La-Z-boy

The La-Z-boy in Jupe’s room is a symbol of the closeness of Coop and Jupe’s relationship. It also is a symbol of the permanence, a literal and metaphorical piece of furniture, of Coop in Jupe’s life. The La-Z-boy belonged to Coop’s father, now deceased. The novel opens as Coop enters Jupe’s room and on the second page sits securely in the La-Z-boy to break the news of his break-up to Jupe; and ends with Coop back in that chair. The mention on the second page demonstrates its significance to the story and characters, as well as the book-ending of this symbol in the novel. Throughout the novel both Jupe and Coop will mention it in regards to hanging out, as in Chapter 8 when Jupe texts Coop, “Jupe-n-Coop + La-Z-boy + movie” (78). When Coop is not in the room Jupe will look in the...