Just finished (for the second time) The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. I love this book, but I'm trying to understand something and hope that someone here can help.

Certain passages have quotation marks when the characters are speaking while others do not. It seems to be random, not applied to any one character or characters, and (I think) is consistent within a given chapter.

Does this mean something that I'm just not getting? Is this a known thing that I just don't know?

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

jefrye t1_iybdv50 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 3:22 AM

You're going to have to give some examples.

zingara_man OP t1_iyf27e0 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 10:28 PM

No, too much work to do that. Thanks anyway.

bluredditacct t1_iybf6b4 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 3:33 AM

Is it when only a single character is talking for multiple paragraphs? They then don't close until the character is done speaking correct? Grammer is not my strong suit though.

Fictitious1267 t1_iybfa87 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 3:34 AM

Could it be interior monologue from one character, but the author is changing who it is for each scene?

zingara_man OP t1_iyf232h wrote on November 30, 2022 at 10:27 PM

Definitely not interior monologue.

LoveLaughShowUp t1_iybpedr wrote on November 30, 2022 at 5:04 AM

I read it a while ago and don’t remember that standing out in my mind. It was a beautifully written book, just heartbreaking.

[deleted] t1_iybed6n wrote on November 30, 2022 at 3:26 AM

[deleted]

laurpr2 t1_iybgezk wrote on November 30, 2022 at 3:43 AM

It was a Pulitzer finalist, I highly doubt it got a slapdash editorial treatment.

u/zingara_man, Amanda Holmes Duffy says the author omits quotation makes whenever Mabel and Jack speak with the snow child, perhaps indicating the child is a figment of their imagination but certainly indicating it is an intentional choice that is meant to convey something, even if that "something" is a specific tone or atmosphere.

zingara_man OP t1_iyf2ebh wrote on November 30, 2022 at 10:29 PM

Best answer so far. No, it's not poor editing. I think your other answer is right. Going back to the book now to see if that fits.

zingara_man OP t1_iyf3wbr wrote on November 30, 2022 at 10:40 PM

It's not just Jack and Mabel, it's when anyone speaks in her presence. Esther, George, Garrett, as well. This is the answer.