Good afternoon everyone! Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! I just finished reading What's Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges which was an aspiring novel of one boy's role in helping his family and turning around his life. Gilbert Grape has a obese mother who is ascetic mother and a father who had committed suicide in the basement of the house where they lived when Gilbert was just seven years old. He has two older sisters, an older brother, a younger sister, and a younger brother named Arnie who he takes care of daily. Arnie was born mentally challenged and after the death of their father Gilbert was left in charge to ensure his family would maintain their sanity. Gilbert's family has a unique, dynamic, and secretive way of handling situations in this case that is considered a traditional. All of these concepts unfold as Gilbert shares his story with us through the past and present tense. Since Gilbert was 14 he's been working at Mr.Lamson's grocery store part-time and now he's been working their full-time since he had turned 17. Amy his older sister is preoccupied when her boyfriend dumps her and his other siblings appear to have "the mind of a five year old". What choice would you have made if you were given the option to take of your whole family or live your own life without worrying about any one else's responsibilities?
Momma keeps eating, smoking, and watching tv without any furniture as the days go on. Unfortunately Gilbert cannot afford to supply his family with furniture but manages to keep his family alive and healthy by paying the bills, buying an abundance of food, and keeping his love for them. Taking care of Arnie is Gilbert's full time job and he promised everyone that no one would hurt him. Arnie can be a handful among the family, in fact he refuses to take a bath which can be a challenge for Gilbert when he needs to help everyone get ready for school. How would you prioritize in order to accommodate the needs of your family? How much would you give up for them? Gilbert had a dream of leaving his family because he is tired of his mom leaving dirty dishes in the sink, forcing Arnie to take a bath, working part time at the grocery store making minimum wage, and helping himself. He manages to endure the strength to stay and accept his family for who they are. Hedges' teaches his that family that stays together will live, grow, cry, and love each other through any circumstance.
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