to Fox about their call). Blythe Connor is reluctant to become a parent . Soon, they are a couple, he introduces her to his friends and he supports her financially. Thus, it appears Violet really may be a psychopath and Blythe, vindicated. The Push: A Novel. Hope it will find a home on Goodread's bookshelves. 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 struggles with Violet, who cries all the time and doesnt latch well, and Blythe thinks the baby hates her. They take a family holiday photo. And as always, I wish you happy reading! Blythe continues seeing the literary agent casually, though unenthusiastically. Later, Seb tells Blythe that people will believe untrue things about you, but the only thing that matters is what you think about yourself. It has been a year and a half since shed spoken to Fox. The book raises important issues about the expectations placed on mothers, the impact of childhood trauma, and the need for support and understanding in our society. Help spread the word. She gets home to find that everything is fine. But I think it's clear at the end. Violet typically wakes up and cries after napping for two hours, but Blythe puts on headphones and lets her cry for some time so that she can get some more work done. One night, Gemma is worried that Jeb is sick. Seb tells Blythe that Cecilia has had a procedure, and Blythe finds blood in the bathroom. When the Connors go on a beach vacation, Violet buries another kid in the sand. The audiobook for The Push is good. Read my Disclaimer to learn more. Try audio books or writing classes for free for 30 days.. Blythe Connor is determined that she will be the warm, comforting mother to her new baby Violet that she herself never had. She also tells Blythe not to learn to be like her, and sees to regret that I dont know how to teach you to be anyone different. Near what would have been Sams birthday, Violet shows Blythe a viral video of a womans heroics preventing her son from harm multiple times. Cecilia dislikes being a mother, and she leaves permanently when Blythe is 12. Spoilers. Can someone please tell me the ending? I The Push Q&A The book ends by implying that Gemma suspects Violet has now harmed Jet. WARNING: THIS SECTION CONTAINS BOOK SPOILERS! Book Summary. This passage suggests that Blythe is struggling to maintain a sense of identity and that she feels like shes losing herself. Blythe ends up watching their house to catch glimpses of her. When confronted, Violet denies doing anything bad. The Future of Publishing: What Recent Changes Mean for Readers and Writers. It was okay in the sense that I couldn't put it down. When Blythe is 27, Fox is eager to have kids. . Thank you! Blythe gives her mother a card she made in class and feels proud as another girl comments how pretty her mother is. I felt like this book was about refuting the idea that motherhood is this inherently blissful joyride and that women should find it endlessly fulfilling, that they should want to abandon their careers to solely mother their kids, that there's a special bond between mothers and their children that transcends . Why do you think he is reluctant to send Violet to day care initially? Blythe remembers her father telling Cecilia that Youll end up just like Etta before finally giving her a drink to calm her down. There were periods of time when Etta managed to act the way others expected her to be. Blythe realizes that she misses the friendship. When Violet turns 1, Blythe and Fox throw a party, and they take a family picture. This passage suggests that Blythe recognizes the impact of her own trauma on her parenting and is struggling to break the cycle of abuse. Thanks for the answers Mary and NicoleW! Meanwhile, Cecilia is disappearing as well. If this summary was useful to you, please consider supporting this site by leaving a tip ($2, $3, or $5) or joining the Patreon! Blythes husband, Fox, abruptly dismisses her fears. One night Violet asks if Blythe loves Sam more than her, and Blythe wonders if she has overheard Foxs comments. Blythe's kind neighbor Mrs. Ellington instead acts as a maternal figure to her. To think he let Krissy suffer like that for so long. 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. Instead, Fox suggests that Blythe leave for a while to a wellness center. By the end, the reader will feel wrung out in the way only the best of books leaves you. What do you think of the portrayals of the men and fathers in this novel in general? Book Review: 'The Push,' by Ashley Audrain - New York Times Then, in the final lines, she learns from Gemma that something has happened to Jet (with the implication that it was Violet's fault.). Sorry for that.